AGO Holiday Planner 2026

Gascoyne Murchison

DESTINATIONS GASCOYNE JUNCTION, MOUNT AUGUSTUS, MEEKATHARRA

HIGHLIGHTS GASCOYNE JUNCTION HISTORICAL MUSEUM, MOUNT AUGUSTUS, CATTLE POOL, MOUNT GOULD LOCKUP, PEACE GORGE

BEST TIME TO VISIT APRIL – SEPTEMBER

KINGSFORD SMITH MAIL RUN

*Sealed 70km of the 80km from Gascoyne Junction to Cobra Dairy Creek turnoff. *Sealed in Shire of Meekatharra with the exception of 47m.

Mount Augustus

THREE DAYS ON UNSEALED ROADS *

Carnarvon

Gascoyne Junction

The drive from Carnarvon to Gascoyne Junction will take you from the rugged coastline of Carnarvon, along the Gascoyne River, through beautiful

pastoral land, into the heart of Australia’s Golden Outback. You’ve got mail

Mount Gould

His name is usually associated with aviation but in 1924, transport pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith set up a business that operated the two week mail run from Carnarvon to Meekatharra. Follow this route towards Gascoyne Junction on the Gascoyne River, with interpretive panels along the way sharing facts about “Smithy” as well as Aboriginal dreamtime stories, and European history. The Gascoyne Junction Museum houses relics of European settlement showcasing the ingenuity of the pastoralists in the tiny, original 1912 Roads Board Building. Rock star At almost twice the size of Uluru, there’s no missing Mount Augustus. Aim to arrive late afternoon, the perfect time to watch the sun start to dip and see the yellow, orange and even purple hues of the rock start to shine. More than 1.6 billion years old, Mount Augustus, also known as Burringurrah, is the largest rock formation of its kind in the world.

Meekatharra

On the boundary of the Mount Augustus National Park, Cattle Pool (at Goolinee) has permanent water and is home to a variety of water birds and the best picnic view in the National Park. Lock it in The mail route continues past the legendary Landor Race Course, before crossing the Gascoyne River to Mount Gould and the Mount Gould Lock Up. The police station initiated by pastoralists was built in 1888 and still stands today, having been restored in 1987. Iron bars to which prisoners were chained can

still be seen. Venture on through the vast outback to finish in historic Meekatharra. The 3km Meeka Rangelands Discovery Trail offers fascinating insight into the Indigenous history, nature, and cultural heritage of the town. Including Peace Gorge, amongst the scattered piles of golden granite boulders. Peace Gorge is a popular spot for birdwatchers, and picnickers and offers stunning sunset views.

TOP TO BO OM Mount Augustus, Peace Gorge Meekatharra.

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