Z Bend is the most dramatic of the river gorge walks in Kalbarri National Park. The main lookout at the end of the 2.4-kilometre return walk from the car park gives a bird's-eye view of the Murchison River as it makes its characteristic double bend in the gorge below — the full Z shape is visible from the rim. The sandstone walls drop sharply to the river, with the water visible as a narrow turquoise thread at the bottom.
A harder trail descends 200 metres into the gorge to the river itself — a 4.2-kilometre return trip with some scrambling over rocks required. The swimming hole at the bottom is one of the most appealing in the park, and the sense of enclosure in the gorge is completely different from the rim views. Carry plenty of water; the descent is exposed and the temperature in the gorge can be significantly warmer than on the plateau. The trail is marked with red arrows and is achievable for fit walkers, but takes 2-3 hours return.