Karijini National Park

It's climate can be described as tropical semi-desert. The mainly summer rainfall of 250-350 mm is often associated with thunderstorms and cyclones and temperatures can frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Winter days are warm and clear, but nights are cold and sometimes frosty. The ideal times to visit the park are late autumn, winter and early spring.

In the northern area of Karijini NP, the usually dry small creeks drop from the rolling country-side into sheer-sided chasms up to 100 metres deep. These are the park's famous gorges. They are spectacular but can be extremely dangerous. Further downstream, the gorges widen and their sides change from sheer cliffs to steep slopes of loose rock.

Every gorge is different, and each one is worth a visit. At Oxers Lookout, the junction of Weano, Red, Hancock and Joffre Gorges, tiers of banded rock tower over a pool at the bottom of the gorge. Dales Gorge is another well known spot. To explore these gorges you must be fit and prepared to submerge in near-freezing water, follow narrow paths and cling to rock ledges.

The Park is the traditional home of the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal people, with evidence of their early occupation dating back more than 20,000 years.