View source for Kalbarri National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name            = Kalbarri National Park
| photo           = Kalbarri NP Coastal.jpg
| photo_caption   = From the coastal section of the park, cliffs running south from the town of [[Kalbarri]].
| photo_alt       = 
| iucn_category   = II
| iucn_ref        = 
| coordinates     = {{coord|27|47|05|S|114|14|45|E|display=inline,title}}
| map             = Western Australia
| map_alt         = 
| map_width       = 200px
| relief          = yes
| label           = Kalbarri National Park
| label_position  = 
| location        = [[Western Australia]]
| established     = 1963
| area_ha         = 
| area_km2        = 1830.05
| area_ref        = <ref name=report>{{cite web| url = http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/about-us/annual-report-and-yearbook| title=Department of Environment and Conservation 2012–13 Annual Report|publisher = Department of Environment and Conservation (PDF file p. 49: www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/about/annual-report/2013/20130151_Annual_Report_WEB.pdf)| page=49| year=2013| access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref>
| visitation_num  = 
| visitation_year = 
| visitation_ref  = 
| nearest_city    = [[Kalbarri, Western Australia|Kalbarri]]
| nearest_town    =
| governing_body  = [[Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)|Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW)]]
| website         = {{wikidata|property|P856}}
}}
'''Kalbarri National Park''' is located {{convert|485|km|mi|0}} north of [[Perth]], in the [[Mid West (Western Australia)|Mid West]] region of [[Western Australia]].

The major geographical features of the park include the Murchison River gorge which runs for nearly {{convert|80|km|mi|0}} on the lower reaches of the [[Murchison River (Western Australia)|Murchison River]]. Spectacular coastal cliffs are located on the coast near the mouth of the Murchison River and the town of [[Kalbarri, Western Australia|Kalbarri]].

There is also an eponymous [[Suburbs and localities (Australia)|locality]] of the [[Shire of Northampton]], but the boundaries of the national park and the locality are not identical.<ref name=Slipmap >{{cite web |url=https://maps.slip.wa.gov.au/landgate/locate/ |title=SLIP Map |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=maps.slip.wa.gov.au |publisher=[[Landgate]] |access-date=25 September 2024 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/capad2022-terrestrial-wa.xlsx |title=Terrestrial CAPAD 2022 WA summary |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=[[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]] |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/dashboard |title=Australian Protected Areas Dashboard |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=[[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]] |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Kalbarri Natural Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|Natural bridge]]
Kalbarri National Park preserves the inland desert regions of red and white striped [[Tumblagooda sandstone]] east of the town of Kalbarri, particularly the lower reaches of the Murchison River and its [[canyon|gorge]], as well as the mouth of the river by Meanarra Hill.<ref name=parksite>{{cite web|url=http://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/kalbarri|title=Kalbarri National Park / Welcome and Sites & Activities tabs|publisher=Department of Parks and Wildlife - Western Australia|year=2013|access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref>

The western edge of the park protects the coastline south of the town which features cliffs more than {{convert|100|m|ft|0}} high. The coastal area contains several wind and water eroded rock formations including a [[Stack (geology)|sea stack]] and a [[natural arch|natural bridge]].<ref name=parksite/>

==Climate==
The park is open all year round though temperatures can be extremely high from December through April. The park lies in the northernmost limits of the transition zone between a [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] and a [[semi-arid climate]]. Winters are warm with moderate precipitation. Summers are hot and dry with temperatures that frequently exceed {{convert|40|°C|°F}} in the inland part of the park. Inland areas can often be more than {{convert|10|C-change}} higher than along the coast and in town. Monthly precipitation levels are low with most rain falling from May through August. Heavy rainfalls may cause the roads to the gorge to be closed.<ref name=parkinfo>{{cite web|url=http://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/tourism-region/kalbarri|title=Explore Parks WA - Kalbarri / Need to Know and When to Visit tabs|publisher=Department of Parks and Wildlife - Western Australia|year=2013|access-date=3 April 2014|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026052407/https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/tourism-region/kalbarri|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Flora==
[[File:Kalbarri Park (2005).jpg|thumb|''[[Verticordia]] chrysantha'']]
The Kalbarri area is known for its diversity and extent of wildflowers. More than 800 species of wildflowers bloom from late winter through early summer<ref name=parksite /> with peak times in August and September.<ref name=parkinfo /> 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 [[Ophrys fuciflora|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=18362|title=Australian Government - Department of Environment - Biodiversity - Beyeria lepidopetala|year=2010|access-date=17 October 2010}}</ref>

==Fauna==
[[File:A141, Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia, echidna, 2007.JPG|thumb|left|A [[short-beaked echidna]] found on the trail to Nature's Window]]
The park area has observation records for about 200 different animal species in the interior of the park along the Murchison River. More than 400 species have been recorded near the coast and around the town of Kalbarri. The threatened [[tammar wallaby]] was observed previously in the area but not lately.

Approximately 150 bird species have been observed including the [[emu]] (''Dromaius novaehollandiae''), [[osprey]] (''Pandion haliaetus''), [[wedge-tailed eagle]] (''Aquila audax'') and [[Australian pelican]] (''Pelecanus conspicillatus''). Some of the recorded mammal species in the interior include the [[western grey kangaroo]] (''Macropus fuliginosus''), [[short-beaked echidna]] (''Tachyglossus aculeatus'') and [[spinifex hopping mouse]] (''Notomys alexis''). The only observed bat in the park is the [[Finlayson's cave bat]] (''Vespadelus finlaysoni''). The recorded reptile species include the [[Thorny dragon|thorny devil]] (''Moloch horridus''), [[Pogona minor|western bearded dragon]] (''Pogona minor'') and [[central netted dragon]] (''Ctenophorus nuchalis''). The only observed amphibian is [[Günther's toadlet]] (''Pseudophryne guentheri''). About 30 different [[arthropod]]s have been recorded including a dragonfly called the [[Ictinogomphus|Pilbara tiger]] (''Ictinogomphus dobsoni'') and the [[Tetraponera|savanna black tree ant]] (''Tetraponera punctulata'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biocache.ala.org.au/explore/your-area#-27.6473%7C114.476%7C11%7CALL_SPECIES|title=The Atlas of Living Australia - Kalbarri National Park|publisher=Global Biodiversity Information Facility|access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref>

==Activities==
[[File:Kalbarri Skywalk Platform Over the Murchison Gorge.jpg|thumb|Kalbarri Skywalk Platform over the Murchison River Gorge.]]
The most popular activities are sightseeing, boating, fishing, picnicking and bushwalking. Other activities include abseiling in the gorge and horseback riding, as well as scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing and swimming in the Indian Ocean at Red Bluff Beach and the small beach at Pot Alley.<ref name=parksite /> From Kalbarri there are scenic cruises along the Murchison River and flights over Kalbarri National Park. Construction of the two Kalbarri Skywalk platforms are now completed and offer expansive views of the Murchison River Gorge and Kalbarri National Park.<ref name="ste19">{{cite news |date=2021-05-05 |title=Kalbarri Skywalk |work=Department of Parks and Wildlife Service |location=Western Australia |url=https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/kalbarri-skywalk |access-date=2021-05-05 }}</ref>

==Facilities==
There are no campsites or other accommodations and no water available within the park boundaries. All overnight visitors must use the facilities in the town unless they are on a multi-day bushwalk or boat tour.<ref name=parkinfo />

==Features==
'''Coastal part, starting from the town of Kalbarri and moving south:'''
{{Div col |colwidth=20em}}
* Red Bluff
* Mushroom Rock
* Rainbow Valley
* Pot Alley
* Eagle Gorge
* Shellhouse and Grandstand
* Island Rock
* Natural Bridge
{{Div col end}}

'''Inland part, along the Murchison River Gorge:'''
{{Div col |colwidth=20em}}
* Nature's Window
* The Loop
* [[Z Bend]]
* Hawks Head
* Ross Graham Lookout
{{Div col end}}

==Galleries==
{{Gallery
|title=Landscapes
|align=centre <!-- default left -->
|width=240
|height=160
|mode=packed 

|File:Kalbarri NP Inland.jpg
|The Loop, a long [[meander]]

|File:Kalbarri Natures Window.jpg
|Nature's Window, a rock arch

|File:Murchison river gorge 1.jpg
|Murchison River gorge

|File:A199, Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia, Murchison River thru Nature's Window, 2007.JPG
|View through Nature's Window

|File:Z Bend.jpg
|Z Bend, a sharp meander of the river
}}
{{Gallery
|title=Flora
|align=centre <!-- default left -->
|width=241
|height=160
|mode=packed 

|File:757 32.-Lachnostachys eriobotrya-3jpg.jpg
|''[[Lachnostachys eriobotrya]]''

|File:760 21-Quoya oldfieldii-1.jpg
|''[[Quoya oldfieldii]]''

|File:WA 077b Verticordia monadelpha, Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia (19718187071).jpg
|''[[Verticordia monadelpha]]''

|File:Xylomelum angustifolium at kalbarri NP closeup.jpg
|''[[Xylomelum angustifolium]]''
}}

==See also==
* [[Protected areas of Western Australia]]

==References==
{{Reflist |30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.everytrail.com/guide/kalbarri-national-park EveryTrail travel site's guide for Kalbarri]

{{subject bar |auto=y |portal=Western Australia}}
{{National Parks of Western Australia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Shire of Northampton]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1963]]
[[Category:Western Australian places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Kalbarri, Western Australia]]