Mushroom Rock. Hmm maybe not ‘that’ outstanding, but a lovely walk to see it all the same.

Red Bluff.

We’ve found that wildflowers in WA are amazingly resistant to their environment.

Wildflowers

Cycle up to the Zuytdorp Lookout at Kalbarri. The monument tells the story of the Dutch East Indies ships that ventured down this far. Apparently to make the best use of the winds they would come as far south as the 26th parallel, which happens to be about here, before turning. However, some came a bit close to these treacherous shores and many ships were lost. The Batavia foundered in 1628. The Zuytdorp in 1712. It carried a rich cargo of 248,000 freshly minted silver coins along with 200 passengers. Hundreds of coins have been recovered from the famous ‘carpet of silver’ in and around the wreck. The precise circumstances of the wreck remain a mystery, because no survivors reached Batavia to tell the tale. Some did live for a time in Shark Bay, where they were helped by local Aboriginal people. This contact with Europeans was probably the first ever made by Australia’s Indigenous people to last longer than a brief encounter.

The Bigurda Trail sign. Well worth doing.

Walking along the Bigurda Trail.

A kestrel – possibly after which Eagle Bluff was named, both being raptors.

Wildflowers along the path.

Loved these spidery wildflowers.

The beautiful cliffs along which we walked.

Striking cliffs – beautiful when you’re safely onshore; not so if you’re a ship at sea looking for a safe landing.

Time for a break.

Humpback whales.

Mother and baby whale, resting.

Our mother and baby whale – rest finished, about to continue their journey south.

This was once a natural arch – now collapsed and known as Island Rock.

Natural Arch – the turning point of our walk.

Breakfast on the beach at Kalbarri.

Wildflowers we saw on our walk into the gorge at Z-Bend. I loved the delicate pink contrasting with the red of the gorge behind it.

More wildflowers seen on our walk to Z-Bend.

So many different types of wattle. This one looks like little grubs.

The gorge at Z-Bend.

Just look at the beautiful rock layers. Z-Bend Gorge, Kalbarri NP

This is a part of the path down – a scramble over huge boulders then a walk along a chasm – not down yet though!

Descending the ladder – that definitely helped the descent, and ascent a lot! Kalbarri NP, Z-Bend

Beautiful colours on the way to Z-Bend Gorge floor. Kalbarri NP

Z-Bend Gorge, Kalbarri NP

Z-Bend Gorge, Kalbarri NP. Look at that crystal clear water.

Looking through Nature’s Window to the Murchison River, below. Kalbarri NP

Yeah, yeah. Every tourist has to pose here. Nature’s Window, Kalbarri NP

The Murchison River – from near Nature’s Window, Kalbarri NP

The Murchison River looking in the other direction. From Nature’s Window, Kalbarri NP

Just a taste of the descent. Loop Trail, Kalbarri NP

View of the river and countryside from the cliff top we followed for awhile.

Walking along the ridge just above the river – this is easy! What are they going on about?

Ahh now I see why they say it’s difficult. Here I’m attempting to go to a lower level so that should I fall in I wouldn’t hurt myself too much. However … that came to a dead end. See the protruding ledges just above my left shoulder – that’s the trail!!

Follow the arrows – up there, then around that rock. Loop Trail, Kalbarri NP

Across the Murchison to the finely layered cliff face. Loop Trail Kalbarri NP

A close-up of the beautiful cliff face on the other side of the Murchison R to the Trail. These layers remind me of the Thousand Layer Cake (kek lapis) I ate in Malaysia.

Swans on the Murchison, seen on the Loop Trail Kalbarri NP. Interesting coloured water – it was very clean, must have been from the coloured cliffs.

Yep, we’re looking at you too. Seen on the Loop Trail, Kalbarri NP

A white-necked heron looking for tiny fish in the Murchison River. Loop Trail, Kalbarri NP

Murchison River from the Hawks Head lookout. That protruding rock on the upper right is meant to be the hawk’s head – a little imagination helps.

Behind me is a void. Must have been built up like this to create a draft.