07 Feb Kalbarri Adventure

DISTANCE FROM PERTH: 580kms / approx 6hrs driving 

Adventure awaits in Kalbarri, it is a great is a great Western Australian town to explore and visit because its no too far from Perth. Kalbarri gives you a real taste of Australian the landscape. As a kid exploring with the family way back when, I never appreciated how beautiful it was. However now, as an adult it was amazing exploring the national park. Little did we know what our Kalbarri adventure would hold! Scrambling for hours along the rocks and gorges by the running water.

If you want a little outback Australian Adventure Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia should be on the list to visit.

Kalbarri Town

Kalbarri town is a quaint, simple and your typical coastal town that sits at the mouth of the Murchison River. It historically has seen many ship wrecks along the rugged coast line over the centuries dating back to 1629. In the not so distant past Kalbarri was also a booming fishing and crayfishing town. Although that has settled down now due to fishing restrictions, Kalbarri still boasts some amazing tourist attractions and tourism is now the main attraction bringing people to Kalbarri.

The town itself offers everything you need (pub, IGA, servo, bakery, a few restaurants etc). The town bay is very lovely and perfect for children or a retired couple because it’s quite protected and has no waves so great for sandcastle building or a picnic by the water. Plus apparently the fishing is not to bad at the mouth of the Murchison river. We didn’t throw a line in but we definitely will next time we go.

What to do in Kalbarri

If you are looking for a little adventure on your break, Kalbarri has loads to offer, in the National Park. The Kalbarri Cliff Walk “Bigurda Trail” is quite spectacular to enjoy the rugged coast line and the steep cliffs.

Hut Lagoon (Pink Lake) Port Gregory would be one of Western Australia’s most instagramed spots, which is a pink salt lake half an hr south of Kalbarri. Worth a visit for the gram.

You can try you luck for some bream fishing in the Murchison River, or go for a kayak or SUP down the Murchison to explore some of the small gorges along the banks.  

If you have some spare cash lying around the fishing is apparently amazing so you can grab a charter and head out to sea or go on a scenic flight because the the landscape from above is epic.

Kalbarri National Park

Kalbarri is mostly well known because of the national park and the epic gorges that were formed 400 million years ago. The national park has plenty of walks and hikes both long, short, easy and advanced. All are definitely worth the time pending your physical fitness and capabilities. The gorges are only 100 – 150m deep.

Most people flock to “natures window” but we by-passed that because it was super busy. 

To get into the gorge is easy, you have to follow the path and scramble down into the gorge. Then you can just wander along the gorge as far as you like and go for a swim if there is water in the river… we spent about 3 hours wandering around and it was just amazing, every turn offers a spectacular view.

It’s crazy to think that each line of the gorge represents a century (or more) as the rock sediments formed, centimeters at a time.

The newly built “Sky Walk” offers the best literature on how the gorges are formed and gives you a time frame, which was quite interesting, if that’s your thang.  It does require a minimal level of fitness getting up and down the gorge and rocks but you would hopefully expect that and be careful. 

There is also the cliff walk which is a 9km loop which will have to wait for next time as we ran out of time for that. So if you have time it looked amazing and definitely worth it if you have the fitness level or any interest in the hike. If you do plan of visiting the national park make sure you visit in the morning, it can get very hot out there. Bring plenty of water and do your exploring early. 

There is an entry fee to the park, however the money goes back towards looking after the park and updating the facilities so its always nice to know you are giving back to the place you are there to enjoy. 

WHERE WE STAYED

• Murchison House Station (is only available during April to Sep/Oct)

OTHER PLACES TO STAY

• Kalbarri Beach Resort
• Caravan parks in town
• Air bnb’s or Chalets. 

OFF GRID CAMPING

• Lucky Bay, beach camping just south of Kalbarri.
• Murchison House Station 4wd option.

WHAT TO DO/SEE

• Skywalk, Z Bend Gorge hike, Fishing charter, 4wd, kayaking, hiking, relaxing.

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