21st May 2025

Why Karijini Should Be on Your Hiking Bucket List

Let’s be honest—when most people think “bucket list hike,” their minds drift to Everest Base Camp, Patagonia, or the Inca Trail. But we’re here to tell you: Karijini National Park belongs on that list, right alongside them. Actually—if you live in WA or anywhere in Australia—it might just deserve top billing.

This isn’t just another national park. Karijini is an experience. A red-dirt revelation. A place that humbles you with its silence, thrills you with its scale, and leaves you marvelling at just how ancient and alive this country really is.

So if you’re still wondering whether Karijini is worth the flight, the road trip, or the days off work—here’s every reason why it absolutely, unequivocally is.

1. It’s Australia Like You’ve Never Seen It

Let’s start with the visuals.

Karijini National Park is what happens when time, tectonics and water have a few billion years to work together. The result? Some of the oldest exposed rock formations on Earth, split open into Karijini gorges so deep and dramatic, they look like they were carved by giants.

We’re talking:

• Crimson-red cliffs plunging into aquamarine pools
  
• Narrow stone corridors that twist and spiral into darkness
  
• Waterfalls pouring through layered rock older than dinosaurs

There’s no photoshop needed here—this place is naturally unreal.

And the best part? You don’t just look at it. You hike through it. You climb into it. You swim inside it.

2. The Hikes Are Iconic—and Actually Fun

Some hikes test your endurance. Others test your navigation. Karijini hikes do both—but they also throw in water slides, rope climbs, gorge swims and natural spas.

You’ll go from scrambling over boulders to swimming through narrow chasms, to balancing your way along ancient ironstone ledges. It’s a full-body experience, and it feels like play.

Must-Do Karijini Hiking Trails:

Hancock Gorge & Spider Walk Karijini
Ever wanted to feel like Lara Croft or Indiana Jones? This is the hike for you. Wade through waist-deep water, cling to rock walls, and squeeze through the Spider Walk Karijini to reach the mystical Kermits Pool Karijini.

Dales Gorge Loop Karijini
The classic Karijini day hike. Includes Fortescue Falls Karijini, Fern Pool Karijini (perfect for a post-hike dip), and Circular Pool Karijini if the track’s open. All the icons in one walk.

Mount Bruce Karijini (Punurrunha)
WA’s second-highest peak. For those who want sweeping views and a Mount Bruce sunrise hike Karijini they’ll never forget.

Weano Gorge & Handrail Pool Karijini
A favourite for its variety: descending rock steps, wading through cool creekbeds, and lowering yourself into a secret swimming hole via a metal handrail.

Every Karijini hike feels like a choose-your-own-adventure story. And each one offers a different kind of magic.

3. It’s More Accessible Than You Think

Karijini often gets filed under “that place I’ll go someday”—mainly because of its remote location. But let’s break it down:

• Flying? You can fly into Paraburdoo (Qantas from Perth), then it’s a 90-minute drive to the park.
  
• Driving? Yep, it’s a mission—but the road trip through WA’s outback is part of the fun. Do it in a camper, stop at quirky roadhouses, and make it a journey, not just a destination.
  
• You don’t need a 4WD to visit most major attractions. The roads are sealed up to Dales Gorge Karijini and most of the Karijini Eco Retreat area.

And if you’re not keen on self-navigation, that’s where we come in. The Hike Collective offers curated, guided Karijini hiking tours, designed to take the logistics (and stress) out of your trip. Just bring your boots and a sense of adventure.

4. The Waterholes Are Next-Level

If you think you’ve swum in beautiful places before—wait until you dip into a Karijini gorge pool.

They’re cool, deep, and surrounded by towering red cliffs. Some pools are open to the sky, others are tucked into rock caverns where the light filters through like you’re in a movie scene.

Highlights include:

Fern Pool Karijini: Crystal clear, shaded by fig trees, and gently flowing. One of the most peaceful places we’ve ever swum.

Spa Pool Hamersley Gorge Karijini: Insta-famous for a reason. Swirling blue water in a perfectly carved bowl of stone.

Handrail Pool Karijini: Cold and shadowy in the best way—like a hidden temple for hot, tired hikers.

Most Karijini hiking trails end with a swim, which is exactly how hiking should work, right?

5. It’s a Stargazer’s Paradise

Karijini National Park is one of the best dark-sky locations in the country. With zero light pollution and dry, clear air, the stars explode across the sky at night.

You’ll see the Milky Way in full detail—no apps or telescopes needed. Just throw a blanket on the red dirt, lean back, and watch the universe do its thing.

And if you’re camping or glamping at Karijini Eco Retreat, the night skies are your nightly entertainment. Bonus: no light posts, no traffic noise—just you, the stars, and the sound of dingoes howling in the distance (don’t worry, it’s part of the charm).

6. It’s a Place of Deep Cultural Significance

Karijini isn’t just a geological marvel—it’s a living cultural landscape.

The Traditional Custodians of this land are the Banjima people, who have lived here for tens of thousands of years. Many places in the park are sacred sites, connected to Dreaming stories and ancestral knowledge.

Swimming spots like Fern Pool Karijini are not just beautiful—they’re spiritual. The silence you feel when you enter is more than just awe—it’s reverence.

Hiking Karijini with respect means:

• Acknowledging Country before you enter
  
• Following signage and staying out of closed or restricted areas
  
• Moving through gorges quietly and mindfully
  
• Joining a tour that includes Indigenous voices and storytelling, where possible

It adds a depth to your experience that goes beyond just “seeing the sights.” You’re walking on ancient ground—and you’ll feel it.

7. The Stillness is Soul Food

In a world that’s noisy, fast, and full of distractions, Karijini National Park offers something rare: true stillness.

No reception. No crowds. No constant pinging from your phone.

Just:

• The crunch of boots on dirt
  
• The ripple of water in a pool
  
• The wind echoing through a gorge
  
• The fire crackling at night

Whether you’re hiking solo, with friends, or as part of a guided Karijini hiking tour, Karijini lets you unplug and reset in a way that’s hard to describe until you’ve done it.

8. The Collective Vibe (Optional, but Game-Changing)

While solo hiking can be powerful, there’s something extra special about experiencing Karijini hikes as part of a community.

When you join a Hike Collective guided Karijini hike, you’re not just signing up for logistics and guides. You’re signing up for shared moments:

• Laughing with someone as you scramble into Spider Walk Karijini
  
• Watching a new friend’s face light up at their first sight of Handrail Pool Karijini
  
• Sharing snacks under a ghost gum after conquering Mount Bruce Karijini

The people you hike with become part of the story—and that makes the experience even more meaningful.

If Not Now, When?

Karijini National Park isn’t just a hike. It’s not just a road trip, or a bucket list box to tick. It’s a perspective shift. A place that reminds you just how wild, vast, and awe-inspiring our own backyard can be.

So don’t wait for the “right time” or put it off until someday.

Make Karijini your next big adventure.

Because the red dirt is calling, and we promise—it’s worth every step.

Ready to experience Karijini for yourself?

Join us for a guided Karijini hiking tour or group experience designed to help you explore Karijini National Park safely, meaningfully, and with the heart of an adventurer.
Explore our Karijini tours →