
Meanarra Hill
Kalbarri National Park
Directions - Meanarra Hill is located in Kalbarri National Park, a 10-minute drive east of Kalbarri. From the centre of town, take Ajana-Kalbarri Road east, taking the right turn when you see the signs for Meanarra Hill. Drive up to the top of the hill, where you will find a large car park. The Malleefowl Trail starts at the large Meanarra Hill sign on the south side of the car park.
The Walk - Enjoying a great winter holiday in Kalbarri, we had received a couple of days of warm weather, and a few days of cold and wet weather. Having hiked all the mainland trails that were open (Z Bend remained closed due to flooding), there was one last trail I wanted to experience before heading off to the Kennedy Range. With a lazy morning planned before settling in to hone our Mahjong skills that Grannam had taught us the day before, I suggested a walk around Meanarra Hill before enjoying breakfast in town.















It was another chilly morning as we drove out of town and joined the main road heading inland. After seeing a good variety of wildflowers on the Mushroom Rock Nature Trail and Bigurda Trail, I was hoping that this part of Kalbarri National Park would hold similar levels of botanical beauty. Arriving at the car park, it looked like the place had received recent upgrades, and I think this was done as part of the Kalbarri Skywalk project. Admiring the signage, I noted the route that the Malleefowl Trail took around the hill, and we proceeded up the path that leads to the various lookouts over Kalbarri and the Murchison River Gorge. It didn't take long before we were at the first lookout, with excellent views down to Kalbarri town and the expanse of the Indian Ocean. The morning sun was illuminating a rainbow over the ocean, a nice welcome for our visit. There is a small maze of paths around here, leading to various lookouts and gazebos, accompanied by some enjoyable interpretive signage.
Moving on to check out the Malleefowl Trail, we found the start of the loop that leads you off the concrete path and onto a single trail. Wandering along the contours of the hill, I was keeping an eye out for wildflowers along the edge of the trail. Initially I was not super impressed, as the further we walked, the more it became clear that the undergrowth was full of weeds. The views across the landscape made up for the lack of wildflowers, and the potential reason for a lack of native vegetation appeared around the corner. I thought it was kangaroo or two but as we got closer, a herd of feral goats were staring us down, including one that Caris dubbed the Devil Goat. Crossing the vehicle track that is used to access the nearby communication tower, the scenery improves a lot thanks to some cream colour eucalyptus trees providing a more photogenic scene. The bird life through here improved but getting a photo was hard, as they are fast and there was plenty of cover. The finish to the hike was an enjoyable finish, finally seeing some wildflowers thanks to a Senna and Wattle species. Back at the car park, it was time to head back to town and get a Gorges Cafe breakfast in me.















Final Thoughts - I think I was expecting a bit more in terms of the flora around here but I may have been a little bit too early in the season.
The real highlight of Meanarra Hill is experiencing those views over the Indian Ocean and the Murchison River Gorge. Having the Malleefowl Trail there is a bonus, and the second half is certainly worth it if you plan on walking the 2km loop.
If you're staying in Kalbarri then chances are you're looking for things to do, and Meanarra Hill should be one of those places you have on your list to visit.
Get out there and experience it!
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