Rating: 3/5
Location: Murchison River Caravan Park, 92 Grey St, Kalbarri WA 6536
Kalbarri is a very beautiful town located on the coast and at the mouth of the Murchison River – approximately 600 kilometres north of Perth.
Apparently, its population of around 1,300 swells to about 8,000 during the peak holiday seasons.
We have discovered that the further north we travel in Western Australia, the fewer dog-friendly options we seem to have for low cost and free camping.
There are many camp sites in National Parks where we are unable to go with the dogs as well as roadside rest stops which are usually just truck pull overs. However, we want to make the most of the amazing coastline so we’ve found that we need to chase the moths out of our wallets and pay the piper.
We stayed at the Murchison River Caravan Park which is in a great location across the road from the river’s beach and quite central to the town’s shops and cafes.
Perhaps it is because of the wealth of tourists during peak seasons that the park management doesn’t feel like they have to try too hard. The park’s facilities are jaded – and while that generally doesn’t really bother me – the bathrooms near to our camp were not clean – at any time of the day.
More importantly, two out of the three available plug holes in the power point on the fence into which we had to plug our power had burnt out and electrical plugs could no longer be inserted. The power box into which one would normally plug their caravan’s power was filled with two old and faded extension leads from one of the cabins on the site. Dirty facilities are disappointing. Unsafe facilities are unacceptable.
However, Kalbarri is still a wonderful town to visit. The weather has warmed up and the sun hasn’t stopped shining since we arrived. A drive along the coastline provides so many photographic opportunities – none of which can be captured completely with a camera. We saw a large pod of dolphins just off the coast and over the next few months whales will be sighted from the shore.
Our next stop is on a working sheep or cattle station close to Shark Bay and we’re not sure how much phone and internet reception that we will have from the campsite. If you don’t hear from us, don’t worry – we’ll be back online as soon as we can to give you an update.
Until then my friend, I hope your safety switch does not trip!
Cost: $37 per night or $33.30 per night with Top Tourist Park membership
Dump point: Yes
Fishing: Yes
Phone/internet: Yes
Showers: Yes
Toilets: Yes
Water:Yes
An adventure ... around Oz with dogs in a caravan 