Under the wide open skies of the Golden Outback, you’ll find true outback adventure, exploring Australia’s whitest beach, biggest open-cut mine and the largest temperate woodland on Earth.

However short or adventurous you want to make your trip, from 4WD adventures to luxury coach tours, there are plenty of options to get you around Australia's largest expanse of outback. It's the perfect place to sit back and take in the epic landscapes.

The most direct route from Perth to Kalgoorlie (Karlkurla) is to follow the longest fresh water pipeline on Earth along the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail, getting you from city, to Wheatbelt, to Goldfields in just over six hours.

But there's a huge range of self-drive itineraries to choose from. Two of Australia's ultimate long-distance road trips also connect Australia's Golden Outback to the rest of Australia. Cross the vast Nullarbor Plain on the Eyre Highway, or embark on a 4WD odyssey crossing the Red Centre on the Outback Way.

Many tour companies run daytrips from Perth to Wave Rock to ride one of Australia's largest waves. Extended options will get you to Kalgoorlie (Karlkurla), Esperance (Kepa Kurl) and many of the Goldfields must-see highlights.

A good network of sealed roads links the region's natural and heritage highlights, offering a wide range of itineraries for 2WD, caravans and 4WD vehicles. Experienced drivers will also find challenge and adventure on some of Australia's longest and most remote outback stock routes, including the legendary Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway.

A driving holiday in the outback can involve long distances and varied conditions. Always check road and weather conditions on the Main Roads WA website and plan your food and fuel stops.

Fly

Fly

  • Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport

    Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport lands you in the biggest city in the Australian outback - the birthplace of Western Australia’s great gold rush and home to one of the world's largest open-cut mines, the Super Pit. In and beyond this vibrant historic city, you’ll find treasures in grand colonial buildings, dazzling spring wildflowers, legendary outback drive trails, eerie gold-rush ghost towns and the largest outdoor art gallery on Earth. Direct daily flights from Perth, with Qantas and Virgin Australia, will get you to Kalgoorlie in just over an hour. A weekly service to and from Melbourne is also ...

  • Esperance Airport

    Touch down at Esperance airport and you’re just an hour’s drive from relaxing with the kangaroos on Australia's whitest beach, Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park, and a short cruise away from the stunning seascape and wildlife-rich islands of the Recherche Archipelago. It's a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Perth to Esperance, and Rex airlines operate daily flights. Pick up your hire car or jump in a taxi to follow the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway south and you’ll be in Esperance in under 20 minutes. There are plenty of guided tour options, from four-wheel drive beach safaris to Indigenous ...

  • Ravensthorpe Airport

    Take a flight to Ravensthorpe Airport at any time of year and you’ll find nature at its most prolific and colourful. This is your gateway to one of the best wildflower shows on Earth in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald River National Park. It’s home to some 2, 000 native plant species, and a visit in the winter months will also reward you with spectacular whale watching when southern right whales arrive in large numbers to calve in these coastal waters. Scheduled flights operate three days a week from Perth, and get you to Ravensthorpe Airport in ...

  • Port of Esperance

    Port of Esperance lands you just minutes away from some of the most pristine squeaky-clean beaches, striking granite headlands and the calmest, most vivid turquoise waters on Earth. Luck has even blessed Esperance with Australia’s whitest beach - Lucky Bay, where you can relax with the sun-loving local kangaroos. To get closer to nature at its most diverse, cruise the untouched islands of the Recherche Archipelago or stay on Woody Island for a wilderness adventure in this A-Class reserve. A five-minute shuttle bus ride gets you to Esperance town centre from the port, and the airport is just a ...

Self Drive

  • Best of the Golden Outback

    In the largest expanse of Australian outback, you'll find the tallest wave, whitest beach and biggest outdoor gallery. Following the tracks of gold rush pioneers reveals unique riches of the Goldfields – from the famous Wave Rock, Lucky Bay and Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit, to the world’s largest outdoor art gallery, longest golf course and biggest collection of spring wildflowers. All set against a backdrop of the most dramatic desert landscapes. This itinerary is great all year round, however if you'd like to coincide with the wildflower season, they generally bloom in this region between September ...

  • The Avon Valley 500 Loop

    This rejuvenating weekender takes you over 392 kilometres over two days into the lush folds of the Avon Valley, with its curious country towns, hidden secrets, wonderous wildflowers and vast open skies. It’s only 30 kilometres east of Perth, but John Forrest National Park feels a thousand worlds away. On the outskirts of arty Mundaring, this was Western Australia’s first national park – a compact wilderness gem with forest trails, peek-a-boo wildflowers, waterfalls and the mysterious 340-metre Swan View Tunnel, disappearing into the hillside. Cosy-up for the night in York. Established in 1831, ...

  • Kalgoorlie and Merredin

    This four-day, 1, 190-kilometre journey along the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail is the ultimate celebration of grit, gold dust and glorious outback spirit. It takes you through lush green hills and the sunny-hued heartland of the Wheatbelt and Goldfields, all the way to the brick-red soils and mammoth modern mines of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The scenery is particularly spectacular from mid-July to November when it glitters with wildflowers in all their technicolour glory. From Perth, head through the Wheatbelt to Merredin in time for a classic pub "parmi" and frothy beer. Around every corner of this ...

  • Kalgoorlie and Lake Ballard Explorer

    Strap yourself in for a wild ride. A golden journey down a past laced with boom-and-bust tales and modern-day ingenuity, from Kalgoorlie to Lake Ballard in four days and just over 1, 500 kilometres. Scandals, scallywags, successes and swindles, abandoned towns, brothels, bootleggers and rebellions: the Goldfields have seen it all – now you can too. Experience this trip year-round, but a visit from mid-July to late October lays forth all the riches of wildflower season. From Perth, head to charming Merredin, following the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail: an engineering marvel that fed drinking water ...

  • Albany and Esperance Explorer

    Turquoise waters, culture-rich towns and the whitest sand you’ll ever crunch between your toes – explore the coastal beauty of Albany and Esperance on a five day round trip from Perth. Just shy of 2, 000 kilometres, it’s a journey of astounding contrast and continuous wonder, where the South West and Golden Outback interweave their magic. Set off from Perth to Albany and wind through the Wheatbelt’s picturesque farmland, dotted with rocky outcrops and laidback towns. If Albany could talk, it would tell fascinating stories. Tales of Australia’s early settlers, Anzacs and fishermen are imbued in ...

  • Wave Rock Wildflower Trail

    Escape the ordinary and lose yourself in the jaw-dropping glory of nature on this unique journey across the Golden Outback. From August to October, a colourful sea of spring wildflowers – more than 12, 000 species in total – will enliven your senses as you make your way along this 749-kilometre, five-day trail to the awe-inspiring wonder that is Wave Rock. Step back in time at the grand old town of York, a 100-kilometre drive from Perth. Early settlers decided this quaint location was the perfect spot for Western Australia’s first inland town. Stroll historical streetscapes and museums, cosy up ...

  • Southern Forests

    Switch off your phone and swap city streets for light-dappled forest floors, lush woodland tracks and canopy walkways. As day turns into evening, the sound of babbling streams and leaves crunching underfoot gives way to crackling campfires and tales of bushland adventures on this five day frolic looping just over 1, 000 kilometres. From Perth, tranquil Dwellingup is your first stop, and its right in the heart of tall-tree country. Feel utterly dwarfed by nature's giants as a section of the Bibbulmun Track winds its way through ancient jarrah and marri forests towards Balingup's Golden Valley Tree ...

  • Golden Quest Discovery Trail

    In the 1890s, Western Australia’s goldfields had it all. Shot-through with legends of boom and bust (then endless boom), the Kalgoorlie district remains one of the world’s largest gold-producing regions. Over six days and 2, 224 kilometres, the Golden Quest Discovery Trail unearths the secrets of this rich landscape, with its unembellished legends, frozen-in-time ghost towns, stunning wilderness and disarming outback charm. On the captivating drive from Perth to Kalgoorlie, shadow the goldfield’s original water pipeline from Mundaring Weir, pausing at Coolgardie, where gold first glinted in the ...

  • Goldfields Wildflower Trail

    Blaze through the goldfields on a magic carpet ride of wildflowers. On this seven-day, 1, 765-kilometre adventure, you’ll experience technicolour blooms of everlastings, goldrush history and monumental modern mines, as well as an other worldly outdoor gallery on a remote salt lake. Kiss Perth goodbye and head towards the sunrise. Follow the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail to the endearing wildflower-friendly town of Merredin, past towering grain silos offering a colourful depiction of this farming community. Breathe in the sweet scent of wildflowers as they erupt from Merredin’s roadsides and nature ...

Car Hire

  • Europcar Kalgoorlie Airport

    Discover the Goldfields with Europcar Kalgoorlie Airport, offering convenient airport car rental for exploring this iconic outback region. Located just 10 minutes from the town centre, this branch provides a wide range of vehicles, including SUVs suited for regional travel. Visitors can explore the Super Pit lookout and Kalgoorlie's historic streets shortly after arrival. For a unique road trip, Lake Ballard is approximately 90 minutes away, featuring striking salt lake landscapes and outdoor sculptures. Travellers can also explore nearby ghost towns and heritage trails. Europcar Kalgoorlie Airport ...

  • Northside Rentals - Kalgoorlie

    Northside Rentals is a Western Australian family-owned business operating since 1994 with over 2000 vehicles. Since its establishment, they have been committed to serving customers by offering a diverse range of rental options tailored to meet the needs of both individuals and businesses. They have branches across WA, including Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Greenwood, Busselton and Kalgoorlie, with the head office in Welshpool next to Perth Airport. Their mission is to simplify the rental experience by offering exceptional service, a wide selection of high-quality vehicles, and a seamless ...

Cruise

  • Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport

    Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport lands you in the biggest city in the Australian outback - the birthplace of Western Australia’s great gold rush and home to one of the world's largest open-cut mines, the Super Pit. In and beyond this vibrant historic city, you’ll find treasures in grand colonial buildings, dazzling spring wildflowers, legendary outback drive trails, eerie gold-rush ghost towns and the largest outdoor art gallery on Earth. Direct daily flights from Perth, with Qantas and Virgin Australia, will get you to Kalgoorlie in just over an hour. A weekly service to and from Melbourne is also ...

  • Esperance Airport

    Touch down at Esperance airport and you’re just an hour’s drive from relaxing with the kangaroos on Australia's whitest beach, Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park, and a short cruise away from the stunning seascape and wildlife-rich islands of the Recherche Archipelago. It's a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Perth to Esperance, and Rex airlines operate daily flights. Pick up your hire car or jump in a taxi to follow the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway south and you’ll be in Esperance in under 20 minutes. There are plenty of guided tour options, from four-wheel drive beach safaris to Indigenous ...

  • Ravensthorpe Airport

    Take a flight to Ravensthorpe Airport at any time of year and you’ll find nature at its most prolific and colourful. This is your gateway to one of the best wildflower shows on Earth in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald River National Park. It’s home to some 2, 000 native plant species, and a visit in the winter months will also reward you with spectacular whale watching when southern right whales arrive in large numbers to calve in these coastal waters. Scheduled flights operate three days a week from Perth, and get you to Ravensthorpe Airport in ...

  • Port of Esperance

    Port of Esperance lands you just minutes away from some of the most pristine squeaky-clean beaches, striking granite headlands and the calmest, most vivid turquoise waters on Earth. Luck has even blessed Esperance with Australia’s whitest beach - Lucky Bay, where you can relax with the sun-loving local kangaroos. To get closer to nature at its most diverse, cruise the untouched islands of the Recherche Archipelago or stay on Woody Island for a wilderness adventure in this A-Class reserve. A five-minute shuttle bus ride gets you to Esperance town centre from the port, and the airport is just a ...

Tour

  • Ningaloo Stars - Esperance

    Ningaloo Stars offers guided astronomy experiences beneath the exceptionally dark skies of regional Western Australia. Settle into a chair with a fresh blanket and warm drink for a guided laser tour of the night sky. Explore planets, stars and distant deep space objects through premium telescopes, with plenty of time to observe and ask questions. Each session brings together modern astronomy and ancient storytelling, sharing how cultures around the world have interpreted the night sky for thousands of years. Remarkable dark skies provide outstanding conditions for exploring the southern night ...

  • Discoverer - 11 day 4WD tour

    The Discoverer Tour is a journey through the rich history of Western Australia's outback. Venture into the heart of the region and experience exhilarating off-road adventures connecting to the rugged beauty of this remarkable land. Visit the historical town of Kalgoorlie, the golden wild, wild west, where captivating stories of the past come to life. Venturing further South, experience the impressive Bilbunya Dunes, the whitest beaches in the world, turquoise water and the solitude only remote places like these can offer. Then, push back west along the coast, covering Cape Arid and Cape Le Grand ...

  • Esperance Island Cruises

    Departing from Taylor St Jetty, cruise through eight islands in the Recherche Archipelago, experiencing the spectacular wildlife up-close and personal in their natural environment. Explore further with them travelling a total of 55 kilometres while enjoying a full commentary. There are regular sightings include New Zealand Fur Seals, Australian Sea Lions, Cape Barren Geese, Common and Bottlenose Dolphins, White-Bellied Sea Eagles (including feeding) and Whales (season dependent). Complimentary morning tea consisting of a large muffin, tea, coffee and water is provided in the protected bay of Blue ...

  • Esperance Tours

    Discover the pristine coastline of Esperance from above! Multi-award-winning HeliSpirit operates scenic helicopter adventures from the Esperance Foreshore showcasing the pristine coastline with options for a landing at Woody Island, Hammer Head Beach and Middle Island. The Esperance landscape is an impressive sight from above and discovering the impressive natural wonders of Esperance is an experience not to be missed. Scenic highlights which can be seen on our flights include the Recherche Archipelago, Cape Le Grand and Cape Arid National Parks, including Woody Lake, Frenchman Peak, Lucky Bay, ...

  • Tour Esperance 4x4 Adventures

    Discover the rugged natural beauty of the Esperance Region and Cape Le Grand National Park from the comfort of the Luxury Land Rover Discovery Tour Vehicles.Marvel at snow-white beaches contrasted by clear, turquoise waters, make friends with the beach kangaroos and be exhilarated as you traverse massive Sand Dunes and the impressive Monolith of Wylie Rock.

  • Esperance Coastal 4x4 Tours

    They are a 4x4 Tour Operator in Esperance, Western Australia. Offering tours along the magnificent Esperance coastline in a custom built 4x4 Hiace. Suited for able bodied passengers and those with accessibility needs, meaning no one needs to miss out on the iconic beaches and turquoise water Esperance is renowned for.Private and custom tours are also available.

  • Esperance Astronomy Night

    Experience the remarkable night skies of Esperance with Ningaloo Stars. This guided astronomy experience brings together modern astronomy and ancient storytelling beneath the dark skies of regional Western Australia. Settle into your own chair with a fresh blanket and warm drink while your star guides take you on a laser-guided journey through the stars. Explore planets, stars and distant deep space objects through premium telescopes, with plenty of time to observe, ask questions and discover how cultures around the world have interpreted the sky for thousands of years. Sessions take place at ...

  • The Lake Ballard - 'Inside Australia' Tour

    Goldrush Tours is proud to offer you a unique opportunity to view Antony Gormley's "Inside Australia" sculptures. Depart Kalgoorlie and drive through beautiful examples of Salmon Gums, Gimlets and Black Butts and many abandoned gold mining centres, with an intriguing commentary along the way. Arrive mid-morning at Lake Ballard, enjoy a complimentary morning tea at Snake Hill, and take time out to view the 51 sculptures that express one of Antony Gormley's most daring commissions. Enjoy a brief tour of the historical town of Menzies followed by a lunch stop in the town's centre; you may even meet ...

  • Prospecting Day Tour

    Prospecting lessons for beginners by experienced guides. Prospecting all day with brief lessons on bush survival. Morning tea and lunch provided. Latest model Minelab Detectors, harnesses, picks and GPS hire included. Charge points, toilets and showers are provided including hammocks if you just want to relax and read a book. Detect at your pace on their beautiful 480-acre lease.Tours operate between May and October.

Golden Outback Holiday Planner

Discover more about the Golden Outback region of Western Australia. With travel tips, itineraries and must-visit attractions, use this guide to plan your next visit.

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