Travel around Kalgoorlie-Boulder and you’ll experience a real Australian outback adventure. Find information on roads, Aboriginal land, fuel and food, national park passes, travelling with pets, road trains and much more.
Roads
Roads in the WA Goldfields vary from first class, all-weather sealed roads to excellent fine weather unsealed roads and four wheel drive adventure trails. Fuel and food stops are available at major towns in the region, however drivers are advised to plan their trip carefully, whether it be a long one or only a day, making sure they have taken into account the condition of the roads they have selected, the fuel range of their vehicle and the location of fuel and refreshment stops.
Caravan and camping facilities are available at Kambalda, Coolgardie, Menzies, Laverton, Leonora and Kalgoorlie-Boulder. If there has been rain make sure you check on road conditions if you are planning to take a route that is unsealed. You should always check road conditions before travelling.
For road conditions in the WA Goldfields call Main Roads Western Australia on 1800 013 314 or Kalgoorlie-Boulder +61 8 9080 1400.
Aboriginal land
Permits are essential for travel on Aboriginal Lands in the Goldfields region.
The Great Central Road, commonly known as the Outback Highway, between Laverton and Uluru is patrolled and fines result if visitors have not obtained a permit.
Permit application forms are available from any Department of Indigenous Affairs office or on the internet at www.dia.wa.gov.au. There are two application forms that must be forwarded, one to the Central Land Council and the other to the Aboriginal Lands Trust. Allow two to three weeks in advance for applications to be processed. It is the right of the Traditional Owners to refuse an entry permit.
When travelling through Aboriginal Lands it is prohibited to divert off the main road.
Aboriginal permit applications
Central Land Council
PO Box 3321, Alice Springs, NT 0871
Telephone:+61 8 8951 6320 Facsimile: +61 8 8953 4345
Aboriginal Lands Trust
PO Box 7770, Cloisters Square, Perth WA 6850
Telephone: +61 8 9235 8000 Facsimile: +61 8 9235 8093
Fuel and food
Food and fuel are generally available every 100 to 300 kilometres, however, when travelling in remote regions such as the Outback Highway, it is recommended you plan and check ahead. Some remote service stations have restricted opening hours and limited banking/credit facilities.
Fuel - Outback Highway
At the time of publication, unleaded petrol could not be purchased within the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku. At the three fuel stops within the Shire (Warburton, Docker River, Giles) avgas is available for purchase. The last stop for unleaded fuel travelling west is Yulara, and travelling east is Tjukayirla.
It is also prohibited to take jerry cans and unleaded fuel containers into the Shire.
WA quarantine and inspection service
Western Australia is free of many pests, weeds and diseases found elsewhere in Australia. Please help us protect our plant and livestock industries by not bringing fresh fruit and vegetables, plants, flowers, seeds, nuts, honey, used fruit and produce containers into the State. Checkpoints operate at the Border Village for vehicles travelling west, and Ceduna for vehicles travelling east.
National park passes
Visitor fees apply at major national parks in Western Australia. A map of WA National Parks and passes (ranging from Day Pass through to an Annual Pass) are available from:
- Kalgoorlie Goldfields Visitor Centre
- Goldfields CALM Office
-
Norseman Tourist Bureau
Travelling with pets
Please note that dogs and cats cannot be taken into any WA National Park and some caravan parks do not accept pets. Advice on these facilities can be obtained from local Visitor Information Centres.
Caravanning and camping dump points
The Kalgoorlie Accommodation Village, Boulder Accommodation Village and Kalgoorlie Caravan Park accept effluent.
Stock and wildlife
There are large numbers of kangaroos and emus in the WA Goldfields and care should be taken when driving on any road surface. Also, some pastoral properties do not have fencing so drivers need to be alert for sheep, cattle and goats, and camels are not an unusual sight in the outback. Driving at dawn or dusk should be avoided where possible and handled very carefully if unavoidable.
Road trains
The WA Goldfields is a mining region and road trains are a common occurrence on both sealed and unsealed surfaces where mining activities are taking place. Road trains often have up to four trailers and on the open road can travel at speeds up to 100 kilometres per hour and be almost 60 metres long. You should always leave approximately 200 metres between vehicles in convoy to allow road train drivers to pass. Only overtake a road train if the road is clear and visible a long distance ahead (more than one kilometre) and once you have made the decision to pass do it as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Walking
From the furthest point South to the furthest point North, in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, there is approximately 20 kilometres. If you enjoy walking and have come prepared with your walking shoes, then it is not out of the question to get around between the major attractions by walking. Bare in mind that there is approximately five kilometres between the main street in Kalgoorlie and the main street in Boulder.
Cycling
There is a large walking/bicycle track known as the Kakoda walking trail that takes you from Kalgoorlie to Boulder at the bottom end of Burt Street, nearest the airport. This route does not stick to major roads and attractions, but is rather a recreational facility. There are not many roads that have a bicycle lane built in, however cyclists are still permitted on the road, obeying by the same rules as motorists and using signals where appropriate. It is illegal to ride without a helmet in Australia.
Local transportation
Trans Goldfields
TransGoldfields bus services provide the local community and visitors with regular transportation throughout Kalgoorlie-Boulder. There are three Routes, 1. Hannans, 2. Boulder and 3. Boulder via. O’Connor. These routes run almost every hour from approximately 7.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday and limited services are available on Saturdays.
Taxi services
There are plenty of tax services in Kalgoorlie and the most you will pay on each journey is approximately $20 from the furthest South to the furthest North in the townsite of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Contact Twin City Cabs on +61 8 9021 2177 for exact amounts and for quotes on extended travel beyond the suburbs of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
There is a public bus service in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Telephone: +61 8 9091 5233, +61 8 9091 5453 or +61 8 9021 2177.
There are also excellent coach tours and guided tours available for visitors.
