If places could talk, Kalgoorlie (Karlkurla) would have some interesting stories to tell. Explore Australia’s largest outback town to uncover its fascinating past and present, from the region’s gold rush era to the modern-day Super Pit mine. A visit to the whimsical outdoor art gallery set against the spectacular backdrop of Lake Ballard is a hauntingly beautiful way to round out your trip.
Explore Western Australia’s Golden Outback from the dynamic modern mining hub of Kalgoorlie (Karlkurla). From Perth, choose your mode of transport: it’s a 6.5-hour drive along the Great Eastern Highway, a one-hour flight or a seven-hour train journey. Getting here is half the fun.
Kalgoorlie (Karlkurla) was founded on the hopes and dreams of the fortune seekers who flocked here in the late 1800s, and its grand heritage buildings stand testament to more than a century of gold rush history.
The early miners’ legacy lives on at the 3.5-kilometre long and 1.5-kilometre wide Super Pit in nearby Boulder, a mind-blowing mine that produces a staggering 900,000 ounces of gold each year. Join a guided tour to learn more about one of the world's largest open-cut mines and peer down into its 600-metre depths – you might be lucky to witness a blast.
Discover where it all began at the Museum of the Goldfields. Learn how prospectors searched for the precious metal and gaze at the museum’s glittering collection of gold bars and nuggets. Next, explore the abandoned streets of one of the region’s many ghost towns.
The eerie encounters continue in the community of Menzies, where 51 mystical sculptures by Turner Prize-winning artist Antony Gormley cast eerie shadows on the salt pans of Lake Ballard.
Return to Kalgoorlie (Karlkurla), where a vibrant bar and restaurant scene awaits. But first take time to soak up the scenery. While gold is hidden beneath the earth’s surface, the landscape is dotted with other natural riches – from soaring eucalyptus forests to spinifex fields and wildflower meadows.