Sunset where the Murchison River enters the ocean at Kalbarri, W.A.

Kalbarri to Yanchep National Parks and amazing wildflowers.  

The Murchison River runs 80km through Kalbarri National Park and has cut through the sandstone rocks to form dramatic gorges. This river is the second longest in WA, at just under 1,000 km long, and has a catchment area of 82,000 km². It starts in the outback gold mining town in central W.A. Meekatharra. The Murchison River travels across dry plains, hills, salt lakes, and gorges before reaching the ocean at the coastal town of Kalbarri.

Click on pics to enlarge.

This pic was taken from the ‘Kalbarri Skywalk’, above the Murchison River.

At the bottom of the Murchison River gorge, Kalbarri National Park. 

Top of gorge is one of the most spectacular lookouts in Kalbarri National Park, Z Bend Lookout is suitably named after the tight bends the Murchison River has carved into the Sandstone. A short walk, including some stairs will take you from the Car Park to the barricaded lookout on the edge of 150m high cliffs. 

Bottom of gorge. For those with a good level of fitness, the more adventurous Z bend river trail takes you down into the gorge, to the river’s edge. This trail is physically very demanding and extreme care has to be taken as there is no pathway or steps, just rocks to navigate on this treacherous trail down the cliff face with a few ladders installed in places where there is just a sheer vertical drop. (Thankfully June chose not to accompany me, it was frightening in different areas) 

Kalbarri National Park, Wild Flowers. (Pic taken from a brochure as there are too many wildflowers to include in this post)

Visiting during wildflower season from July to October, one’s experience is heightened by a sea of flowering natives, including Flame Grevillea, Bird Beak Hakea, Starflowers, orchids, Pink Poker and many others as seen in the pic above. It is a stunning sight, wildflowers are everywhere in such a variety. 

Pink Lake, Hutt Lagoon, Port Gregory.

Pinnacles desert

The Pinnacles Desert in the Nambung National Park is mentioned as being the most visited tourist attraction outside Perth. The park is located roughly 200km, or 2 hours’ drive north of Perth, and covers an area of 17,487 hectares providing natural habitat for an extensive array of native animals and bird life. The only bird I was able to capture on a Pinnacle was the ever reliable Willie Wagtail.

Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo @ Yanchep National Park.

Carnaby’s black cockatoo, also known as the short-billed black cockatoo, is a large black cockatoo endemic to southwest Australia. When I first saw it from a distance it looked to me like a Yellow Tail, Black Cockatoo like we have on the east coast. But closer inspection and the tail is actually white and not yellow. They also get around in large groups. On our exit from Yanchep a flock flew over us that would have numbered between 50 and 80 cockatoo’s. There were so many, I didn’t have the time to count them.

Australian Ringneck Parrot @ Yanchep National Park.

The Australian ringneck is a parrot native to Australia. They are usually seen as pairs, but sometimes come to good food sources in flocks of up to about 10 birds. 

Australian Shellduck, male with chicks @ Yanchep National Park.

Black Swan and Cygnets @ Yanchep National Park. (Such a beautiful bird)

Splendid Fairy Wren @ Yanchep National Park.