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- Suggested Time: 3 days.
- Central Wheatbelt
The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail takes you to Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields, rich in gold, history and scenery, revealing the story of a unique engineering feat.
Travel on the old Goldfields Road along which fortune seekers rushed in the 1890s. Stop to explore where they stopped to rest and fill their waterbags.
Prospectors learned that water is more precious than gold - some died of thirst - and a scheme was devised to deliver water further and higher than ever before to supply the goldfields. The well-signposted Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail follows this life-giving water east from its source in the forested Perth Hills, through the golden expanses of the Wheatbelt to the gold boomtown of Kalgoorlie.
This Top Trail is an easy 650 kilometres and is ideal for motorists who have a couple of days or more to explore the history, hospitality and horizons of Golden Pipeline Country. There's plenty to get you out of your car: 100-year old pumping stations, remote sites where workers lived to keep the water flowing, walk trails around massive granite outcrops - 25 interpreted sites in all.
The Golden Pipeline Trail begins only three-quarters of an hour east of Perth at scenic Mundaring Weir.
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1Day 1: Merredin (260km)
From Mundaring visit the sites of the former steam driven pump stations along CY O’Connor’s water pipeline, built more than a 100 years ago and still…
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2Day 2: Kalgoorlie (340km)
Head east crossing the Rabbit Proof Fence at Burracoppin, visit the Hood Penn Museum at Westonia and Yilgarn History Museum at Southern Cross where…
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3Day 3: Return to Perth (600km)
Return to Perth perhaps south to Norseman and take the unsealed Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail through untouched temperate woodlands, via Wave…
To ensure you enjoy a safe and well-planned journey, take a look at our pages on Traveling to and Around the Golden Outback and Important travel tips. If you have your camping gear or caravan in tow, check out the range of caravan parks and camping sites available in Australia’s Golden Outback.
Driving times and distances intended as a guide only and may vary depending on exact route taken. Accommodation options are indicative as to what is available in the area.
Above map is intended as a guide only. It is highly recommended before heading out on your journey, you purchase a detailed Western Australian road and track map available from the RAC, petrol stations or where good maps of Western Australia are sold.
If you’re taking the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail to Kalgoorlie, why not spend a few days whilst you are there exploring the Golden Quest Discovery Trail.
Events along the way
Coolgardie Day
Family fun day out in the park, lots of free entertainment, food stalls, side show alley, live music, street parade, market stalls, dump truck…
Coolgardie Rodeo 2025
15 - 17 August 2025 | Coolgardie, Western Australia Yee-haa, Cowboys and Cowgirls! Saddle up and dust off your boots because the wildest shindig this…
Goldfields Cyclassic 2025 - TBC
The Goldfields Cyclassic is a two-stage handicap race (the Menzies Classic and the Leonora Golden Wheels) across the Goldfields from…
Kalgoorlie Cup
Join Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club for their iconic XXX Kalgoorlie Cup! Please note this is an 18+ event only. Kalgoorlie Racing Club’s first…
Pipeline Challenge 2025
Whether you're looking for your next challenge, the chance to ride some private trails, or a great excuse to get your mates together, we've got you…
Red Dust Revival
The Lake Perkolilli Red Dust Revival is Australia’s foremost outback historic motor sport event. The next event takes place from 29 September to 5…
Southern Cross Car & Bike Show TBC
Car & Bike Show and Swap Meet with free camping. Gates open at 10am to the public. Food vans, market stalls, free kids facepainting &…