Kalbarri National Park
| Kalbarri National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 From the coastal section of the park, cliffs running south from the town of Kalbarri. |
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| Location | Mid West |
| Nearest city | Kalbarri |
| Coordinates | 27°47′05″S 114°14′45″E / 27.78472°S 114.24583°ECoordinates: 27°47′05″S 114°14′45″E / 27.78472°S 114.24583°E |
| Area | 183,005 ha (452,220 acres)[1] |
| Established | 1963 |
| Governing body | Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Official website | |
Kalbarri National Park is located 485 kilometres (301 mi) north of Perth. The major geographical features of the park include the Murchison River gorge which runs for nearly 80 kilometres on the lower reaches of the Murchison River. Spectacular coastal cliffs are located on the coast near the mouth of the Murchison River and the town of Kalbarri.
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[edit] Environment
[edit] Geography
The area is also famed for the diversity and extent of wildflowers during winter months. 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 spider orchid and the Murchison hammer orchid.
The small-petalled Beyeria or short-petalled Beyeria, which was once considered extinct, was re-discovered in the park in 1994. The population in the park is one of only three known populations.[2]
[edit] Climate
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the inland part of the park. During this time the temperature in the upper section of the park can often be more than 10 degrees Celsius higher than in the town of Kalbarri.
Available activities in the park include horse riding, hiking, swimming, canoeing, and rafting. From Kalbarri there are scenic cruises along the Murchison River.
[edit] Fauna
Kalbarri has many birds and animals, the latter mainly nocturnal mammals. Species present are western grey kangaroos, thorny devils, emus, ospreys, wedge-tailed eagles and pelicans. The threatened tammar wallaby used to be found here, but has not been observed in the area lately.
Aprroximately 170 species of birds inhabit the park.[3]
[edit] Highlights
Coastal part, starting from the town of Kalbarri and moving south:
- Red Bluff
- Mushroom Rock
- Rainbow Alley
- Pot Alley
- Eagle Gorge
- Shellhouse and Grandstand
- Island Rock
- Natural Bridge
Inland part, along the Murchison River Gorge:
- The Loop
- Z Bend
- Hawks Head
- Ross Graham Lookout
[edit] Gallery
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'Nature's Window'.
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Murchison River gorge.
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'Island Rock'.
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'Natural Bridge'.
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Kalbarri Park.
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[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kalbarri National Park |
[edit] References
- ^ Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report. Department of Environment and Conservation. 2010. pp. 48. ISSN 1835-114X. http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/.
- ^ "Australian Government - Department of Environment - Biodiversity - Beyeria lepidopetala". 2010. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=18362. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
- ^ "Department of Environment - Cape Arid National Park". 2010. http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,106/Itemid,755/. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
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