kalgoorlie gold mine tour

Phone +61 8 93313933

Gold Prospecting Kalgoorlie – Tour 5 Days

Perth – Kalgoorlie – Lake Ballard – Hyden – Perth

Tour Overview

There is no promise that you will find gold, however, gold fever is often caught on this trip! Kalgoorlie Boulder and the Goldfields offer a real Australian outback adventure and a fascinating insight into the region’s colourful gold rush history. While multimillion-dollar mining corporations have replaced the smaller gold prospecting operators, and Kalgoorlie-Boulder has been transformed into a modern cosmopolitan town, reminders of the wild and vibrant early days are everywhere you look. The natural bounty, combined with its striking landscapes, gold rush heritage and Indigenous history, make the Goldfields a truly unique Australian outback getaway

Prospector train ride to Kalgoorlie

Hannan’s north gold mine, kalgoorlie museum, gold prospecting tour, super pit tour, lake ballard.

Tour dates:

Guaranteed departure:.

Min. 4  passengers

Private tours:

Can be booked as a private tour – surcharge apply

Luggage: limited to 1x suitcase max. 20kgs + 1x hand luggage up to 7kgs

Price per person incl. GST in double room: AU$3,000.00

Price per person incl. GST in single room: AU$3,480.00

Services Included

Transport & accommodation.

Transport in an air-conditioned bus or 4WD with a maximum of 12 passengers per vehicle

Accommodation during the tour 4x in Hotel/Motel

Prospector train fare Perth – Kalgoorlie, Entry fee Hannan’s North Mine, Gold Prospecting Tour incl. gold detector gear, Miner’s Right permit, Super Pit Tour Kalgoorlie, Wave Rock, Camel Farm

Meals (4x B – Breakfast / 1x L – Lunch)

Free drinking water

Comprehensive information kit in vehicles

English speaking guiding

German  speaking guiding

French  speaking guiding and other languages on request only

24/7 English/German/French emergency assistance

Day 1 Perth – Kalgoorlie

Individual journey to East Perth railway station and check-in for the upcoming rail journey on the “Prospector” to Kalgoorlie. In 1896, the railway connected Perth with Kalgoorlie, where gold had been discovered in 1893. During the 7-hour journey you will have fantastic views of the beautiful patchwork hills of the Avon Valley. The rolling green hills slowly transition to the flatter, drier and rougher, but no less beautiful desert plains. In Kalgoorlie – regarded as the largest city in the Australian Outback – you will be met by your local driver-guide and immediately embark on an orientation tour. Every town or city is unique, but Kalgoorlie carries with it a certain distinction. It’s one of those places that becomes etched into your memory, bursting with evocative landscapes, sights and attractions. Built on a fortuitous gold rush, Kalgoorlie hast not looked back.

Accommodation: Hospitality Motel, Kalgoorlie (Breakfast)

Day 2 Kalgoorlie – Lake Ballard – Kalgoorlie

This morning, take your time to explore above ground at Hannan’s North Tourist Mine and discover the secrets of gold rush history and modern-day mining in the Goldfields. After we are heading for Menzies, a former gold mining town. A dusty track brings at to Lake Ballard. The highlight is the amazing and not to be expected sculpture park spread out on the dry salt plains of the lake. The artwork is a collection of 51 different steel sculptures by Antony Gormley. They stand against the dramatic backdrop of the lake’s dry salt bed. Located only 10 minutes north of Kalgoorlie, is the original corrugated iron shed and bush ring that was once the Two-Up school. Two-up is a traditional Australian gambling game that is periodically still played here.

Day 3 Kalgoorlie Gold Prospecting Tour

Australia is in the top 5 Gold resource locations in the world. Large nuggets are still being found and the price of gold is the highest it has ever been . The Kalgoorlie Boulder region is renowned for prospecting and fossicking. Today we follow in the footsteps of the old prospectors by joining a prospecting day tour. An exciting foray into the goldfields finding gold nuggets is something you will remember for the rest of your life. It is the adventure of a lifetime, dealing with the elements of the outback and pitting your wits against nature and finally having a win with your gold nugget finds. There is an old belief that every nugget has the finders name on it.

Accommodation: Hospitality Motel, Kalgoorlie (Breakfast / Lunch)

Day 4 Kalgoorlie – Hyden

In the course of the morning a visit to the mine site “Super Pit” – Australia’s biggest open cut gold mine – enables us to capture impressions of the unbelievable ratio and dimensions on the Australian continent. Now we start to realize the differences of gold mining of the past and present. A visit to the Kalgoorlie Museum completes our time of this riche gold mine town. By tracing the footsteps of the first gold seekers we will be reaching Coolgardie and Southern Cross and leaving Western Australia’s Golden Mile. From here we will be following the track of the Emu Fence Road in a southerly direction to Hyden. Tonight, we will be enjoying our farewell dinner (at your own expenses) with some cold beer, tasty wines and great food. We will be reflecting on the last 4 days of this amazing journey.

Accommodation: Wave Rock Motel, Hyden (Breakfast)

Day 5 Hyden – Perth

After breakfast, we will visit the famous and astounding “breakers wave” the ‘Wave Rock’. There is enough time to explore and learn about the story of this unbelievable natural wonder. Afterwards we drive through the wide-stretched West Australian wheat belt to reach York at about lunchtime. A quaint short stroll in the oldest inland settlement of W.A. will take you back to the time of the first settlers. The old well-maintained and renovated houses boasting their original facades bring forth still today the atmosphere of the pioneer’s time. A visit to a Camel farm is another highlight where you will get valuable information and details about the history and modern use of the single-humped desert ships here in Australia. Enjoyable travel back to Perth where this tour concludes.

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THE SUPERPIT: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

The Super Pit

Take a tour of the super pit.

You haven’t done Kalgoorlie if you haven’t gazed into The Super Pit from above! Recognised as one of Australia’s biggest open cut gold mines, The Super Pit produces around 800,000 ounces of gold annually.

Head to the Super Pit Lookout for a jaw-dropping view of the mine and hop on a bus tour around to explore the site’s history and current mining operations.

What to know before you go

How do i get to the super pit from the plaza hotel.

Take in the majesty of the Super Pit at the KCGM Super Pit Lookout. Just a seven-minute drive away from our hotel in Kalgoorlie , head south along Egan Street to Boulder Road. Turn left on Boulder Road, and follow it along until you hit Row Street. Turn left, then a quick right on to Goldfields Highway, and it’s just a four-minute drive along the Highway. Turn left at Outram Street, and follow the signs until you reach the Lookout.

How much is entry to the Super Pit?

Viewing the Super Pit from the KCGM Super Pit Lookout is free. But if you want to really experience the Super Pit, check out the guided tours that operate daily, Monday to Friday. Tours depart at 9am and 1pm daily. They go for approximately 2.5 hours, and cost:

• $90 per adult
• $50 per child (4-16 years old)
• $250 for a family pass (2 adults and 2 children)

It’s best to book at least 2 days in advance to ensure you save your spot. Head to kalgoorlietours.com.au to book your ticket and learn more about this unique experience.

When is the best time to visit the Super Pit?

The Super Pit Lookout is open 7 days a week, from 7am to 7pm. And while it’s quite impressive to view just before sunset, for those who really want to see the action, the best time to visit is when a live blast occurs. The Super Pit website has details of the next scheduled blast, so make sure to look this up and keep it on your next Kalgoorlie travel itinerary.

Is there anything I need to bring when visiting the Super Pit?

If you’re looking to take a tour of the Super Pit, don’t forget to book in advance, as you can’t be sure of a spot otherwise. It’s recommended that you show up to your guided tour at least 15 minutes early, so everything runs on time.

For the tour, though, while you don’t need to bring any safety equipment, you do need to wear fully enclosed shoes with socks, long sleeves that cover your wrists, and long pants that cover the ankles.

To help protect against dust and dirt, disposable coveralls can be purchased for $5 each from your tour operator.

Welcome to The Plaza Hotel | Class of license: LIQ-Hotel Restricted | License number: 6050015024 | Licensee: Garrett Hospitality Regional Hotels Pty Ltd. Warning: Under the Liquor Control Act 1988, it is an offence: To sell or supply liquor to a person under the age of 18 years on licensed or regulated premises; or for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase, or attempt to purchase, liquor on licensed or regulated premises.

Super Pit Lookout

Western Australia

The view is staggering here, with building-sized trucks zigzagging up and down the huge hole and looking like kids' toys. Gawp at the vast gold mine from above or get closer by taking a fascinating mine tour with Kalgoorlie Tours & Charters .

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https://​www​.superpit​.com​.au​/community​/lookout

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Nearby Western Australia attractions

1 . Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre

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Experience the WA Gold experience

Along with Newmont Boddington, Gold Mine is Australia’s largest operating gold mine, eclipsing the Kalgoorlie Super Pit with 787,000oz produced in 2017. We also offer a fantastic Rio Tinto mine tour. 

Home to one of the world’s richest Iron Ore deposits mined by Rio Tinto, Lestok Tours have been conducting comprehensive tours of this mine site for over 30 years.

Boddington, Perth Mint and Rio Tinto

Mine to mint day tour, gold mine tour, rio tinto tour.

Watch molten gold being poured to form a gleaming gold bar, see the largest gold coin in the world and the second biggest natural nugget in existence. Then view precious coins and medallions being minted, handle a real gold bar and experience the spectacular jewellery at The Perth Mint Shop.

Please note: Due to COVID 19 and the decline in tourism, we have made the decision to suspend the Boddington Gold Mine tour and the Mine to Mint day tour until further notice.

We apologise for for any inconvenience or disappointment and thank you for your understanding.

Phone: 08 9791 4143

Email: [email protected]

Address: 97 Forrest Ave, Bunbury, WA 6230

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Home » Travel Guides » Australia » 15 Best Things to Do in Kalgoorlie (Australia)

15 Best Things to Do in Kalgoorlie (Australia)

The story of Kalgoorlie in the Western Goldfields starts in 1893 when a pair of prospectors found 100 ounces of alluvial gold close by at Mount Charlotte.

So began the Western Australia Gold Rush and the gradual discovery of an immense goldfield, the Golden Mile, that continues to produce gold in huge quantities to this day.

The jumble of mines around the Golden Mile have become one pit so large that it can be seen from outer space.

With museums, gold rush-era architecture, an historic show mine and the vast Super Pit, there’s nowhere better to unearth the past and present of gold mining in Western Australia.

1. The Super Pit

For more than a century up to the 1980s Kalgoorlie’s fabled golden mile was controlled by an assortment of small operations.

This changed in 1989 with the foundation of Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM), which immediately went to work excavating a single pit on such a whopping scale that it would soon be known as the Super Pit.

This can be seen from space, at 3.5 kilometres long, 1.5 kilometres wide and more than 600 metres deep.

It is served by two processing plants, treating 12 million tonnes of gold ore and producing 800,000 ounces of gold each year.

To gauge the size of this chasm there’s a lookout at the top of Outram Street in Boulder.

But if you want to experience this operation firsthand you can take a 2.5-hour tour of the Super Pit, wearing a high-vis vest and safety goggles on the air-conditioned Mine-Spec Bus.

With an in-depth commentary you’ll see gigantic haul trucks up close, enjoy staggering views and find out more about the gold milling process.

2. Hannans North Tourist Mine

In the north of Kalgoorlie you can visit one of the most productive goldmines on the Eastern Goldfields.

This was Hannans North, first sunk in 1893 and worked until 1991. Now it’s a world-class mining museum, showcasing more than 120 years of local mining heritage, but also presenting some of the awe-inspiring machinery employed in the industry today.

The shaft descends to a depth of almost 400 metres on 13 levels, amazing considering the seam was initially only thought to be about 36 metres deep.

At the site you can tour historic outbuildings, try your luck panning for gold and take it easy at the calming Chinese Gardens.

For heavy duty hardware, check out the humungous Caterpillar 793C haul truck, and stand in the bucket of a 994K Large Wheel Loader.

3. Museum of the Goldfields

Hard to miss for the giant Ivanhoe headframe towering over the site, the Museum of the Goldfields gives you all the context you need about the region’s mining tradition.

First off, this museum has the largest display of Western Australia’s collection of gold bars and nuggets, all on show in the underground vault.

The museum also sends you back to the Gold Rush years, in preserved settings like a miner’s cottage, the Woodline Office and the office and boardroom of entrepreneur Claude De Bernales, lined with jarrah wood.

Bring everything to life is a big inventory of artefacts from the turn of the 20th century, as well as detailed information about the natural history and ecology of the Goldfields.

And make sure to scale that headframe, now an observation tower, for an all-encompassing view of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

4. Hammond Park

Kalgoorlie’s premier park is a verdant and immaculately-tended haven on the west side of the city.

Hammond Park has hints of gold rush opulence, exemplified by its beautiful heritage-listed rotunda with an onion dome.

This structure is more than a century old and one of the largest in Australia.

For children the park’s main event is the animal sanctuary, where you can get within a few metres of emus, kangaroos and peacocks, while there’s also a spacious pond close by with lots of ducks to feed.

A curiosity hiding in Hammond Park is a miniature Bavarian castle, the walls of which are claimed to be covered with more than 40,000 gemstones.

5. Golden Quest Discovery Trail

Kalgoorlie can be the first step on an unforgettable journey through Western Australia’s Goldfields.

This is still one of the most productive gold mining regions in the world, but has much to offer people with a taste for adventure.

The Golden Quest Discovery Trail spans almost 1,000 kilometres of stunning outback terrain, and is the ultimate way to get in touch with more than 120 years of mining heritage.

On the route, best navigated by 4WD are ghost towns, endless expanses of woodland, captivating places steeped in gold rush legend, immense modern mines and lots more.

Lake Ballard is haunting for its statues by Antony Gormley, while the outback of the Wheatbelt and Goldfields is embroidered with colourful wildflowers in spring following heavy winter rains.

6. Kalgoorlie Town Hall

One look at the Town Hall and its pedimented facade tells you all you need to know about the kind of money flushing through Kalgoorlie in the Edwardian period.

This stuccoed monument was completed in 1908, and its interior is even more richly decorated, with chandeliers, a grand staircase and intricate metalwork throughout.

The only way to look around is on a tour given by City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Heritage Services, taking place on Monday and Wednesday at 10:30. You’ll visit the municipal office, the mayor’s parlour and council chambers as well as a delightful auditorium and stage.

Your guide will fill you in on the Town Hall’s many enthralling stories and characters, while pointing out its valuable collection of art and historical memorabilia.

7. Karlkurla Bushland Park

One of the sadder aspects of the Coolgardie Gold Rush was the destruction of the eucalypt woodland that once covered most of the region, cut down to fuel wood-fired steam engines at the mines.

In an ongoing effort to make amends, this 200-hectare park in the north of Kalgoorlie-Boulder at Hannan was planted by volunteers from the community in 2000. On the park’s four-kilometre signposted trail you’ll wander among native trees and shrubs, and may catch sight of a kangaroo in the morning or evening.

There’s a lookout about 1.5 kilometres from the entrance, as well as the Eco & Cultural Education Centre that opened in the grounds of the park’s nursery in 2017. “Karlkurla” is the local Aboriginal world for “silky pear”, one of the many species now flourishing in the park.

8. Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre

Understandably a source of pride, Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service is a real lifeline for communities in the remotest parts of the outback.

Kalgoorlie’s base is crucial to the organisation’s Western Operations and was set up at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport in the 1930s.

The visitor centre at the base shines a light on the dedication of Flying Doctors today, but also recalls the history of the service, highlighting some of its pioneers who strived to bring healthcare to some of the most inhospitable places on the planet.

You can watch footage at the Roger Waller Theatre, and browse informative and interactive displays.

Entry is by donation and there’s a gift shop with RFDS memorabilia.

9. Palace Hotel

One of a cluster of historic hotels on Hannan Street, the Palace Hotel at No. 137 opened in 1897 and is a handsome example of Federation Architecture.

At the time it was thought to be the most luxurious hotel in Western Australia outside Perth, and was the first hotel in Kalgoorlie to have electric lighting.

Future President of the United States Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) frequented the Palace Hotel in the late-1890s when he was based in Kalgoorlie as a mining engineer.

If you pop into the foyer you’ll see a couple of artefacts from his time.

There’s a framed poem that he wrote for a barmaid that he fell for, next to an ornate mirror that he gifted to the hotel before he left Australia.

10. Questa Casa

Certainly not for everyone, Questa Casa is the last brothel still standing at what used to be the red light district on Hay Street.

If you’re into unorthodox travel experiences or need a story to tell, you can take a tour of what is claimed to be one of the world’s oldest working brothels.

This of course dates from the gold rush in the 1890s, and is a gritty but interesting snapshot of a different time.

The tour lasts around 1 hour 15 minutes, and takes you through the working areas of the house, from the “starting stalls” at the front where workers get clients, through a maze of little rooms.

Your guide will share compelling anecdotes about Kalgoorlie’s “Wild West” days, and the lives of prostitutes and the miners who thronged this outpost some 130 years ago.

11. Broad Arrow Tavern

Go north on the Goldfields Highway and in about half an hour you’ll be at the ghost town of Broad Arrow, once inhabited by 2,400 people and now little more than desert.

In 1893, when it was known as Kurawah, this became the epicentre of the Coolgardie Gold Rush as the place where gold was first discovered.

The last holdout is the Broad Arrow Tavern, which dates all the way back to 1896 and continues to offer food and accommodation for travellers.

Business is good for this outback pub, thanks in part to the revival of the mining industry.

Almost every wall is covered with handwritten notes left by past visitors, and the thing to order is famed “Broady Burger”.

12. Beaten Track Brewery

Kalgoorlie has a rich brewing tradition, and once supplied beer throughout the Eastern Goldfields.

The last brewery closed and the industry was all but forgotten by the end of the 20th century.

Brewing was finally revived in 2007 when Beaten Track was set up.

This is a boutique-sized microbrewery making an ever-changing lineup of small batch craft beers, from IPAs, to amber ales, stouts, sours and lagers.

There will always be something outlandish to try, and a new release in 2020 was a cold brew coffee-infused pale ale.

There’s a satisfying food menu, with burgers and pizza, as well as a relaxing outdoor terrace warmed by patio heaters and blankets on chilly evenings.

13. Mount Charlotte Reservoir and Lookout

Off the Goldfields Highway in the north of Kalgoorlie is an enthralling piece of local heritage.

At the site of Kalgoorlie’s first gold discovery in 1893, this reinforced concrete reservoir built into Mount Charlotte represented the region’s first assured water supply.

Able to hold 4.5m litres, the Mount Charlotte Reservoir was the culmination of an epic project, pumping water 560km from the Mundaring Weir just outside Perth.

The reservoir continues to fill its original role, but is now used as a reserve after the Mount Percy reservoir was built in the 1980s to the north.

Also at the peak of Mount Charlotte there’s a circular lookout platform for panoramic views of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Great Western Woodlands and the mining landscape bordering the city.

14. Kalgoorlie Golf Course

Past Hammond Park and the Kalgoorlie Arboretum is an 18-hole golf course winding out into the bush.

Designed by Graham Marsh, Kalgoorlie Golf Course is ranked in the top 20 public access courses in Australia.

Each hole has an evocative name relevant to the region, like Golden Mile or Super Pit, and the fairways and greens are edged by eucalyptus trees, native shrubs and water hazards.

When we wrote this list in 2020 the driving range had just been renewed, and there are practice greens next door to help you polish your short game.

At the time of writing, greens fees were $66.50 for 18 holes.

And after your round, stop for a bite and something cold at the Waterhole Bar & Bistro, which overlooks the course.

15. Kalgoorlie Visitor Centre

Also at Kalgoorlie’s historic Town Hall is the largest tourist information centre in the whole of the Goldfields.

In such a remote region, this is an invaluable amenity for anyone who wants to see more of the Goldfields and the greater outback.

You can book transport, accommodation and tours, and pick up tons of firsthand tips, brochures and leaflets for interesting things to do and places to go.

The centre has free Wi-Fi and also sells plenty of Kalgoorlie and Goldfields-related mementoes, from handmade Aboriginal art to souvenir gold coins.

15 Best Things to Do in Kalgoorlie (Australia):

• The Super Pit
• Hannans North Tourist Mine
• Museum of the Goldfields
• Hammond Park
• Golden Quest Discovery Trail
• Kalgoorlie Town Hall
• Karlkurla Bushland Park
• Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre
• Palace Hotel
• Questa Casa
• Broad Arrow Tavern
• Beaten Track Brewery
• Mount Charlotte Reservoir and Lookout
• Kalgoorlie Golf Course
• Kalgoorlie Visitor Centre

Hannans North Tourist Mine

  Tours   Kalgoorlie

• Add to itinerary

Description

Hours: Daily: 9am - 4pm

For more information, contact 08 9022 1664.

Take your time to explore above ground at Hannans North Tourist Mine and discover the secrets of gold rush history and modern day mining in the Goldfields.

Map & Directions

Located off Goldfields Highway, Kalgoorlie.

Cancellation Policy

Hannans North Tourist Mine – Self Guided Tour Terms and Conditions Entry Conditions 1. Vehicles and pedestrians entering this area do so at their own risk. Hannans North Tourist Mine will not accept any liability for accidents damage or loss incurred. 2. Tickets are sold on behalf of Hannans North Tourist Mine. A ticket is a receipt and is not transferable. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. 3. Hannans North Tourist Mine reserves the right to refuse admission or to request a visitor to leave Hannans North Tourist Mine facilities. 4. Proof of age and concession identification may be required. 5. Tickets purchased may not without the prior consent of Hannans North Tourist Mine be resold packaged or used for advertising promotion or other commercial purposes (including competitions or trade promotions) or to enhance the demand for other goods and services. If a ticket is sold or used in breach of these conditions the bearer of the ticket may be denied admission or other action taken without guarantee of a refund. Entry may also be denied if tickets are not purchased from an authorised point-of-sale. 6. Opening hours are generally from 9.00am to 4.00pm daily (closed Saturdays Christmas Day Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Open 12.00pm to 4.00pm on Anzac Day). Hannans North Tourist Mine reserves the right to amend opening hours/days at any time. 7. Images of Hannans North Tourist Mine taken with a camera mobile phone or other wireless device cannot be used for any purpose other than for regular private and domestic purposes without prior consent of Hannans North Tourist Mine. Images cannot be sold licensed published or otherwise commercially exploited. Hannans North Tourist Mine reserves the right to instruct the methods used to obtain images or prevent any form of photography on its premises at any time. 8. Visitors consent to being photographed filmed and recorded as visitors to Hannans North Tourist Mine and consent to the use of any such film image or recording at the sole discretion of Hannans North Tourist Mine. 9. Making or distributing of broadcasts commentary or news reports by any means in any format or media including any such commentary made by mobile phone or other device is not permitted without consent of Hannans North Tourist Mine. 10. Hannans North Tourist Mine is a non-smoking venue; however visitors are permitted to smoke within the front car parks and specially allocated areas for private functions outside of normal operating hours. 11. Whilst at Hannans North Tourist Mine visitors are responsible for the security of their own property. 12. Adults should not leave children unattended. Hannans North Tourist Mine reserves the right to refuse admission to unaccompanied minors or dependant persons it deems unsafe to enter its premises without supervision. Hannans North Tourist Mine has gold panning ponds and two ponds within the Garden of Remembrance. Visitors are also encouraged to adopt good sun safety practices. Visitors may be liable for damage to exhibits or the grounds caused by a member of their party. 13. Hannans North Tourist Mine does not take responsibility for personal injury loss or damage however caused including any negligence (but not gross negligence) breach of duty default or omission on the part of Hannans North Tourist Mine’s staff volunteers contractors or agents. 14. No transmission over the internet can be guaranteed as totally secure. Whilst Hannans North Tourist Mine strives to protect such information Hannans North Tourist Mine does not warrant and cannot ensure the security of any information which you transmit to Hannans North Tourist Mine. Accordingly any information which you transmit to Hannans North Tourist Mine including your credit card details is transmitted at your own risk. Emergency In the event of an emergency during your visit please see staff at the Hannans North Tourist Mine gift shop or phone them on 08 9022 1664. Insurance Hannans North Tourist Mine have copies of their current Certificate of Currency Insurance Cover Liability Registration of Business and emergency action plan on site. These may be viewed or a copy obtained on request. Vehicles & Parking We ask that all cars are kept in the designated car parks. Access roads and must not be blocked. Cars that park in undesignated areas will be asked to move. Please drive at a reasonable speed for the safety of all. Pets NO pets are allowed to enter Hannans North Tourist Mine however dog pens (on the far side of the car park) are available on request. Hannans North Tourist Mine cannot be held responsible or liable for any injury to your pet whilst on the property.

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Gold, gold and more gold…

From gold bars to the golden sun glinting off grand colonial architecture and golden sunsets – gold has been associated with Kalgoorlie (Kalgoorlie Boulder) since the 1880s when thousands of hopeful prospectors set up camp here and unearthed the precious metal. The Gold Rush town grew to become the biggest city in outback Australia.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the gold rush history at the Museum of the Goldfields, which has a display of gold bars and nuggets. For a modern take on gold mining head to KCGM Super Pit, to the Super Pit Lookout or take a Super Pit Tour of the largest gold producing mine in the country. See giant dump trucks and watch this massive operation at work. The Super Pit is 3.7km long by 1.5km wide and produces a staggering 900,000 ounces of gold annually.

Sit back and relax whilst visiting the many attractions throughout Kalgoorlie Boulder upon the informative City Tram Taster Tour .

Other attractions include the Hannans North Tourist Mine and The Two Up School. Visit the Goldfields Arts Centre, the racing museum, join an Indigenous culture tour or take a gold prospecting tour. An hour and a half north of the city is the breath taking saltpan gallery at Lake Ballard, with sculptures by Antony Gormley looming out of the vast expanse. During wildflower season the surrounds come alive with colour.

From gold to golf and Kalgoorlie is well known for its international golf course. At Kalgoorlie Golf Club, Holes 17 & 18 are part of the Nullarbor Links – the ‘World’s Longest Golf Course’. The concept for this was to get travellers to slow down and enjoy the journey across the vast Nullarbor, learning of important features, people or events along the way while stopping to play golf at courses en route from Ceduna to Kalgoorlie.

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Western Australian Goldfields Guide – Exploring Kalgoorlie, Boulder and Coolgardie

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Our Western Australian Goldfields guide to exploring Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Coolgardie covers everything from how to get to the Goldfields region from Perth, Esperance and the Nullarbor to things to do in the engaging Goldfields towns, from indigenous walks to mine tours.

The Western Australian Goldfields, also known as ‘the Eastern Goldfields’ – which only makes sense if you live to the west of the region, say, in the state capital Perth – covers a vast area of around 320,000 square kilometres of stark arid beauty.

The adjoining gold mining twin towns of Kalgoorlie-Boulder are the hub of the region, home to one of the world’s richest gold deposits, located within an ancient belt of volcanic and sedimentary rock that’s between 2.6 and 2.9 billion years old.

While the gold rush stories may have dominated the narrative of the Western Australian Goldfields region, this ancient country is home to the Wongutha peoples of the Goldfields and Western Desert who have inhabited the region for tens of thousands of years and have their own Dreaming stories to share on enriching tours of the town and region.

Driving to the Western Australian Goldfields from Perth or Esperance is easy driving on good sealed roads, however, there’s no denying that it’s an investment in time. But it’s worth it, no matter which route you take, for the fascinating history, handsome heritage architecture, and quirky experiences to be had.

Now is the time to take a road trip to the Western Australian Goldfields. Winter is the best time to visit, along with spring and autumn, when temperatures are comfortable and wildflowers are blooming. (Western Australia is home to the greatest number of wildflower spices on the planet.) Summer in the WA goldfields can be scorching and should be avoided.

Western Australian Goldfields Guide – Exploring Kalgoorlie Boulder and Coolgardie

Driving to the western australian goldfields.

There are three main routes to the Western Australian Goldfields, depending upon whether you’re driving from Perth to Kalgoorlie-Boulder, from Esperance to Kalgoorlie-Boulder, or from the Nullarbor via Norseman to Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Driving to the Goldfields from Perth

If you’re driving from Perth to the Western Australian Goldfields and Kalgoorlie-Boulder then you’re in for a 593km road trip, which will take you around 6.5 hours or a full day if you spend time in some of the towns on the way. Driving from Perth to Kalgoorlie you could stop at Coolgardie for a look if you’re driving on to Esperance or the Nullarbor and South Australia after Kalgoorlie. But if you’re returning to Perth, then make a beeline for Kalgoorlie and see Coolgardie on the drive back to the capital. You’ll probably want to break up the journey with a few stops along the way, such as Northam in the Avon Valley and a couple of the Wheatbelt towns, such as Meckering, Cunderdin, Kellerberrin, Merredin, and Southern Cross. From Southern Cross it’s 2 hours to Coolgardie. We’ll cover all of those stops in more detail in a separate Perth to Kalgoorlie road trip post, which will include detours to New Norcia, the Avon Valley towns, and Wave Rock.

Driving to the Goldfields from Esperance

If you’ve followed our southwest road trip itineraries and have done the drive from Perth to the Margaret River region (and explored the Margaret River area and followed our weekend in Margaret itinerary ), and then driven from Margaret River to Denmark, then Denmark to Albany , and Albany to Ravensthorpe , and spent time in Esperance, you’ve got a 385km or 4-hour drive from Esperance to the Western Australian Goldfields ahead of you. We recommend making a beeline for Kalgoorlie, basing yourself there, then you can explore Boulder from Kalgoorlie and stop at Coolgardie on your way to Perth. From Esperance, you’ll take the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway north and you can stop mid-way at Norseman to stretch your legs. Just make sure you continue driving north and don’t take a right turn for the Nullarbor and South Australia. NOTE: at the time of publishing this guide, the border was closed as a protection measure against the pandemic.

Driving to the Western Australian Goldfields from the Nullarbor

If you’re doing a Nullarbor road trip from Adelaide and South Australia – not possible at the time of publication of this post due to the Western Australia-South Australia border being closed – then, depending on your last overnight stop on the Nullarbor, you may wish to stay overnight in Norseman. Or, you can hang a right and from Norseman continue north to the Western Australian Goldfields towns of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Coolgardie. After exploring the Goldfields, you can then drive through the Wheatbelt and Avon Valley to Perth, detouring to Wave Rock along the way. Or, you can backtrack to Norseman and continue south to Esperance, and then travel along Western Australia’s southern coast and up to Perth, essentially doing our series of Southwest road trips in reverse.

Western Australian Goldfields – Exploring Kalgoorlie Boulder and Coolgardie

The towns of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and nearby Coolgardie are famous for the discovery of ‘the Golden Mile’ that sparked Australia’s greatest gold rush and made the Western Australian Goldfields one of the world’s wealthiest gold-producing areas almost 130 years after gold was discovered here.

The Western Australian Goldfields also has a rich indigenous culture that you should explore. Kalgoorlie or Kulgooluh for the Wongutha people means ‘place of the silky pears’ and it’s a location of great cultural significance for the ‘Wongi’, as they call themselves, who have many Dreaming stories connected to the place.

Once considered the richest square mile on the planet, the term ‘the Golden Mile’ came into use in 1899 to describe the mines on the Ivanhoe, Great Boulder, Golden Horseshoe, Chaffers, Hannan’s Star, and Boulder Main Reef leases – a group of leases that today comprise ‘the Super Pit’.

The first gold prospectors were Paddy Hannan, Dan Shea and Thomas Flanagan, who kicked off the gold rush with their discovery at Mount Charlotte. A few months later prospectors William Brookman and Samuel Pearce registered the Great Boulder lease, which would eventually be swallowed up by the Super Pit, Australia’s largest open cut gold mine.

While a lack of water, disease and long distances made life difficult for the first miners, those early discoveries drew thousands more prospectors to the Kalgoorlie gold rush within a few months. It was the wealth of the Goldfields and growth in population that enabled Western Australia to become autonomous and led to its statehood in 1901.

Mining remains the area’s main industry. The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Super Pit produces some 800,000 ounces of gold annually amounting to around 20% of the state’s mining wealth, while nickel is the next most important resource and Kalgoorlie’s BHP Billiton Smelter, the world’s third largest.

A huge chunk of the towns’ residents work in mining and the services that support it, while tourists come to gape at the colossal hole in the ground, learn about the ‘colourful’ gold rush history, and try their luck panning for gold.

The original gold rush settlement, Coolgardie was responsible for singlehandedly increasing Western Australia’s population fourfold by the end of the 18th century when around ten thousand prospectors rushed here in 1892 – Australia’s largest mass migration – after Arthur Bayley discovered sixteen kilos of gold.

While the handsome town once had some two dozen pubs, several breweries, seven newspapers, and a population ten times its current size, Coolgardie remains one of Australia’s best-preserved gold mining towns. It’s still something of an open-air museum with more grand Federation-era heritage buildings along its main street than people when we last visited, and its wide main street is definitely worth a stroll.

Call into the Coolgardie Visitors Centre and Coolgardie Goldfields Exhibition Museum (62 Bayley Street) in the majestic Mining Warden’s Court Building, for a fantastic introduction to the early social history of the Western Australia Goldfields and a couple of quirky collections.

In the Old Courtroom you can browse Australia’s largest bottle collection and in the adjoining Pharmacy Museum you can take in an extensive collection of 18th and 19th century medicines, antique tools of the trade and pharmaceutical posters.

Nearby, you can see Warden Finnerty’s Residence (2 McKenzie Street), the beautifully restored, former sandstone home of Irishman John Michael Finnerty, Coolgardie’s first resident magistrate and mining warden. Built in 1895, it has French doors with louvered shutters and a ventilated roof lantern.

Not far from town, you can swim, boat and canoe on the Rowles Lagoon wetlands or go bush walking, bird watching or picnicking in the surrounding bushland. Cave Hill Nature Reserve is popular with rock climbers.

If you’re driving from Perth to Kalgoorlie-Boulder, you can call in to Coolgardie on the way, then continue to drive northeast along the Great Eastern Highway for 38kms to reach Kalgoorlie. The highway becomes Hannan Street, the main street, where you should easily be able to find a place to park your car. If you’re driving from Norseman, then see Coolgardie after you’re done in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, before returning to Perth.

Kalgoorlie and Boulder

Before the gold rush, Kalgoorlie was one of the world’s main sources of aromatic sandalwood, used as incense and in perfume. So much so that by 1880 it was the state’s most important export after wool – until gold was discovered and the fragrant wood was in demand to hold up mine shafts.

As a result, the landscape of the Western Australian Goldfields became prematurely desertified and pit-scarred – the largest hole in the ground being the monumental Super Pit, which grows even more colossal each year – while the twin towns of Kalgoorlie–Boulder became two of Australia’s richest and wildest towns.

Kalgoorlie still remains a fascinating place with a frontier spirit and has enough things to do to fill a couple of days, while Boulder has become little more than a sleepy suburb of Kalgoorlie yet still warrants an amble to admire its handsome historic buildings.

Start your discovery of Kalgoorlie with a stroll along Hannan Street, the main road, to take in the splendid heritage architecture, particularly the flamboyant façades of the restored Federation-era buildings and the grand old pubs with their wide verandas and intricate wrought iron decoration.

While most visitors are in Kalgoorlie-Boulder to learn about the gold rush and get a taste of frontier town life, past and present, we recommend that you start by taking a step back even further in time to the Dreaming and learn about the Aboriginal Australian history and culture of the Western Australian Goldfields.

Bush Ghoodhu Wongutha Tours

The outstanding Bush Ghoodhu Wongutha Tours provide immersive experiences hosted by Wongutha guides that give a great insight into both the ancient and modern history of Kalgoorlie, as well as the seasons and environment, on a range of tours in and around Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

On their family-friendly Kalgoorlie walking tour you’ll get to experience a traditional Wongutha welcome before exploring Kalgoorlie’s history and culture, visiting significant indigenous sites and learning about the traditional Wongutha way of life and traditional customs.

You’ll get to hear ancient Dreaming stories and Gold Rush tales, learn where and how to find bush tucker in the hot, harsh desert environment, as well as get hands-on and learn how to use traditional Wongutha tools, implements and weapons for hunting. You’ll learn how to throw a spear (nyinji), how to make a boomerang (karlee) come back, and how a traditional knife (gundee) is made.

They also offer a full day tour, which includes a drive into the outback, where you’ll learn how to identify the tracks of local animal life, forage for bush tucker, learn the Wongutha names and the uses for local plants and animals, and tuck into some traditional bush damper and Billie tea.

Their overnight tour ‘on country’ is even more immersive, giving you the chance to visit sites of spiritual and cultural significance, learn to track animals and use traditional implements, camp out under the stars, listen to ancient Dreamtime stories around a campfire, and enjoy traditional Wongutha food cooked in an earth oven.

Museum of the Goldfields – Western Australian Museum

The towering red 33m-high head-frame you see at the top of Hannan Street belongs to the Museum of the Goldfields (08 9021 8533; open daily 10am–3pm; entry by donation), an excellent outpost of the Western Australian Museum, which marks the place where Paddy Hannan found his first gold nuggets.

The museum has a comprehensive exhibition on the history of the goldfields, as well as the sandalwood industry and Aboriginal culture. The red head-frame also serves as a lookout with views of the city and mines.

When you’re done, drive to the intersection of Hannan Street and the Goldfields Highway and turn left. You will see the sign-posted turn-off to the Australian Prospectors and Mining Hall of Fame ahead on your right.

Hannans North Tourist Mine

One of the first registered mines in Kalgoorlie, Hannans North Tourist Mine (daily 9am-4pm) was formerly known as the Australian Prospectors and Mining Hall of Fame. After it closed in 2011, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) assisted the local community to develop the engaging mining museum into the current Hannans North Tourist Mine.

It’s a must-visit for its outstanding exhibitions, which provides fascinating insights into the gold rush history. There’s everything from displays of rocks and minerals to the contemporary art that has been supported by the mines. There’s enough to do to fill a couple of hours on a self-guided surface tour and guided underground mining tour.

On the self-guided tour, you’ll get to listen to Paddy Hannan’s tale of discovering gold, you can try your hand at panning for gold and making your own fortune, or have a go at the legendary game of Two-Up. You can wander into original buildings relocated from other mine sites along the Golden Mile and stroll about the Prospectors Campsite for an insight into how miners lived and worked in the 1890s.

There’s a kiosk on site selling cold drinks, tea and coffee, and ice cream, but you can also take a picnic to enjoy in the tranquil Chinese Garden or use the free barbecue facilities – both a delight in the winter months, but not recommended in the searing heat of summer.

The Scarlet Mile

Kalgoorlie’s Gold Rush attracted all sorts seeking their fortune, including prostitutes from Perth. In 1902, the authorities gazetted Hay Street as Kalgoorlie’s red light district, in an effort to contain health and social problems. Some 16 brothels operated along the street, giving the stretch the nickname, The Scarlet Mile.

Today only one brothel still operates and you can visit during the day on a tour. Seeing the city’s diminutive red light district to do a brothel tour was once one of the most popular things to do in Kalgoorlie, but now only Questa Casa (133 Hay Street) offers guided tours, taking you through the various rooms while the guides share colourful stories.

The tour covers the history of prostitution in the Goldfields. While prostitution has long been legal in the state and brothels such as Questa Casa, Kalgoorlie’s oldest, had been running for over 120 years, living off the earnings of prostitutes wasn’t allowed until 2008 when brothels were legalised in Western Australia, giving the women basic rights such as superannuation and worker’s compensation.

Super Pit Lookout

You can’t leave Kalgoorlie-Boulder without gaping at the gigantic hole in the ground that is the Super Pit mine. While it’s fascinating simply to look from the viewing point (open from 7am-7pm daily), watching a blast is quite an experience.

You can check each day’s blasting time on the Super Pit website or when you get to town phone the Super Pit Shop (2 Burt St, Boulder; 089093 3488) to find out when a blast is scheduled and time your visit accordingly.

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News & Insights

Kalgoorlie Gold Mining Unveils Gold Prospects

May 30, 2024 — 11:19 pm EDT

Written by TipRanks Australian Newsdesk for TipRanks  ->

Kalgoorlie Gold Mining Limited ( AU:KAL ) has released an update.

Kalgoorlie Gold Mining Limited has reported promising exploration results at the Wessex gold target within their Pinjin Project, highlighting the potential of previously overlooked gold deposits near Kalgoorlie. The company’s latest findings are backed by historical data and validated by Dr. Matthew Painter, a competent authority in the field. This announcement signifies a positive outlook for the company’s resource estimation and future mining endeavors.

For further insights into AU:KAL stock, check out TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page .

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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