Kalbarri

Kalbarri is a resort town on Western Australia's coast, nestled at the mouth of the Murchison River. The area has an ideal climate which means a plethora of coastal activities can be enjoyed all year round, including swimming, surfing, hiking, fishing and whale watching during the humpback migration season. Western Australia has the largest variety of wildflowers in the world, and Kalbarri is the prime location to experience them. Between July and October more than 12,000 wildflower species carpet the Mid-West region, transforming the dry sand plains and river gorges of Kalbarri National Park into a vivid display of colour. The park encircles the town itself, covering an area of 186,000 hectares. The inland river gorges with ancient rock formations to the north and the towering ocean cliffs to the south provide a range of spectacular terrain that caters for both the laid-back holidaymaker and experienced hikers. If relaxing at pristine swimming spot is more your activity of choice, Chinaman's Beach is the perfect spot to wade. This is a lovely sheltered beach cove where the Murchison River meets the sea, and dolphins are often spotted at sunset. The Murchison River also has numerous swimming spots in its tidal river mouth and northwards for about 1.5 kilometres. A 5-minute drive from the heart of Kalbarri is Blue Holes beach, which is a Fish Habitat Protection Area, making it the perfect spot for snorkelling. Jakes Point is one of the state's most famous surfing breaks, if you're a surfer at heart this break is likely already on your bucket list. This iconic lefthander is a National Surfing Reserve that puts on a spectacular display of 10ft swell, while Jakes Bay further down the beach offers a safer option for novices.