Fern Pool, Karijini National Park: Swimming safety & the walk

One of the top sights in Western Australia’s Karijini National Park, Fern Pool is broadly safe to swim in and free from crocodiles. It’s an uneven 300 metre walk from the Fortescue Falls car park in Dales Gorge.

Fern Pool is one of the star attractions in Karijini National Park, Western Australia. Also known as Jubara, this spectacular outback swimming hole is fed by a natural spring.

It is also surrounded by red rocks and ferns, hence the name.

Where is Fern Pool?

Fern Pool is within Dales Gorge in the rumpled Karijini National Park. It is one of the easiest swimming spots to reach within the national park, but that doesn’t mean it’s close to anywhere. The Fortescue Falls Car Park, which is the nearest parking spot to Fern Pool, is a 106km drive from Tom Price and a 205km drive from Newman. It is theoretically accessible in a conventional vehicle, but 4WD vehicles are recommended.

Alternatively, you could stay overnight in the Dales Campground, which is next to the Fortescue Falls car park.

Fern Pool walk

From the Fortescue Falls car park it’s only a 300 metre walk to Fern Falls, although it’s not an especially easy 300 metres. The walk is upstream along the gorge floor, and the surface is uneven.

Once there, however, Fern Pool is fairly user-friendly. There’s a platform with a ladder leading down into the pool.

Swimming at Fern Pool: Are there crocodiles?

Don’t worry, there aren’t any crocodiles at Fern Pool. Karijini National Park is way too far inland for crocs to come this far into the Pilbara. You can expect a few fish to join you in the pool, however. Some may nibble at your feet.

It is wild swimming, so it’s not entirely safe to swim in the pool. But the vast majority of people should experience no difficulties other than the water being colder than they might expect.

If there has been heavy rainfall, however, don’t go in as the gorges of Karijini National Park are subject to flash flooding.

What to do in Dales Gorge

Other sights in Dales Gorge include Fortescue Falls – the only permanent waterfall in Karijini – and harder to reach swimming hole Circular Pool. The Gorge Rim Walk can also be highly enjoyable.

Elsewhere in Karijini National Park, Hamersley Gorge makes for spectacular photography.

Accommodation options near Karijini National Park include the Karijini Eco Retreat and the Tom Price Tourist Park.