The Western Australian coastline is a wild and remote place. Here the huge waves of the Indian Ocean constantly batter the seashore, carving steep, rocky cliffs and creating a dramatic and incredibly scenic landscape.

Around 600km north of Perth, or a seven hour drive, is the town of Kalbarri. It sits where the Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean and is one of the major townships that form the picturesque Coral Coast. It’s a magic place where every type of iconic Australian scenery comes together – bush, sandy beaches and red dirt!

The local Aboriginal people inhabited the area for thousands of years and have a dreamtime story about the Rainbow serpent forming the Murchison River as she came from inland to the coast. The first European people to visit the area were the crew of the trading ship belonging to the Dutch East India Company, the Batavia, who put two mutinous crewmembers ashore near Bluff Point, just south of the town. The cliffs near the river mouth were named after another trading ship, the Zuytdorp, which was wrecked there in 1712.

The town is geared towards tourism and has lots of attractions to bring visitors from afar. Some 200,000 tourists visit every year, with the population of the town swelling to 8,000 during holiday seasons.

The Kalbarri National Park, Murchison River Gorge and the Murchison River are the major sites. To explore the river and gorge there are two charter boats to go on. But if you want to see the National Park, then the best thing to do is put on the hiking boots and hit the walking trails.

The Kalbarri National Park is home to a phenomenon of geology known as the Z Bend, which is one of four lookouts in the park. The view includes an excellent section through the Tumblagooda Sandstone, a geological sequence of fluvial and coastal deposits over a kilometre deep. Another amazing lookout is at a spot called Nature’s Window, a rock formation overlooking hundreds of kilometres of the Murchison River.

For bird lovers, a visit to The Rainbow Jungle (The Australian Parrot Breeding Centre) is a must. It’s located a few kilometres south of the town centre and features hundreds of exotic species of birds in their native habitat. Plus, there’s a walk-in cage allowing visitors to interact with the feathered beauties.

Not far from The Rainbow Jungle is the Seahorse Sanctuary. It’s an aquaculture facility that has been breeding and selling seahorses for 10 years. By successfully breeding seahorses and supplying pet stores and marine aquarium wholesalers, the sanctuary is making a contribution to the global effort to conserve wild seahorse populations.

They are forging a new industry in cutting edge aquaculture technology and provide seahorses that are adapted to survive and thrive as pets in home aquaria. The Seahorse Sanctuary is open to the public and provides a fascinating window into the world of these unique creatures. Also at the southern end of town is Red Bluff and many other spectacular coastal cliffs and formations. They can all be viewed from lookouts that are accessed via short walks along interpretive trails with lots of informative signs.

There are two other major attractions to Kalbarri, the first of which is recreational angling. There are several world-class fishing spots around the area, including the beaches at Wittecarra Creek and Blue Holes, as well as from the numerous cliffs. Plus there’s great offshore fishing that can be accessed via the many deep sea charter operators in town. Keen anglers can expect to catch everything from taylor and flathead, to tuna and Spanish mackerel. Even if you don’t land anything, the views from most fishing locales are to die for!

Another of the popular ocean-related activities found here is whale watching. Humpbacks visit the region from June until December, gathering in the sheltered waters of the bay. While in the ocean off Kalbarri, the whales give birth to their calves, mate and then rest before beginning their return journey to the Antarctic. Here you will have the chance to watch calves at play, and late in the season there’s the awesome spectacle of the mating rituals of the adults. Usually on a whale watching tour you can expect to also encounter dolphins, turtles and other marine life, plus there are great coastal views to be enjoyed.

Regardless of what brings you to this remarkable place, you’ll be rewarded with a memorable experience. The natural landscapes and countless tourist activities in Kalbarri make it one of the best-kept secrets in Western Australia.

For more informaton on Kalbarri contact the Kalbarri Visitor Centre on +61 8 9937 1104 or visit their website at www.kalbarriwa.info

For information about Rainbow Jungle visit www.rainbowjunglekalbarri.com

To learn about the seahorse sanctuary check out www.seahorsesanctuary.com.au