Perth to Alice Springs road trip guide: Driving distance & best stops
Perth to Alice Springs road trip: Kalgoorlie
Gold mining town Kalgoorlie has several surprisingly gripping attractions. The Museum of the Goldfields and Hannans North Tourist Mine.
The truly memorable attraction, however, is the Super Pit, one of the biggest open cut mines on earth. You can take it in from the Super Pit Lookout or take a tour that goes part-way inside the mine.
Where should I stay in Kalgoorlie?
Specialist Australian accommodation website Wotif offers Kalgoorlie accommodation for from $133 a night. Check out the deals page to search for the best value stay.
However, you should consider these options first.
- For central location and a pool: Plaza Hotel.
- For best quality: Quest Yelverton apartments.
- For proximity to the railway station: Quality Inn Railway Motel.
- For pool, free parking and good value: Hospitality Inn (part of the Best Western group).
Lake Lefroy and Norseman
The next leg is from Kalgoorlie to Norseman. The Old Boulder Cemetery gives a sobering reminder of the number of people who died during the Western Australian gold rush. But most will continue on to Kambalda, a small mining town in its own right.
The main attraction here is the Red Hill Lookout, which offers marvellous views out over Lake Lefroy, a vast twinkling salt pan.
After a few more mediocre nature reserves and salt pans, you’ll cross Lake Cowan and enter Norseman.
In Norseman, you can take in the views from the Beacon Hill and Lake Cowan lookouts, and picnic amongst old mining equipment in Phoenix Park.
Norseman accommodation options include the motelly Great Western Travel Village and the budget-conscious Acclaim Gateway Tourist Park.
Click through to the next section: The Nullarbor Plain.