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 Bilungunha (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 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 Bilungunha (Hancock Gorge) and down to Junction Pool far below. From Oxer Lookout there are unsurpassed views of the junction of Weano, Red, Joffre and Bilungunha (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 Bilungunha (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.
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!
- Blue asbestos is present in Yampire and Wittenoom Gorges. Asbestos dust may cause cancer if inhaled.
- Stay back from cliff edges – they are about 100m high, often with loose rocks near the edge.
- Flash floods can occur – do not enter gorges if there is rain in the area. If it starts raining when you are in a gorge, leave immediately.
- The water in gorge pools can be extremely cold, especially between April and September; hypothermia can occur. Do not dive or jump into water.
- During summer, temperatures frequently top 40°C. Drink plenty of water at all times.
- Dingoes are common around Dales Campground. They may scavenge for food and can be aggressive. Do not feed dingoes, supervise children at all times, walk in groups and store food in your vehicle. Read more in the Be Dingo Aware fact sheet.
Gallery
Facilities
Toilet
Shade shelter
Picnic table
Lookout/Deck
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.
