Between Exmouth and Geraldton you will find the Kalbarri
National Park. This is one of the most spectacular
destinations for a relaxing holiday on the beach combined
with the adventure and rugged beauty of the adjoining gorges
and bushwalks of the national park. It will take you close
to five or six hours to travel here from Perth, but the long
coastal stretch is just as enjoyable with so many beautiful
places to rest and enjoy the views.
The winding Murchison River takes you into magnificent
scenery, and there is every imaginable type of bird and
marine life to enjoy. This is ideal for a driving
holiday, with plenty of spots to set up for the night, and
endless views and driving stretches that will take your
breath away.
One of the best times to visit is between September and
November, as the wildflowers are prolific and temperatures
are lower. The heat rises in December to March to over
40C, and the autumn months of April to May drop back down to
25C. The winter months bring rain June through July.
Now that you have arrived, where do you begin? There are
plenty of accommodation options, with the Murchison Camping
Park nestled in central Kalbarri with great views of the
Murchison River as well as the Indian Ocean. You might want
to enjoy the short walks around town, and get to know the
locals before you head further out.
Most of the year myriads of wildflowers sweep through the
national park. With so many species to choose from, you could
spend an entire day marvelling at their beauty so common to
Western Australia.
Enjoy the solitude of the beach and maybe hire a boat for
some fishing or to explore the river. There are all types
of water sports available here or you can grab a book, find
a private spot and keep your eye out of whales and dolphins
which frequent this area. A great idea is to hire a push
bike and ride along the coastal road to enjoy the scenery up
front. Then enjoy a swim before you head home in one of the
pretty bays. The pelican feeding at dusk is also popular
for locals and tourists.
The coastal gorges have to be seen to be believed. The most
amazing is the Natural Bridge and Island Rock, which is now
a sea stack standing alone and surrounded by the ocean.
Rainbow Valley is named for its beautiful colours from the
compacted sands and silts. Eagle Gorge offers a fantastic
beach below, and Pot Alley and Shellhouse are all equally
as mesmerising with panoramic views. Spreading for
kilometres along the coastline is Red Bluff, which are
rugged coastal cliffs that go on endlessly, creating an
incredible vista. There is also a two hour walking trail
from Mushroom Rock.
Pack a decent picnic lunch and experience some of the inland
gorges of the Kalbarri which are also accessible by
campervan. Nature’s Window, aptly named for its sheer
natural beauty, is a natural rock arch which is a great
place to stop and enjoy the views. Hawkes Head Lookout has
impressive views of the gorge, and Ross Graham lookout is
very easy to reach with pretty river rock pools just below.
As you cross deeper into the national park you will see why
this region has been protected so carefully, so that
travellers can enjoy its treasures for years to come. Be
careful as some of these roads are not sealed so check in
town before you head out.
You won’t want to leave the Kalbarri paradise. Its
spectacular scenery is some of the best in the world, and
there is so much to do by the sea or on land. You will
return home feeling refreshed and invigorated by the
incredible views, bush walks and activities offered here.
Kalbarri promises an amazing driving holiday and is
fantastic as a weekend getaway or a destination in itself.
Jenny Brewer 2007
Photograph: Craig Taylor
