How to get to the Goldfields

The Goldfields are located around 700kms east of Perth, but don’t let the distance put you off! The adventure of getting there is half the fun, and there are a few ways to do it – by rail, air, or land!

Whether you’re travelling solo, as a family, or in a larger group, there’s a number of options to get you to the magical Goldfields region.

Travelling together?

If you’re heading out on a solo adventure or with a partner, we recommend packing up the car and heading out on the epic road trip to the Goldfields region. Hit the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail on an adventure into the wild west. This self-drive trail takes you to Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, rich in gold, goldrush history, and scenery, revealing the story of a unique feat – the Golden Pipeline! You’ll be driving alongside this history-making engineering feat learning how this pipe that supplies Kalgoorlie with all its water was built over 100 years ago. The drive to Kalgoorlie Boulder is approximately 7 hours, so get a playlist downloaded and don’t forget to pack a picnic!

Once in Kalgoorlie Boulder, you can continue exploring the Golden Quest Discovery Trail which is a true Australian outback adventure. Follow along with the guidebook and discover ghost towns, explore rugged landscapes, meet local characters, and visit the famous sculptures at Lake Ballard. You’ll have your car with you, so it will be easy for you to experience every aspect of the Goldfields you want to see!

Travelling with kids?

If a 7-hour car ride with the kids in the back doesn’t sound overly appealing to you, why not consider the Prospector train journey. The Prospector is a train that has connected Perth to Kalgoorlie since 1971! It has had many upgrades since then – now a high speed, state of the art train that accomplishes the 653km journey in less than 7 hours. Luckily, the passage has stayed the same. Sit back and enjoy the rolling landscapes as you venture through the Wheatbelt and into the Goldfields. Not only will the fun of a train keep the kids entertained for hours, but there are also touchscreen entertainment systems in the back of every seat onboard, with a small selection of movies, TV shows and music. There is a buffet card so you can purchase food and beverages for yourself and the kids to keep the hunger at bay and the complaining to a minimum!

Once you’ve arrived in Kalgoorlie-Boulder you’ll be within walking distance to the township, and here you can pick up a hire car for your Goldfields adventure, or a leisurely walk around town on one of the walking tours available.

Over 65?

Western Australian pensioners are entitled to free travel passes to help you explore our beautiful backyard while overseas travel is off the cards. This free offer includes a round trip rail pass from Perth to Kalgoorlie Boulder! What a way to travel – sitting back, relaxing and watching the gorgeous scenery pass by from the state-of-the-art train, The Prospector. Registration is easy, simply complete the online form and submit it with a scanned copy of both sides of your concessions card. You can also download the registration form and post/email it with a copy of both sides of your concession card. You can find all the details on travelling to Kalgoorlie for free here.

Holiday packages

To make things as easy as possible, the Kalgoorlie Boulder Visitor Centre has put together some ‘Goldfields Getaways’ inclusive packages to make your holiday planning as simple as one phone call. There are four packages to choose from and all are sure to be the perfect escape to suit everyone’s needs. There’s even a package that includes discovering your family ties to the Goldfields! This would include 2 hours with the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society.

For more information and bookings, please contact Kalgoorlie Boulder Visitor Centre on (08) 9021 1966 or email fohcoordinator@kalgoorlie.com