The Pilbara
Karijini's gorge country and the iron-red heart of WA's northwest.
1 caravan park
The Pilbara is best known for Karijini National Park — Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool, Dales Gorge and Hancock Gorge draw caravanners from across the state each dry season. The approach roads to Karijini's main camping areas are graded gravel but manageable for most caravans in good conditions; it's the gorge walks themselves, not the driving, that demand fitness and care (several require rock-scrambling and are not suitable for young kids or anyone with mobility concerns).
Facilities inside the park are deliberately basic — no power, no phone reception, bring everything you need for a self-sufficient stay. The nearest full-service towns (Tom Price, Newman) are worth stocking up in before heading in, and worth planning around if you need a mechanic or a proper supermarket run.
Winter (May–August) is the only sensible touring window — Pilbara summer heat is genuinely dangerous for gorge walking, with several heat-related rescues most seasons. Book ahead for July school holidays, when the park is at its busiest.
Caravan parks in The Pilbara
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Common questions about The Pilbara
- Do I need 4WD to visit Karijini?
- Most caravans can manage the graded access roads to the main camping areas in good conditions. The gorge walks themselves are on foot, and some (Hancock Gorge, Kermits Pool) are genuinely strenuous scrambles rather than casual strolls.
- Is there phone reception or power in Karijini?
- No — the main campground has no power and mobile coverage, so plan to be fully self-sufficient (water, food, charged devices, a paper map) and let someone know your itinerary before you go in.
Bec travels solo in a Troopcarrier with a camper on the back, chasing empty free camps and dark skies across the top end and the Kimberley. She writes about self-sufficiency: water, solar, staying legal and staying safe a long way from the nearest town.
Solo traveller; Troopy + off-road camper; 5 years remote WA/NT