Karinji.Park


  • Karinji NP is situated in the centre of Hamersley Range. thru' the pilbara near tom price..
  • North West Coastal Hwy 1 from From Perth and Carnavon : turn off to Tom Price at Nanutarra Roadhouse and follow the state road 374.
  • Great Northern Hwy 1 from Port Hedland to Perth : turn off at Auski Roadhouse to Wittenoom or Tom Price. Distance between Tom Price and the several gorges and lookouts is approximatly 40 to 80 km.
  • State road 374 crosses the park, several junctions branch off to the spots of Karinji. The access roads are unsealed gravel roads, but in normal dry conditions passable for all cars.
  • For park access via Wittenom to the northern areas a 4WD is advisable.
  • Guided bus and jeep tours operated from Tom Price and Port Hedland.
    a southern access road to park...
  • Bush camping in park, beautiful van and tent sites are marked. There can be no water! Gas - BBQ at special places is allowed - no open fire... Bush camping permits (little fee) the ranger issues - he'll find You.
  • In Tom Price and Newman are many opportunities, van parks, hotels, motels and chalets, too.
  • Nearby Wittenoom and Dale are another van parks.
  • Late autumn, winter and spring are the best seasons for a visit (From April to October).
  • The nights during the winter can be cold.
  • Summertime is very hot for hiking and trecking.
  • Only 4WD in the northern part of the park
  • Carry drinking water - It could be very hot... Especially on tours with Kathrin.
  • Stay on roads and trails to protect the environment. Wet rocks are slippery. Washouts can occur during heavy rain.
  • Flash floods can occur. Do not enter the gorges if there is rain in the area.
    red circular pool
  • Karinji National Park lies in the heart of the Hamersley Range, amidst a massive iron-mining area. It protects 617.000 acres of this ancient part of the earth.
  • Massive mountains and escarpments rise out of the flat valleys. The plateau is divided by spectacular gorges, and stony, tree-lined watercouses wind their way over the dusty plain. The slow process of erosion has carved the shape of the land out of rocks that are 200 million years old.
  • Dry plateaus covered with spinifex hummocks and scattered eucalypts. Low mulga woodlands and blankets of seasonal wildflowers bloom on lower slopes and nearby waterlines.
  • Much of the southern half of the park is inaccessible. Visitors concentrate on the gorges in the north. upper fortescue falls - a paradise...
  • Shady glens and dense vegetation along the pools and gorges shelter a various of wildlife. Among many species of birds You may encounter red kangaroo or rock wallaby, bat or dingo. Reptiles such as frogs, geckoes, goannas, dragons, pythons and other snakes abound within the park. And - sometimes You will meet a human, usually a german or a swiss.
  • Gorges provide a refreshing retreat from the arid plains for a hiker, too. Take one of the many walk trails and experience the spectacular scenery, dramatic waterfalls and clear fresh pools. One of the favourite places in Australia we´ve seen is a rockpool some steps above the Fortescue Falls.
  • Information on the natural and cultural history of the park is available from the Visitor Centre. Publications, souvenirs and locally crafted Aboriginal artefacts can be purchased.
  • The Banjima, Innawonga and Kurrama Aboriginal people, the traditional owners, call the Hamersley Range 'Karinji'. Since more than 20.000 years they're at home here. Aboriginal land management practices such as 'fire sticking farming' have helped determine the nature of the plants and animals found in the park today.
map of karinji np...

Legend

  • 1 Entrance stations at Karinji Drive 440 - with information boards, maps and registration service.
  • 2 Fortescue River Gorge - south branch winds one´s way to the north to the main river. Here´s a lookout over the Hamersley gorge, trecks and toilets, too.
  • 3 Junction Gorge - some famous spots like Joffre Gorge and Joffre Falls, Knox Gorge, Wittenoom Gorge, Weano Gorge... Near Joffre Falls and Weano River bushcamping is possible (plain sites, toilets, gas-bbq's, water)
  • 4 Kalamina Falls a good place to hike and swim
  • 5 Fortescue Falls and Circular Pool in Dales Gorge. Nearby the crossing of the access roads the visitors centre is situated. Here's also the emergency airstrip. Warning : The gravel road through the Yampire Gorge in northern direction is allowed only for 4WD and : asbestos warning in this region....
  • 6 Auski Roadhouse at junction of Great Northern Hwy and Nanutarra Munjina Road to Wittenoom.
  • 7 Mount Bruce - with 1235 m one of the highest rises in the park with a lookout - and Marandoo station south of the summit, here's no public access.