Luke would love this Skywalk

George Lucas originally planned to name his lead character Luke Starkiller. He did go on to kill the Death Star. But George renamed him Skywalker because he thought Starkiller sounded a little too ‘Charles Manson’.

 

Just last Friday Kalbarri National Park opened its new soon-to-be-smash-hit attraction…The Skywalk. Part science fiction, part engineering marvel, part spaceship, this new Skywalk is astounding. Made up of two V-shaped walking decks, which propel visitors 25 metres and 17 metres respectively, out from the cliff, into the sky, above the extra-terrestrial rocky gorge of the Murchison River 100 metres below. This is eco-tourism twenty-first century style. The view reminds you of a galaxy far far away. It is staggering. It is the sort of wild, rocky, dramatic river gorge that normally only two-way radio using, 4WD fanatics get to see. This, however ,is accessible to everyone and is just a 30-minute drive west from Kalbarri on a well maintained tarred road.

Kalbarri National Park is 1830 square kilometres of the lower reaches of the Murchison River. The river has cut an 80km gorge through red and white sandstone creating stunning rock formations. A gentle walk takes us to the famed Nature’s Window- a natural window in the rock, now a treasured location for selfies. We are enthralled as a young Frenchman flies his drone through the gap in the rock at rapid speed. Another Star Wars moment.

Later we traverse the Z-Bend Track which winds down from a 100-metre viewing platform to the gentle river below. We follow the track down a dry waterfall where water has cut a deep swathe through the sandstone. The descent is steep and at times tricky with a number of ladders. The river rewards us for our effort as it flows gracefully through the deep sandstone gorge. We are relieved that the upward journey is much quicker and easier on the knees.

Our timing for the Skywalk is perfect, but alas we are a few weeks too early for the wildflowers. The odd flush of fluffy wattle is a hint that this one metre-high scrubby bushland, completely devoid of larger trees, is about to explode into colour and beauty.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is known to have said ‘In my experience there is no such thing as luck.’ So today we count ourselves blessed to be able to visit Kalbarri National Park and doubly blessed to be amongst the first visitors to experience the Skywalk.