Australia's Golden Outback Holiday Planner 2022/23

Road Trip Holiday Planner 2022\23

Your guide to self-driving the region.

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Leonora Lodge was originally a mining village for FIFO workers at the nearby Sons of Gwalia gold mine.Today, the history continues with Leonora Lodge housing local mine workers alongside tourists. Stay in our well-appointed Studio room - It’s taste of mine life with added comfort and amenities such as a large screen TV, queen bed and kitchenette with Nespresso coffee machine. With a fully catered kitchen serving buffet breakfasts, packed lunches and hearty dinners, Leonora Lodge has all the amenities you need and is the ideal place to base yourself while you explore all the region has to offer! If you’re travelling in a caravan Leonora Caravan Park is a small, friendly oasis right in the centre of town.The park is a popular base for prospectors who come back year after year looking for gold and sharing their stories around a camp fire at the end of a day. It is also an ideal base for exploring the famous Golden Quest Discovery Trail and Leonora Loop Trails.

Continue your journey on to Laverton located at the start of the Great Central Road. Laverton Caravan Park offers travellers a peaceful resting place at the beginning and end of the adventurous desert trek through the centre to one of Australia’s greatest icons, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Laverton Caravan Park caters to those traveling in a caravan as well as those looking for accommodation options. All of our rooms have private ensuites, reverse cycle air conditioning and tea and coffee facilities. After arriving in the Northern Territory you can stay with us in our newly developed AliceVillage .With everything from a single unit with private ensuite to a 4-bedroom house we have accommodation options to suit any traveller, whether on a solo trek through the Red Centre or travelling with a large group.

For more information see our website www.opl.net.au or call one of our properties on the below: Leonora Lodge (08) 9037 7053

Leonora Caravan Park (08) 9037 6568 Laverton Caravan Park (08) 9031 1072 AliceVillage (08) 8953 2643

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Driving Australia’s Golden Outback is an adventure in itself. So prepare yourself because this is no ordinary road trip.

Nullarbor Links Australia’s Welcome to Golden Outback

It’ll be the trip of a lifetime.

the Southern Hemisphere, and to the 2.7 billion-year-old Wave Rock. In late winter and early spring, dazzling displays of wildflowers transform the countryside into living postcards of colour. While accessible to even the most inexperienced tourer, this is territory that should be respected. Use this guide to thoroughly plan ahead, contact our local visitor centres and ensure you equip yourself properly to make the most of your adventure ahead. All that’s left to do now is to get behind the wheel and drive into the incredible outback wilderness we call home.

If it’s your time to explore, reconnect and learn the history of our fantastic region - welcome, we can’t wait to meet you. A road trip through Australia’s Golden Outback is a journey and experience in itself. There’s a massive network of sealed roads and 4WD tracks here in an area making up 54 percent of Western Australia. The natural landscape is an ever-changing display of golden plains, life-giving lakes, shady woodlands, rocky outcrops and stunning beaches which stretch as far as the eye can see. Our region is truly ancient, home to Mount Augustus, the largest rock in

Here, history is strikingly close. During the early 20th century, our great grandparents were pretty busy, finding gold, building pipelines, populating station country and seeding the Wheatbelt. Their success and scars are evident today in historic buildings, golden landscapes ripe with wheat, and in the people who continue to work this great country. But way before then, the vast timeline of this Country’s Aboriginal history stretches back over 60,000 years. It’s fair to say you’re walking on one of the world’s most ancient lands and even now, the vibrant Indigenous culture continues to tell its many stories.

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Contents Welcome to Australia’s Golden Outback

3 6 7 8

Australia’s Golden Outback Regions

Road Trip Country map

Top 20 Experiences

10 12 14 16

Unmissable Events in 2022

Top Travel Tips

The WheaTbelt - Top things to see and do

Wheatbelt Road Trips

Wheatbelt Shires 23 Esperance and the southern Coast - Top things to see and do 50 Esperance Road Trips 52 Fitzgerald Coast Shires 62 Norseman & the Nullarbor Shires 66 Kalgoorlie & the Goldfields - Top things to see and do 68 Kalgoorlie & the Goldfields Road Trips 70 Kalgoorlie & the Goldfields Shires 80 The Gascoyne Murchison - Top things to see and do 92 Gascoyne Murchison Road Trips 94 Gascoyne Murchison Shires 97

5

Road Trip COUNTRY

ROAD TRIPS by region

Refer to map

THE WHEATBELT Monthly Av temp (°C) Dec-Feb 33° Mar-May 25° Jun-Aug 17° Sep-Nov 24° Page 16

Pathways to Wave Rock Granite Woodlands Discovery Trail Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail Wildflower Way Wheatbelt Way Public Silo Trail Wineries, Woodlands & Wheatbelt Trail Pioneers Pathway Northern Wheatbelt Wonders The Holland Way and the John Holland Track

With its great web of self-drive trails and relatively short distance from Perth, it’s no wonder the Wheatbelt is such a popular holiday destination. Seeing the world-famous Wave Rock is on everyone’s bucket list, while charming pioneering townships, miles of golden fields, delightful rural stays and spectacular wildflowers each spring make for an exhilarating driving experience. With enough spectacular scenery to inspire a road trip movie, this region’s brilliant turquoise waters and pearly-white beaches create a dazzling contrast to the red earth of the Outback. Considered one of Australia’s most significant biodiversity hotspots, the countryside features our state’s most pristine and untouched coastal national parks, all easily accessed by a grid of roads. Drive yourself through a window into history built on the dreams of fortune-seekers who flocked to the area following the discovery of gold in 1892. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry that is the Goldfields by exploring routes like the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, creating your own true outback adventure. Discover amazing salt lakes, ghost towns and quirky outback pubs and try your luck at gold prospecting. Take a few back roads, marvel at the ancient geology and witness the culture of outback stations in this extraordinary region. Kaleidoscopic carpets of wildflowers spring from the rich red earth during springtime and Mount Augustus, twice the size of Uluru, is simply mesmerising. Come and be enthralled by the wonders of an ancient outback landscape which delivers a perfect self-drive holiday.

ESPERANCE & THE SOUTHERN COAST

Road to Esperance Great Ocean Drive Eyre Highway & Nullarbor Links Ravensthorpe Ranges

Page 52

Monthly Av temp (°C) Dec-Feb 25° Mar-May 23° Jun-Aug 17° Sep-Nov 21°

KALGOORLIE & THE GOLDFIELDS

Golden Quest Discovery Trail Outback Way Leonora Loop Trails Norseman Heritage Trail Gunbarrel Highway Anne Beadell Highway

Page 70

Monthly Av temp (°C) Dec-Feb 32° Mar-May 25° Jun-Aug 18° Sep-Nov 25°

GASCOYNE MURCHISON Monthly Av temp (°C) Dec-Feb 37° Mar-May 29° Jun-Aug 20° Sep-Nov 29° Page 94

Road to the Rock Canning Stock Route Kingsford Smith Mail Run Wool Wagon Pathway Miners’ Pathway

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EXMOUTH

TH LEARMON

MT. AUGUSTUS TOURIST PARK

UPPER GASCOYNE

ARNARVON C

JUNCTION GASCOYNE

GASCOYNE MURCHISON

PAGE 94

MIA MONKEY DENHAM

WILUNA

MEEKATHARRA

NGAANYATJARRAKU

MURCHISON SETTLEMENT

NALLAN STATION

WOOLEEN STATION

CUE

LEINSTER

AGNEW

SANDSTONE

MT. MAGNET

YALGOO

LAVERTON

KIRKALOCKA STATION

LEONORA

NALBARRA STATION

MULLEWA

PINDAR

GWALIA

MELLENBYE STATION

GERALDTON

KOOKYNIE

PAYNES FIND

MORAWA

MINGENEW

ORI PERENJ

MENZIES

DONGARA

GOLDFIELDS

CARNAMAH

COOROW

WHEATBELT

PAGE 70

ORA BANDA

MT MARSHALL

BROAD ARROW

WUBIN

WESTERN WILDFLOWER FARM

PAGE 16

BEACON

DALWALLINU

BONNIE ROCK

BOULDER KALGOORLIE-

BALLIDU

BENCUBBIN

CERVANTES

MOORA

WONGAN HILLS

COOLGARDIE

YILGARN

MUKINBUDIN

KOORDA

NORCIA NEW

ROSS UTHERN C SO

TRAYNING

WYALKATCHEM

LANCELIN

NUNGARIN

WESTONIA

TAMMIN DOWERIN

FRASER RANGE

MERREDIN

TOODYAY

MECKERING

KELLERBERRIN

NORTHAM

4WD ONLY

NORSEMAN

BRUCE ROCK

YORK CUNDERDIN

To Adelaide

DUNDAS

PERTH

CORRIGIN NAREMBEEN

QUAIRADING

WAVE ROCK

WANDERING

ESPERANCE & THE SOUTHERN COAST

HYDEN

KONDININ

KULIN

PINGELLY

H MANDURA

WI CKEPIN

LAKE KING

PAGE 52

L AKE GRACE

NARROGIN

WILLIAMS

GA NEWDE TE

KUKERIN

WAGIN

ARTHUR RIVER

DUMBLEYUNG

PINGRUP

BUNBURY

RAVENSTHORPE

MEHILL BROO

ESPERANCE

NGLINUP MU

H DUNSBOROUG

BUSSELTON

KATANNING

HOPETOUN

ONGERUP

R MARGARET RIVE

AUGUSTA

BERTON PEM

DENMARK

WALPOLE

ALBANY

See other-worldly sculptures at Lake Ballard

1

Top

2

Get a taste for gold on a prospecting tour

Experiences in Australia’s Golden Outback There’s an experience out in Australia’s Golden Outback for everyone – which one is yours? Plan your road tripping holiday around a selection of these ideas and you’ll make forever memories!

take a step back in time at Gwalia Ghost Town

3

4

Soak up the magic as you float in the awesome Wave Rock Salt Baths

5

Challenge yourself to the world’s longest golf course

7

LEARN ABOUT INDIGENOUS CULTURE ON A LOCAL TOUR

6

8 | The Gascoyne Murchison | australiasgoldenoutback.com Yarn with the locals at The Grand Hotel Kookynie

9

Fly over the bubble gum pink Lake Hillier and fascinating Esperance coastline

8

Discover outback culture at a station stay

10

Tour the PUBLIC Silo Trail for grand scale inspiring art

11

Walk on Lucky Bay’s squeaky white sand while sipping a ‘kangacino’

Follow the explorers and 4WD ‘beyond the black stump’ LEarn the Dreamtime story of Walga rock art Discover the ancient landscapes of the Murchison Geo-Region Trail Experience mesmerising stargazing trails in the dark skies Check out a big wave in the outback

19

12 13 14 15

experience awarD-winning wheatbelt wineries

18

Immerse yourself in research at Eyre Bird Observatory

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20

17

Discover your ancestral roots in the Goldfields

Hike or simply marvel at Mt Augustus, the World’s largest rock

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wagin woolorama

Unmissable

Be inspired by the incredible diversity of culture and activities at Australia’s Golden Outback events and plan your journey into adventure to experience one or more of these significant occasions! events in 2022

Wagin Woolorama 4 March 2022 The Merredin Show 19 March 2022 The “Gassy Dash” 28 April to 1 May 2022

Australia’s Biggest BBQ At the World’s Biggest Rock 3 September 2022

Yalgoo Emu Festival 1 October 2022 Kulin Bush Races 7 October 2022 Kalgoorlie Desert Race 21 to 24 October 2022 Reynoldson Reserve Wildflower Festival, Wongan Hills 28 to 30 October 2022 Laverfest and Laverton Cup late October 2022 Bruce Rock Back to the Bush Veterans Reunion 31 October 2022

The 40th Anniversary Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show & Spring Festival 12 September 2022 The Mount Magnet Astro Rocks Fest 16 September 2022 Coolgardie Day 18 September 2022 The Wattle Week Festival 22 September 2022 Meeka Outback Festival, Meekatharra 23 to 25 September 2022 The Esperance Wildflower Festival 20 September 2022 Landor Races, Eastern Gascoyne Race Club 30 September to 3 October 2022 Lake Perkolilli Red Dust Revival 19 to 25 September 2022

Nullarbor Muster 22 to 24 April 2022 Chasing the Sun Nullarbor Links Golf Festival Early October 2022 Leonora Golden Gift Weekend 4 to 5 June 2022

Discover the Round, Kalgoorlie-Boulder August to early October The Coolgardie Rodeo 20 August 2022 Dowerin Field Days 24 to 25 August 2022

Scan here to discover more amazing regional events

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kalgoorlie desert race

Kalgoorlie cup

Reynoldson vintage car show

dowerin gwn machinery field days

Kulin Races

coolgardie Rodeo

ravensthorpe wildflower show

wattle week festival

Australia’s biggest BBQ

The Gassy Dash

Top travel tips for exploring Australia’s Golden Outback

If you are new to wandering out yonder here are some tips from the experts at Western 4W Driver.

Preparation is always key to a successful travel adventure. Here are some things to bear in mind: Make sure you get your vehicle serviced before you depart . This ensures that you don’t experience any costly mechanical surprises when travelling. Share your plans. Let someone you trust know where you are going and when you are planning to return. No one has starved to death in the Australian outback in recent history; however plenty have perished through lack of water. Plan on carrying two to four litres per person, per day between destinations. Avoid sipping water, always have at least a cup full when drinking (sipping only satisfies the desire to drink for a short while but does not get the fluid into your body where it is needed). If you breakdown or get stuck somewhere, stay with your vehicle . It is easier to find a vehicle than it is a person. Stick your bonnet up so that any vehicle that is driving past can see that you are broken down. Always carry a first aid kit . Ensure any items you use are replaced as soon as possible.

Here are some handy items you should have on board: Buy yourself a good quality, 12-volt air compressor . You will need it if you want to drive on sand or corrugated roads. When pumping tyres back up, check how hot the compressor is getting and maybe let it cool down a little between tyres. Stay on track . Don’t rely on Google Maps to get you to where you are heading. You will have limited mobile

Check current road conditions prior to departure by going to travelmap. mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map. If you are planning a route that is not a major road, it’s also a good idea to check with a local road house or local visitor centre before departure. Learn how to operate your vehicle safely by completing a 4WD course . Learn from the experts how to drive your 4WD off-road, how to recover yourself when you get stuck and become more confident when travelling along remote roads.

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Daily Vehicle Check (P.E.T.R.O.L)

Get yourself a dirty gear bag to hang off your spare wheel and put your rubbish (and any you find) in it. Empty it when you come into town. Some driving tips: AWD or 4WD . Many SUV’s are constant AWD. That doesn’t make them 4WD. When you are on gravel, engage 4WD to ensure better road handling and stability. Make sure you switch back to either 2WD or AWD before you are back on the bitumen otherwise you can do serious damage to your vehicle. It’s a popular myth that you need to drive as fast as possible to get a smooth ride where there are corrugations. This is NOT TRUE. Driving fast over corrugations limits the contact your vehicle has with the ground (you are effectively skipping over the corrugations), resulting in less control and the possibility of a serious accident. If that isn’t enough to dissuade you then feel your shock absorbers. If they are too hot, then you are driving too fast. If you continue, it won’t be long until your suspension suffers a catastrophic failure. Drop your tyre pressure and reduce your speed. keep our beautiful country as pristinie as possible

signal and many tracks and back roads are not shown. Google will also avoid gravel roads where it can so it may take you on a route longer than it needs to be. Invest in a good quality GPS and have a paper map or road atlas as a backup. We recommend getting your hands on a HEMA HX-2, great for on and off-road navigation. If you haven’t already, install a UHF radio in your vehicle and learn how to use it. When travelling on the highways, tune into channel 40. You can easily communicate with other road users, particularly the truckies. Don’t be afraid to talk to them if you are trying to overtake. Keep your conversations brief and to the point so that others can use the channel. Bring cash with a range of notes and change . Don’t rely on internet being available to run eftpos and your Apple iPay as you travel. Get yourself some prepaid mobile cards . Telstra has the best regional coverage but Optus is best through our National Parks so having both available is a good idea. It’s important to activate them before departing when data is easily accessible. If you brought it with you, take it with you. Keep our beautiful country as pristine as possible. Take all your rubbish with you . Rubbish bins can be scarce or not emptied very often.

PETROL (or fuel type for your vehicle). ELECTRICITY – battery condition. Check fluid levels TYRES Check tyre pressure, look for RADIATOR Check the coolant level via the overflow reservoir. Check the washer bottle level. OIL Use the dip stick to check engine oil levels LIGHTS Check headlights, indicators etc bulges, tread damage etc

Scan here for more travel tips and information

Your holiday starts now. Kick back, relax and discover regional WA on Transwa’s modern Prospector train. We travel between Perth and Kalgoorlie 18 times weekly, enjoy on-demand entertainment and buffet service whilst travelling in comfort. Transwa also operates luxury road coaches between Kalgoorlie and Esperance six times weekly, all services are air conditioned and fully accessible, equipped with on-board entertainment, bathroom facilities and USB charging ports. To book your next holiday, or to see where Transwa can take you call 1300 662 205 or visit transwa.wa.gov.au .

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WHEATBELT THE

Top Things to See & Do

Explore Kulin’s Tin Horse Highway Camp at the base of Wave Rock Visit the Wheatbelt’s Spring Wildflowering Touch the Rabbit Proof Fence Take an Indigenous cultural tour Visit Elachbutting Rock and walk Monty’s Cave Sit in Earthquake House at Cunderdin Museum Follow the PUBLIC Silo Art Trail Experience award winning Wheatbelt wineries See Aboriginal rock art at Mulka’s Cave Take in the vastness of Lake Dumbleyung

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HOW TO GET THERE: By Road:

The Wheatbelt has a good network of sealed roads and gazetted drive trails. There are a number of tour companies offering one day and extended holidays from Perth throughout the Wheatbelt if you’d like to leave the driving to someone else. By Coach/Train: Transwa operates coaches to many of the Wheatbelt towns and The Prospector train stops in Cunderdin, Kellerberrin, Merredin, Southern Cross and Kalgoorlie. Tel: 1300 662 205

P repare yourself for a captivating, friendly and old-school hospitality remains. Sweeping roads stretch through this rustic country, revealing a patchwork of golden fields, character towns, pioneering history, festivals and self- drive trails leading to spectacular granite outcrops with infinite views and unique ecosystems. The Wheatbelt is rich with stories of early day explorers and settlers, and of fortunes made and lost in the gold rush of the late 1800s. The town of Southern Cross is famous as the site of the first gold discovery in 1887, and the Golden Pipeline is the audacious solution to supplying life-giving water to the faraway goldfields. This region is the traditional land of the Njaki Njaki - Ballardong – Gubrun people, and its features hold great cultural significance to them. Understand what it means to tread in the footsteps of their ancestors by taking a locally owned indigenous tour and discover how the open road adventure to a place less hurried where life is unpretentious,

tammar wallabies, brushtail possums and tawny frogmouth owls. Book an overnight stay at secluded camp sites, guesthouses, charming B&Bs, rural cottages or visit an authentic farmstay. Make a point to pause, look up at dark desert skies for a boundless canopy of bejewelled stars and be sure to enjoy the area’s fantastic farm-gate produce. Olive oil, preserves, yabbies, emu oil and lavender products are all found here, as are award-winning boutique wineries created by passionate producers. The countryside provides one of nature’s most dazzling shows from July to early November when the landscape explodes into colour as grain crops ripen, wildflowers bloom and winter orchids light up the land. As wildflowers are dependent on seasonal rain, check information with local visitor centres. Time your Wheatbelt adventure to coincide with events; spend an Anzac Day dawn service in a woodland town, join a country triathlon or watch a classic agricultural show.

Dreaming guides survive even today. Both Indigenous and pastoral history is captured along interpretive trails and in museums of military and railway memorabilia. Tin horse sculptures , an art deco theatre and a historical retro drive-in cinema form part of a huge collection of curiosities and legends. Wave Rock , one of our state’s most recognisable tourist attractions, is a five- minute drive from the town of Hyden. The unique granite cliff – also known as Katter Kich to the land’s original custodians - stretches over 100 metres and stands 15 metres high, appearing like a giant wave about to crash over the surrounding bush. There are other fascinating granite rock outcrops in the Wheatbelt such as Elachbutting and Chiddarcooping near Mukinbudin, Kokerbin Rock at Bruce Rock and Buckley’s Breakaway at Kulin. Nature lovers and bushwalkers will enjoy the Dryandra Woodland nature conservation area. This is one of the most important sites in our state for wildlife preservation harbouring numbats,

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LEGEND Western Wildflower Farm Wheatbelt road trips Sealed road Unsealed road ROAD TRIPS Southern Cross Bonnie Rock Beacon Warralakin Westonia Mukinbudin Koorda Trayning Bencubbin GERALDTON Mullewa Wilroy Tardun Canna Gutha Morawa Perenjori Latham Bunjil Wubin Dalwallinu Moora Coomberdale Coorow Marchagee Carnamah Arrino Mingenew Jurien Bay Lancelin Paynes Find Dongara 187km 56km 45km 55km 99km 84km 40km 49km 44km 132km 65km 107km 59km 153km 99km Wongan Hills New Norcia 91km Nungarin

PUBLIC SILO TRAIL GOLDEN PIPELINE HERITAGE TRAIL GRANITE & WOODLANDS DISCOVERY TRAIL WHEATBELT WAY WILDFLOWER WAY PATHWAYS TO WAVE ROCK THE HOLLAND WAY & THE JOHN HOLLAND TRACK WINERIES, WOODLANDS & WHEATBELT TRAIL NORTHERN WHEATBELT WONDERS PIONEERS’ PATHWAY

KALGOORLIE-BOULDER

Coolgardie

38km

Dowerin Calingiri

Goldfields Woodlands NP

Wyalkatchem

Gingin

81km

Boorabbin NP

Merredin

57km

109km

Bindoon

Jilbadji Nature Reserve

Northam

78km

164km

Toodyay

Yanchep

56km

Bruce Rock

Lake Johnston Campground

95km

49km

Quairading

PERTH

Narembeen

98km

York

4WD ONLY

77km

68km

Norseman

93km

McDermid Rock

334km

Corrigin

138km

Rockingham

90km

Wave Rock

Hyden

The Breakaways Campground

Brookton Pingelly

Kondinin

164km

Mandurah

56km

Kulin

Frank Hann NP

Wandering

71km

98km

Wickepin

91km

107km

Narrogin

63km

Lake Grace

Williams

Lake King

37km

Newdegate

72km

30km

Wagin

Lake King NR

Arthur River

Bunbury

54km

50km

Ravensthorpe

Pingrup

112km

187km

49km

Lake Magenta NR

Katanning

Busselton

Stokes NP

155km

Broomehill

Esperance

Fitzgerald River NP

Boyup Brook

58km

Tambellup

Ongerup

Hopetoun

Manjimup

Cranbrook

Bremer Bay

198km

Augusta

41km

Mount Barker

51km

Albany

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PUBLIC SILO TRAIL 5 days | Sealed roads

Discover stunning outdoor artworks - visible for miles - on silos, street walls and transformer boxes celebrating the people and stories of the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions. The PUBLIC Silo Trail is an open-air art gallery stretching from Northam to Albany. Wind your way through gorgeous Wheatbelt country towns like Merredin, bright with yellow canola fields and wildflowers in spring. Pause at pretty picnic spots and discover nature walks as you travel. Go via Hyden and see the famous Wave Rock before heading south to Newdegate where Perth muralist Brenton See has painted the area’s local wildlife on an epic scale; the Western Bearded Lizard, Mallee Fowl, Thigh Spotted Tree Frog and a Red- tailed Phascogale are depicted across four silos. As you leave the countryside behind, you’ll head towards the beautiful and expansive coastline of South West WA. Enjoy some time in quaint Hopetoun and be sure to explore the Fitzgerald River National Park, a stunningly beautiful yet rugged area with many walk trails, camping spots and picnic places. Continue along the coast to Albany, home to the ANZAC Centre and amazing whale watching trips in season. On the return, head back inland towards the charming farming towns of Katanning and Pingrup, taking in those wide landscapes and open skies. At each site, read about the artists and the stories of the silo towns they’ve shared in

australiasgoldenoutback.com

their stunning works of art. For a detailed itinerary, visit

CBH Silo

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Westonia

CY O’Connor Pipeline

GOLDEN PIPELINE HERITAGE TRAIL 3 days | Sealed roads Go with the flow and discover the story of an audacious goldfields water supply scheme and its engineer, CY O’Connor. The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail celebrates one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels – a pipeline built 120 years ago to carry water from Mundaring Weir just outside Perth to the remote and semi-arid goldfields of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The trail is punctuated with stops, most centred around pump stations and historic points of interest. You can see the many engineering points from the pipeline’s construction, the Meckering earthquake fault line, Cunderdin No.3 Pump Station Museum, true blue Aussie country pubs, and one of the giant silo artworks that’s part of the PUBLIC Silo Trail west of Merredin. There are a number of beautiful camping and picnic places along this road trip which finishes at Kalgoorlie- Boulder, a destination steeped in stories of the heady gold rush days.

Elachbutting Rock, Westonia

WHEATBELT WAY 4 days | Sealed roads

onto charming places like Bencubbin, Mukinbudin and Westonia where you’ll find towering granite outcrops perfect for exploring. Highlights include Wyalkatchem CBH Museum, Nungarin Markets and Mangowine Homestead. Throughout this self-drive route you’ll be treated to stunning natural surrounds, sites of historical significance, and the laidback country atmosphere of the Wheatbelt. There are lots of campsites along the trail as well as walk trails and pretty picnic spots.

Follow the bright skies and big horizons along the Northern Wheatbelt on a star-gazing, bird watching road trip that delivers all the history and charm of this laidback region. Be sure to check on upcoming events and weave these cultural gems into your plans, too. The Wheatbelt Way takes you from cute country towns like Dowerin, Koorda and Beacon through to the Hood-Penn museum at historic Westonia and

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The Wheatbelt Road Trips

Great Western Woodlands

Lake Cowan

Wildflower country

GRANITE AND WOODLANDS DISCOVERY TRAIL 2 days | Unsealed roads

this trail is a wildflower wonderland

Explore one of the world’s greatest untouched temperate woodlands on an adventurous road trip through a remarkable landscape. Following the recently upgraded all-weather gravel Hyden-Norseman Road, the Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail passes through a vast wilderness mosaic that is both beautiful and fascinating. The 300km trail has 16 designated stopping places, each with interpretative signage that explains an aspect of natural or cultural history. The stunning eucalypt woodlands are a trail highlight, only rivalled by Wave Rock (do the 3.6 km loop walk), the spectacular salt playas of Lake Johnson and Lake Cowan and the majestic coloured rock formations of The Breakaways. In Springtime, this trail is a wildflower wonderland.

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WILDFLOWER WAY 3 days | Sealed roads

Buckleys Breakaway

Enjoy the slower pace of life and lose yourself in wonder at WA’s spectacular wildflower blooming. Spring is the perfect time to explore the blooms so mark your calendar and set off on this beautiful, colourful drive. The Wildflower Way runs 309km from Dalwallinu in the south to the coastal town of Geraldton. For your return to Perth, follow the new Midlands Route. Both trails are sign-posted and feature interpretive panels. Late August until October is usually showtime, with blossomings of everything from carpets of everlastings through to the unique wreath flowers around Pindar. Make your way north from Perth through the picturesque Swan Valley, historic New Norcia and into gorgeous Dalwallinu. There are so many wildflower trails around here, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Continue through wildflower hotspots including Wubin, Perenjori, Morawa and Mullewa searching out the beautiful blooms and engaging and informative interpretive panels and sculptures along the way. Wildflowers can sometimes bloom for as little as two weeks, so we recommend checking the Wildflower Hotspots page on our website or ringing the local visitor centres before setting off on your trip.

Tin Horse Highway

PATHWAYS TO WAVE ROCK 3 days | Sealed roads

Create even more memories by making your road trip to Wave Rock a journey of real discovery. This drive is best done over 3 days and will take you through the changing landscapes and charming farming communities of the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Choose your options from the various pathways linking the Shires of Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Kondinin, Kulin, Lake Grace, Narembeen and Quairading and always plan to stop at welcoming rural towns to enjoy some proper country hospitality. Route highlights include Kokerbin Rock, the Grain Discovery Centre, the wonderfully creative Tin Horse Highway at Kulin, Lake Grace (visit the outback winery) and of course, Wave Rock. The trail is punctuated with massive granite outcrops perfect for hiking and taking in some spectacular views. You’ll see natural bushland, expansive yellow canola fields and in spring, amazing displays of vibrant wildflowers and rare orchids. There are lots of places to camp out underneath a chandelier of stars and enjoy the space and serenity.

Wildflowers, Perenjori

Mulka’s Cave, Hyden

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Hyden/Norseman Road

NORTHERN WHEATBELT WONDERS 3 days | Sealed roads At a distance of just over 500kms, this route is ideal for a leisurely long weekend and best driven during spring when the wildflowers in this region are known to be at their peak of perfection. Head out of Perth to pretty Chittering Valley and check out its farmers markets and roadside stalls. There’s a reason for everyone (including Prince Harry) to stop at the Bindoon Bakehaus too; go in and find yours! You’ll want to use your photographic skills at New Norcia to capture the striking monastic architecture, then continue to Moora to enjoy the Moore River and the vibrant town’s many walks and wildflower trails. Plan to arrive in Dalwallinu with plenty of time to explore. It is a gorgeous town making the start of the Wildflower Way and every September it hosts the Wattle Week Festival in celebration of its famous wildflowers. There’s a holiday park, guesthouse, farm stays, B&Bs and nice hotel/motels here. Call into the War Memorial and the Discovery Centre and satisfy your appetite at the café,

restaurant or bakehouse. Some 75kms further south, the Wongan Hills are the largest single area of natural vegetation remaining in the Northern Wheatbelt with more than 250 varieties of flowering plants and 16 endemic species. The Mt Matilda and Mt O’Brien walk trails are lovely year-round, and there are many other nature reserves worth exploring. At the little hamlet of Calingiri, Carrah Farms host seasonal wildflower walks through private bushland with morning or afternoon teas included.

THE HOLLAND WAY AND THE JOHN HOLLAND TRACK 3 days | Sealed and unsealed roads Follow on the track created by pioneer John Holland in 1893 as a shortcut to the Goldfields in this adventurous outback route. The Holland Way connects Broomhill in the Southern Wheatbelt to Goolgardie in the Goldfields and consists of mainly bitumin roads and good surface gravel roads. The John Holland Track also starts in Broomehill, but from the Hyden/ Norseman Road north it follows a different route that is a proper adventure accessible only by high clearance 4WD. There are no facilities, so you’ll need to be gloriously self-sufficient! Both options offer an amazing drive through gorgeous countryside, beautiful salt lakes, granite outcrops camping spots but come prepared as much of this track is remote. The trail’s better known camps are Holland Track Farm, Wattle Rocks, Sandalwood Rocks, Centenary Rocks, Mt Holland and Thursday Rock. and rock formations and nature reserves. There are lots of great

New Norcia

Pigface flowers at Lake Ninan, near Wongan Hills

australiasgoldenoutback.com | The Wheatbelt | 21

Lake Norring, Wagin

PIONEERS’ PATHWAY 3 days | Sealed roads

Follow in the route of the dreamers who headed out East to seek their fortunes. Their pioneering endeavours reflected in the homesteads, museums and architecture of this all weather, year round road trip. From Perth, drive up the escarpment into the scenic valleys and hills of Avon Valley National Park to the colonial town of Toodyay, home to the world’s longest white-water race, the Avon Descent. The visitor centre here is the place to unlock secrets like stargazing and mini-rail tours and even a fairytale farm! Take your time driving to Goomalling and onto Dowerin. The Wyalkatchem CBH Agricultural Museum is a great collection of pioneering equipment housed in a 1930s wheat bin and Dowerin’s Museum is a very authentic weatherboard and iron-roofed cottage constructed in 1915 by the local saddler. Cruise along the highway out to Merredin, the site of the largest grain storage silo in the country, and view the epic murals on the public Silo Trail. Go back in time at the town’s Railway Museum (climb up into the Signal Box!) and see our state’s military history at the superb exhibition at Merredin Military Museum. Now, decide whether to return to Perth via the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail, or go east to the Goldfields!

Wineries, Woodlands & Wheatbelt Trails 3 days | Sealed roads

Wide open skies, wineries and welcoming hospitality are the ideal way to escape the everyday, and this road trip is the perfect extended weekender any time of year. Set the map to Wandering and cruise along the Albany Highway. Take your first taste of Wheatbelt wines at the biodynamic Hotham Ridge Estate or Tanglefoot Winery (by appointment) then explore the historic town of Pingelly before continuing to Wickepin. Here, stroll through the town’s history on the Yarling Brook Heritage Walk and visit the homestead of Australian writer Albert Facey. Drive on through Harrismith (stop in spring to admire wonderful wildflowers) and to Narrogin via Lake Toolibin and Taarblin Nature Reserve. Book ahead for a terrific Barna Mia Animal Sanctuary nocturnal wildlife tour in Dryandra Woodland so you won’t miss out! Follow Narrogin’s enticing heritage streetscapes past the War Memorial to the Old Courthouse Museum, or really stretch your driving legs at Yilliminning Rock where you’ll find orchids at the summit in wildflower season. Another spot to spy orchids is Foxes Lair Bushland Reserve. Take the road to Downderry Wines to sample their excellent range

Albert Facey Homestead

St Aloysis, Toodyay

of locally produced wines. Around 50kms south you’ll arrive in Wagin, the centre of the merino stud industry which is celebrated every March at the Wagin Woolarama, our state’s largest agricultural show. Start the day with a visit to the Wagin Historic Village and have a selfie with Wagin’s Giant Ram at the Wetlands Park before you hit the road to pretty Arthur River and onto Williams. Amble around the railway siding walk at Congelin Dam or sip and shop at the Williams Woolshed (don’t miss their interactive museum, The Shearers Yarn, behind the dining area). Point the wheel to Perth, stopping at the lookout at Williams Nature Reserve, and let the scenery unfold before you.

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bruce rock Shire of

tribute to the men and women who served and continue to serve Australia in military conflicts and peacekeeping operations across the globe. The park features 11 specific memorials accompanied by information board outlining the story and meaning behind each memorial. Eight sculptures feature throughout the park, all interpretations of the theme ‘war and peace’, with the highlight being the replica Peace Window from the Bruce Rock St Peters Anglican Church. The Peace Window was the first stained glass window in Australia dedicated to Vietnam Veterans. The Park is a peaceful and non-sectarian space for all Australians to rest and reflect. Centennial Mosaic Pathway The Mosaic Pathway was commissioned in 2013 to commemorate the town’s centennial. Comprising of 417 mosaics, the pathway celebrates the Shire of Bruce Rock’s early settlers, community members, local businesses and sporting clubs. Located on Johnson Street, the museum contains a comprehensive collection of memorabilia. To the rear of the museum you will find an original one school house, a replica mud brick settler’s cottage, and a replica early shearing shed and workshop. The Machinery Museum is across the street from the main museum and houses working farm machinery, vintage cars and a steam traction engine, all of which were once in use within the Shire. Upcoming events Back to the Bush Veterans Reunion October 21 to November 6 2022 Bruce Rock and Districts Agricultural Show September 2023 (Biennial event) Bruce Rock Museum and Machinery Museum

Kwolyin Campsite

BRUCE ROCK 240km east of Perth

as the site includes BBQ and toilet facilities.

A perfect base when exploring the Pathways to Wave Rock searching for wild flowers or overnight stop on the Public Silo Trail. Suitable for singles, couples or families. Relax and enjoy our clear blue skies, star-filled nights and feeding our friendly farm animals. • Self-contained with up to 3 spacious queen rooms • Luxurious bathroom with bath & separate rain shower • Kitchenette with fridge, microwave & coffee pod machine • BBQ on verandah overlooking farmland • 2 minute drive to the Corrigin Hotel and local Cafes • Basket breakfast with homemade bread and jam available on request Kwolyin Campsite This free bush campsite includes a camp kitchen, BBQs, shaded picnic facilities, water supply and public facilities, which makes it ideal for large groups to stay a few days and explore the regions spectacular natural attractions. Bruce’s Rock The rock is named after sandalwooder, John Rufus Bruce, who used the outcrop as his depot in 1869 before the town was settled. There are two old wells located at the picnic site at the foot of the rock, walk trails over the outcrop and stunning wildflower landscapes in Spring. Bruce Rock Remembrance Park Located in the main street, this park pays

Bruce Rock has a number of interesting places to visit, including Bruce’s Rock, Kokerbin Rock, Bruce Rock Remembrance Park and the Ardath Hotel. Bruce Rock provides an excellent base with ample parking and rest areas, making it easy to explore the surrounding regions, both within the Shire and further throughout the Central Wheatbelt region. Places of interest Kokerbin Rock Covering 9ha and rising 122 metres above the ground, Kokerbin Rock is Australia’s 3rd largest monolith. Situated 40 kilometres north-west of Bruce Rock, it is a great place for a hike and a picnic

Bruce Rock Community Resource Centre 40-42 Johnson Street, Bruce Rock WA 6418 T: (08) 9061 1687 E: roctel@wn.com.au Visit brucerock.wa.gov.au

www.themainsguesthouse.com.au • 6005 Bruce Rock-Corrigin Rd, Corrigin WA 637 • T: 0427 772 323

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corrigin Shire of CORRIGIN 235km south east of Perth Begin and end the day with breathtaking sky displays and forever changing landscapes when you visit the Wheatbelt town of Corrigin. Fill your days with history lessons, scenic walk trails, great coffee, hearty meals, and wonderful sweet treats. Discover Corrigin’s vibrant main street and experience the warm and welcoming nature of the community. Learn about the town’s rich agricultural history as it is showcased through museum displays and memorials. With accommodation options available for any traveler or visitor, from hotel to camping, this RV-friendly town caters to everyone. Dog Cemetery Corrigin’s tribute to ‘Man’s Best Friend’ is a popular attraction to travellers and visitors alike. The cemetery is unique to

Parks and Playgrounds Choose Miss B’s or Rotary Park to enjoy a picnic and let the kids have some fun. Each Park is a short walk from the town centre, with seating, BBQs and toilet facilities.

Corrigin and is landmarked by a statue of a large dog. Take time to read some of the headstones belonging to over 200 loved ones in the final resting place. Wildflowers A four kilometre Wildflower Drive starts opposite the Dog Cemetery. Expect beautiful and unusual wildflowers, shrubs and orchids which appear during the months of September and October. Scenic Lookouts Experience the perfect sunrise or sunset with panoramic views of the town and farmlands. Take a walk up Corrigin Rock, visit the ANZAC Memorial Lookout in town or drive out to the Scenic Lookout along the Wildflower Drive. Gorge Rock A natural rock pool, this was once the local swimming hole before the Olympic pool was constructed in town. Enjoy a walk to the top for spectacular panoramic views of the Corrigin countryside.

Corrigin Pioneer Museum View old and restored farming

machinery which tell stories of hardship and determination to build an enduring community. Main Street Head to Campbell Street by turning off the Brookton Highway and park your vehicle across from the main street entrance. You’ll be surprised by how well serviced this town is, with two supermarkets and so much more. RV 48hr stop Cr Walton Street & Campbell Street, Corrigin. This area is provided for fully self- contained vehicles and caravans only. Day parking is available for other vehicles.

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SELF DRIVES CENTRAL WHEATBELT through the

GOLDEN PIPELINE hERITAGE TRAIL Duration: 2 to 4 days Distance: One way Perth to Kalgoorlie 650km Road Conditions: Sealed roads with short stretches of maintained unsealed road to attractions. Accommodation: Bed & Breakfasts, Self-Contained Units, Farm Stays, Motels, Hotels, Caravan Parks and RV Friendly Camp Sites. An impressive engineering feat, C.Y. O’Connor’s water pipeline was constructed over 100 years ago. See the 1968 earthquake memorial sites at Meckering or experience an earthquake simulation room at Cunderdin’s No.3 Pump Station Museum. South of Tammin visit Charles Gardner Nature Reserve on route to see Tammin’s Hunt’s Well. Take in the views from Kellerberrin Hill. South of Merredin visit Totadgin Conservation Park and another of Hunt’s Wells then travel on to the ruin of Merredin’s No.4 Pump Station and Merredin Peak & Railway Dam. Two museums at Merredin showcase the Military & Railway history of the town. The site of the No.1 Rabbit Proof Fence is 5km east of Burracoppin. North of Carrabin is Westonia where the town’s buildings facades are preserved and its history encapsulated in the Hood-Penn Museum. Visit Southern Cross’s Yilgarn History Museum displays and mineral collection and 50km east Karalee Rock & Dam with an original timber and steel aqueduct. The Great Western Woodlands follows the Great Eastern Highway to RV Friendly sites on the way to Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. www.goldenpipeline.com.au For more information visit www.wheatbelttourism.com or www.weroc.com.au

PIONEERS’ PAThWAY Duration: 2 to 5 days

Distance: 292km One Way Perth via Toodyay to Merredin Road Conditions: Sealed road with some unsealed access sections into nature reserves. Accommodation: Bed & Breakfasts, Self-Contained Units, Heritage Homestead, Motels, Hotels, Caravan Parks and RV Friendly Camp Sites. Traverse the Wheatbelt following the well worn trail many prospectors once took on their way to the Yilgarn and Kalgoorlie Goldfields. This scenic journey wanders past expansive Wheatbelt farmland and through the small towns of Goomalling, Dowerin, Wyalkatchem, Trayning, Kununoppin and Nungarin, providing a classic experience of Western Australia’s Wheatbelt heartland. Whether you’re travelling from Perth to the Goldfields, or from the west to east coast, this trip is a rewarding alternative to the Great Eastern Highway direct route, adding only 44 kilometres to the journey. It offers the remarkable view of wildflowers in colourful profusion during the season, invigorating leg-stretching nature walks, as well as numerous buildings and museums reflecting the unique rural historical significance of the region. www.pioneerspathway.com.au

N EEN

WAVE ROCK

HYDEN

LAKE GRACE

WYALKATCHEM

KALGOORLIE-BOULDER

TRAYNING

DOWERIN

COOLGARDIE

FOR YOUR FREE MAP & GUIDES CALL 1300 736 283 (WA ONLY) OR (08) 9041 1666

NUNGARIN

WESTONIA

GOOMALLING

MERREDIN

MECKERING

TAMMIN

SOUTHERN CROSS

TOODYAY

NORTHA

M

MERREDIN

An International Civil Engineering Landmark

KELLERBERRIN

NORTHAM

CUNDERDIN

PERTH (Mundaring Weir)

PERTH

85 BARRACK ST, MERREDIN www.wheatbelttourism.com

CENTRAL WHEATBELT VISITOR CENTRE

Granite Outcrops • Walk trails • Bushland Wildflowers • Museums • Drive In Caravan Parks • Free Camping Country Accommodation • RV Friendly

An open road adventure

australiasgoldenoutback.com | The Gascoyne Murchison | 25 www.wheatbeltway.com.au

cunderdin Shire of

Everlastings on Cunderdin Hill

Ettamogah Pub

CunderdIN 158km east of Perth

photographs, statistics and information. Take a stroll across the road to the beautiful Memorial Rose Garden - a tribute to the dedication and hard work of many local volunteers. Meckering Earthquake Walk Trail Visitors can view images, descriptions and footprints of the former Meckering Main Street businesses and public buildings through a trail of interpretative signage. Meckering Earthquake Farm Ruins ‘Salisbury’ - an old stone homestead built in 1904 - was flattened during the quake. The ruins give an eerie insight into the scale of the devastation experienced (2km north of Meckering, turn off Meckering to Goomalling Road). Meckering Earthquake Preserved Fault Line The Meckering earthquake had a lifetime impact on this small Wheatbelt town.. You can still see 1km of the fault line that’s been preserved for viewing (12km south of Meckering on York- Meckering Road).

landscape. This is a beautiful spot to view the colourful wildflowers during wildflower season. Youndegin At Youndegin (19km south of Cunderdin along the Cunderdin-Quairading Road, then left on the Goldfields Road), you’ll find the original police outpost which was built from stone and mud with a

Cunderdin is a major Wheatbelt town situated on the Great Eastern Highway approximately a two hour drive from Perth. The town was settled and has evolved into the Wheatbelt centre it is today as a result of the development of the Coolgardie/Kalgoorlie Goldfields railway in 1894 and the Goldfields water

thatched roof. Meckering 132km east of Perth

supply pipeline in 1901. Places of interest

Cunderdin Museum The Cunderdin Museum is the central attraction to the Shire with a display of the Pumping Station machinery and memorabilia, Indigenous district culture, agricultural industry, railways, Cunderdin training aircraft from World War II, the original Quelagetting School, the Telegraph, Meckering earthquake simulator and much more. Cunderdin Hill Lookout When visiting the Cunderdin Hill (1km south of the main street), you’ll be greeted by 360 degree panoramic views of the town and surrounding farmland. Ettamogah Pub There’s one landmark you certainly won’t miss when you visit Cunderdin - the brightly coloured and rather distinctive Ettamogah Pub. Based on the well- known comics of Ken Maynard – made famous by the Australian Post magazine. Bulgin Rock Reserve Bulgin Rock, located off Burges Road is the perfect place to absorb the rolling

The name originates from a local Aboriginal language meaning ‘Place of water’ or ‘Moon on water’. The town formerly called Beebering was established in 1887 then renamed Meckering in 1897. Today, Meckering is probably best known for the devastating earthquake in October 1968 with many of the places of interest relating to this event. Places of interest The Big Camera - Museum of Photography It is impossible to miss this unique building on the Great Eastern Highway. An amazing history of photography is on display including a wonderful collection of earthquake images. Meckering Earthquake Gazebo and Memorial Rose Garden Explore the devastation of the 1968 Meckering earthquake firsthand at this impressive display which includes a section of the damaged railway line, a mangled piece of the Golden Pipeline,

Cunderdin Museum

Cunderdin Tourist Centre 100 Forrest Street Cunderdin WA 6407 T: (08) 9365 1291 cunderdin.wa.gov.au

26 | The Wheatbelt | australiasgoldenoutback.com