Skip to main content
Western Australian State Government Logo
Parks and Wildlife Service logo
Explore Parks logo
English Dutch French German Italian Portuguese Russian Spanish

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Explore WA's parks

    All parks

    Park Finder Map

    Attractions and places to visit

    Trails

    Regions of WA

    • Australia's South West
    • Australia's Coral Coast
    • Australia's North West
    • Australia's Golden Outback
    • Destination Perth
  • Experiences
  • Activities
  • Know before you go

    Know before you go

    Get the practical ‘know how’ to adventure into Western Australia’s national parks confidently, responsibly and safely.

    Safety

    Natural area hazards

    Plan your activity

    Be prepared

    Travelling in remote locations

    Bushfires and prescribed burns

    Bushwalking safety

    Camping safety

    Mountain biking safety

    Swimming safety

    Adventure safety

    Beaches and coastal areas

    Rivers, lakes and lagoons

    Fishing, boating, paddling, snorkelling and diving

    Access friendly places

    Access to nature north of Perth

    Access to nature south of Perth

    Access to trails

    Caring for our parks

    Marine conservation

    Fees

    Park entry fees

    Park passes

    Camping fees

    Attraction fees

    Other fees

    Concessions

    Fee waivers

    Camping

    Where and when to camp

    Campground facilities

    Campfires, firewood and cooking appliances

    Powered campsites and generators

    Group camping

    Online campsite booking terms and conditions

    Current campfire conditions

    Campgrounds availability for non-bookable campgrounds

    When to go

    Adventure activities

    Drones in parks

    Tours and accommodation

    Conducting an event in a park

    Pets in parks

    Getting around

    Park visitor guides, maps and itineraries

    Park visitor guides

    Aboriginal cultural heritage in parks

  • Get inspired
  • Where to stay
  • Park alerts

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Karijini National Park
  3. Weano Recreation Area

Weano Recreation Area

We recognise and acknowledge Banyjima, Innawonga and Kurrama people as the traditional owners of Karijini National Park.

Spectacular gorges with panoramic views and unique walking experiences close to picnic areas.

No dogs

Park entry fee

Weano Recreation Area
Amanda Smith

About this place

Weano picnic area has an information shelter, toilets and shaded seating and barbecue facilities and is the base from which to spend a day experiencing this popular section of the park. Weano and Hancock gorges and some of the best photographic opportunities in Karijini are all close by. Whether you want to enjoy breathtaking views, swim, explore the amazing gorges or rest among the spinifex and snappy gums, Weano is the place.

Weano Gorge is perhaps the most accessible gorge in Karijini. But this makes it no less spectacular and beautiful. Around the top of the gorge there are relatively easy walks accessible from the picnic area. For the less adventurous, the Upper Weano Gorge Trail is Class 4. For the adventurous, Weano Gorge also offers a challenging Class 5 scramble over boulders and through narrow passages and wading through pools to Handrail Pool.

Junction Pool Lookout gives views up Hancock Gorge and down to Junction Pool far below. From Oxer Lookout there are unsurpassed views of the junction of Weano, Red, Joffre and Hancock gorges. You can see the tiers of banded iron formation that tower over a pool at the bottom of the gorge. From here, the sheer enormity and grandeur of the gorges is evident.

The walk down into Hancock Gorge has been described as a ‘journey to the centre of the earth’ with walls twisting and turning, reaching vertical and closing in on both sides. It can be explored as far as Kermit’s Pool by experienced walkers with a high level of fitness.

Oxer and Junction Pool lookouts trail

Follow the formed trail from the information shelter to the Junction Pool Lookout trailhead sign. The short sloping trail down to Junction Pool Lookout and on to Oxer Lookout is Class 3. There is a small car park closer to the lookouts if required. The walk trail from Junction Pool Lookout to Oxer Lookout is narrow with loose surface, minor obstacles and a series of steps, so please take care. Distance: 800m return Time: Allow at least 30 minutes Difficulty: Class 2 and 3 See more details at Trails WA.

Upper Weano Gorge

From the Weano car park follow the formed trail for 450m before descending the slope to the valley floor. Make your way along the bottom of the gorge until you reach a large pool, popular for swimming. Take a break before climbing the steps up out of the gorge to reach the Oxer and Junction Pool lookouts trail.

  • Distance: 1km return
  • Difficulty: Class 4
  • Time: Allow at least 45 minutes

Lower Weano Gorge to Handrail Pool

From the Weano car park follow the trail to the edge of the Weano Gorge, then down the steep, irregular steps to the bottom. Here, high walls of rock tower above you. As the gorge narrows, the trail changes from Class 3 to Class 5. Take care as you negotiate the slippery rocks on your climb down to the chilly waters of Handrail Pool. Enjoy the view of the cavern from above the pool and turn back if you don’t think you can make it back up. Please tell the ranger if you intend to walk further than Handrail Pool.

  • Distance: 1km return
  • Difficulty: Class 5
  • Time: Allow 1 hour

Hancock Gorge – Kermit’s Pool

This trail is for very experienced walkers and a high level of fitness and agility is required. From the car park, walk to the top of the ladder that descends into Hancock Gorge. If you decide to descend the ladder into the gorge, make sure you read all of the Hancock Gorge information first. Climb carefully down the ladder and walk downstream toward Kermit’s Pool. You will need footwear suitable for walking through water and gripping slippery wet rocks. You must return the way you came. Turn back if you think the return trip is too difficult for you or your companions.

  • Distance: 1.5km return
  • Difficulty: Class 5
  • Time: Allow 2 hours
Back to Karijini National Park

Safety information

Plan when to visit. Consider travelling with a personal location beacon (PLB). In the event you need to be rescued it could save your life!

Gallery

Image
light at the end of the gorge with reflecton on the pool of water in the foreground
Weano Recreation Area
Amanda Smith

Image
interpretive sign on the hand rails of oxer lookout
Weano Recreation Area
Kevin Smith

Image
river flowing through rocky landscape
Weano Recreation Area
Kevin Smith

Image
water cascading down rock wall into a pool of water
Weano Recreation Area
Amanda Smith

Image
someone climbing up the ladder at hancock gorge
Weano Recreation Area
Amanda Smith

Image
a lone white barked sapling on the edge of a gorge wall
Weano Recreation Area
Kevin Smith

Facilities

Lookout/Deck

Picnic table

Shade shelter

Toilet

Activities

Bushwalking

Swimming

Plants, wildlife and fungi

Visit the Atlas of Living Australia for a list of species recorded within a 5km radius of Weano Recreation Area.

Traditional Owners

The park is the traditional home of the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal people. The Banyjima name for the Hamersley Range is Karijini. Aboriginal land management practices, such as 'fire stick farming', resulted in a diversity of vegetation types and stages of succession that helped determine the nature of the plants and animals found in the park today. 

We recognise and acknowledge Banjima, Innawongka and Eastern Guruma people as the traditional owners of Karijini National Park.

Need to know

No dogs

No pets allowed

Park entry fees apply

Standard park entry fees apply for Karijini National Park.

Site access

Access to both upper & lower Weano Gorge involves a 1km (45 min to 1 hour return) hike and is only suited to experienced and fit walkers.

Parking

There are no designated accessible parking bays, but there's ample set-down room and space to accommodate visitors with reduced mobility. 

Toilets

Toilets are available.
  • Wheelchair accessible

A concrete path (12m long) with a maximum gradient of 9.3° (gradients generally less than 5°) leads from the edge of the gravel parking area to the toilet entrance. The nearest parking area approximately 25m from the toilet.

 

Accessibility

More accessibility information for Weano Recreation Area

Park office / Contact

Karratha Parks and Wildlife Office

(08) 9182 2000
karratha@dbca.wa.gov.au

Location

Australia's North West
Pilbara
Tom Price

Trails

Oxers Lookout, Karijini NP

Oxers Lookout

.5km
View this trail
Handrail Pool, Weano Gorge, Karijini NP

Handrail Pool

1.5km
View this trail

Acknowledgement of Country

The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional owners throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.

Connect with us

Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions logo
Parks and Wildlife Service logo
Explore Parks logo

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Explore WA's parks

    All parks

    Park Finder Map

    Attractions and places to visit

    Trails

    Regions of WA

    • Australia's South West
    • Australia's Coral Coast
    • Australia's North West
    • Australia's Golden Outback
    • Destination Perth
  • Experiences
  • Activities
  • Know before you go

    Know before you go

    Get the practical ‘know how’ to adventure into Western Australia’s national parks confidently, responsibly and safely.

    Safety

    Natural area hazards

    Plan your activity

    Be prepared

    Travelling in remote locations

    Bushfires and prescribed burns

    Bushwalking safety

    Camping safety

    Mountain biking safety

    Swimming safety

    Adventure safety

    Beaches and coastal areas

    Rivers, lakes and lagoons

    Fishing, boating, paddling, snorkelling and diving

    Access friendly places

    Access to nature north of Perth

    Access to nature south of Perth

    Access to trails

    Caring for our parks

    Marine conservation

    Fees

    Park entry fees

    Park passes

    Camping fees

    Attraction fees

    Other fees

    Concessions

    Fee waivers

    Camping

    Where and when to camp

    Campground facilities

    Campfires, firewood and cooking appliances

    Powered campsites and generators

    Group camping

    Online campsite booking terms and conditions

    Current campfire conditions

    Campgrounds availability for non-bookable campgrounds

    When to go

    Adventure activities

    Drones in parks

    Tours and accommodation

    Conducting an event in a park

    Pets in parks

    Getting around

    Park visitor guides, maps and itineraries

    Park visitor guides

    Aboriginal cultural heritage in parks

  • Get inspired
  • Where to stay
  • Park alerts

Footer

  • Privacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Copyright
  • Parks and Wildlife Service
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2022 Government of Western Australia. All rights reserved.

Back to top