Nestled in the Hamersley Range, in the heart of the Pilbara region in the northwestern section of Western Australia, around 1,055 km from Perth, the Karijini National Park, formerly known as Hamersley Range National Park, with rock formations estimated at 2.5 billion years old, is the second largest national park in Western Australia, home to abundant wildlife and over 800 different plant species.

Equipped with splendid rugged scenery, and ancient geological formations, which include several gorgeous gorges and slot canyons, dramatic waterfalls like the stunning Fortescue Falls and the rocky creeks, photogenic water holes and crystal clear freshwater pools like the picturesque Fern Pool, surrounded by vibrant red rocks, lush greenery and wildflowers, the Karijini National Park is considered as an ancient part of the planet.

The area was explored in 1861 by the Australian explorer Francis Thomas Gregory, who named the Hamersley Range, on which the park is centred, after his friend Edward Hamersley.

However, the traditional home of the Aboriginal Banjima, Yinhawangka, Kurrama and Innawonga people at Karijini dates back more than 20,000 years, and the Banyjima name for the Hamersley Range is Karijini, which stands for hilly place. During those ancient days, the Aboriginal land management practices, like the fire-stick farming or cool burning practice of using fire to burn vegetation, practiced for thousands of years, resulted in a diversity of vegetation types and helped to determine the nature of the plants and animals found in the park today. During those ancient days, the Aboriginal land management practices, like the fire-stick farming, also known as cultural burning and cool burning of using fire to burn vegetation, practiced for thousands of years resulted in a diversity of vegetation types and helped determine the nature of the plants and animals found in the park today.

The Karijini National Park is physically split into a northern and a southern half by a corridor, and its main attractions, featuring the gorges and waterfalls are located in the northern half, accessible via sealed and gravel roads.

Several gorges that flow north out of the park, providing displays of the rock layers, include the Dales, Kalamina, Wittenoom, Yampire Gorges, and many more. The 2 km long Gorge Rim walk, featuring short steep sections and occasional steps, is the easiest way to experience the great view of the Dales Gorge area, tracing a trail from the Fortescue Falls to the Circular Pool and back again. The Fortescue Falls, cascading down the gently sloped rocks into a pool at the base of Dales Gorge, is the only spring-fed waterfall in Karijini National Park. A little walk of around 500 feet from the Fortescue Falls car park area leads to the Fortescue Falls viewing area, from where a set of stairs, equipped with handrails, descends into the gorge. The trail continues further down some stepped rocks to the Fortescue Falls and the Circular Pool, offering spectacular views into the gorge and the large amphitheatre of the Circular Pool, lined with lush green ferns and trees.

From the base of the staircase on the Fortescue Falls walking trail, a short track of around 1000 feet leads upstream to the Fern Pool, adorned with its small twin waterfalls, which is one of the most beautiful spots in the park. A wooden deck at the edge of the pool helps the visitors as an easy access for swimming in the beautiful, shady pool. The Fern Pool has a special significance to the local Aboriginal people, who consider it as a sacred place, and humbly request the visitors to maintain peace and serenity of the area. The trail, linking one end of the Dales Gorge to the other along the gorge floor, has forested pockets, containing Fig Trees, Eucalyptus and Snappy Gums, and other trees.

However, although short, the trail through the stunning Hancock Gorge, comprising a steep descent, partly by ladders, scramble on uneven rocks, fording or swimming a submerged section of the gorge or crawling on hands and feet to go along through a narrow canyon to a natural amphitheatre and through the infamous Spider Walk, leading to the crystal green waters of Kermits Pool, is one of the most exciting, rewarding, as well as challenging trail in the park. Another short walk of about 10 minutes, descending through a section of rock towards a rough pathway, leads to the spectacular Joffre Lookout, a stunning natural amphitheatre with a spectacular curved seasonal Joffre Falls, from where the trail becomes more challenging to reach the pool at the base of the waterfall.

Among the others, the Weano Gorge is not a particularly deep gorge, but the track, especially the final drop leading to the spectacular pool below and known as the Handrail Pool, is almost like a cave in parts, accessible only by the handrails. The Oxer Lookout, located near the car park area, is worth for the magnificent views of the junction of the Red, Weano, Joffre and Hancock Gorges some 427 feet (130 m) below. Apart from that, the Hamersley Gorge, located in the north-west corner of the park, is the most remote of the gorges that offers an amazing view of folded bands of the coloured ancient rocks, with stepped waterfalls at the base, offering a revitalising spa treatment.

Karijini National Park is home to an exciting variety of wildflowers and native wildlife. Apart from the several types of grasslands and various open shrub layers especially by Acacia species, the park includes more than 500 species of native flora, which include Mulga on flats and hill slopes, Paperbark forests in gorges, along with White-barked Snappy Gum trees, Eucalyptus, Melaleucas, Fig trees clinging to cliff walls, and blankets of seasonal wildflower. The park also provides habitat for a wide range of native fauna, including insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Big animals in the park include Red Kangaroos, Common Wallaroo, also known as Euros, Rock-wallabies and Echidnas. The park is also home to several rarer species like the Pilbara Ningaui, resembling almost half the size of a house mouse.

The ideal time to visit Karijini National Park is during late autumn, winter and early spring, since day temperature in the area during the summer days often exceeds 40 °C (104 °F), when thunderstorms and cyclones are also common. While camping facility is available at Dales Campground, the Karijini Eco Retreat also offers deluxe tents and eco-cabins. The Karijini Visitor Centre, located off Banjima Drive in the eastern section, offering static and interactive displays about the incredible geology, plants and animals of Karijini, along with the culture of the Aboriginal people, is helpful for planning the tour of the visitors in the park area.