Kalgoorlie - Outback civilisation

A truly fascinating region, the Goldfields are steeped in history and legend.

Here you can see relics of the gold rush that made the area famous, plus mines that are the largest gold producers in Australia. Ghost towns, majestic old buildings and historic streetscapes create a virtual museum of a golden era.

In the middle of the vast outback you'll find the goldmining capital of Kalgoorlie. A pleasant, welcoming place with lovely architecture, countless bars and nostalgic hotels laced with wrought-iron verandas. The town is almost perched on the Super Pit, the world's largest open-cut goldmine. You can watch the action from the safety of a viewing platform.

The Northern Goldfields abound with the romance of two eras of goldmining. Don't miss the restored historic town of Gwalia adjacent to the huge open-cut mine. Or Kookynie - where all that remains of a glorious past are some ruins, a rambling hotel and a museum situated in a row of beautifully restored shops built in pioneering days.

Many historic towns such as Coolgardie and ghost towns like Kanowna offer a glimpse of what life must have been years ago. Just north of Kalgoorlie you will find historic Ora Branda Inn and Broad Arrow, where the only building offering proof that the town exists is the rough and boisterous Broad Arrow Hotel.

Elsewhere, deserts and open plains create a landscape that is vast and unique, where the annual wildflower season - from July to September - transforms the land with brightly coloured blooms. It's a spectacular contrast to the rich, red earth.

An option not to be missed is one of Australia's great road journeys across the Nullarbor on the Eyre Highway. Stop at the Great Australian Bight and marvel at the sweeping coastline ... rugged and spectacular. Or, do it by train - the famous Indian Pacific passes through the Nullarbor on its way from Sydney to Perth.

It's features such as these that make the goldfields region a real outback adventure.