Kalbarri National Park

Kalbarri National Park is located 485km north of Perth, in the Mid West region of Western Australia.The major geographical features of the park include the Murchison River gorge which runs for nearly 80km 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.GeographyKalbarri 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 gorge, as well as the mouth of the river by Meanarra Hill.The western edge of the park protects the coastline south of the town which features cliffs more than 100m high. The coastal area contains several wind and water eroded rock formations including a sea stack and a natural bridge.ClimateThe 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 and a semi-arid climate. Winters are warm with moderate precipitation. Summers are hot and dry with temperatures that frequently exceed 40°C in the inland part of the park. Inland areas can often be more than 10 °C (18 °F) 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.