Western Australia Outback

Western Australia's Outback offers a surprising variety of holiday experiences that are out of the way and out of this world.

You can stroll along the snow-white beaches of Esperance coast and relive the wild gold rush days in Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields of Western Australia’s Golden Outback.

Wander through fields of wildflowers and enjoy warm country hospitality of farm stays in the Wheatbelt. Or experience real Australian outback life on the cattle stations and homesteads of the Gascoyne-Murchison region.

The climate in Western Australia's Outback varies considerably as you travel across the region. Temperatures range from 15ºC in winter and can reach as high as 37ºC in the summer months. You should ensure that you and your vehicle are suitably prepared for the variations in conditions in the seasonal climate.

Coolgardie StreetWestern Australia Outback covers a vast majority of Western Australia, starting in line with Coolgardie and heading east to the Northern Territory and South Australia borders. There are a number of tracks which lead through Western Australia, although whichever you are travelling on you should make sure that you carry all essential supplies with you and plenty of water.

Merredin Post OfficeHeading east from Perth along the Great Eastern Highway the town of Merredin which is set within the Wheatbelt. There is an interesting locomotive museum as well as a military museum. Merredin is also the site of a 1999 World Record, the 'Worlds Longest Road Train'. A Kenworth Truck pulled 45 trailers for 8km, which stretched a distance of 610 metres and weighed a grand 603 tonnes.

Southern Cross Palace HotelEast is Southern Cross where in 1887 gold was discovered, starting off the discovery of more gold in the Western Australia Goldfields and resulting in the future gold boom which greatly helped the Western Australia economy and population. East from Southern Cross is Coolgardie another gold mining town, whose fortune unfortunately didn't last long.

Kalgoorlie BuildingThe main place that has survived the harsh conditions of the Western Australia Goldfields is Kalgoorlie-Boulder, a busy city which is a blend of modern and historical architecture and raw outback life. From Kalgoorlie-Boulder there are three main routes which you can take, depending on where you want to get to.

Heading north you will pass the small town of Broad Arrow, with its total population of about 20 people, and further north Menzies which has a population of about 100 people. There are several historical buildings to visit within the towns, including Menzies Town Hall which has no clock in its clock tower due to the clock sinking along with the boat that was bringing it from England. North again is the railhead of Leonora, and Gwalia which is home to the large Sons of Gwalia Gold Mine. A turn off between Menzies and Leonora will take to several other small mining towns, including Kookynie, Malcolm and Niagara.

Halls Creek RoadAt Leonora-Gwalia you can either head east to Yulara in Northern Territory, or continue north through Western Australia to Halls Creek. Continuing north you will pass the nickel town of Leinster and the old gold town of Agnew. North again is Wiluna, another mining town. You can head west from Wiluna to Meekatharra and then continue north or south along the Great Northern Highway, head north along the deserted Canning Stock Route to Halls Creek in The Kimberley, or head east along the Gunbarrel Highway past the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve.

Heading east at Leonora-Gwalia along the Warburton Road, you will get to see plenty of the red soil and desert land associated with Australia. Although there are several places to stop along the way, you should make sure you carry all supplies. Several places to stop include Laverton, Warburton, Docker River and then finally Yulara. You will need to get a number of permits to cross the Aboriginal Land, which you can get in Perth from Aboriginal Affairs Ph: 9235 8000, and in Alice Springs from the Central Land Council.

Kambalda StreetJust south of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is Kambalda which is a nickel mining town, close to the popular yachting lake of Lake Lefroy. South again is Norseman from where there are fabulous views across the salt lakes that surround the town from the Beacon Hill Mararoa Lookout. There is also an interesting Historical and Geological Collection in the School of Mines. From Norseman you can start (or end as the case may be) your journey east along the Eyre Highway and the famous Nullarbor Plain.



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