AGO Holiday Planner 2026

Esperance & the Fitzgerald Coast

BEST TIME TO VISIT ALL YEAR

DESTINATIONS PERTH, WAVE ROCK, ESPERANCE, KALGOORLIE

HIGHLIGHTS KALGOORLIE’S SUPER PIT, TWILIGHT COVE, TEN MILE LAGOON, LAKE BALLARD

Lake Ballard

OCEAN TO OUTBACK SEVEN DAYS ON SEALED ROADS

Kalgoorlie

Merredin

Northam

Perth

You’ll feel blooming lucky traversing the outback in search of solid gold experiences, pristine beaches and wildflowers. These are generally at their peak from September to November after a good winter drenching. Rock on Two billion years in the making, Wave Rock is 15m of solid granite. You won’t get wet here, so take a dip at Lake Magic, or visit Wave Rock Salt Baths for a euphoric float. Nearby at Mulka’s Cave, see the protected rock paintings and handprints that tell the story of the local Aboriginal legend. Life’s a beach Swimming and fishing options abound as you head along the glorious Great Ocean Drive to Esperance. The calm water of Twilight Cove is the pick of the swimming holes, while Ten Mile Lagoon offers some pristine snorkelling and swimming. See if you can spot a Leafy Sea Dragon among the kelp and seaweed.

Wave Rock

Hyden

Esperance

Cape Le Grand

51 sculptures by renowned British artist Antony Gormley. Stretching across 10sq km, the individually cast black chromium steel sculptures cast a dramatic backdrop against Lake Ballard's white salt plain. The last 55km to Lake Ballard is unsealed. Head for the hills Follow the source of life-giving water through Golden Pipeline Country from Kalgoorlie, through the Wheatbelt towns of Cunderdin and Meredin, back to the Perth Hills.

Strike gold in Kalgoorlie Take a walk down Hannan Street for an introduction to the lively bars, pubs and clubs of Australia’s biggest outback city, then head up Mount Charlotte for gorgeous sunset views. Don a hard hat for a tour of the Super Pit, one of the world's biggest open-cut mines. Part of the famous Golden Mile, it’s a massive 3.5km long and 1.5km wide, and pumps out 900,000 ounces of gold a year. Sculpture by the lake There’s no entry fee to the world’s biggest outdoor art gallery featuring

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Beach in Esperance, Lake Ballard.

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HOLIDAY PLANNER 2026