kalbarri west-Australia
by jamie
Kalbarri
Kalbarri fishing
There are also some great fishing spot on the shore of the Kalbarri ocean. Some of the more popular spots on the shore are the Blue Holes and Red Bluff. Some of the fish you could catch are tailors and mulloway.
You can also go fishing along the river. Some of the fish you can catch while going fishing along the river are whiting and mulloway, plus the occasional chopper tailor, blue swimmer and mangrove crabsor if your have lucky a black bream.
WARNING
Please take note that the waters of Kalbarri can be very dangerous and lots of people have died from great waves while fishing that drown them so please take care.
Ship wreaks
The coastline around Kalbarri was the scene for the notorious shipwreck, mutiny, executions, and punishments which surrounded the wrecking of the Batavia on the Houtman Abrolhos in 1629. The captain, Francisco Pelsaert, took the ship's boat and sailed to Batavia while a mutineer, Jeronimus Cornelisz, terrorised the survivors eventually murdering 125 of them. When Pelsaert returned he constructed a simple gibbet and executed Cornelisz and his followers. Two of the mutineers, Wouter Loos and Jan Pelgrom, were marooned on the mainland somewhere near the modern day site of Kalbarri - they had the unhappy distinction of becoming Australia's first white settlers. Their arrival on land is commemorated at the mouth of the Wittecarra Creek near Red Bluff where a cairn has been erected with the inscription: 'It is believed the first permanent landing of white men in Australia was recorded here, at the mouth of the Wittecarra Creek.'
Then in 1712 a Dutch ship named the Zuytdorp was wrecked on a reef north of Kalbarri. It is claimed that the ship sunk with a bullion of 100 000 guilders and pieces of eight aboard. This was not an isolated event. By the eighteenth century it had become commonplace for Dutch ships to round the Cape of Good Hope, sail west along the Roaring Forties, and then sail north along the West Australian coast towards the Dutch East Indies.
In 1839 Lieutenant George Grey, while attempting to explore North West Cape, was shipwrecked near the mouth of the Murchison. He was forced to walk back to Perth and thus became the first white explorer to travel along the coastal strip of the Central West.
Surfing
Whales
At Kalbarri, we are witnessing again the migration of Humpback whales which goes from June to November. An estimated 22.000 whales will pass WA’s coastline on their way from and back to the Antarctic.
From our 18 years experience as a whale watch charter the Humpback whales’ north bound migration seems to be further off shore ,during that time they move along quite quickly but their south bound migration is much closer to the coast and a much slower process with lots of hanging around and enjoying the warmer waters.As the ocean floor of Kalbarri stays quite deep all the way up to the coastline and with it’s bays and it’s accessible cliffs it gives visitors a unique advantage of amazing coastal sightings and makes Kalbarri the best place in WA to see Humpback whales.
Lately we have been seeing lots of mothers and calves, some of the babies are still light grey which means they are very young and must have been born in our area.There are two surprising things about whales calves.The first is that they put on about 60kg a day during feeding. The second is that these little fatties go to preschool. Kalbarri is a great place to see these giant water babies at play.
Kalbarri National Park
The diverse landscapes of Kalbarri National Park in WA offer an equally diverse array of things to see and do just a short drive from town. Marvel at its dramatic river gorges and coastal cliffs, believed to be 400 million years in the making. Walk, climb, paddle, cruise, drive, go camping or take a guided tour to explore 183,000 hectares rich in curious rock formations, cultural heritage, flora and fauna.
The gorges and formations carved by the Murchison River attract thousands of visitors to Kalbarri National Park every year. Short walks provide easy access to spectacular lookouts The Loop, Nature’s Window, Z-Bend and Hawk’s Head.
The Loop and Nature’s Window
Several lookouts offer different views of the winding loop in the gorge below. A 400m walk from The Loop car park brings you to one of WA’s most iconic natural attractions, Nature’s Window. This natural rock arch frames the river view perfectly and is a must-snap photograph opportunity in Kalbarri National Park. For an unforgettable gorge adventure, follow the 8km Loop Walk Trail beginning and ending at Nature’s Window.
Z-Bend
Considered by many to offer the most breathtaking view in the park, the Z-Bend lookout can be reached by a 500-metre walk trail from the car park. Gazing down, the gorge plunges 150 metres to the river below where river redgums create a striking contrast against the earthy Tumblagooda sandstone.
Hawk’s Head
This top picnic spot has a brand new lookout over the Murchison River gorge, complete with a wheelchair-accessible path.
Ross Graham Lookout
This spot offers the easiest access point in Kalbarri National Park, with a short walking trail from the car park leading you to the shaded and tranquil river’s edge.
Wildflowers
From July to October, the blooms of over 1,000 species of WA wildflowers bring a riot of colour to Kalbarri National Park’s vast sandplains. See the wild flower page for details.
Kalbarri gorge hikes
For keen bushwalkers with a high level of fitness and experience, there are many gorge hiking adventures available, from one-day excursions to five-day extended hikes. Further information is available from the Park Office. All overnight groups are required to register with park staff before heading off on the trails.