Unmissable things to do in Kalbarri: Complete Kalbarri National Park guide

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Sitting between Geraldton and Carnarvon is the quaint little town of Kalbarri, most famous for the not so quaint, but incredibly beautiful Kalbarri National Park. This ancient landscape is jaw-dropping. And what makes this National Park so great? All the top things to do in Kalbarri are brilliantly accessible!

This is the place to visit if you want to see some of the best of Western Australia without having to hit up unsealed dirt roads in your 14 year old campervan. You’ll get to experience its epic coastline, spot incredible wildlife and yes, you’ll find Nature’s Window in Kalbarri National Park!

But just because it’s easy to get to, don’t start thinking it’s not worth a visit. This national park is made up of 2 parts – 1 coastal and 1 inland, so there is something for everyone. You could easily spend a few days here and to help you plan your time, I’ve put together this Kalbarri national park itinerary.

This Kalbarri guide will show you all the incredible things to do see Kalbarri National Park plus a full guide to visiting so you will have everything you need to know before you go.

But first, watch this!

How to get to Kalbarri

As with everywhere in WA, Kalbarri is pretty isolated. If you’re doing a big Western Australia road trip, Kalbarri is easy to add to your itinerary as you follow the coast. If you’re travelling from Perth to Kalbarri, don’t miss out on great spots like Jurien Bay where you can swim with Sealions and Geraldton. If you’re travelling north to south, chances are the stop before Kalbarri would be Shark Bay, Coral Bay or Exmouth.

• Distance Perth to Kalbarri – 570km, 6 hours drive
• Distance Shark Bay to Kalbarri – 254km, 2.5 hours drive
• Distance Coral Bay to Kalbarri – 673km, 6.5 hours drive
• Distance Exmouth to Kalbarri – 800km, 8 hours drive

How long do you need in Kalbarri?

As Kalbarri has 2 distinct areas to explore, I recommend staying in Kalbarri for at least 2 nights. The coastal area is beautiful and you can easily spend a day going from spot to spot and there are some fantastic walks in the inland part that can easily take a full day too. It all depends on how deep you want to dive into Kalbarri, but 1 day for each area will give you enough time to see the best bits.

When is the best time to visit Kalbarri?

Tom and I visited Kalbarri in x and it was blissfully quiet. As with all of the best National Parks in Australia, the peak times are during the summer between December and May, especially because of the school summer holidays. The weather during these months is also hot and dry, making it great for exploring. It’s definitely fine to visit in the winter months too, just be prepared for the odd downpour.

Where to stay in Kalbarri

There are no campsites in Kalbarri National Park but the town itself has some great caravan parks to choose from. For a budget-friendly stay check out the Murchison House Station.

Kalbarri Entrance fee

LIke most national parks in Western Australia, Kalbarri has an entrance fee. A day pass is $15 per vehicle but I highly recommend getting a 4 week parks pass if you’re going to be visiting from more than a couple of days or are planning on visiting other places. The other top national parks in WA like Karijini also require a parks pass so spending $15 a day can add up quickly.

A 4 week Park Pass costs $60 and you then have unlimited access to all the parks. You can buy them online and print the pass, or buy a pass from a number of outlets. Start dates can be selected in advance so you don’t have to waste time on your first day getting the pass and rushing to make use of it.

You can buy the pass online or find a convenient outlet online here.

Things to do in Kalbarri – Inland area

Nature’s Window

Nature’s Window in Kalbarri is easily the most famous thing to see in Kalbarri. This natural rock formation is just a 1km return walk from the car park and is the first thing you’ll come across when doing the bigger Kalbarri hikes. If you can only do one thing in the National Park then it’s easy to make it this. I personally feel that Instagram has overhyped it but you do also get spectacular views of the gorge from here.

Kalbarri Skywalk

This wasn’t yet open when Tom and visited Kalbarri but it looks INCREDIBLE! The skywalk is a viewing platform that overhangs from the top of the gorge so you can imagine the views you get from here. It’s just a little further on from Nature’s Window so it’s easily accessible. I can’t wait to go back and see it!

The Loop Trail

If you’re looking to really explore more of the gorge and the Murchison river below then this is one of the best things to do in Kalbarri. It’s an 8km return and you’ll need to allow 3-4 hours and I recommend taking snacks and plenty of water with you. It’s a varied hike over rocky paths, walking through sand and you’ll be scrambling over rocks next to the river.

For non-hiking people like ourselves, the Loop trail wasn’t too challenging but it is quite long so we got pretty worn out. The landscape is beautiful throughout this Kalbarri hike so it’s well worth it.

Z-Bend Lookout

This is another easily accessible viewpoint. It’s just 600m from the car park and overlooks the big bend in the river, hence the name ‘Z Bend’. It’s beautiful, simple as that!

Z-Bend River Trail

This is another short hike but still a challenging one. It’s a 2.6km, class 4 hike that involves ladders and really steep trails. After doing the whopping 8km Loop Trail, we were done with hiking but it looks really good if you have the time and energy for it!

Hawks Head and Ross Graham lookout

These are located in a different area of Kalbarri National Park and both viewpoints are easy and quick to visit.

Things to do in Kalbarri – Coastal Area

This area of Kalbarri National Park is just as easily accessible as the inland part. Each viewpoint along this magnificent coastline has its own car park so you can either drive from one spot to the next or walk between them. We decided to start at one end and work our way back up towards the town.

Natural Bridge and Castle Cove

You’re going to be wowed from the beginning. The views over the cove are incredible and certainly rival the Great Ocean Road. Natural Bridge is a bridge shaped rock formation you can see from above.

Island rock

Island does have its own separate car park if you want to drive but there’s also a boardwalk connecting Island Rock and Natural Bridge. It’s not a long walk and the views are incredible.

Shellhouse Grandstand

This is my favourite look out over the ocean and across the cliff tops. There is a seating area in the grandstand and boardwalk to follow over the cliffs. It would be the perfect spot for sunset, too.

Eagle Gorge

The lookout is beautiful from here and you can follow the 1km return trail down to the beach.

Bigurda Trail

If you’re feeling energetic then you can walk this 8km coastal trail that joins up Natural Bridge to Eagle Gorge. The whole trail is either a set footpath or boardwalk so it could be a nice leisurely walk.

Other lookouts on the Kalbarri Coast

• Mushroom Rock
• Red Bluff
• Pot Alley

Things to do around Kalbarri

Hutt Lagoon

In typical Australian style, Kalbarri is quite isolated but if you’re looking for a unique thing to do around Kalbarri, then you shouldn’t pass up on Hutt Lagoon. Just 30 minutes away from Kalbarri, Hutt Lagoon is really easy to get to and is famous for being a vibrant pink lake. I’ll be honest, it does smell a bit funky but it’s still pretty interesting to see!

Chinaman’s Beach

Chinaman’s Beach in Kalbarri town is also a fantastic place to relax. It’s the mouth of the Murchison River so the water is nice a calm.

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