Karijini to Perth road trip: Best stops, distance & time

Karijini to Perth road trip: Meekatharra to Mount Magnet

The next worthwhile stop is Cue, 115km away. This drive goes past the Bluebird gold mine and then crosses along a ridgeline through Lake Annean.

This outback lake is mostly dry, most of the time, but some sections almost have water in it. You might spot some waterbirds, and you can take a look at the Nannine ghost town on the northern bank.

In Cue, you can bed down for the night in the mediocre Cue Motel, walk around the town’s handsome goldrush-era buildings or try fossicking for gold.

The highlight requires a 48km detour to the west, however. Here, Walga Rock is a gigantic monolith, with a cave and a trove of Aboriginal rock art.

The next sight is Day Dawn. All that’s left of this ghost town is the handsome Mine Office of the Great Fingall Mine.

Later on, you there are some odd cattle sculptures just before you cross Lake Austin.

Before arriving in Mount Magnet, pay a visit to the Granites. Amongst these giant granite boulders are Aboriginal rock art paintings thought to be around 9,000 years old.

Old gold mining town Mount Magnet offers plenty of heritage buildings, an old-fashioned open air cinema and the fairly dull Mining and Pastoral Museum.

It’s worth checking out the views from the top of Warrmboo Hill, while spring surrounds the town with multi-coloured wildflowers.

Accommodation is available at the Mount Magnet Caravan Park.

Karijini to Perth drive: Paynes Find to Dalwallinu

Paynes Find is 146km south of Mount Magnet.

The Paynes Find Gold Battery and Museum is home to a working gold battery, and tells intriguing tales of the gold mining past.

You can also refuel at the Paynes Find Tavern and Roadhouse.

Further along, the Charles Darwin Reserve and the Mount Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary are open to limited numbers of campers, and not year-round. You’ll need a 4WD vehicle to access them.

Small pastoral town Wubin is a more realistic stop. The Wheatbin Museum looks at the local grain industry, while this is one of the best spots in the country for wildflowers in August and September.

The distance from Wubin to Dalwallinu is 20km. Dalwallinu is the regional hub.

Here, the Dalwallinu Discovery Centre covers local history and the wheat industry, while wildflowers bloom in the Dalwallinu Remnant Bushland.

The Old Convent offers surprisingly gorgeous accommodation.

Click through to the next section: New Norcia to Perth.