The Ultimate Top Things To Do in Kalbarri Western Australia in 2023

If you are looking for what to do in Kalbarri, this local’s travel guide provides all the information you need to plan your holiday, plus a list of activities and the top things to do in Kalbarri, Western Australia.

Kalbarri is a popular destination for tourists and locals who want a Perth Getaway with fun, adventure, and natural beauty. You won’t be stuck for natural attractions with the Murchison River, Indian Ocean, and National Park all close by.

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Top Things To Do in Kalbarri

You can do as much or as little as you like in this coastal town, but here are some of the top things to do in Kalbarri:

• Stop in at the Kalbarri Visitor Centre
• Watch the feeding of the pelicans
• Hike the Natures Window and Loop Trail
• See the views from the Z Bend Lookout
• Hike the Z Bend Trail
• Check the views out at Hawk’s Head, Ross Graham, and Meanarra Hill Lookouts
• Be amazed at Kalbarri Skywalk
• Hike or drive along Kalbarri National Park Coast
• Abseil
• Take a scenic flight
• Visit the Pink Lake
• Enjoy a Kalbarri wilderness cruise
• Enjoy a sunset river cruise
• Hire a boat on the Murchison River
• Relax or have fun with watersports on one of the beaches
• Surf
• Hire a quad bike
• Try to catch your dinner
• Book a whale watching tour

Kalbarri Visitor Centre

Your first stop should be the Visitor Centre at 70 Grey Street. It is open Monday to Saturday 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday and limited Public holidays 9 am – 1 pm. Check directly for any seasonal changes.

The friendly staff will provide you with up-to-date information on the area, tours, and accommodation.

Feeding of the Pelicans

Every morning at 8.45, volunteers feed the local Pelicans on the Kalbarri foreshore opposite Murchison Caravan Park.

The Pelican feeding is a free event, but they do ask for a gold coin donation (totally worth it).

The kids also get to feed the pelicans with the help of the volunteers.

We arrived at 8:30 and got seated fine, but there weren’t any left by 8:45.

Allow 30 minutes for this activity.

Kalbarri National Park Inland Gorge

Kalbarri National Park covers 186,000 hectares – there are two landscapes: the inland gorges and the coastal cliffs.

The Murchison River runs 80km through Kalbarri National Park and has cut through the sandstone rocks over the past 400 million years to form gorges. This river is the second longest in WA, at 820 km long, and has a catchment area of 82,000 km². Starting in Meekatharra, the Murchison River travels across dry plains, hills, salt lakes, and gorges.Cyclones in the north drop vast amounts of rain into the catchment area, which reaches Kalbarri up to three weeks later. You can see the moody brown water flowing into the ocean after extreme floods.

Being a National Park, a pass is required, which can be purchased at the Visitor Centre or the park entrance for A$15 per vehicle per day. Kalbarri National Park is open from sunrise to sunset.

All the roads are sealed and accessible by 2wd, except for Pot Alley, which is unsuitable for caravans or motorhomes.

No camping is allowed, no pets, and no drinking water is available, so ensure you have at least 3 to 4 litres of water per person with you. It will be 10­°C hotter in the gorges than in town, so bring a hat and sunscreen.

Natures Window and Loop Trail

Kalbarri’s iconic Natures Window is a 1km return walk from the Loop Car Park. It is a grade 3 trail, as there are a few rocks that you need to traverse. Allow 45 minutes, including photos.

A staircase leads down to the path which takes you to Natures Window. The walk passes by the river gorge with its red and white striped sandstone. Waves over the tidal flats formed the ripple effect.

The window is a sandstone rock eroded by wind and frames the Murchison River.

Try to arrive as early as possible, as it gets swamped due to it being one of the top things to do in Kalbarri. We had to queue for 5 minutes to take photos. As mentioned, it is hotter here than in town, so be prepared. We had finished this walk by 10 am, and it was sweltering.

Natures Window is the start and finish of an 8km loop trail walk. It’s a class 4 hike, and you should allow 3 to 4 hours to complete it. It is challenging, and you will need to be there early in the summer months as it can easily reach 50°C along the loop, and there isn’t much shade. Because of this, the trail is closed after 7 am from November to March.

Once you climb down some rocks after Nature’s Window, the trail leads you along the clifftop. The views down into the gorge from here are incredible. The path is rocky and involves a bit of climbing, but it’s not that strenuous. There are distance markers every 500m, not great at the start but an incentive towards the end of the trail.

As you make your way along the clifftop, there are a couple of sections where you need to climb up the rocks. It’s not difficult, but you require a certain fitness and flexibility level.

Make sure to stop for photos, as the views from up there are spectacular and look out for wildflowers if you are visiting in late winter or spring.

Once you’ve descended the gorge, you’ll see a sign warning that there’s another 5 km to go, which will be the most challenging part of the trail. It advises that if you are tired or don’t have enough water, you should turn around and retrace your steps.

The view from the river bed is spectacular and puts the cliffs into perspective. Keep an eye out for mountain goats on the cliff opposite.

The trail follows the river, where the hardest section of the hike is. You have to walk along a narrow ledge near the water’s edge. It isn’t high, but the water didn’t look too appealing, so I didn’t want to fall in! The worst part for me was the overhang, so I had to get relatively low to get through the gap.

Once you pass the ledge section, you make your way back up, climbing up the rocks. Pay attention to where the signs are as we saw a few people miss them and carry on along the edge of the water.

Once up a bit higher, you walk under some river red gums, which provide shade. The remaining part of the trail involves sandy sections with broken boulders, but it is easy to navigate.

As you come close to the end, you ascend back to the trailhead at Nature’s Window. This is a short and steep climb but relatively easy as the rocks have been made into steps. We were lucky enough to spot a euro (common wallaroo) here.

We completed the Kalbarri Loop Trail in 2 hours and 40 minutes, including taking photos and water breaks. The time of year helped as it was in July, and the temperature was about 18C. Our teens enjoyed the challenge of this walk and the varied trail conditions. For me, it’s up there in my Top Western Australian Hikes.

The Z Bend Lookout and Z Bend River Trail

The Z Bend lookout is a 1.2km return class 3 walk from the car park. It offers spectacular views of the Z Bend gorge, which plunges 150m down to the Red River Gum trees and sandstone rocks.

The Z Bend trail is a 2.6 km return Class 4 hike you can get to from the path leading to the lookout. It’s a demanding trail with steep descents, ladder climbs, and slippery rocks.

The first part of the trail was the easiest, with sand and a few rocks, so beware of tripping over. It becomes more challenging as you descend large fallen boulders that are slippery due to sand and possible water. There are ladders at certain parts, but these are easy to go down.

Near the river is the hardest part of the trail, where you have to step across a crevice to reach the ladder. Once through this, multiple rocks are positioned in stair formation.

At the bottom, you will be treated to the Murchison River up close with some extraordinary rock formations.

The return journey is much easier as it involves climbing instead of descending.

Once you reach the fork, follow the sign to the lookout that has a great vantage point of the Z Bend.

We found the trail busy and had to wait at parts of the track so consider getting there early.

Four Ways Trail

Four Ways Trail is an unmarked Class 4, 6km strenuous hike which descends to the Murchison River. We didn’t do this hike after reading that it has potentially dangerous terrain with parts requiring you to swim through various pools.

Hawk’s Head Lookout

Hawk’s Head is a 200m return Class 1 walk named after the shape of a rock seen from the lookout. Kalbarri’s gorge views from the lookout are spectacular, or you can enjoy gorge views from the sheltered picnic area.

Ross Graham Lookout

The Ross Graham Lookout is a Class 3, 200m return walk named after Kalbarri’s first school teacher. The lookout provides breathtaking views over the gorges, and then a short walk takes you down to the river. Once there, you can scramble over rocks to see more of the river.

Meanarra Hill Lookout

Meanarra Hill Lookout is 5km east of the town and 207m above sea level. It’s an easy walk along a concrete path to 360-degree views of Kalbarri, The Murchison River, and the Indian Ocean. It is fully accessible with ramps up to the lookout and offers seating and shade. This lookout is an excellent place to watch the sunset.

The Grade 3, 1.5 km loop Mallee Fowl Trail starts here.

Kalbarri Skywalk

The two 100-metre-high cantilevered lookouts allow you to walk out for views of the spectacular gorge and Murchison River. Easy access is provided to the viewing deck and undercover seating, toilets, and a kiosk.

Kalbarri Skywalk is free once you have paid for the entrance to Kalbarri National Park.

The mesh walkways can be daunting for those afraid of heights, but the structure is extremely sturdy, providing a sense of security. The view 100m below your feet is incredible, as are the views from the barriers, looking down into Murchison gorge.

Kalbarri National Park Coastal

This part of the National Park is free of charge. If you are here between June and November, keep an eye out for migrating whales.

All along this coast, you will see layered Taumblagooda Sandstone cliffs that are 480 million years old. These were deposited as sand and silt from rivers. The white rocks of the top part of the cliffs are made from the younger Tamala Limestone. The wind that blew from sand dunes over the past 2 million years converted to limestone and is what you see today.

A good way to see a different perspective of these incredible cliffs is on a Sunset Coastal Cliff Cruise. This tour takes you up close to Jacques Point, Red Bluff, Mushroom Rock, Rainbow Valley, Pot Alley and Eagle Gorge while the sun dips into the ocean and the rocks take on their red colour.

Natural Bridge and Castle Cove Lookouts

Natural Bridge Lookout and Castle Cove is a 200m return Class 1 walk, which provides stunning views along the coastline. The Castle Cove Lookout offers an impressive view of Island Rock.

You will pass many plant species that have adapted to this harsh coast, with many of them having small prickly leaves to reduce moisture loss and salt and sun damage. Please keep away from this fragile vegetation as it provides protection for seeds that aid rehabilitation.

The wind, waves and salt spray from the Indian Ocean have carved out this incredible landform.

The Bigurda Boardwalk

The Bigurda Boardwalk connects Natural Bridge to Island Rock. You can get to it from either carpark.

It’s an easy 1.2km walk, but keep to the boardwalk and be vigilant with children as there aren’t any railings and sheer drops off the cliff.

Island Rock

Island Rock was once part of the mainland but is now a solitary sea stack. The best views of it are from Castle Cove Lookout and along the Bigurda Boardwalk.

Shellhouse Grandstand

The Shellhouse Grandstand is best viewed at sunset when the sun’s red glow looks spectacular against the sandstone cliff. The name came about from fishermen at sea that thought they could see a shell-shaped house on the side of the cliff.

Eagle Gorge and Bigurda Trail

Paths from the car park can access the lookout and beach for Eagle Gorge. This is also where the Bigurda Trail starts. It’s an 8km Class 3 walk which will take approximately 3-5 hours and ends at the Natural Bridge. The views here are stunning; you might even see dolphins or humpback whales.

Watch out for the wedge-tailed eagles that nest here, and you might see them trying to catch prey.

Pot Alley

Pot Alley got its name from a local fisherman who lost many lobster pots to this treacherous cove. The view south from the cliffs captures the pure ruggedness of the coastline. You can take a rocky walk down to the beach here, but swimming is not recommended.

Red Bluff Lookout

Red Bluff Lookout is a 1km Class 1 return walk along a paved path. Signage along the trail details the history of the area. Red Bluff has the highest elevation of the National Park Coastal Cliffs, with 100m of cliff face.

You can hike down from Pederick Lookout to Red Bluff Beach, but it is steep in parts and slippery. It’s a Class 4 walk, so allow 30-60 minutes.

From the lookout, you have views across the Indian Ocean and beautiful rock formations. It’s a great place to look for whales when they are migrating.

The beach is a popular spot for fishing, and the contrast of the white sand against the red rocks is spectacular, especially at sunset.

Rainbow Valley & Mushroom Rock

The 3km loop Class 4 trail from the Rainbow Valley car park to Mushroom Rock takes you through the valley and along the clifftop. Signs along the path explain about the ancient Tumblagooda Sandstone and its features. If you walk this trail around dawn or dusk, you may see the kangaroos feeding amongst the coastal bush and rocky outcrops.

Surfing

Jacques Point (known as Jakes Point by the locals) is a popular surfing beach in Kalbarri providing a perfect left hand surf break along the point. It is safe for experienced surfers except when the swell is big, then only advanced surfers should try this break.

Kalbarri Abseil

Kalbarri Abseil offer tours where you’ll hike the river trail followed by abseiling the cliffs.

Kalbarri Scenic Flights

This is the trip of a lifetime, where you will spend an unforgettable 1 hour and 45 minutes in the air exploring this stunning area. Fly over the mouth of the Murchison River, coastal cliffs and Bluff Point, then past Gantheume Bay to the Abrolhos Islands. As you descend low past East Wallabi, West Wallabi and the surf break called Super Tubes, you will see the beautiful coral through the crystal clear water. Return to Kalbarri via Pink Lake and see this natural phenomenon from the best viewpoint to admire the spectacular pink hues.

See Prices & Availability of the Scenic Flight here

The Pink Lake

Hutton Lagoon, or Pink Lake, is near Port Gregory and half an hour’s drive from Kalbarri. The best time to visit Pink Lake is mid-morning to midday on a clear day. The lake lies below sea level, so seawater seeps into it. During winter, the levels increase, but by mid-summer, 95% is a dry salt flat. We visited in April, and it was pretty dry.

Pink Lake gets its bubblegum pink colour from the presence of the algae Dunaliella salina, which produces carotenoids. This site is the world’s largest microalgae production plant.

The best place to view Pink Lake is on Port Gregory Road, where there is also parking although for the best experience and to see its true pink hue, a scenic flight is the way to go.

Kalbarri Wilderness Cruise

Kalbarri Wilderness Cruise offers tours along the Murchison River with full commentaries. Depending on the season, there may be morning and sunset cruises to choose from.

Beaches

The most popular beach in Kalbarri for families is the one closest to town, Chinaman’s Beach. It is at the mouth of the Murchison River and is protected, so it is very calm. You can also hire Canoes, Kayaks, Paddleboats, Sup boards, Sailboats and motorised dinghy (no skippers ticket needed). There are outdoor cold-water showers at Chinaman’s Beach too.

Back Beach is great for watching the sunset and surfing.

Blue Holes is part of a limestone reef with parts submerged, creating “holes”. Around 70 species of fish are home here, which makes it ideal for snorkelling. As the reef protects it, it is good for swimming too.

Kids enjoy wading through the shallow rock pools in search of marine life.

Take a boat up the Murchison River

If you don’t have your own boat (like us), hire one from Kalbarri Boat Hire. They don’t require a skipper’s ticket, are easy to drive, and are big enough for a family of five. Rates start at A$70 for an hour.

It was windy on our way back in the afternoon and a bumpy ride (we all got wet and cold, so take a towel or waterproof jacket).

Whale Watching Cruise

From June to November, about 22,000 Humpback Whales pass the Kalbarri coast. They leave Antarctica, head north for warmer waters to give birth, and then return with their calves.

Book your Whale Watching Tour with Kalbarri’s longest-running whale-watching company.

Quad Bikes

Kalbarri Wagoe Beach Quad Bike Tours offer a guided self-drive Quad Bike & Beach Buggy Tour. Wagoe Beach is 20 km south of Kalbarri and a well known reef fishing spot with white sandy beaches.

Fishing

If you’re keen on fishing, there are a few different options in Kalbarri:

Off the foreshore jetties – cod, bream, and mulloway

Sandspit in front of Sea Rescue building – whiting

Murchison River – mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs

Red Bluff Beach and Wittecarra – tailor and mulloway

Deep Sea Fishing – pink snapper, coral trout, red emperor, and baldchin groper

Fishing is not allowed at Blue Holes or Chinamans Beach. Check the department of fisheries for up to date information regarding a fishing licence, bag and size limits, and fishing rules.

Horse Riding

Big River Ranch has a range of horses and ponies to suit all riders based on your riding ability. The tour starts at the ranch where a safety briefing takes place, followed by a guided trail ride through forest and across the banks of the Murchison River.

Rainbow Jungle

Due to extensive damage from Cyclone Seroja, Rainbow Jungle is now closed.

Kalbarri Tours

We use Viator or Get Your Guide to book tours as they offer free cancellation on most attractions and experiences.

Where is Kalbarri WA?

Kalbarri is in Western Australia, about 600 km north of Perth, on Australia’s Coral Coast. The easiest way to get there is to drive.

How to get from Perth to Kalbarri by road

International and domestic visitors will fly into Perth Airport. Find details about visas, prohibited items, currency, and safety in this Australia Travel Guide and tips on arriving into WA and other essential travel information in this Western Australia Travel Guide.

There are car hire booths at Perth airport, but it’s best to pre-book your car rental.

To compare rental car company prices, Discover Cars is an award-winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are have a high rate of customer satisfaction.

Drivenow is a good resource to compare campervan hire in Western Australia as it includes all the large companies like Britz, Maui, Jucy as well as smaller ones.

Compare Rental Cars Here.

You can take two routes from Perth to Kalbarri, which are around a 6 to 7-hour drive.

The first is to travel via Brand Highway and then onto the North West Coastal Highway at Geraldton.

The second (and the way we went) is the Indian Ocean Drive, which takes you south of Dongara. You then take Brand Highway until Geraldton, then onto the North West Coastal Highway.

Tip: Make sure to take the Port Gregory turn-off at Northampton. This is the more scenic coastal route into Kalbarri and allows you to see the Pink Lake at Hutt Lagoon.

This Perth to Kalbarri road trip itinerary provides tips and ideas on where to stop along the way.

There is the option to take a bus run by TransWA, which takes 8.5 hours from East Perth to Kalbarri. It runs three days a week.

We stopped in Port Denison (just south of Dongara) for a break and then again in Geraldton.

Kalbarri Maps

Kalbarri maps are available at the Tourist Information Centre. Alternatively, download the Kalbarri map, Kalbarri detailed map, and Kalbarri National Park map.

Do you need a 4wd to visit Kalbarri?

Most roads around Kalbarri are sealed, including Kalbarri National Park, so you don’t need a 4wd to visit Kalbarri.

Kalbarri Weather & Best Time To Visit

Kalbarri weather in summer (December to February) is dry and hot. Daytime temperatures average 33°C but can reach as high as 45°C. This is one of the most popular times to visit Kalbarri, so accommodation prices will be more expensive. It’s a good time for beach activities like swimming, snorkelling, and surfing.

Autumn (March to May) has an average daytime temperature of around 26°C. Kalbarri can be very windy, so this time of the year is popular due to little wind. This makes the calm waters great for fishing and family holidays.

Winter (June to August) is mild, with occasionally heavy rain and daytime averaging about 22°C. It’s the best time for hiking, and the wildflowers are starting to appear in a blaze of colour.

Spring (September to November) is humpback whale season, with daytime temperatures averaging 26°C. November is quiet, so the ideal time for the traveller seeking some peace.

Flies can be a problem in a lot of places in WA. They are usually worse in spring and summer, after rain. We visited in April and didn’t have hardly any; however, that doesn’t always mean that they won’t be around. I recommend buying a flynet and some insect repellent. You may think you don’t want to look silly, but believe me, you won’t care once you’ve experienced flies at their worst. Look at something like this.

Kalbarri Camping

Camping is not allowed in the Kalbarri National Park, nor is there any free camping in Kalbarri. However, you can choose from Kalbarri Red Bluff Tourist Park, Murchison River Caravan Park, Kalbarri Anchorage Caravan Park, and Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park.

We camped at Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park on an ensuite site. This caravan park was centrally located and within walking distance of restaurants and the seafront. The campers’ kitchen was clean, as were the amenities. Kangaroos were also frequent visitors to the campsite.

There’s a free dump point in the Light Industrial Area adjacent to the Shire Depot on Porter Street.

We have also stayed in a villa at Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park.

Kalbarri Accommodation

Have you booked accommodation?

We use Booking.com for most accommodation bookings as they offer free cancellation on many properties and have a price match guarantee. We book through Stayz (part of VRBO) for private accommodation as we find it is often cheaper than Airbnb.

Tip: Accommodation gets booked quickly, especially during the WA school holidays. To avoid disappointment, book early.

We recently stayed at the Kalbarri Seafront Villas in the townhouse as this was the only villa left. It sleeps up to eight, with four bedrooms. The double-storey unit has a full kitchen, laundry, bathroom, dining table and lounge area downstairs with all the bedrooms, another bathroom and lounge upstairs.

The views from the lounge and balcony were beautiful, but downstairs looked tired. The townhouse only had evaporative air conditioning with oil heaters provided for the winter, and no heating in the bathrooms.

Read our guide on the best accommodation in Kalbarri, which includes lots of tips and advice.

Book early to avoid disappointment as accommodation gets booked up quickly during peak season and school holidays.

Places to eat in Kalbarri

Some of the best places to eat in Kalbarri are:

• Upstairs Restaurant
• Kalbarri Edge Restaurant
• The Gorges Café
• Wild Ocean Indonesian (food van)
• Finlays Kalbarri
• Kalbarri Pizza & Pasta
• Kalbarri Hot Bread Shop

Here are a couple of tips for Kalbarri restaurants. Make sure you book! We made this mistake and couldn’t find anywhere popular that had a table on our first night. Also, restaurants shut early in country towns, so don’t leave it too late to eat (I suggest about 7 pm).

The Kalbarri Hot Bread Shop is a bakery that sells not only bread but also pies, sausage rolls, and delicious sweet treats. Their sausage rolls are lovely with light, flaky pastry and the fresh jam doughnut oozed jam.

If you’re after a takeaway and like Beef Rendang, I recommend Wild Ocean Indonesian; it’s delicious. Their Mee Goreng and Nasi Goreng are also popular. This street food truck is only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 5.00 pm to 7.30 pm Friday and Saturday and until 7 pm on Sunday. Due to its popularity, there could be a wait for your food during peak times like school holidays. It’s worth the wait, though.

We enjoyed our meal at Finlays restaurant. It is an outdoor restaurant that specialises in seafood. It was bustling when we visited, so book ahead. I had the seafood linguine, which was A$32.

Kalbarri Brief History and Population

I respectfully acknowledge the Nanda People, the Traditional Custodians, and First People of these lands. I would like to pay my respect to the Elders past, present, and future, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture, and hopes of the Nanda People.

Nanda are the saltwater people, keepers of the land and sea, and were recognised as the traditional land custodians in 2018. They believe in mythical Dreamtime and that the Rainbow Serpent, Beemarra, formed the Murchison River and the land we see today. Beemarra heard the sound of waves and travelled down the Murchison River, searching for the noise. She followed a creek, then disappeared underground, emerging at the Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs. Frightened by the waves, Beemarra quickly took off back to the safety of the river. Where she rested on her return journey, fresh water was left, the springs of which are still there today.

According to Landgate’s Town Name History, Kalbarri was named after an Aboriginal man from a local Murchison tribe. It is also the name of an edible seed. Prior to this name, it was known as Wurdimarlu.

Two mutinous crew members from The Dutch East India trading ship, Batavia, were put ashore in 1629. The vessel was shipwrecked nearby off the coast of the Abrolhos Islands.

Kalbarri became a popular fishing place in the 1940s and was declared a townsite in 1948. The primary industry was fishing (fish and lobster), but the number of boats has halved in recent years due to the fishing regulations as Western Australia work towards ecologically sustainable standards. Kalbarri now relies heavily on tourism, attracting over 100,000 visitors each year.

Our Tips on visiting Kalbarri

• If you are visiting in the wildflower season, consider taking a detour on your road trip to see some of the best wildflowers in Western Australia.
• The drive is long (around 6 hours), so don’t drive tired. It’s a killer.
• Pay attention on the drive to Kalbarri. The roads are long and tedious, but wildlife can jump out at anytime.
• Try to finish your road trip before dusk, this is when kangaroos are most active, and you risk hitting them.
• Go to the National Park gorges early in the morning. It is scorching hot there in summer.
• Take plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat to the National Park.
• At certain times of the year, the flies are terrible.  Don’t worry about what you look like, buy a fly net (we only experienced a few in April, though).
• Take good walking shoes.
• Be careful of cliff edges and slippery rocks.
• Book restaurants if you want to eat out, as they get booked far in advance.
• Visit the beaches in the morning before the ocean breeze starts to blow.
• Kangaroos gather at the oval on Porter Street around dusk.

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