Z Bend — Attraction in Kalbarri National Park

This is my favourite gorge (and spot) in Kalbarri National Park. However, what you can see will depend on your hiking abilities (no climbing required) and the time of the day and season you visit. If you are not a good hiker, my advise is to admire the view from the heightened grounds near the car park. You can still take in the whole gorge, whilst not making a lot of effort. It is in fact simple to walk to the viewpoint from the car park (but not paved paths). You can also have a look at the fossilized records of some of the first invertebrates to walk the Earth. If you stop here, I would plan to spend half an hour to an hour at most. If you like hiking and a bit of adventure, then I would really recommend going down to the Gorge. You can take amazing pictures, see beehives (apparently bees cannot sting there, but be careful just in case) and amazing scenery. Once you get down, if you take a left and follow the creek, you will get to a spot where you can have a swim as well. Our guides took us there and it was just lovely. However, if it is late spring/ late summer, I would really recommend going very early in the day, i.e. getting there no later than 7/7:30 am. Besides, after heavy rain, the place may look completely different. If you decide to walk along the gorge, please plan for at least a couple of hours (but it is totally worth it!!). In any case, do remember water (lots of it in fact!), sun cream, a hat...

Absolutely stunning views from Kalbarri National Park's Z Bend Lookout, an area of the Murchison River named after the enormous Z bend where the river flows through the gorges. The Z Bend lookout, 600m walk from the carpark (1.2km return) overhangs the sharp bend in the River. For those with good fitness levels, hike down into the gorge floor via the FourWaysTrail (2.6km return). Four Ways Trail is a strenuous Class 4 climb, descending into the gorge. The return journey is much more difficult.

Kalbarri National Park has well maintained trails, carparks, toilet and barbecue facilities. After travelling through WA's North West, I was super impressed with the maintenance and cleanliness of their facilities. Well done...

Just stunning natural beauty. The walk down to the river bed has a few scrambles and a couple of ladders but for anyone of moderate fitness shouldn't be a problem and take about 20 minutes. Not recommended for the frail or injured. The lookout is easily accessible, being only about 5 minutes walk from the car park and on much easier train, and the view from the lookout is well worth it. Once at the bottom of the gorge, you can walk along the river bed depending on the time of year and can swim in the pools, which in spring varied from knee deep to several metres deep with a bit of a walk from the bottom...