New Karijini infrastructure improves access while protecting a fragile gorge environment
A major upgrade at one of Karijini National Park’s most popular attractions is making visiting easier, while helping manage growing pressure on the park’s fragile gorge environment.
A $2.1 million program of works at Knox Gorge has been completed, delivering a new accessible pathway and raised steel boardwalk to Knox Gorge Lookout, as well as an expanded carpark, new toilets and upgraded picnic facilities.
The new infrastructure provides safer, more sustainable access for a broader range of visitors, including wheelchair users. This approach is increasingly important in the Pilbara’s Karijini, where spectacular landscapes, ancient geology and sensitive natural areas attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Funded via the Royalties for Regions Karijini National Park Improvement Project and Outdoor Adventure Tourism Red Gorge Trail Project, the upgrading forms part of a broader program of investment across Karijini National Park. Previous works have included the new Knox Gorge Lookout and the sealing of 41 kilometres of road between Weano Gorge, Karijini Eco Retreat and Dales Gorge, improving access for two-wheel-drive vehicles.
While better access can bring significant benefits for tourism and local communities, carefully designed infrastructure is also an important conservation tool.
Planning continues on the proposed Red Gorge Trail, one of the next major visitor infrastructure projects planned for Karijini, and environmental and cultural heritage surveys are currently underway.
