Dales Campground

Dales Campground is a large, unpowered bush campground on Dales Road, close to Dales Gorge, Fern Pool, Fortescue Falls and Circular Pool. Stay here if you want time for those gorge walks and swimming stops; it is a remote, low-service camp rather than a powered holiday park. Book early, especially from June to September, when demand is high. There are 153 compacted-gravel sites across six areas, and they vary in size, so check the booking map for your tent, caravan or vehicle before choosing.

There is no drinking water, mains power or rubbish collection, and no showers at camp. The facilities are no-flush pit toilets and a chemical-toilet dump station. Bring food, fuel and water, and carry your rubbish out. Fee showers are available at the Karijini Visitor Centre, 12 km away; sheltered picnic tables are at Dales Picnic Area, 1 km away, rather than at the campground.

Campfires and dogs are not allowed. Generators are permitted only in designated areas. Dingoes are common: keep food in your vehicle and supervise children around camp.

The sites are compacted gravel and vary in size; the firm ground can make tent pegs difficult. Visitor reports often praise the space and location, but this is a simple campground, not a full-service stay. Its payoff is having Dales Gorge and the eastern pools close by. The gorge cuts roughly 100 m deep into the range, and spring-fed Fortescue Falls drops more than 20 m over natural rock steps into a fern-lined pool.

Karijini is far from town services, so arrive with enough water, food, fuel and first-aid supplies. November to April is cyclone season, December to April can be very hot, and storms are common from May to October. The gorge pools can be very cold, especially from April to September, and flash floods can make gorge access dangerous; stay out of the gorges when rain is nearby.