Nature's Window

Nature's Window is a wind-eroded opening in the red-and-white layered sandstone at The Loop, framing the Murchison River and its gorge. It's one of Kalbarri's signature sights. I'd keep it on your list if you want the famous river view without taking on a long hike; the approach is short, but includes stairs and a rocky finish.

Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the 1 km return walk. It starts down stairs from the parking lookout, follows a sealed path past gorge viewpoints, then crosses uneven rock to the window. The route is rated Class 3, or moderate, and is not wheelchair accessible. The window walk is much shorter than the separate Loop Trail.

The opening gives you a natural frame for the river and the scrub-covered gorge beyond it. That's the picture to make: include the water in the gap so the red stone doesn't fill the whole frame. This is a popular stop, so visitors sometimes wait for a clear view. Take turns and stay on stable ground rather than climbing onto the fragile rock.

The gorge's thin, red-and-white bands are Tumblagooda Sandstone, deposited millions of years ago on tidal flats. Rippled surfaces around the window preserve marks made by waves in a shallow sea. In overhangs around The Loop, some holes that look like root marks are actually fossilized worm burrows; tracks on flat surfaces record animals moving over damp sediment.

The Loop Trail is a separate 9 km circuit, rated Class 4 and usually a 3 to 5 hour walk over rocky and sandy ground. It follows the Murchison's switchbacks for more gorge views, but has limited shade and no drinking water. Temperatures on the trail can reach 50°C in summer. Its after-7 a.m. closure from November through March is listed for the Loop Trail; don't apply that restriction automatically to the short Window walk. Cooler months, May to October, are recommended for the longer hike.

Kalbarri National Park is on Nanda Country; Nanda people are the Traditional Owners of the park. The sandstone is fragile, and the edges are exposed, so keep back from the drop and don't climb on or above the window.