Today's edition of GeoLifestyle is written by an exploration geologist for a major iron ore miner, Christin Schulz. Follow her popular geology page, Happy Geo, on Instagram @the.happy.geo.
Schulz was stationed in Australia for three years but will soon be relocating to Kazakhstan. She’ll share her adventures there in GeoLifestyle, too, once she gets settled. For now, let’s head off on an adventure Down Under.
Christin Schulz
Exploration Geologist
@the.happy.geo
Kalbarri National Park
Nature's Window, Courtesy of Christin Schulz
About six hours north of Western Australia’s capital city, Perth, is the beautiful Kalbarri National Park. Its most famous attraction, Nature’s Window, not only provides an amazing view over the Murchison River, but captures ancient river sediments, tidal-to-estuary settings, and incredible trace fossils.
The age of the formation ranges from Cambrian to Early Devonian and varies by area throughout the park.
The stunning formations along the Murchison River and sea cliffs near the town of Kalbarri are Cambrian to Silurian.
Fossilized trackways provide a detailed picture of the first invertebrate pioneers of terrestrialization, especially arthropods.
The fossils at the park are one of the most diverse and abundant collections of arthropod trace fossils in the entire rock record.
Eurypterids, ancient sea scorpions, ventured on land and have left traces for us to see today.
Nature’s Window:
The park’s most well-known attraction, Nature’s Window, is a wind-eroded opening in the area’s sandstone that looks over the Murchison River.
How to visit: The walk to Nature’s Window is a one-kilometer out-and-back walk—a good option for those seeking a shorter jaunt or limited to a quicker trip through the park. Budget about 30 to 45 minutes for this portion of your trip.
Nature’s Window is very popular, so early mornings or weekdays are a great way to enjoy the scenery without the crowds.
Trip tips:
The Loop Trail: Starting from Nature’s Window, you can continue on the “Loop Trail,” a stunning nine-kilometer hike along the river bend.
During your walk, you can see fossilized burrows from ancient worms that left trails through the sand.
The trek is best undertaken during the cooler months (May to October). The trail is closed after 7 am from November to March, when temperatures can reach up to 40 °C or 104°F.
Bring your own water in any season, and keep in mind that there are no shady spots along the way.
Budget three to five hours for the full loop.
Nearby pit stop: If you start your Trip in Perth, you might also want to stop at Hutt Lagoon, a stunningly pink Salt Lake.
Sponsored
Ready to Elevate how you Explore and Evaluate?
AI/ML tools integrate with our interpretation software and upstream data, supporting consistent, iterative workflows from data preparation through analysis.
The ancient riverbeds in Kalbarri got caved in by the Murchison River, allowing for spectacular views. Leave yourself ample time to stop and take in the scenery from the many viewpoints throughout the park.
Must-stop viewpoints include the Skywalk, Z-Bend, Hawks Head, or the Ross Graham Lookout. All of these enable you to see the beautiful landscape carved by the Murchison River.
Walk along the coastline to see the Tumblagooda Sandstone and the stunning cliffs from the Red Bluff Lookout, Natural Bridge, Mushroom Rock, and other viewpoints. If you visit in June-November, you might be lucky enough to spot Humpback whales migrating South 🐳
Sponsored
Discover Opportunity in Your Legacy Assets
Join AAPG 25-26 February in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to explore revitalization of legacy assets, investment opportunities, novel funding, and more.
👍 If you enjoyed this edition of GeoLifestyle, consider supporting AAPG's brand of newsletters by forwarding to a friend or colleague and signing up for our other newsletters here.
➡️ Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up for GeoLifestyle here.
AAPG thanks our advertisers for their support. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. If you're interested in supporting AAPG digital products, reach out to Melissa Roberts.
