When I mentioned to people in Perth that I was looking forward to spending several days in the Wave Rock and Hyden area, most asked, "Why go there just to look at a large rock?" In fact, there are so many interesting and varied things to do, it could take a week to enjoy the wonders this area hosts, other than just the Wave Rock. Wave Rock Wildlife Park The Wildlife park is a 3 hectare home of native bushland to many Australian birds and animals. Most of the inhabitants are r

On the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, Site 25 is the Super pit at Kalgoorlie. The lookout is open from 7am to 7pm daily, and there is no charge. It is a great opportunity to see a working open pit mine and marvel at the sheer bloody size of it. The pit is ginormous (very large) and the machinery used there is huge! The pit is 3.5 kms (2.2 miles) long 1.5kms (0.95 miles) wide with a depth of about 800 metres (2,624 feet) deep. KCGM is also exploring under the pit to test minera

The town of Coolgardie is referred to as the Mother of the Western Australian Goldfields. It was here in 1892 that Arthur Bayley and William Ford discovered gold. Coolgardie pays homage to the camels and their Afghan owners who helped pioneer this land. Without the camels transporting goods, people and water to this barren land people would not have been able to survive here. The town makes the most of its history and has information plaques in many places in town. Ben Prior

When visiting the town of Coolgardie in the Eastern Goldfields of WA, make sure you visit Warden Finnertys House. Step back into history when you wander through this stunning historical home. Then sit on the verandah and enjoy a delicious Devonshire tea (coffee or tea and scones with jam and cream) while overlooking the tidy well kept gardens and out beyond into the bush. The caretaker was a sheer delight and sat with me to tell me more about herself and her love of this coun

The Coolgardie Goldfields Exhibition Museum is housed in the historical 1898 built Warden’s Court building. This is a must-see museum when you are travelling in the goldfields. For a small $4 donation, just to see inside the beautifully restored building is worth the entry fee. Walking around the many rooms and exhibits can take you back in time, so that you don’t even realise two or three hours has passed by. There is so much to see and occupy your attention. I enjoyed the v

One of the treasures of Kalgoorlie is their Museum of the Goldfields. I visited at Christmas time and was immediately greeted by an amazing Christmas tree in the courtyard. Made of miner’s safety hats, it is a tribute to the workers of the area – past, present and future. Located at the top end of Hannan St, Museum entry is free and a $5 donation per person is encouraged. The staff warmly greeted me as soon I entered and were very helpful. They handed out a brochure and advic

1. Big machines Wow! Machines are big at the Hannans North Tourist Mine. Huge working machines that dwarf a human. Below are a 793C Haul Truck and a 994 loader. It is a bit like Where's Wally to even find me in these pictures. This flattened utility resulted from a 2005 safety demonstration in the Super Pit. A 793 haul truck was driven over the utility to show how difficult it is for a truck driver to see a vehicle. The driver did not even feel the utility under his truck. Th

I asked several locals which one of the many hotels and restaurants in Kalgoorlie-Boulder was the best one to visit. The almost unanimous answer was De Bernales, or De Bonos as the locals call it. In the past the venue has had previous reincarnations. It was once a hotel, then a pub/restaurant and then a nightclub before it was vacant for a while. Recently celebrating their first birthday I was enchanted to meet the owner Luciano Vecchio. Debonair yet down to earth, a handso

The Goldfields War Museum is housed in the Boulder Town Hall, in what was originally the library and later a doctor’s surgery. This Museum depicts the involvement of the men and women from the Goldfields that served. The Field of Poppies is the community’s way to honour, respect and remember the servicemen and women who have served and sacrificed during World World 1 and subsequent wars. In 2014 the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the RSLs (Returned Servicemans League) launche