The Cook Labor Government is launching a AU$21.2 million transformation of Karijini National Park, introducing new day-use areas, viewing facilities, and upgraded access roads.
Environment Minister Reece Whitby emphasized the park’s natural wonders, stating, “The breathtaking Karijini landscape has to be seen to be believed, with its cascading waterfalls, ancient deep gorges, and rich cultural history. There’s so much to take in that visitors should plan to explore Karijini over a couple of days, including camping in the park or glamping at the Karijini Eco Retreat.
Karijini National Park, known for its landscapes and rich cultural history, attracts over 650,000 visits annually, with peak visitation occurring between April and October. The upgrades aim to accommodate this influx of tourists and enhance the amenities at the park.
One of the upgrades is the sealing of 41 kilometers of access roads for two-wheel-drive vehicles. This improvement connects Weano Gorge, Karijini Eco Retreat, and Dales Gorge, making the park more accessible to a wider range of visitors and vehicles.
At Weano Gorge, visitors will find an additional 120 car park bays and 12 long-vehicle bays, complemented by new picnic facilities and toilets.
The Fortescue Falls day-use area adjacent to Dales Gorge has also been enhanced with new picnic facilities, providing visitors with comfortable spaces to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Other upgrades include the new cantilevered steel lookout extending over Knox Gorge.
Looking to the future, plans are underway for a new AU$2.5 million hike-and-cycle trail at Red Gorge. This addition, funded through the Cook Labor Government’s Outdoor and Adventure Tourism Package announced in April, will further diversify the recreational opportunities available within the park.
According to a press release, Rita Saffioti, tourism minister, highlighted the importance of maintaining attractions, noting, “Attractions and infrastructure are a critical part of tourism, and ensuring sites like Karijini National Park remain world-class is so important, so they can continue attracting hundreds of thousands of people a year. Importantly, these new facilities will have a positive flow-on effect to local operators, who rely on good infrastructure to keep attracting visitors.”
Regional Development Minister Don Punch also noted that the construction phase of the project directly supported 55 jobs and highlighted that the economic benefits are expected to continue as the new facilities attract more visitors to the Pilbara.
