The sights of Western Australia’s Golden Outback
Madeleine BarberFrom pink lakes and a crystalline coast to red-dirt roads and a monolith twice the size of Uluru, Australia’s Golden Outback is a feast for the eyes
When visiting Australia’s Golden Outback, Esperance makes a mesmerising base. It’s home to what’s often considered the country’s whitest beach, Lucky Bay, which is not only popular with tourists, but kangaroos too. The iconic marsupials tend to bounce along the sand and bask in the sunshine. Lucky Bay is one of many natural beauty hotspots in Cape Le Grand National Park, so it’s
a great area to explore on a bush walk. Wildflowers come into bloom in spring, and rock climbing is a popular activity at Frenchman’s Peak and Mount Le Grand for those in search of an adrenaline rush.
A boat trip brings visitors to Middle Island, the home of Lake Hillier, a bubblegum-pink body of water just 600 metres wide. An alternative – and more luxurious – travel option is to take a scenic flight from Esperance and get a bird’s-eye view of the curious lake.
The heart of the Outback
Inland, more natural wonders await adventurous visitors. The gigantic monolith known as Mount Augustus is twice the size of its iconic sister, Uluru, and shares the site with a collection of ancient aboriginal paintings. Wave Rock is also a sight worth seeing, as the unusual formation looks like a breaking wave.
Meanwhile, Lake Ballard’s cracked white surface rivals Bolivia’s bucket-list salt beds and has inspired the respected British sculptor Antony Gormley to plant here 51 life-size human forms in an installation he’s named Inside Australia.
This artsy attraction is based near the Golden Outback’s largest settlement, Kalgoorlie. The town’s Hannan Street is dotted with lively pubs, bars, nightclubs and restaurants, while the best sunsets can be seen from Mount Charlotte. Kalgoorlie is also home to the Super Pit, one of Australia’s biggest open-cut gold mines. Providing more of a taste of the country’s gold-rush history is the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, which encourages guests to follow red-dirt roads, share stories with locals in a welcoming Outback pub, explore the ghost town of Gwalia and delve deeper into gold-rush territory.
The charm of this golden hinterland truly lies with its natural phenomena and cultural history.
Book Western Australia with Gold Medal now!
Gold Medal’s AAT Kings Tour, South Western Escape, itinerary includes:
- Visits to Perth, Wave Rock, Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Albany, Margaret River and Fremantle
- Calls at Cape Le Grand National Park, the stunning Stirling Ranges,
the Valley of the Giants tree-top walk, Margaret River and Busselton Jetty - Nine nights’ accommodation with selected meals
- Fully escorted tour with driver and travel director guide, selected meals, sightseeing and transfers
- Flights from Heathrow with Singapore Airlines
Prices for this nine-night trip start from £3,359pp. Offer valid for departures on September 26, 2019. Agents will earn £22 Farebank Rewards (doubled from £11) when they book this package.
Rachel McMurdo, assistant product manager Oceania at Gold Medal, says:
“I’d always highly recommend our agents combine the Golden Outback into their customer’s itinerary, as it’s the perfect blend of beaches, history and sightseeing. Lucky Bay is about a 40-minute drive from Esperance, and not only is it the whitest beach in Australia, there are also kangaroos roaming the beach in the morning or later in the day – you can’t get more Australian than that! Kalgoorlie is like stepping into the Wild West – it gives you a great insight into the history of the local gold mines and you can snap some spectacular views from the lookouts.”
Added bonus
Agents receive double Farebank Rewards on all Western Australia package bookings (flight plus minimum three nights accommodation) made with Gold Medal between March 1 and April 17.
Watch the Western Australia masterclass with Gold Medal Facebook Live for more information.
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Madeleine Barber
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