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Kalbarri is a pleasant 45-minute drive off the North West Coastal Highway. The way in from the north or south is on a sealed surface and is very scenic whichever way you enter. Seasonal rains or the flooding of the Murchison River does not affect access to the town from the highway. Tune to 88FM Tourist Radio for town information.
Kalbarri tours, attractions, accommodation houses and restaurants are in operation throughout the year. Except for school holidays or local festivals, accommodation is seldom booked out, but calling in advance is always wise. Consult this directory for accommodation, or contact the Kalbarri Visitor Centre.
Kalbarri is serviced by Westrail (phone 131053) and Greyhound (phone 132030) three days per week, Enquries regarding air travel in and out of Kalbarri should be forwarded to Kalbarri Visitor Centre
Kalbarri’s new airport facility has a sealed strip long enough to take a Fokker 50. Coastal route into Kalbarri is a scenic delight...
For years, all but the most adventurous four-wheel driver had to be satisfied with just one route into Kalbarri. However, all that changed in June 2000 with the opening of a new all-weather sealed southern access road.
For locals and visitors alike, this is an opportunity to experience safe motoring with unparalleled scenery. It is a journey to be enjoyed.
The road link leaves the North-West Coastal Highway at Northampton and is well marked as the alternative and scenic route to Port Gregory and Kalbarri. For caravanners, probably its biggest advantage is the lack of all that road train traffic so prevalent on the main highway.
After Northampton, the road winds through rolling hills and breakaway country which you only get a hint of when you are on the main highway. You can experience some of the most picturesque grazing land in the Mid West, and its peaceful look and lazy pace quickly sets the mood for your holiday in Kalbarri.
The road then works its way down to the coastal strip, and a side trip to Port Gregory is well worth the effort. There you will find a caravan park, chalets and a small fishing fleet in the lobster season.
The townsite goes back a long way and was the original shipping port for the region’s lead mines. History abounds, and up in the foothills you can see the old convict ruins and the Governor’s mansion. Their restoration is an ongoing project of the local historical society, and they are well worth a visit.
A few more kilometres on, you pass one of Australia’s few garnet mines, with its burgundy-coloured mineral deposits in the low hills to the east of the road. To the west, the colour spills over to the pink lake, a betacarotene mine capitalising on the warm sunny days which produces this much sought-after dietary supplement in abundant quantities.
The road then rises into the hills in the east, with spectacular views of the coastal dunes and the sea beyond. This is the area known as Lucky Bay and Wagoe Beach, a long kept secret of locals looking for an escape and a bit of adventure.
You’ll find a number of tours available in Kalbarri which take in the spectacular scenery of the dunes from close-up, and a day trip to Lucky Bay and Wagoe is well worth the time.
The last 20 kilometres is through the National Park, with glimpses of Kalbarri and the Murchison River off in the distance. Any time of the year it is beautiful, with the wildflower season being truly exceptional. And as you descend to the town, you will already feel yourself slipping into holiday mode.
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