Last weekend, I took a trip up the west coast to Kalbarri National Park. I had a fantastic time! I hope this blog gives you some inspiration of what to do if you head up to Kalbarri from Perth.
The Road Trip
It’s around a 6-7 hour drive up the coast from Perth so I recommend you leave as early as possible so you didn’t rock up in Kalbarri too late in the day. By leaving super early, you’ll also have time to do a couple of stops along the way.
The first stop of the journey was Jurien Bay which is around a 2.5 hours drive from Perth. If you have longer than a weekend and can take your time heading up the coast (or want to do a day trip from Perth), you can stop here and do one of the many snorkel/swimming with sea lions tours. I didn’t get a chance to do that this time but hopefully I will be able to in the future.
Our second stop was at Hutt Lagoon, a.k.a. Pink Lake. Pink Lake is around 5.5 hours from Perth and 3.5 hours from Jurien Bay. This incredible lake gets its pink colour from the algae within it. Note that the clearer the skies, the pinker the lake will be.
Note: You could also stop at Cervantes (which is just before Jurien Bay, approx. 2 hours from Perth) and visit The Pinnacles Desert. If you have longer for the trip and stop in Cervantes overnight, The Pinnacles is a great spot to go stargazing. Another stop you can go to is Geraldton which is between Jurien Bay and Hutt Lagoon. Geraldton is known for being one of the windiest places in Australia.
What to do in Kalbarri
Kalbarri is located on the coral coast so I recommend you head down to the Blue Holes. These holes in the reef structure are great for snorkelling with beautiful corals and tonnes of fish. The blue holes are relatively shallow (around adult waist to chest depth) and calm so it ideal for beginners and children.
Drive to the National Park and check out the Skywalk. There are 2 skywalks located next to each other and overlook the canyon below. The views are simply stunning. While walking out to the end of the skywalks and looking over the edge is exhilarating, it isn’t for the faint-hearted. It is very high up but it is well worth the visit.
While in the National Park, head to Nature’s Window. This stunning rock formation is perfect for those insta-worthy shots. Located high up on the cliffs, Nature’s Window overlooks the river that runs through the gorge below. It’s approximately a 15 minute walk from the car park, down a set of stairs and along a proper path before getting to the rocky cliff. You have to walk over rocks to the window. The path over the rocks is properly signed and it is quite safe. However, if you are not all that confident climbing over rocks or aren’t too keen on heights, this might not be the walk for you.
Note: You can do the Skywalk and Nature’s Window walks in sandals as they are easy walks, but wear trainers/walking boots if you would feel more comfortable or are doing longer hiking trails. I recommend visiting the National Park in the winter months (May-August) when it is a lot cooler and all the hiking trails are open. In the hotter months, some trails are closed between certain times and even the short walk to Nature’s Window is uncomfortable in the heat. Also, visiting during the winter months way give you better views with the hope the river that runs through the NP is flowing and not just puddles here and there like when I visited in April.
To enter the National Park, it costs $15 per car. There are plenty of hiking trails located in different areas of the NP which you can access via the various car parks located at the head of each trail.
I recommend that after a day in the National Park or snorkelling the Blue Holes, you head out on a Sunset River Cruise with Kalbarri Cruises. The cruise is informative and heads inland along the river. There is a change to see kangaroos, wild goats, eagles and dolphins along the way. The scenery is beautiful with the blue of the water contrasting against the greens of the trees and the red of the land. A really enjoyable cruise with a wonderful sunset to end the day.
Where to Eat
For breakfast and lunch, I just bought groceries from the local IGA store. For dinner on the first night, I went out to The Edge Hotel and Restaurant. On the second night, I went to Finlay’s Restaurant for dinner. Both restaurants were reasonably priced ($30-40 for main meal, $10-15 for dessert), the food itself was great quality and was delicious. The restaurants had a lovely atmosphere, and the staff were very friendly. Note: There are a number of other restaurants and cafes in Kalbarri but I haven’t tried those.
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