Joffre Falls

Joffre Falls is a seasonal waterfall on the western side of Karijini National Park. It spills over step-like red cliffs into a dark pool, making a curved natural amphitheatre; farther down, the gorge narrows over smooth black rock. This is the gorge-floor visit, separate from the rim lookout. Keep it on your list for the shape and scale of the gorge, even if the falls are dry. They are most impressive after rain.

From the main car park, follow the marked route into the gorge to the first pool below the waterfall. The return walk is about 1.5 km and two hours. That short distance hides a rough outing: expect rock-slab scrambling, a creek crossing and ladders. Some visitors report wet, slippery footing and wading, so the effort can change with conditions. If you mainly want the view, use the separate rim lookout instead; its uneven rock-step approach is much shorter, about 20 minutes return, and it is not the descent to the pool. A path from Karijini Eco Retreat also reaches the gorge.

Don't enter the gorge if rain is in the area, and leave straight away if rain starts while you're inside: flash floods can arrive quickly. Gorge pools can be extremely cold, especially from April to September, and diving or jumping is not allowed. Swimming is listed here, but it depends on safe conditions and the state of the pool; visitors sometimes find the water low or stagnant. Picnic tables and shelters are at the main car park, so sort out your food and anything you need before heading down.

The cliff faces reach about 50 metres. From above, the amphitheatre's curved ledges and the pool at their base give you the clearest sense of the whole bowl; from gorge level, the dark water and smooth black rock stand out against the red walls. For a photo from the rim, keep the pool in the frame so the cliffs don't lose their scale. Flow varies with rain, so don't plan around seeing a cascade.

Karijini is the Banyjima name for the Hamersley Range. Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga people are the park's Traditional Owners. Their land-management practices, including fire-stick farming, have shaped the park's varied vegetation and its succession over time.