Day 74: Fri 31 May 24 - Kalbarri to Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road)

Fri 31 May 24 - Kalbarri to Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road) (298km)

11 Deg at Kalbarri, to 25 Deg C at Nanga near Lizzie’s Gravel Pit - our overnight free camp about 87km from Denham. It was another glorious clear, sunny day, but the wind was strong at times.

We left Kalbarri at 09:00am, with our first stop 40km later about 4km off the main road in the Kalbarri National Park (2nd entrance about 30km past the 1st entrance where we entered yesterday). Our first stop was at the Hawks Head lookout with excellent views of the Murchison River Gorge. From there, we drove back 2km to the Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail, and a had a short walk to the lookout and into the Murchison River Gorge below. Ross Graham was the first headmaster at Kalbarri Primary School - a passionate conservationist and great advocate for the gorge being declared a national park. He died in 1967 aged just 31 years old. Unfortunately, on our way down into the gorge, Noel slipped on some loose pebbles on a concrete step. She held it together for a while, but landed awkwardly and heavily on her backside, hurting her back and wrist as she tried to break her fall. It doesn't look like too much damage was done, but she is feeling sore tonight. We've had ice on her wrist throughout the day to reduce swelling and bruising. We eventually drove away from the National Park heading east until we picked up the NW Coastal Highway and headed north. We stopped for lunch at a roadside rest area near Eurardy, before continuing to our overnight destination - Lizzie's Gravel Pit along the Denham / Hamelin Road at about 2:30pm. It's a very large area about 100m off he main road with a firm gravel road base and plenty of room. We were on our own until after dark, when a small campervan drove in and set up for the night too. There is very little passing traffic, so we expect a very quiet night. Tomorrow morning we will continue to Denham for a 3-night stay, stopping briefly on the way at Shell Beach about 40km away. 

Our spacious stay at Tasman Holiday Parks in Kalbarri - Surprised how quiet it was.

Hawks Head Lookout with excellent views of the Murchison River Gorge


Hawks Head Lookout with excellent views of the Murchison River Gorge


Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail with excellent views of the Murchison River Gorge

Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail with excellent views of the Murchison River Gorge


Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge

Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge

Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge

Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge

Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge

Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge


Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge

Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge


Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge


Ross Graham Lookout & River Trail - walk into the Murchison River Gorge

Lunch stop along the NW Coastal Highway past Eurardy

Where we landed today 87km short of Denham - Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road) for an overnighter. 

Where we landed today - Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road). Destination Denham including a visit to Monkey Mia

Where we landed today 87km short of Denham - Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road). Destination Denham including a visit to Monkey Mia

Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road) - you can just see us parked well back fromt the road on an unused gravel pit

Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road). Emu tracks at our campground

Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road) from above. On our own until 6:00pm when a small campervan arrived

Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road) from above looking towards Hamlin Pool/Shark Bay

Lizzie's Gravel Pit (Denham Hamelin Road) from above looking towards Hamlin Pool/Shark Bay




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