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Australia🇦🇺 | national parksKarijini National ParkRed slot gorges, Fern Pool, Spider Walk, Mount Bruce | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Karijini
🏆 Top picknational park ranked #5
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Karijini is best known for its gorges, red rock slots that drop 60 to 100 meters into the Hamersley Range, where pools sit at the bottom of ladders and cliffs. The park lies in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, in the northwest of Australia, a long way from anywhere with a decent coffee. The hiking is superb, the wildlife is mostly wallabies, birds and the odd python, and crowds stay thin outside school holidays. Trouble starts with the logistics. Fuel and groceries cost more the closer you get, so fill up and shop in a big town beforehand. Rough gravel roads chew rental tires, so check your contract. Mobile signal is patchy, so download maps first. At Dales Gorge I photographed the trailhead map before descending, which saved me from guessing at the Fortescue Falls junction. Below, ferns and a spring-fed pool wait under red cliffs.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #5 national park in AustraliaWhy visitors keep coming back

Karijini suits people who like to piece a trip together themselves. Trails here start from car parks with a signboard and a clear difficulty grade, so you pick your own pace and skip any guide if you wish. The Class 5 gorge walks are the real hook: you wade, shuffle sideways along ledges and swim through cold pools with no boardwalk to hold your hand. Guides exist for the hardest routes, but the easier ones are perfectly doable alone with sensible shoes and a dry bag. Camping is the other draw. Sites at Dales Campground and Karijini Eco Retreat put you minutes from the rim walks, so you can reach water before the tour buses arrive from Tom Price. The gorges also vary: Dales is gentle and leafy, Hancock is tight and technical, Weano is a drama of red walls and sculpted rock. That variety means three or four days never feels repetitive.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool, Dales Gorge: a staircase drops to a waterfall, and a short stroll beyond leads to Fern Pool, a spring-fed swimming hole under paperbark trees. The most popular spot in the park.
  2. Hancock Gorge and Spider Walk: a steep ladder leads to a narrow slot where you brace across the walls to reach Kermits Pool. It is the park’s classic adventure walk.
  3. Handrail Pool, Weano Gorge: a sculpted red slot ends in a deep pool, reached by wading and following a handrail along the wall. Swimming is cold and quick.
  4. Oxer Lookout: a paved walk to the junction where four gorges meet, with views straight down 100 meters of layered rock.
  5. Knox Gorge: a rough descent to a long, narrow canyon floor, rewarding with deep silence and walls closing overhead.
  6. Circular Pool: a gentle walk from Dales
… read more 👉
  1. Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool, Dales Gorge: a staircase drops to a waterfall, and a short stroll beyond leads to Fern Pool, a spring-fed swimming hole under paperbark trees. The most popular spot in the park.
  2. Hancock Gorge and Spider Walk: a steep ladder leads to a narrow slot where you brace across the walls to reach Kermits Pool. It is the park’s classic adventure walk.
  3. Handrail Pool, Weano Gorge: a sculpted red slot ends in a deep pool, reached by wading and following a handrail along the wall. Swimming is cold and quick.
  4. Oxer Lookout: a paved walk to the junction where four gorges meet, with views straight down 100 meters of layered rock.
  5. Knox Gorge: a rough descent to a long, narrow canyon floor, rewarding with deep silence and walls closing overhead.
  6. Circular Pool: a gentle walk from Dales Gorge down to a round, shaded pool ringed with ferns.
  7. Joffre Falls: a wide amphitheater of orange rock that carries water in the wet season and takes a steep, loose descent to reach.
  8. Mount Bruce (Punurrunha): Western Australia’s second highest peak, with huge views across mining country and a sunrise walk.
Skip Joffre Falls if time is short, since it is often dry and the descent is steep for a modest view.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

May to September is the window for Karijini, with dry days of roughly 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F) and cool nights.
  • Winter (June to August): Days reach 24 to 30°C (75 to 86°F), nights drop to 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F), and sometimes lower in the gorges. Daylight runs about 11 hours. Gorge walks are comfortable, but this is peak season, so campsites fill and rates rise.
  • Shoulder months (April, May, September, October): Days of 30 to 36°C (86 to 97°F) with fewer people. Swimming in the pools is pleasant, and prices ease off.
  • Summer (November to March): Highs of 38 to 45°C (100 to 113°F). Cyclone rain can flood gorges and close trails. Expect the quietest crowds and the lowest accommodation prices, but hiking is limited to dawn.
Book campsites and the Eco Retreat well ahead for July and August, and aim for … read more 👉
May to September is the window for Karijini, with dry days of roughly 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F) and cool nights.
  • Winter (June to August): Days reach 24 to 30°C (75 to 86°F), nights drop to 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F), and sometimes lower in the gorges. Daylight runs about 11 hours. Gorge walks are comfortable, but this is peak season, so campsites fill and rates rise.
  • Shoulder months (April, May, September, October): Days of 30 to 36°C (86 to 97°F) with fewer people. Swimming in the pools is pleasant, and prices ease off.
  • Summer (November to March): Highs of 38 to 45°C (100 to 113°F). Cyclone rain can flood gorges and close trails. Expect the quietest crowds and the lowest accommodation prices, but hiking is limited to dawn.
Book campsites and the Eco Retreat well ahead for July and August, and aim for early September if you want warm water and thinner crowds.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: below average for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: below average for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Most backpackers camp at Dales Campground, the only park campground near the main gorges, about 10 minutes from Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls. It has bush sites and pit toilets, but no showers, drinking water or power, and sites must be booked online through the park system, often weeks ahead in winter. Karijini Eco Retreat, run by the Banyjima people, sits near Weano and Hancock gorges and offers powered and unpowered campsites and safari-style tents. Its restaurant and small shop are the park’s only food service, which matters when you are self-catering for days. Karijini Visitor Centre near … read more 👉
Most backpackers camp at Dales Campground, the only park campground near the main gorges, about 10 minutes from Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls. It has bush sites and pit toilets, but no showers, drinking water or power, and sites must be booked online through the park system, often weeks ahead in winter. Karijini Eco Retreat, run by the Banyjima people, sits near Weano and Hancock gorges and offers powered and unpowered campsites and safari-style tents. Its restaurant and small shop are the park’s only food service, which matters when you are self-catering for days. Karijini Visitor Centre near Dales has information and displays, but no accommodation. Outside the park, Tom Price lies about 50 to 75 km west and has a caravan park, motels, a supermarket and fuel. Newman is roughly 150 km to the southeast, with more services and hotels. Both suit a night before or after your gorge days. Roadhouses along the highways also have basic rooms. Bring all your water for camping and fill up on fuel in town, as the park has none.
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👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)How expensive it really is

A day at Karijini National Park runs about US$95 to 130 for a backpacker who camps and cooks, with the total driven mostly by fuel and the cost of getting there from the coast. Prices are in US dollars here, though you pay in Australian currency.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$8 to 14 per vehicle per dayDay-pass fee for a standard vehicle, paid at the Visitor Centre or self-registration points. Rangers check passes.
CampingUS$14 to 20 per adult per nightDales Campground has bare sites with toilets and a few showers. Karijini Eco Retreat offers camp sites at roughly US$25 to 35 per person.
Other accommodationUS$150 to 300 per nightEco Retreat safari tents and cabins cost more. Tom Price, about 70 km away, has motels in a similar range.
TransportUS$45 to 70 per dayHire car with fuel
… read more 👉
A day at Karijini National Park runs about US$95 to 130 for a backpacker who camps and cooks, with the total driven mostly by fuel and the cost of getting there from the coast. Prices are in US dollars here, though you pay in Australian currency.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$8 to 14 per vehicle per dayDay-pass fee for a standard vehicle, paid at the Visitor Centre or self-registration points. Rangers check passes.
CampingUS$14 to 20 per adult per nightDales Campground has bare sites with toilets and a few showers. Karijini Eco Retreat offers camp sites at roughly US$25 to 35 per person.
Other accommodationUS$150 to 300 per nightEco Retreat safari tents and cabins cost more. Tom Price, about 70 km away, has motels in a similar range.
TransportUS$45 to 70 per dayHire car with fuel shared between two or more people. Remote fuel prices are high, and Tom Price and Auski Roadhouse are the nearest stops for refilling.
Food and suppliesUS$20 to 35 per dayStock up in Tom Price or Newman before arriving. The Eco Retreat has a restaurant with mains around US$20 to 35.
Gorge activitiesUS$0 to 40Walking trails are free with entry. Guided tours cost extra.
Total Daily BudgetUS$95 to 130Per person, per day, in high season.


source: dbca.wa.gov.au
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsDiscover Karijini's top trails and natural wonders

Karijini’s walks run from short rim strolls to demanding gorge scrambles, graded Class 1 to Class 5. Terrain is red rock, loose gravel, wet ledges and cold pools, and footwear with grip matters. Wildlife includes rock wallabies, bats, zebra finches, eagles and sometimes snakes and goannas on warm days.
  • Dales Gorge Rim Walk: about 2 kilometers one way, Class 3, with views over the gorge and shade near the bottom. Allow 2 to 3 hours with swim stops.
  • Fortescue Falls to Fern Pool: short but with steep steps, Class 3. Allow 1 hour.
  • Weano Gorge to Handrail Pool: about 1 kilometer one way, Class 4 to 5,
… read more 👉
Karijini’s walks run from short rim strolls to demanding gorge scrambles, graded Class 1 to Class 5. Terrain is red rock, loose gravel, wet ledges and cold pools, and footwear with grip matters. Wildlife includes rock wallabies, bats, zebra finches, eagles and sometimes snakes and goannas on warm days.
  • Dales Gorge Rim Walk: about 2 kilometers one way, Class 3, with views over the gorge and shade near the bottom. Allow 2 to 3 hours with swim stops.
  • Fortescue Falls to Fern Pool: short but with steep steps, Class 3. Allow 1 hour.
  • Weano Gorge to Handrail Pool: about 1 kilometer one way, Class 4 to 5, with wading, scrambling and a cold swim. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
  • Hancock Gorge: about 1 kilometer return to Kermits Pool, Class 5, with ladders and narrow ledges. Allow 1.5 hours.
  • Knox Gorge: about 3 kilometers return, Class 4, steep with a rocky floor. Allow 2 hours.
  • Mount Bruce: about 9 kilometers return, Class 4, exposed and steep in places. Allow 4 to 5 hours.
There is no public transport to the park, so most travelers arrive by rental or camper car, usually via Tom Price or Newman. Roads to the gorges are a mix of sealed and corrugated gravel. Crowds peak in the cooler months, though no walk ever feels packed. A park entry fee applies per vehicle, payable at the visitor information bay or by an online pass. Carry plenty of water, and avoid gorges after heavy rain, as flash floods are a real risk.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Karijini is well managed, but the gorges demand respect more than the trails demand fitness. Heat is the main issue in summer, when temperatures above 40°C (104°F) make midday walking dangerous. Carry 3 to 4 liters of water per person and start early. Flash floods can fill gorges quickly after rain, even when the sky above you is clear, so check the weather and park alerts and avoid gorge floors if storms are forecast. Class 5 routes such as Hancock Gorge’s Spider Walk and Handrail Pool involve wet rock, scrambling and cold swims, so wear shoes with grip and keep to your ability. Never jump into pools, as rocks sit just below the surface. Snakes and dingoes exist but are seldom seen. Give them space, and keep food sealed. Mobile coverage is patchy to absent, so tell someone your plans.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 3 to 4 days to see the main gorges properly. That gives you Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls in one day, Weano, Hancock and Handrail Pool in another, and Kalamina or Knox Gorge for a longer hike. Two days covers the highlights if you are short on time.
Without a car it is very hard, as there is no public transport into the park and the gorges are spread over about 30 km of roads. Most visitors hire a car in Karratha, Newman or Paraburdoo, or join multi-day tours from Perth, Broome or Tom Price. Tom Price is roughly 50 to 75 km from the main gorge areas.
Yes, a park entry fee is charged per vehicle, about AUD 17 for a day pass. Campers must also book and pay for a campsite online in advance, such as at Dales Campground, around AUD 15 to 45 a night. Hiking in the gorges needs no separate permit.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on exploring Karijini

Karijini pairs well with the Pilbara’s long road north or south, linking Newman with the coast near Port Hedland or Exmouth’s reefs, so you swap red canyons for turquoise water. I would give it at least three nights, bring grippy shoes and a dry bag, and not plan a hard drive on the day after your biggest gorge walk.

✈️ When did I visit Australia?
On my trip to New Zealand in 1993, I had a short stop in Australia as well.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Australia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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