The Kalbarri region is a favourite family holiday destination also known for its adventure experiences on the water and land-based attractions. Situated where the Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean, Kalbarri has soaring river and coastal gorges and protected swimming bays like Blue Holes.
The Tumblagooda Sandstone (approximately 541 million years old) is one of Kalbarri National Park's most striking features - the layers of coloured rock bed, trace fossils and ancient insect footprints of euthycarcinoids (an extinct group of arthropod or scorpion-like insects) are quite remarkable. The most iconic location in Kalbarri has to be Nature's Window, a natural rock arch framing the River. The National Park offers superb hiking trails, quad biking, canoeing and kayaking river-ways, abseiling and lookouts and from July to October each year, over 800 species of wildflowers create an awe-inspiring display.
Just south of Kalbarri is Port Gregory, home of Hutt Lagoon (Western Australia's Pink Lake) and Horrocks, a laidback beach getaway with great swimming, fishing, surfing and windsurfing.
Head inland to Northampton - one of the oldest settlements in Western Australia, outside of Perth - the town was classified as a historic location by the National Trust of Australia in 1993.
Kalbarri and surrounds are approximately 590 kilometres north of Perth (6-7 hours drive) or a 45 minute flight to Geraldton airport, and a 90 minute drive to Kalbarri.
Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs. Video: Chris Lewis
