Page 331 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

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E Museum of Geraldton beautiful inland
2 Museum Place, Batavia Coast gorges lining the
Marina. Tel (08) 9921 5080. Murchison River.
Open 9:30am–3pm daily. Closed The park has a
public holidays. Donation. 7 number of coastal
P Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage and river walking
355 Chapman Rd. Tel (08) 9923 1837. trails which lead to
Open Contact the Geraldton Visitor breathtaking views
Centre for opening times: (08) 9956 and fascinating
6670. & rock formations. A bridge across the Gascoyne River in Carnarvon
E City of Greater Geraldton The trails vary in
Regional Art Gallery length, from brief two- 7Carnarvon
24 Chapman Rd. Tel (08) 9964 7170. hour strolls to four-day hikes. * 5,000. ~ @ @ n 21 Robinson
Open 10am–4pm Mon–Sat, 1–4pm Highlights of the park include St, (08) 9941 1146. ∑ carnarvon.
public hols. Closed Sun, Good Fri, Hawks Head, a picnic area org.au
25 & 26 Dec & 1 Jan. 7 with views of the gorge;
Nature’s Window, where a rock The town of Carnarvon,
4Abrolhos Islands formation frames a view of the standing at the mouth of the
Gascoyne River, acts as the
river; and Ross Graham Lookout,
@ Geraldton. g from Geraldton. where visitors can bathe in the commercial and administrative
n Geraldton (08) 9956 6670. river pools. By the ocean, Pot centre for the surrounding
Alley provides awesome views Gascoyne region, the gateway
About 60 km (37 miles) off of the rugged coastal cliffs and to Western Australia’s north.
Geraldton lie more than 100 Rainbow Valley is made up of Tropical fruit plantations line
coral islands called the Houtman layers of multi-coloured rocks. the river here, some offering
Abrolhos – the world’s The access town for the park, tours and selling produce.
southernmost coral island Kalbarri, is situated on the coast In Carnarvon itself, One Mile
formation. While it is not and provides good tourist facili- Jetty on Babbage Island is a
possible to stay on the islands, ties. The park’s roads are acces- popular place for fishing, and
tours enable visitors to fly over sible to most vehicles, but are Jubilee Hall, built in 1887,
them or to dive among the coral. unsuitable for caravans or trailers. houses a fine arts and crafts
The best time to visit is from July centre. Carnarvon is also home
to October, when the weather to a busy prawn and scallop
5Kalbarri is dry and the temperatures are processing industry.
National Park not prohibitive. In summer, they
can soar to 40°C (104°F). Environs
@ Kalbarri. n Kalbarri (08) 9937 About 70 km (43 miles) north
1140. Open sunrise–sunset daily. & of Carnarvon lie the Blowholes,
∑ kalbarri.org.au 6Shark Bay World a spectacular coastal rock
Heritage and formation where air and spray
The magnificent landscape of Marine Park is forced through holes in the
Kalbarri National Park includes rocks in violent spurts up to
stunning coastal scenery and See pp330–31. 20 m (66 ft) high.

Stunning gorge views from Hawks Head Lookout, Kalbarri National Park