The 7 BEST Gorges in Karijini National Park + FREE Map
Karijini is one of the most spectacular spots in Australia, and it has over a dozen gorges… so we were very overwhelmed the first time we visited.
We didn’t know where to start or what to prioritise. And turns out, every gorge is its own experience.
Some are veeery easy to get to and are a chill day out (like Dales Gorge) while others definitely make you question your life choices (like Hancock Gorge).
So these are the 7 gorges we reckon are the “best.” They’re our top picks to experience what Karijini is known for: epic scenery, swimmable spots, and proper adventures.
Spa Pool, Hamersley Gorge Dales Gorge
We recognise the traditional owners of this land, the Banyjima, Innawonga and Kurrama peoples.
Our 7 favourite gorges in Karijini National Park
There are heaps of things to do in Karijini, but if you’re going swimming, always make sure to bring a floatie!
The fresh water in Karijini doesn’t have salt. This makes it harder to float, and you’ll get tired from swimming faster (learnt this the hard way)!
Now for the good stuff:
1) Hamersley Gorge
Hamersley is our favourite! The rock formations here are unlike anywhere else in Karijini, and the famous Spa Pool is there, too. Easily one of the most unique spots in the park:
It really looks like this IRL!
Climbing Hamersley’s rock waves
Give yourself at least half a day here and don’t just stop at the Spa Pool. There are more rock pools upstream! You can easily turn it into a nice adventure.
We’d visit it first or last in your Karijini itinerary, it’s a bit out of the way from the other main gorges.
It’s about 1.5hrs from the visitor centre. The road is unsealed but usually 2WD accessible in good weather, and from the car park it’s about a 400-m steep walk down into the gorge.
2) Weano Gorge (Handrail Pool)
Weano Gorge was a massive standout for us, especially the trek to Handrail Pool, which is easily one of the most unique swimming spots in Karijini!
We’d recommend planning half a day here especially if you want to do the Handrail Pool. The hike is short but you have to take it slow, as it involves:
- A steep descent
- Climbing down the handrail
- Spider-walking through narrow, slippery sections
No wonder why good footwear is a MUST! We found waterproof hiking sandals way more practical than regular shoes or thongs.
You’ll find the trailhead at the Weano Day Use Area, about a 40-minute drive from the visitor centre on sealed and gravel roads (accessible with a 2WD in good weather).
We recommend combining this visit with Hancock Gorge and/or Oxer Lookout since they’re all in the same area!
Handrail Pool can close after heavy rain, so check conditions with the visitor centre before heading out.
3) Hancock Gorge
Hancock Gorge is known as one of the most adventurous hikes in Karijini, and it definitely lives up to the hype!
The hike to the iconic Kermit’s Pool takes you through tight rock corridors where you’ll be climbing, wading and spider-walking between the walls.
It’s only about 1.5 km return, but don’t underestimate it. We’d allow around 1.5-2 hours, you’ll move slowly and you’ll want to spend some time swimming at Kermit’s Pool, too.
The starting point is also the Weano Day Use Area (like Hancock Gorge). Lots of people do both back-to-back but we only recommend this if you’re fairly fit, it’d be very taxing to do both in one day.
4) Dales Gorge
Not up for rock scrambling? No problem! Head to Dales Gorge instead.
It’s one of the most accessible gorges in Karijini, the road in is sealed and the trails are proper walking tracks.
But it still has some of the park’s most famous spots:
- Fern Pool, one of the best swimming spots in Karijini
- Fortescue Falls, one of the few permanent waterfalls in the area
- Circular Pool, one of the most photogenic spots in Dales Gorge
We’d plan half a day here so you have time to do the gorge trail and stop for swims along the way. The full Dales Gorge loop takes about 2–3 hours, depending on how long you hang around the pools.
Fern Pool Fortescue Falls
It’s on the eastern side of Karijini, about a 30-minute drive from the visitor centre.
You can base yourself at Dales Campground, run by Parks WA. It has toilets, barbecues, non-potable water, and marked sites for 2WD, 4WD, and camper trailers.
5) Joffre Gorge
This is one of the lesser-visited gorges, as the hike is steep and tricky in sections. But if you’re up for the challenge, it’ll be one of the most memorable experiences you’ll have during this trip!
There’s even a little hidden island in the middle of the gorge! We made there sharing one floatie and it was one of the funniest memories we have of Karijini LOL.
There’s also a seasonal fall. We went in September and it was dry, but after the wet season (March-April) the falls will be flowing pretty heavily!
We’d plan around 2 hours here, depending on how long you hang around the pool.
It’s a good one to do if you’re staying at Karijini Eco Retreat because the trail starts nearby. You can also combine it with Knox Gorge since they’re both in the same general area.
Joffre Gorge sits in the central part of Karijini and the road in is unsealed but usually 2WD accessible in good weather. The main trail is about 2 km return if starting from the main car park.
6) Knox Gorge
Knox Gorge is one of the more remote and dramatic gorges in Karijini.
You can really feel the scale of the area from the Knox Lookout. It gives sweeping views over the gorge cutting through Wittenoom Gorge!
It also feels a lot quieter than the other gorges. The highlight is the crystal-clear pool at the end, tucked between tall rock walls and fig trees growing out of the cliffs.
We’d allow around 1.5–2 hours here to hike down and back and spend a bit of time at the pool. It’s a good one to combine with Joffre Gorge since they’re fairly close to each other.
It’s about a 30-min drive from the visitor centre. The road in is unsealed but usually 2WD accessible in good weather, and the hike starts from the Knox Lookout car park.
There’s a steep descent over loose rocks and a few tight rock passages near the bottom. The climb back up can feel a bit brutal in the heat, so take your time!
7) Kalamina Gorge
This is one of the shortest walks in the park, which is a nice addition after doing the more intense gorges.
You can reach the main pool pretty quickly! The tradeoff is that there might be more people than usual in peak season.
Allow around ~2 hours to walk in, explore the pool and head back out. Earlier in the year you might even see Kalamina Falls flowing, but it often dries up later in the season.
The road in is unsealed but usually 2WD accessible in good weather. It’s between the Weano and Dales areas, so it’s easy to add while moving between the two sides of the park!
FREE map of the best gorges in Karijini National Park
Top Tips
The best time to go to Karijini is April through September, but early in the season might be best if you want to see the falls at their fullest.
We went in September and it was really good! Although some waterfalls were dry.
And don’t forget to carry water, food, and extra snacks, you will need them! We sure did every day as the hikes really take it out of you.
The local supermarket is in Tom Price, a long drive away from the park.
There aren’t any bins or waste removal in Karijini, so bring in everything you need, and take it back out with you.
FAQs
How many days should you spend in Karijini?
4-5 days in Karijini would be ideal, it’s the time we spent there and we had plenty of time to check out the gorges. But the minimum is 3 days.
Ready to visit Karijini?
Now that you know which gorges in Karijini are on your bucket list, the next step is figuring out how to fit it into the rest of your WA trip!
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