| Kalbarri National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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From the coastal section of the park, cliffs running south from the town of Kalbarri. |
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| Location | Mid West |
| Nearest city | Kalbarri |
| Area | 183,005 ha (452,220 acres)[1] |
| Established | 1963 |
| Governing body | Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Official website | |
Kalbarri National Park is located 485 kilometres (301 mi) north of Perth. The major geographical features of the park include the Murchison River gorge which runs for nearly 80 kilometres on the lower reaches of the Murchison River. Spectacular coastal cliffs are located on the coast near the mouth of the Murchison River and the town of Kalbarri.
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The area is also famed for the diversity and extent of wildflowers during winter months. Twenty-one plant species are found only in the coastal cliff tops and gorge country predominantly in the National Park. One of the best known local plants is the Kalbarri catspaw, a small yellow or red plant that is usually seen on recently burnt country from August to September. Several orchids can only be seen in and near the park, including the Kalbarri spider orchid and the Murchison hammer orchid.
The small-petalled Beyeria or short-petalled Beyeria, which was once considered extinct, was re-discovered in the park in 1994. The population in the park is one of only three known populations.[2]
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the inland part of the park. During this time the temperature in the upper section of the park can often be more than 10 degrees Celsius higher than in the town of Kalbarri.
Available activities in the park include horse riding, hiking, swimming, canoeing, and rafting. From Kalbarri there are scenic cruises along the Murchison River.
Kalbarri has many birds and animals, the latter mainly nocturnal mammals. Species present are western grey kangaroos, thorny devils, emus, ospreys, wedge-tailed eagles and pelicans. The threatened tammar wallaby used to be found here, but has not been observed in the area lately.
Aprroximately 170 species of birds inhabit the park.[3]
Coastal part, starting from the town of Kalbarri and moving south:
Inland part, along the Murchison River Gorge:
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