Kalbarri town located on the Murchison River Estuary
A stunning sunset shot on the Murchison River Estuary
We came to this town, with its picturesque location on the estuary of the Murchison River, to discover that is was an ideal playground for all types of water sports such as swimming, kayaking, fishing or snorkelling in the aqua blue waters. Not only this, but we also discovered that the Kalbarri National Park, covering a staggering 186,000 hectares, was a short drive out of the town. The park has plenty to offer so we were dying to get out there to explore some of the deep Murchison River gorges.
Views over the River Gorge
Z-Bend River Gorge in the National Park
Walkway to Z-Bend Gorge Lookout
View looking straight down the Gorge
The iconic Nature’s Window
If you are a more adventurous and experienced walker, you can embark on a hike starting and ending at Nature’s Window. The 8 km loop track takes you through moderate to challenging terrain with spectacular scenery from the rim of the gorge.
The hiking track around the rim of the River Gorge
Sandy river bed at the bottom of the gorge
The red and white banded sandstone walls of the Gorge
At less than 600 kms north of Perth, Kalbarri National Park is achievable for those who would maybe like to experience some of Australia’s rugged countryside, rather than trek to North Western Australian and The Kimberley to see similar terrain. I was completely blown away by the magnitude and the splendour of these wonderful river gorges and Kalbarri town is a pretty little spot to idle away a few days or even a week.
Linking up with Travel Photo Thursday
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Anne
March 28, 2017I love Kalbarri, except for the flies!
Kathy
March 28, 2017Oh yeah I’d forgotten about the flies. They were pretty bad! Gorgeous place though. :)
Nina
March 28, 2017Hi Kathi, love the photos and such a good reminder to go back there again. I’ve seen a lot of coverage of Kalbarri on international travel websites recently and don’t think us West Aussies give this spectacular part of the state enough credit. I would recommend visiting in spring time during the wildflower season and check with the tourism office before you go, as parts of the national park have been closed for upgrades.
Kathy
March 28, 2017I would rate Kalbarri as one of the most astounding places I saw on our travels around Australia. Those coastal cliffs and the dramatic gorges were superb. Plus Kalbarri itself is a pretty little town with its location on the Murchison River estuary. We were there in Autumn, but would love to return to see the wildflowers in bloom in Spring. :)
Leanne
March 29, 2017Kalbarri is a favourite spot for us too – and I particularly remember the flies too! One year they were shocking, other times not so bad. I think mid Summer is the killer for them. The scenery is beautiful and majestic isn’t it?
Kathy
March 29, 2017Yes it was a very scenic spot. I really enjoyed our few days here. The flies were only bad out in the National Park at the river gorges. :)
budget jan
March 30, 2017We’ve been there in pre-blogging days and can’t wait to get back again. Natures Window is so impressive.
Kathy
March 30, 2017Kalbarri was one of the many highlights of our travels in WA. Nature’s Window simply took my breath away. I couldn’t believe how impressive these gorges were and the rock formations surrounding them. :)
Lyn aka TheTravelling Lindfields
April 2, 2017Great timing. We have a Coral Coast road trip planned for later in the year. I am going to add this to our itinerary.
Kathy
April 3, 2017You should definitely add Kalbarri to you itinerary Lyn. It is a fabulous spot. The coastal cliffs are also spectacular here. :)
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
April 3, 2017Nature’s Window is spectacular. I like both its formation and that it does indeed frame such a wonderful view. I can see why it’s so popular for photos. Looks like a great place for a hike.
Kathy
April 3, 2017It was a very popular spot for a photo opportunity the day we visited. The park has some spectacular terrain and is definitely worthy of spending a day here. :)
Jo
April 3, 2017WE visited Kalbarri in winter in 2009 and loved it. It was a great time for bicycling, although it was still hot in the gorge – we went canoeing which was fun. Your photos are lovely and brought back some great memories.
Kathy
April 3, 2017Thanks Jo. Kalbarri is a spectacular place. I remember how stunning the coastal cliffs were and how we saw massive pods of dolphins surfing in the sea from the top of the cliffs. We were also here in Winter and yes it was very hot in the gorge.
Ruth
April 4, 2017This place is breathtaking! Love the rawness of the place, the colors and the river. Reminds me a lot of the landscapes in the Colorado Plateau. Would be fantastic to visit.
Kathy
April 4, 2017There is a lot of rawness about Kalbarri. The initial post I wrote about this place in 2014 described it as being a kaleidoscope of colours. I could imagine it being similar to the Colorado Plateau. :)