| Karijini National Park Western Australia | |
|---|---|
 Dales Gorge | |
  Karijini National Park | |
 | |
| Nearest town or city | Tom Price |
| Coordinates | 22°29′46″S 118°23′50″E / 22.49611°S 118.39722°E |
| Established | 1969 |
| Area | 6,274.22 km2 (2,422.5 sq mi)[1] |
| Visitation | 166,000 (in 2009)[2] |
| Managing authorities | Department of Parks and Wildlife (Western Australia) |
| Website | Karijini National Park |
| See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
Karijini National Park is an Australian national park centred in the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region in the northwestern section of Western Australia. The park is located north of the Tropic of Capricorn, 1,055 kilometres (656 mi) from the state's capital city, Perth. Formerly known as Hamersley Range National Park, the park was officially renamed in 1991.[3]
At 627,422 hectares (1,550,390 acres), Karijini is the second largest national park in Western Australia (behind Karlamilyi National Park), with rock formations that are estimated at 2.5 billion years old. The ideal time to visit Karijini National Park is between May and September, during Australia's late autumn, winter and early spring. The days are warm but the nights are cold. Summer temperatures which regularly reach in excess of 38 °C (100 °F)[contradictory] make it less practical to visit, with added risk of bushfires.
The park is physically split into a northern and a southern half by a corridor containing the Hamersley and Robe River railway and the Marandoo iron ore mine.[4] Tourist attractions such as gorges and waterfalls are located in the northern half of the park, accessible via sealed and gravel roads. There are no sealed access roads in the southern half.
The park is served by the Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) located 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Karijini National Park and Newman Airport (ZNE) is 263 kilometres (163 mi) from Karijini National Park. Hire cars are available from both airports. Solomon Airport, located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the west services some of the nearby iron ore mines.
- ^ "Australia's North West › Pilbara › Karijini National Park › Welcome (tab)". Explore Parks WA. Department of Parks and Wildlife. 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ ABC: Karijini National Park visitor numbers drop, 13 October 2010
- ^ Department of Conservation and Land Management; National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority (1999). "Karijini National Park Management Plan No. 40" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ Australia Road and 4WD Atlas, publisher: HEMA maps, published: 2007, page: 86-87