Mount Augustus - Summit Trail

Located in the Mount Augustus National Park, Mount Augustus, or Burringurrah as it is known by the local Wadjari Aboriginal people, is about midway between the Great Northern and North West Coastal highways. One of the most spectacular solitary peaks in the world, it rises 717 metres above a stony, red sandplain of arid shrubland - dominated by wattles, cassias and eremophilas - and is clearly visible from the air for more than 160 kilometres. The rock itself, which culminates in a small peak on a plateau, is an area of 4,795 hectares.

During dawn and dusk, its colour changes almost minute by minute from deep indigo to bright pink, orange or red and occasionally green, reflecting the mood of the rock and the spirits living there.

You can climb it, but it’s a tough, 12 kilometre walk that takes about 6 hours and generally recommended for visitors with a high level of fitness. There’s no water at Mount Augustus, so make sure you carry at least 4 litres, per person day.

The return walk to the top of the mount and back is well signposted and takes a full day to complete. For the less-hardy soul there are a variety of easier walk trails, drive trails, lookouts, swimming holes and picnic spots - but remember to bring water with you!