Echidna rescue at Kalbarri.

Galena Bridge Free Camp, Murchison River

Friday 4th - Monday 7th November

We managed to find a secluded spot on the Murchison River just in from the busy Galena Bridge Free Camp. Our planned one-night stay turned into three, as it was an ideal spot, the weather was lovely and we were all ready for a few down days. We swam, kayaked, read and unpacked from our time in Steep Point. It was a lovely 3 nights and we all felt rejuvenated and ready to explore the delights of Kalbarri.

Just up from our camp was this lovely part of the Murchison River where we spent each afternoon.

We played the 'chocolate game' one afternoon, it was hilarious.

An interesting bug Emilia found near our camp.

Kalbarri, WA

Monday 7th - Wednesday 9th November

Although we only spent 2 nights in Kalbarri we explored most of the sights at the stunning national park (there are a tonne of photos below) however what we will all remember the most about our time in Kalbarri is the cute echidna that we rescued and the inspirational wildlife carer we took him to.

The story begins at dusk on our first night in Kalbarri. We had just left the national park after spending the afternoon exploring the gorges and lookouts. We noticed an echidna near the middle of the road and both Daniel and I looked at each other in sadness, assuming it was dead. Daniel had to pull onto the shoulder to avoid him and it didn't look like he was moving. As we drove on we both agreed we should go back and check, just in case he was still alive. Although he hadn't moved an inch, when Daniel went near him he curled up tighter into a ball so we knew he was alive! Daniel picked him up using a hessian bag we had (although he still got a few pricks from the echidna’s sharp spines), then he rode back to camp at my feet. His nose looked damaged and there had been a little bit of blood on the road. I started making phone calls, hoping we'd be able to find a local wildlife rescue centre. The National Park's advice line provided us with a few phone numbers and said we needed to put him in a metal crate to keep him safe- we improvised and emptied a metal can bin from the caravan park then popped it over the top of him. It was 8.30pm by the time we spoke to Kerryn, a local wildlife carer who was able to take 'Puggles' (yes we named him!). Although the kids were getting ready for bed, they quickly got re-dressed once they heard she had lots of joeys at her place. We spent a lovely hour at her house listening to some of her stories about the kangaroos and wallabies she's looked after over the 10 years she's been a wildlife carer, whilst cuddling and patting some of the joeys currently in her care. We left Puggles in her safe hands (in a huge eski lined with flannel sheets) and we heard the good news the next day that he only had a minor injury to his nose and he had began to stretch out and move (indicating he was on the mend). Kerryn was going to let him rest for another night before taking him out near the national park to release him (well away from the road!). It was such a pleasure to meet her and such a wonderful experience to see all the joeys in her care.

On our way into Kalbarri we stopped at the Ross Graham lookout for the first view of the 80km gorge that the Murchison River has cut through the area. The whole park is spectacular and this lookout was just the start.

That afternoon, after checking into the caravan park, we came back to the other side of the National Park to walk the Z bend trail- this lookout at the start allows you to see the sharp bend in the river that gives this area it's name (Z bend).

Along the Z Bend Trail walk we were afforded stunning views of the red and white sandstone rocks, with many overhanging rocky outcrops.

The walk involved clambering over boulders, meandering through rocky crevices and climbing ladders down the steeper sections. It was a such a picturesque walk and, as we did it in the late afternoon, we were the only ones there.

Enjoying the view over the Murchison River once we reached the end of the trail. 

The kids rock hopped over the river to explore the rocks on the other side.

On the trail back up, the layered rocks were so interesting with some looking liked they'd been stacked up.

I loved the look of this tree stump growing out of rocks.

Climbing up one of the narrow crevices. 

The wildflowers throughout the park were just beautiful, with the best ones seeming to be alongside the road. We stopped so I could take some photos and I managed to slip and fall on the gravel as I got out of the car. I ended up with a bruised bottom and elbow (and ego!) but I still managed to get the shots I wanted. The pink wildflowers were my favourite as they were so vibrant.

The Kalbarri Skywalk is a newly added attraction that was not here last time we were in Kalbarri. It was awesome walking out on both of the platforms that are suspended 100m in the air. The views were incredible and we all had a good laugh looking at the many hats that decorated the rocks below the suspended platforms. Daniel being Daniel, he decided to climb down to a hat he'd spotted that he thought looked good (whilst I was up reading the information and couldn't ask him not too!). Turns out the hat was quite nice, it was actually brand new (still had the tags on) and it fits me perfectly..scored!!

You can just spot the kids and I at the end of the platform.

The most popular (and most photographed) attraction in Kalbarri National Park is Nature's Window, an opening in the layered sandstone, eroded by the wind, that provides a natural frame around the beautiful view of the river and gorge below. We were there just before sunset so the light was lovely. It was such a different experience to last time we were here, when it was extremely busy and we had to queue up to get a photo. This time we were the only ones there, so we took our time enjoying the serenity of this special place and taking heaps of photos.

As we were turning into the caravan park we noticed all these galahs lined up on the powerlines- just in this one spot!!

'Puggles' the echidna we rescued. As advised we found a secure cage for him whilst we phoned around trying to find a local wildlife carer. He is the biggest echidna we'd ever seen.

The kids loved cuddling these small baby wallabies. They have to be kept warm and fed every 4 hours- they were ready for a feed so keep rooting around the blankets hoping to find a teat!

One of the 6 older joeys Kerryn is caring for. The joeys were hanging in makeshift pouches and kept popping their heads out to look at us. 

This one was using the end of it's tail as a dummy!

Island Rock - one of the many impressive formations along the coastal section of Kalbarri National Park.

Natural Bridge

At Pot Alley the wind and water has eroded sections of the sandstone cliffs, leaving crevices full of interesting patterns.

Looking out to the ocean from under the cliffs at Pot Alley.

That evening the boys tried their luck off the rocks near town.......

...while Emilia and I did a 3km loop walk through Rainbow Valley and along the coast to Mushroom Rock.

At Rainbow Valley there were all these hanging tubes on the rocks, apparently they were the home to an ancient sea worm and have solidified over time.

Sand and silt filled with different minerals have formed layered 'rainbows' along the rocks. 

Another interesting feature along our walk - heaps of sandstone boulders that we had to weave our way through.

We arrived at Mushroom Rock just before sunset. We enjoyed watching the waves crash up on the rocks and we laughed at the hundreds of red crabs that scuttled away as we approached them. After sunset we went back to meet the boys who were fishing off the rocks. We stayed there to watch the lunar eclipse- which we didn't see until late as there was low lying cloud. It was pretty cool once we could eventually see it though!