Kalbarri National Park

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Kalbarri National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
From the coastal section of the park, cliffs running south from the town of Kalbarri.

Location	Mid West
Nearest city	Kalbarri
Coordinates	27°47′05″S 114°14′45″E / 27.78472°S 114.24583°E / -27.78472; 114.24583Coordinates: 27°47′05″S 114°14′45″E / 27.78472°S 114.24583°E / -27.78472; 114.24583
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.

Environment

Geography

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, once thought to be extinct, was re-discovered in the park in 1994. The population in the park is one of only three known populations.^[2]

Climate

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.

Fauna

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.

Approximately 170 species of birds inhabit the park.^[3]

Highlights

From the upper section of the park, The Loop, along the Murchison River.

Coastal part, starting from the town of Kalbarri and moving south:

Red Bluff
Mushroom Rock
Rainbow Alley
Pot Alley
Eagle Gorge
Shellhouse and Grandstand
Island Rock
Natural Bridge

Inland part, along the Murchison River Gorge:

The Loop
Z Bend
Hawks Head
Ross Graham Lookout

Gallery

'Nature's Window'.
Murchison River gorge.
'Natural Bridge'.
Kalbarri Park.

References

↑ Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report. Department of Environment and Conservation. 2010. p. 48. ISSN 1835-114X.
↑ "Australian Government - Department of Environment - Biodiversity - Beyeria lepidopetala". 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
↑ "Department of Environment - Cape Arid National Park". 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.

v t e National parks of Western Australia

Alexander Morrison Avon Valley Badgingarra Beedelup Beelu Boorabbin Brockman Cape Arid Cape Le Grand Cape Range Collier Range D’Entrecasteaux Drovers Cave Drysdale River Eucla Fitzgerald River Francois Peron Frank Hann Geikie Gorge Gloucester Goongarrie Gooseberry Hill Greenmount Gull Rock Hassell Hidden Valley John Forrest Kalamunda Kalbarri Karijini Karlamilyi Kennedy Range Leeuwin-Naturaliste Lesmurdie Falls Lesueur Millstream-Chichester Mirima Mitchell River Moore River Mount Augustus Mount Frankland Nambung Neerabup Peak Charles Porongurup Purnululu Rudall River Scott Serpentine Shannon Sir James Mitchell Stirling Range Stokes Tathra Torndirrup Tuart Forest Tunnel Creek Walpole-Nornalup Walyunga Warren Watheroo Waychinicup West Cape Howe William Bay Windjana Gorge Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater Yalgorup Yanchep

Protected areas of Western Australia

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