Kalgoorlie - Prospectors boom

Covering nearly one third of Western Australia, the Goldfields/South East is the 'real Australia'. Its appeal ranges from the outback northern goldfields to the authentic frontier town of Kalgoorlie - the 'gold capital of the world', rich in heritage and pioneering history - through to the spectacular coastal landscape of Esperance and the unique and haunting Nullarbor Plain.       

Many historic towns such as Coolgardie and ghost towns like Kanowna offer a glimpse of what life must have been in the gold rush days of the 1880s. Kalgoorlie, with its distinctive architecture and character, is the home of the traditional two-up game. To play, toss two coins and gamble on both ending up heads or tails – it's a game unique to Australia.

The gold rush set off by Paddy Hannan's discovery of gold in Kalgoolie-Boulder was one of the biggest in Australian history. Today, more than 100 years after that first discovery, the world's biggest open-cut goldmine – the Super Pit – operates 24 hours a day. From the observation platform here you can watch the miners at work - the dozens of trucks look like toys in the distance.

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 Broad Arrow Hotel - rough and boisterous, where people flock for the legendary Sunday Opening.

The northern Goldfields abound with the romance of two eras of gold mining. 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, the old rambling hotel and the museum situated in a row of beautifully restored shops built in the pioneering days.

Kalgoorlie is 600 kilometres from Perth and can be accessed by air, road, coach and train from both Perth and the eastern states. There are flights from Adelaide, and the Indian Pacific transcontinental train stops here too.

To the south you will find the town of Norseman, rich in goldmining history and the gateway to Western Australia's Eyre Highway. Take your time to drive the Eyre Highway and onto the Nullarbor Plain which links the east to the west and features stretches of pure straight road such as the 'ninety mile straight'.

Visit Eucla, the Western Australian border town too. It's situated near the coast and features ruins slowly being covered by sand dunes - a fascinating subject for photographers. Roadhouses are dotted along the highway, offering good accommodation.