Kalbarri: River, Coast and National Park

Kalbarri offers river and coastal attractions, as well as places to visit in the nearby Kalbarri National Park. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kalbarri, you can start by choosing an area based on the activities that interest you: the Murchison River in the township, the coast, or trails and lookouts in the park. This can help you distinguish between places in town and destinations in the surrounding area when planning your stay.

River and coast

The Murchison River runs through the entire Kalbarri township and offers opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming and paddling. Jakes Point is a surf break and is recognised as a National Surfing Reserve. The wave is best suited to experienced surfers. Blue Holes is near Kalbarri; its sheltered swimming beach is also a Fish Habitat Protection Area and offers opportunities for snorkelling. The coastal attractions therefore differ: Jakes Point is known for its surf break and is recommended for experienced surfers, while swimming and snorkelling are the main attractions at Blue Holes.

The coastline from Wittecarra Beach south to Red Bluff is popular for beach fishing and offers 4WD access to the water within the Kalbarri township. The pelican feeding on the foreshore is another local attraction. The tradition began in 1975, when local fisherman Cliff Ross gave fish scraps to pelicans. The feeding is scheduled for 8:45 am; however, pelicans and volunteers may not be there every day of the year. If you plan to see it, check for current updates in advance.

Culture and the nearby national park

The Nanda are recognised as the Traditional Owners of Kalbarri National Park. The park covers 186,000 hectares and is in the area surrounding Kalbarri. All areas of the park are accessible by two-wheel-drive vehicles on sealed roads. A notable lookout is the Kalbarri Skywalk, 37 km from the town centre. It has two cantilevered viewing platforms suspended 100 metres above the gorge.

Trails along the river, coast and gorge

The Loop Walk in Kalbarri National Park is 9 km long and follows a circuit along the Murchison River; it also passes Nature’s Window. The Bigurda Trail is an eight-kilometre coastal walk in the national park’s trail network. The Ross Graham River Walk is a 700-metre circuit that leads to the Murchison River, where you can swim or paddle. The Z Bend River Trail descends through boulders and river gums into the gorge, all the way to the Murchison River.

The trail distances are easy to compare: 700 metres for the Ross Graham River Walk, eight kilometres for the Bigurda Trail and nine kilometres for the Loop Walk. Their described destinations also differ: river access on the Ross Graham Walk, coastal scenery on the Bigurda Trail, and a riverside circuit that passes Nature’s Window on the Loop Walk. The Z Bend River Trail, by contrast, descends into the gorge to the Murchison River. You can consider both distance and landscape when planning your outings.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cervantes, Clackline, Karratha, Chapman Hill, Manjimup, Yanchep, Bullsbrook, Roleystone.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.