Murchison River Gorge Walk

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Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	At the intersection of Ross Graham Lookout & Ross Graham Road (NP) (-27.8113679,114.4727437)
Mode	Car
Directions	From North West Coastal Highway, 1, Ajana. Turn on to Kalbarri Road then drive for 29.4 km Turn right onto Hawkes Head Road and drive for another 630 m Turn right onto Ross Graham Road (NP) and drive for another 1.4 km
Finish	From the Loop Access Road (NP) (-27.5569176,114.444998)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the car park at the end of Ross Graham Road, Kalbarri National Park, head along the sealed path around the sheltered seating area, passing a 'Lookout 100m' and 'River 300m' sign (to your left) and a 'Welcome to Ross Graham Lookout' informative plaque (to your right). Follow the path ahead as it turns into a dirt trail, and head down the rocky steps. 110 metres into the journey, keep right at the 3-way intersection to continue along Murchison River Gorge Walk.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Ross Graham Lookout & Ross Graham Road (NP) Start heading along Ross Graham Lookout (a footpath). There is a car park (about 45 m back from the start). Find the toilet at the start. From the Ross Graham Lookout turn right, to head along Ross Graham Lookout.
	After another 105 m (from the Ross Graham Lookout) veer right, to head along Ross Graham Lookout. After another 6 m find the "Ross Graham Lookout" (9 m on your left). Ross Graham Lookout The lookout is dedicated to Ross Graham, the first school teacher in Kalbarri. He was a devoted conservationist who aided in the exploration of the Murchison River, and advocated for the protection of the river gorges within a national park. The lookout offers breathtaking views over the gorges within Kalbarri National Park. After another 270 m find the "Murchison River" (on your right). Murchison River Take a short walk down into the gorge to the peaceful, shady and sandy bed of the Murchison River, where you can enjoy a swim in the refreshing waters. Additionally, kayaking and canoeing down the river can be quite fun after decent rainfall. Murchison River is the second-longest river in Western Australia. It starts its journey in the ancient lands of the Robinson Ranges and flows for about 820 km to the Indian Ocean at Kalbarri across an ever-changing landscape of dry plains, salt lakes, and rocky slopes.
	After another 9 m cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 1.7 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 2 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 1.5 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 1.1 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 4.8 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to the Z-Bend Lookout where you can get some nice views over the gorge. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip veer right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 12.3 km (from the Z Bend River Trail) veer left. After another 550 m pass the sign (about 25 m ahead). Then pass the BBQ (about 35 m ahead). Then pass the toilet (70 m on your left).
	From the Four Ways Trail turn right, to head along Four Ways Trail.
	After another 2.8 km (at the intersection of Four Ways Trail & Four Ways Emergency Access) continue straight, to head along Four Ways Trail. After another 40 m find the "Four Ways" (on your right). Four Ways This is a point along the river where two side gorges meet the Murchison at a four-way junction and makes a great final view of this beautiful part of the gorge.
	After another 3.7 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 1 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 660 m cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 360 m cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 1.3 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 1.1 km cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 990 m cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 780 m cross the ford. From the Murchison River continue straight.
	After another 1.1 km come to the "Nature's Window" (4 m on your right). W:parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au From the The_Loop turn left, to head along The_Loop.
	After another 100 m (from the The_Loop) turn left, to head along The_Loop. After another 450 m head up the wooden steps (about 25 m long) About 25 m past the end is "The Loop". About 65 m past the end is a toilet.
	Continue another 0 m to find from the Loop Access Road (NP) at the end.

This little side trip takes you to the Z-Bend Lookout where you can get some nice views over the gorge.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	From the Z Bend River Trail Start (a walking track). After another 120 m come to "Z Bend Lookout". Z Bend Lookout A spectacular rock lookout sitting 150m above the gorge, where visitors can admire breathtaking views of the Murchison River gorge below. One of the most scenic locations in the Kalbarri National Park, the Z Bend is suitably named after the tight bends the Murchison River has carved into the Tumblagooda Sandstone gorge. The Z Bend can be admired from a lookout, or experienced first hand by hiking down into the gorge.
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 120 m to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

From the Z Bend River Trail Start (a walking track).

After another 120 m come to "Z Bend Lookout".

Z Bend Lookout

A spectacular rock lookout sitting 150m above the gorge, where visitors can admire breathtaking views of the Murchison River gorge below. One of the most scenic locations in the Kalbarri National Park, the Z Bend is suitably named after the tight bends the Murchison River has carved into the Tumblagooda Sandstone gorge. The Z Bend can be admired from a lookout, or experienced first hand by hiking down into the gorge.

The end.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 120 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Murchison River Gorge Walk

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	38.5 km
Time	11 h to 2 days

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	No directional signs (5/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	High level of bushwalking experience recommended (5/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 3 on route, on average they are 9.6 km apart with the largest gap of 24.3 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	9 m	[toilet]
Toilet	24.3 km	[toilet]
Toilet	38.5 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
Get more information
| Kalbarri NP Visitor Guide

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Kalbarri Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Sunday 27 April
  
  29°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Daytime maximum temperatures in the low to high 20s.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:40am to 3:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 6 [High]
  
  Monday 28 April
  
  14°C → 31°C
  Sunny.
  0% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h tending easterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
  
  Tuesday 29 April
  
  16°C → 32°C
  Mostly sunny.
  0% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds east to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 30.
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  17°C → 33°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds east to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h tending north to northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 16 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  17°C → 33°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  15°C → 31°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  15°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Western Australia Parks Alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check WA Park Alerts System for anything that may impact on your plans.

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