What are the best things to do in Norseman, Western Australia?

The best things to do in Norseman, Western Australia include the Beacon Hill Lookout, Norseman Golf Club and Phoenix Park.

Depending on which direction you’re coming from, Norseman is either the beginning or the end of the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor. If you’re driving from Adelaide to Perth – or even further from Sydney to Perth – you’ll pass through Norseman, Western Australia. As the Eyre ends, you’ve got the choice of going north via Kalgoorlie or south via Esperance.

Don’t want to drive the Nullarbor? Then consider a ten day camping adventure tour from Perth to Adelaide (or in the opposite direction).

Norseman has long been a gold mining town, and there’s still a major gold mine there. The town’s unusual name comes from the name of the horse that supposedly found the gold in the first place. You’ll find a statue of the horse on the main street, as well as some corrugated iron camel sculptures on the Princip Street Roundabout

For many visitors, Norseman is either a fuel stop or an overnight rest stop. But there are a few things to do in Norseman.

Memorial Park in Norseman, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

Things to do in Norseman, Western Australia: Beacon Hill Lookout

The Beacon Hill Lookout, 2km from the town centre, is the best place to start. There are 360 degree views, although a sizable chunk of that panorama is taken up by an absolutely enormous tailings storage facility.

Nearby, there’s a short interpretative walk through the woodlands. Norseman is surrounded by vast wilderness woodlands, and the walk gives an idea of the ecosystems involved. It’s about 700 metres long.

Phoenix Park in Norseman, WA

There’s more interpretation in Phoenix Park, which hosts plenty of old mining equipment along with barbecues and sheltered picnic tables.

Signage tells you what the mining equipment once did, and gives an insight into Norseman’s past.

Things to do in Norseman, WA: Nullarbor Links

One of the other things to do in Norseman is play a round of golf at the Norseman Golf Club. It hosts two holes of the Nullarbor Links – the world’s longest golf course.

The Nullarbor Links stretches from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia, with holes at towns and roadhouses such as Cocklebiddy, Balladonia and Nullarbor along the way.

Internet and phone signal in Norseman, WA

For many who have crossed the Nullarbor, however, the main attraction in Norseman is likely to be WiFi or phone signal. After a couple of days with no internet access, being able to get online can be more valuable than the gold. The Norseman Eyre Motel boasts of having an internet café, but don’t go expecting lightning speeds.

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Nullarbor things to do Western Australia