Road to the Rock

Set off nice and early from Perth as you’ve got a few kms ahead of you today! Pack some snacks or brunch to eat on the road and head out through the Swan Valley into the gorgeous Northern Wheatbelt. Stop at Dalwallinu to admire the adorable heritage exterior of the General Store and, if it’s Spring, the wildflowers peeping out from roadside verges along the main strip.

Hold onto your hunger until Payne’s Find, where you’ll find a classic outback roadhouse dripping with charisma. This former mining settlement – so named after the first person to strike gold here, Thomas Payne – is today a tiny town centered around the roadhouse, and it’s stuffed with posters, knick-knacks and quirky memorabilia. Order a massive President’s burger (featuring steak and fried onion) and sit outside by the giant gums, where you can admire the glittering ruby colour of the soil, and an emu or two if you’re lucky.

You last leg of today’s journey takes you to Mount Magnet, a classic outback town with a laidback lure. Beyond the Art Deco facades of the main drag, you’ll find fabulous old pubs like the Commercial Club Hotel Motel, which is hiding a cute little beer garden out back. Strewn with roped lights and edged by well-tended plants, it’s a peaceful spot to enjoy a thick steak or giant chicken Parma. Stay for a game of pool (the two well-lit tables are good excuse to bond with friendly locals) or take the two-block stroll back to your accommodation at Mount Magnet Caravan Park, being sure to look up and admire the stars. If you wish to wake up early for sunrise tomorrow, hit the hay early.

WILDFLOWER SEASON:
Mount Magnet is a great location to see Everlastings. If rains have been favourable there will be a fantastic display from about mid-August to about mid-September.
Vibrant everlastings, kangaroo paws, ethereal smokebushes, delicate orchids, prickly hakeas, and iconic Sturt's Desert Peas adorn the landscape, creating a captivating display of natural beauty.

EVENTS: Check out the Mount Magnet Races held around September each year, full day of activities and entertainment.

Today’s the big one – you’re off to see the world’s biggest rock! Enjoy breakfast and stock up on snacks. Hop in the car and drive the just over an hour drive to Meekatharra. Home to yet more lovely architecture (including a sweet little post office), this is your last chance to refuel and grab snacks before turning off the bitumen for today’s ultimate destination. You’ll see the turnoff for Mount Augustus 500 metres before reaching the town center, so double back once your stores are replete and get ready to hit the gravel.

It’s roughly five hours from here to Mount Augustus, so settle in for a stretch of road is quite unlike anything you’ll have seen so far. Admire the unusual colour of the earth, which flows continuously between chalky white soils, fields of olive-coloured scrub and a dark, ruby red moonscape, and if you stop for a look at Mount Gould Lock-Up – an abandoned police station from the 1800s, on the right side of the road (it’s signposted) – be sure to look closely at the ground. It’s covered in rocks of quartz! WA’s famous wildflowers may be springing up in earnest at this stage if it’s Spring.

As you approach Mount Augustus, the rock’s outline can be hard to distinguish in afternoon shadow, but don’t worry – there’ll be plenty of time to admire its sights properly. Start by taking the 40-minute Loop Drive around the base of the rock. As you edge around to its northern face, you’ll begin to see its resemblance to Uluru – and begin to appreciate just how enormous it is. Mount Augustus Tourist Park is on the loop (signposted), so pull up and check into your cabin.

This surprisingly lush, well-tended patch of paradise is resplendent with bright green lawns and one of the cutest open-air bars you’ll ever see, housed in a little wooden structure and surrounded by towering gumtrees, so you may wish to spend the final hours of the afternoon settling in. Alternatively, take the 15 minute drive to Emu Hill lookout, from which it’s not hard to understand how Mount Augustus came to be of spiritual significance to the Wadjarri people. As the sun dips toward the horizon, the rock will begin its spectacular daily show of changing colours. It’s the perfect moment for a celebratory drink of something cold.

WILDFLOWER SEASON

Explore the gum trees, wattle, native shrubs and purple carpets of mulla mulla that fill the surrounding plain at Mount Augustus. Then, as the sunset plays, head up to Emu Hill Lookout and watch for emus, kangaroos, honeyeaters and birds of prey.

In Meekatharra, wildflowers are prolific in this region after good rains, with everlastings, golden Billy buttons, mauve velleia, magenta parakeelya and blue pincushions covering hundreds of kilometres. Also look out for the red Sturt’s desert pea – the signature flower of Meekatharra.

EVENTS

In September each year enjoy delicious outback beef, served with fresh local produce, in an extraordinary setting at Australia's Biggest BBQ - Mount Augustus.

The Meekatharra Outback Festival is an annual event held over the Kings Birthday long weekend each year. The weekend consists of Races, Outback Ball, Art Exhibition and a Side Show complete with rides, food vans and much more.

Today you depart the rock for yet more incredible sights. Refuel at the tourist park before you go, making sure to ask for directions to Kennedy Range National Park, as varying road conditions along the gravel will dictate which route is best. If using a GPS, set it to Temple Gorge, which is located within Kennedy Range National Park. (Otherwise you may find yourself being routed to the other end of the mountain range.)

If it’s Spring, prepare your camera: the road to Kennedy Range National Park heads west towards the Australian coastline, and as you traverse the continent W’s famous wildflowers begin appearing in thick clumps, sometimes even scattered in carpets of yellow, white, purple and red. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself pulling over more than once to take photos, but resist the urge to spend too long: there are plenty more wildflowers to see in coming days, and the exquisite Kennedy Range is one of Australia’s most underrated sights. With a magnificent cliff face that extends for several kilometres, which looks rather like the result of a giant serrated knife, it would be easy to spend several days exploring the park.

If time is short however, make your way to one of the more approachable trails. Honeycomb Gorge is the park’s most popular spot; an easy 500-metre walk from the carpark (signposted) will reward you with the unusual sight of this enormous gorge, with walls pockmarked like honeycomb. While here, you may spot the area’s distinctive Dawson’s burrowing bees – these lovely native creatures can be found buzzing about the small pool at Honeycomb gorge between July and September. Perhaps explore one of the other trails (information and maps are signposted by the park entrance) before heading to the nearby town, Gascoyne Junction. Spend the night at Junction Tourist Park; brand new accommodation is clean and well appointment, and the adjacent bistro does great pub food in a bright, modern and airy environment.

WILDFLOWER SEASON

There are usually beautiful wildflowers to be found on the walking trails alongside the Gascoyne River. Bilung Pool is worth a visit with tranquil and peaceful surroundings, great for a picnic or camp stop. The pool is surrounded by giant gum trees and rocky ridges which frame the glistening water and birdsong.

EVENTS

Don't miss out on one of the oldest bush race meetings in Western Australia - The Junction Races held in August.

In April, the Gascoyne Dash is known as a genuine desert race, it is one of the toughest challenge across some of the harshest and remote country in Australia

Wooleen Station might feel a million miles from care, but there’s no shortage of things to do. Feeling active? Borrow a mountain bicycle and set off on one of the signposted trails. Twitchers may wish to head to Yewlands Pool or Wooleen Lake, where several notable bird species have begun to return since the new land management practices were introduced. If it’s hot, head to the Murchison River. This serenely still body of water, surrounded by wide, sandy banks and giant, wizened gumtrees is perfect for a cool afternoon swim. There’s even a canoe here if you feel like hopping in (just grab the paddle from the homestead before you set off). Whatever you choose, make sure your schedule has you back for dinner. In line with your hosts’ sustainability principles, much of the food is grown organically on site, and their memorable meals are served over several courses at a long table lit by candlelight, with a generous helping of conviviality alongside the homestead’s other guests.