Kalbarri, Western Australia. The jewel in the crown of the Coral Coast region, the town is located deep in one of Western Australia's most beautiful National Parks. Bounded by ocean to the west with soaring coastal cliffs and white, sandy beaches and split by the mighty Murchison River, the town is a great spot for your relaxing Australian holiday.
There is so much to do here, whether it be canoeing along the river, hiking the river gorges, fishing, surfing or even sunbathing on the beach, you will experience once-in-a-lifetime memories every day of your holiday.
Kalbarri is situated on the west coast of Australia's Coral Coast tourist region. Kalbarri faces west to the Indian Ocean on a rugged stretch of coastline. The Murchison River flows through Kalbarri with a major river mouth at the ocean. Deep gorges also follow the river's route.
Use the controls on the map (slide up), to zoom in for a detailed view.
Murchison River
Home to almost 200 species of birds including Sea and Wedge-Tailed Eagles. Hundreds of Black Swans also breed in the shallow pools. At it's mouth the river priovides a wonderful playground on the foreshore of the Kalbarri townsite. An ideal place to enjoy a more relaxing holiday
Nature's Window
Located in the heart of the Kalbarri National Park is this amazing and unique rock arch. Situated on the edge of a rather large cliff, the natural rock window provides a spectacular scene to view or photograph the river, 150m below. The feature has become an iconic symbol for Kalbarri
Spectacular Gorges
The rugged terrain of the Murchison River has carved deep gorges into the landscape. Coloured with vivid red rock contrasting with the lush green foliage of the vegetation and streaked with the blue waters of the river, these attributes combine to provide a really beautiful scene
Coastal Scenery
The coastal landscape at Kalbarri is shaped by a magnificent 13 kilometre stretch of coastal cliffs. Nature trails lead you along the coastal dunes to observe unique natural formations such as Mushroom Rock, Pot Alley, Eagle Gorge, Island Rock and The Natural Bridge
Experiencing a Mediterranean climate which is almost sub-tropical, Kalbarri has pleasant weather all year. Rainfall in the region is less than it's nearest cities such as Geraldton and it is hard to find a resident who owns an umbrella! The weather is perfect for a holiday resort town. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 35°C with an average minimum temperature of 16°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 21°C with an average minimum temperature of 9°C.
In 1839 Lieutenant George Grey, while attempting to explore North West Cape, was shipwrecked near the mouth of the Murchison. He was forced to walk back 500km to Perth and thus became the first white explorer to travel along the coastal strip of the Central West.
The area was settled intermittently through the late 19th century by miners and fishermen and in 1848 the Geraldine lead mine was opened up. Still, as recently as 1943, there were only a few crayfishermen living in the area and the township, was known simply as 'The Mouth of the Murchison'. The name of Kalbarri is derived from a local Aboriginal word which means 'seed'.
If you plan to holiday in Western Australia, the West-Oz e-Newsletter is a must read. Packed full of local information, promotions, links and photographs. Each issue is presented in an attractive, easy to read manner and is delivered to your e-mail, once per month.
