Karijini National Park: Official Collection of Specialized Geographic Guides

Ancient gorges and billion-year-old landscapes in the heart of the Pilbara

Karijini National Park

Karijini National Park represents one of Western Australia's most significant protected areas, encompassing a landscape of extraordinary geological age and visual drama within the heart of the Pilbara region. The park straddles the Hamersley Ranges, a mountain range that rises abruptly from the surrounding semi-arid plains, creating a dramatic backdrop of ancient, eroded rock formations that have been shaped by water and wind over billions of years. The park is physically divided into northern and southern sections by a corridor containing the Hamersley and Robe River railway and the Marandoo iron ore mine, with tourist facilities, gorges, and attractions concentrated in the more accessible northern half. The southern portion of the park remains largely untouched, with no sealed access roads and fewer visitors, offering a wilder and more remote experience for those seeking solitude in this ancient landscape. Karijini's significance extends beyond its geological wonders to encompass deep cultural heritage, with the park remaining an important cultural landscape for the Banyjima, Kurrama, and Innawonga peoples whose ancestors have lived in this region for tens of thousands of years. The park's establishment and subsequent renaming in 1991 reflected a growing recognition of both the area's natural significance and the importance of honouring Indigenous place names and cultural heritage.