This National Park in northwestern Western Australia is just North of the Tropic of Capricorn over 650 miles from the state capital Perth. At 627, 442 hectares, this is the second largest National Park in Western Australia. The park covers an amazing and awe-inspiring section of the Australian outback, centred around the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region. While it is a long way from any of Australia’s cities, Karijini National Park is relatively easy to access as it is served by Solomon Airport, which is fewer than ten miles to the west of the Park. The Hamersley and Robe River Railway runs down a corridor than separates the park into a north section and a south section. Within this corridor you will also find the Marandoo iron ore mine.

The park’s spectacular landscape is characterised by the gorges that run through it, cut by the north flowing rivers. The four prominent gorges are Bee Gorge, Wittenoom Gorge, Kalamina Gorge and Yampire Gorge. There are also several smaller gorges to explore. In these gorges there are a number of places where you can see the geological rock formation layers of banded iron formation between sections of dolomite and shale, which create an amazing and beautiful geological landscape. Some of the oldest rocks in the world can be seen in this area. These gorges are also characterised by flowing waterfalls and water holes, which stunning spots attract a lot of interesting wildlife as well as intrepid tourists.

There is a great biodiversity within the park. Here you can see, amongst other things, red kangaroos, wallaroos, echidnas, geckos, goannas, lizards, bats, a variety of different snakes and many bird species. This is a great place for those interested in exploring a rugged landscape that teems with Australian life and is one of the last few true wilderness areas in the world.

Within the park it is possible to stay at the Karijini Eco Retreat, owned by aboriginal people and on land leased from the Department of Environment and Conservation for Western Australia. The eco accommodation is 100% owned by a collaborative group of various tribes of the Pilbara region and managed by Eco Company PLC, Ecomodation, a brand of Hospitality Inns. Alternatively, there is camping at Dale Gorge.

Wherever you stay within the park and whatever you choose to do and see while you are there, you are sure to be wowed by the spectacular and ancient landscape of Karijini National Park.