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Coastline looking towards Kalbarri township by Warren Poole –

10 Remarquable Facts about Kalbarri National Park

The Kalbarri National Park is one of the best-known national parks in Western Australia, famous for its coastal cliffs and scenic gorges cutting through the white and red sandstones. The park covers about 1,830.05 square kilometers and surrounds the lower reaches of the Murchison River, which is the second-longest river in Western Australia. 

The Kalbarri National Park is situated about 485 kilometers north of Perth and between the towns of Geraldton and Carnarvon. The park, established in 1963, offers numerous activities, including fishing, boating, sightseeing, and snorkeling. 

The Kalbarri National Park is located in an inland desert region, most people visit the park between April and October when the weather is much cooler. The summer months are extremely hot, making hiking only possible in the early morning.

Here are 10 remarquable facts about Kalbari National Park.

1. The Kalbarri National Park protects the red and white banded sandstones

The Kalbarri National Park in Western Australia protects the red and white banded sandstones east of Kalbarri Town. The park is located in the state’s Mid-West region, about 485 kilometers from Perth.

It is bordered by the towns of Geraldton in the south and the Carnarvon in the north as well as by the Toolonga Nature Reserve in the southwest. 

2. The Kalbarri National Park and the Kalbarri Town comprise two distinct landscapes

Kalbarri National Park by Pulmoniru –

The northeastern part consists of gorges and ancient rock formations, while treacherous coastal cliffs near the Murchison River’s mouth characterize the southern section. 

The cliffs on the western edge are more than 100 meters high and are of varying shapes. The red and white banded tumblagooda sandstones, deposited over four hundred million years ago, are 1,300-3,500 meters thick. 

The Murchison River cuts through the sandstones to form 80 kilometer-long gorge known as the Murchison River Gorge.

3. The Kalbarri National Park experiences extremely high, especially during Summer

The park is located in the transition zone between semi-arid and Mediterranean climates. The National Park remains much cooler and receives moderate precipitation during the winter season. Temperatures in summer exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the inland area and 10 degrees Celsius higher along the coast. The town of Kalbarri experiences occasional storms during winter, while tropical storms are rare.

4. The Kalbarri National Park contains colorful wildflower species

Example of Flora in Kalbarri National Park by Findlay Osborn –

These species are including over 800 species that bloom between late winter and early summer. Most of these flowers bloom between August and September. 

The park has few plant species, with 21 species restricted to the gorges and cliff tops. The Kalbarri catspaw is a red or yellow plant common in August and September. 

Some orchids that can be seen in the park include the Murchison hammer orchid and Kalbarrispider orchid. The park also hosts one of the three known Beyeria species.

5. The Kalbarri National Park has numerous attractions on both coastal and inland parts

Besides the Murchison River gorge, the river cuts through the sandstones to form The Loop, Nature’s Window, Hawks Head, and Z-Bend. 

A pair of the Kalbarri Skywalks, perched on a clifftop, offers an incredible view of the national park and the gorge. The coastal area contains attractions like the Natural Bridge, Island Rock, Bigurda Boardwalk, Rainbow Valley, and Pot Alley.

6. The Kalbarri Skywalk offers the best view of the  Kalbarri National Park

Kalbarri Skywalk Platform Over the Murchison Gorge by Findlay Osborn –

To get the most spectacular views of Kalbarri National Park, venture up onto the Kalbarri Skywalk. This pair of 100-meter-high lookouts juts out by 25 meters and 17 meters respectively from the edge of Murchison Gorge.

Here, you can safely walk about and pick a vantage point you want, with the spectacular gorge and the beauty of nature all around you. The flat and level way to the Skywalk makes the area highly accessible.

7. The Kalbarri National Park has observation records for about 200 different animal species

The park area has observation records for about 200 different animal species in the interior of the park along the Murchison River. More than 400 species have been recorded near the coast and around the town of Kalbarri. The threatened tammar wallaby was observed previously in the area but not lately.

Approximately 150 bird species have been observed, mammal species, and reptile species including the thorny devil, the only observed amphibian is Günther’s toadlet and about 30 different arthropods have been recorded.  

8. Sightseeing is the most popular activity at the Kalbarri National Park

Kalbarri National Park by Pulmoniru –

The most popular activities are sightseeing, boating, fishing, picnicking, and bushwalking. Other activities include abseiling in the gorge and horseback riding, as well as scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, and swimming in the Indian Ocean at Red Bluff Beach and the small beach at Pot Alley.

From Kalbarri, there are scenic cruises along the Murchison River and flights over Kalbarri National Park. Construction of the two Kalbarri Skywalk platforms is now completed and offers expansive views of the Murchison River Gorge and Kalbarri National Park.

9. Water is not provided at the Kalbarri National Park

There are no campsites or other accommodations and no water available within the park boundaries. 

All overnight visitors must use the facilities in the town unless they are on a multi-day bushwalk or boat tour.

10. The  Kalbarri National park is open throughout the year

At the Kalbarri National Park, temperatures peak between December and April, at which point it can be up to 10° hotter in the gorges than in the town of Kalbarri.

Between May and August is the time when Kalbarri National Park received the most amount of rain, which can cause some closures but may also open up canoeing and kayaking opportunities through the Murchison River gorges.