Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Coolgardie parks and nature reserves are home to a dazzling diversity of wildflowers, animals and breathtaking landscapes – bird watching, barbequing and relaxing is all possible at the following parks and reserves.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is situated on the edge of the largest temperate woodlands on earth. Spanning 16 million hectares, it is home to almost 20% of the country's known plant species. The Great Western Woodlands, also known as the Goldfields Woodlands, have been left largely in tact because of their remoteness and unsuitability for agriculture.
Karkula Park
A showcase of the woodlands can be seen at Karkula Park (pronounced 'gull-gur-la'), 200 hectares of bushland on the northern outskirts of the city. A 4km gravel based track meanders through the park of natural Flora and Fauna. A viewing platform located in the centre of the park offers superb views of surrounding bushlands.
Victoria Watch Nature Reserve
45 kilometres South of Coolgardie on Victoria Rock Road and accessible by two wheel drive vehicles. The reserve features an impressive granite outcrop, fringing teatree thicket and Salmon Gum, York Gum and Sheoak woodland. Birds include several South-West species such as Western Rosella, Shy Heathwren and Western Yellow Robin. Facilities include barbeque, toilets, information panel and walk-trail. Camping is permitted.
Boorabbin National Park
This is an interesting area extending for 25 kilometres with a width of five kilometres on each side of the Great Eastern Highway. It is mainly high sandplain heath. There is an extensive salt lake system to the south and east and several granite rock areas, the largest being Boorabbin Rock.
Jaurdi Conservation Park
The former Juardi pastoral lease, purchased for conservation in 1989, is now proposed as a conservation park. Access is by Mount Walton Road which heads north from Great Eastern Highway at the old Boorabbin townsite. Only in dry weather is the area suitable for conventional vehicles. Jaurdi is the prime birding site in the southern Goldfields because of its large size, diversity and landforms, vegetation types and good internal access. It has uncut woodland, salt lakes, granite outcrops, breakaways, oronstone and greenstone ranges and hills.
Karrawang Nature Reserve
Located between 13 and 17 kilometres southwest of Kalgoorlie and north of the Great Eastern Highway, signposted access is off the road to Kurrawang Emu farm. The reserve features regrowth woodland after felling about 1910. It is of particular interest because Guy Shortridge, a collector of the British Museum, recorded the species present in 1904-1905 before the impact of European settlement.
Rowles Lagoon Conservation Park
Located 70 kilometres north of Coolgardie, signposted off Coolgardie North Road. Rowles Lagoon is the largest and deepest of four freshwater lakes. It is a lake of national significance.
Dense thickets of Melaleuca are ideal nesting sited for many of the 16 species of waterbirds that breed here, including the Freckled Duck. The 41 waterbird species recorded is more than for any wetland in the temperature arid interior.
Goongarrie National Park
This park, south-east of Menzies, is accessed from Pianto Road which leaves the Meekatharra Road 30 kilometres south of Menzies. Situated on the mulga-eucalypt line it comprises pristine eucalypt and acacia vegetation, granite outcrops, salt lakes, claypans and the associated vegetation of Lake Marmion. Arid-zone woodland and mulga species and some waterbirds dominate the avifauna. Look out for White-browned treecreeper and Budgerigar.
Rowles Lagoon to Ularring Rock
The area to the north of Rowles Lagoon is easily accessed for an interesting drive along Coolgardie North Road. At Davyhurst take the Davyhurst-Mulline Road. As Ularring Rock is approximately 12 kilometres south of the Evanston-Menzies Road, it could be combined with a trip to Menzies (with eventual return to Kalgoorlie-Boulder) or Hospital Rocks (with eventual return to the Great Eastern Highway through Bullfinch and Southern Cross).
Kalgoorlie Arboretum
The Arboretum was established in 1954 to evaluate the Goldfields trees for use in the Kalgoorlie area.
The area provides passive recreation activities such as picnics, walks and short drives. A shady walk trail meandering through the Arboretum allows visitors to identify single trees from marked signs. The bird life is extensive, probably because of the permanent water and different flowing times of tree species.
Hammond Park
Visit the tranquil parkland with duck pond, aviaries and a sanctuary for kangaroos and emus. See the miniature Bavarian Castle with an estimated 40,000 gemstones in it. Take along a picnic and enjoy! Barbeque facilities are available.
