Best trails in Kalbarri National Park, Australia

Nature's Window, a wind-eroded opening in the layered sandstone, frames a view of the river. It is a moderate 800 metre return walk from the carpark. Keen and well prepared walkers can continue further into the gorge system and complete the eight kilometre Loop Trail - a challenging but spectacular walk. Along the way you'll pass vantage points that provide different perspectives on the switchback course of the Murchison River. The geology of the area is fascinating. The thinly bedded, red and white banded rocks through most of the river gorge were deposited millions of years ago on tidal flats. Rippled surfaces can be seen around Nature's Window. The ripples were formed during ancient times by waves moving over tidal flats in a shallow sea. Some beds in overhangs at The Loop look as if they have been riddled by plant roots, and often have a 'can of worms' appearance. These are burrows left by worms sheltering in the sand. Tracks and trails on flat surfaces show where animals crawled across the damp sedimentary surface. There are toilets, a picnic shelter and a gas barbecue at this popular day use site.Show more

Kalbarri National Park, covering an area of 183,004 hectares, was formally gazetted in 1963. The park is located on the lower reaches of the Murchison River, which has cut magnificent red and white banded gorges for 80 kilometres, as it carves its way to the sea. Featuring spectacular coastline of limestone and sandstone cliffs over 100 metres high, the park has a range of bushwalks, lookouts and picnic areas for you to enjoy. Kalbarri is also famous for its wildflowers, most of which bloom from late July through spring and into early summer. The species-rich heathlands provide a spectacular floral display. There are vivid gold and orange banksias, grevilleas in white, yellow and red, green and red kangaroo paws, featherflowers in many coloured shades, smoke bushes, starflowers and many more. Sightseeing, rafting, canoeing, fishing, picnicking and bushwalking are the most popular activities in the park.Show more

A moderately easy 500m walk from the car park takes you to the Z-Bend, a rock lookout which overhangs the Murchison River. Visitors with a good level of fitness can also hike down into the gorge and access the river's edge. At the carpark there is a gas barbecue, picnic shelter and toilets.Show more

This trail combines two great walks in the park, it descends down to the river and then heads back again with a bit of climbing need to get up the rocks and the well-maintained ladders. Some scrambling is required due to loose rocks. The scenery is amazing with a mix of red rocks, trees perched in-between and the water that flows through the z bend of the gorge that creates a photogenic contrast of colours. Even more so when the wildflowers are in bloom, and there some flowers that are only found in the park, like the Kalbarri Spider Orchid. Show more

This is a great place for a picnic, while taking in the stunning natural surroundings. There are two lookouts, a toilet and picnic shelter, all of which have disabled access. The cliff-top lookouts are a great place for spotting a wide variety of marine life including whales and dolphins. The resilient Island Rock was once part of the shoreline, but now stands as a solitary 'sea stack'. Viewing platforms a short distance from the carpark provide spectacular views of this geological oddity. Natural Bridge is also the southern trailhead for the Bigurda Trail, an eight kilometre walk linking the coastal sites of Island Rock, Shellhouse Grandstand, and Eagle Gorge.Show more

A short path leads to a lookout providing expansive views over the Murchison River Gorge. The toilets, picnic shelter and lookout at Hawks Head have disabled access.Show more

This lookout was named after the first headmaster of the local school. He was a passionate advocate for the need to protect the Murchison River gorges within a national park. A 350 metre trail leads from the carpark to the river pools, making this the easiest place in the national park to access the river. This day use site has toilets and a picnic shelter.Show more

Continual pounding by the Indian Ocean claims massive chunks of this soft limestone coast, leaving remnant cliff formations. The cliffs glow in the late afternoon as the setting sun shines on the sandstone rock faces.Show more

The trails name, Bigurda, comes from the name in the local language Nanda for a small kangaroo. This trail starts at Eagle Gorge and follows the coast to the Natural Bridge, it is a sandy trail for most of its length but once you arrive at Island Rock Lookout it changes to a mix red paved path and boardwalk. There is the chance to spot dolphins and whales from clifftops plus there are colourful wildflowers during winter and spring. It could be a point to point, but you would need to arrange for a drop-off and pick up.Show more