The Eastern Wheatbelt is full of surprises at every turn and being just 2-3 hrs from Perth you’ll find yourself in ‘Road Trip’ country, with its amazing views as far as the eye can see. There’s FREE camping sites at spectacular rocky granite outcrops, country style hotels oozing charm, and caravan parks close to town. Phone the Central Wheatbelt Visitor Centre to receive free self-drive maps and guides on the routes mentioned below.
Pathways to Wave Rock
Visit Wave Rock and explore the changing landscapes and charming farming communities.
Day 1: Perth - Wave Rock (Hyden) 340km, 4hrs
Head east from Perth, travelling through picturesque farmland to Corrigin (famous for its Dog Cemetery!). At Karlgarin visit Tressie’s Museum & Caravan Park with its display of olden day memorabilia and gramophones.
Enjoy lunch at Hyden’s Bush Bakehouse before taking the short drive to Wave Rock, 15 metres high, 110 metres long. Visit other natural attractions in the area including Hippo’s Yawn and Mulka’s Cave - home to Aboriginal rock art.
STAY: Motel, cottage, caravan park
Day 2: Hyden - Bruce Rock 305km, 3.5hrs
Head south to Lake Grace’s spectacular salt lakes, visit the only remaining Australian Inland Mission Hospital in WA and sample wine at Walkers Hill Vineyard. On heading onto Kulin, popular for its Bush Races, have a chuckle along the Tin Horse Highway – with a series of colourful metal horse characters along 12km stretch of road.
Heading north take in 360° views from Yeerakine Rock 10km south of Kondinin. Travel onto Narembeen and visit the innovative displays at the Narembeen Grain Discovery Centre on your way to Bruce Rock.
STAY: Motel, B&B, caravan park, backpackers
Day 3: Bruce Rock - Perth 250km, 3hrs
Take a 45 minute drive west to Shackleton for Steve’s Art & Sculpture Trail and Australia’s smallest bank. Turn off at nearby Kwolyin to Kokerbin Rock with its spectacular views on the Granite Way. Cross the Pink Lake into Quairading with a walk around the town or explore Dangin Heritage Trail 10km west, before heading into York for lunch at one of the colonial-style hotels before heading back to Perth.
Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail
Take a road trip into the Wheatbelt along the longest freshwater pipeline on Earth.
Day 1: Perth - Merredin 260km, 3.5hrs
From Mundaring visit sites of former steam driven pump stations along CY O’Connor’s water pipeline, built more than 115 years ago. Autumn & winter are ideal times to visit as farming landscapes transform with annual crops. See the 1968 earthquake memorial sites at Meckering or experience an earthquake simulation room at Cunderdin’s No.3 Pump Station Museum. South of Tammin visit Charles Gardner Nature Reserve on route to see Tammin’s Hunt’s Well. Take in the views from Kellerberrin Hill. In Merredin see the CBH silo art, the second on FORM’s PUBLIC Silo Trail. Visit Merredin Peak & Railway Dam and the military and railway museums. Schedule in a show or tour at Cummins Theatre.
STAY: Motel, B&B, self contained apartment, caravan park, free RV sites enroute
Day 2: Merredin - Kalgoorlie 340km, 3.5hrs
Head to info shelter at Burracoppin for history on the Rabbit Proof Fence. Amazing collections at Westonia’s Hood Penn Museum and Yilgarn History Museum at Southern Cross where gold was discovered in the late 1800s. See an early example of rock water catchment and timber and iron aqueduct at Karalee Rock and Dam, from the steam train days. Coolgardie’s heritage buildings, wide streets and museums and Kalgoorlie’s magnificent architecture, museums and attractions capture the Goldfields history.
STAY: Hotel, motel, self contained apartment, caravan park, free RV sites
Day 3: Kalgoorlie - Perth 600km, 6hrs
Optional returns along the unsealed Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail through untouched temperate woodlands via Norseman, Hyden & Wave Rock. Great Eastern Hwy to Merredin and take Pioneers’ Pathway north via Toodyay or south on Pathways to Wave Rock via York.
Pioneer's Pathway
Follow the dream of our early farming, sandalwood and gold prospecting pioneers who journeyed east into the Wheatbelt in the search of fortunes from life on the land.
Day 1: Perth - Dowerin 160km, 2hrs
Leave the city hustle behind and escape through the hills to Toodyay. Visit the Newcastle Gaol Museum before continuing to the pretty farming town of Goomalling to visit historic Slaters Homestead and explore the school museum. At Dowerin ‘Rusty’ the Tin Dog sculpture welcomes you to take the walk trail for fauna & flora. For more information see Day 1 of the Wheatbelt Way Trail.
STAY: Caravan park, motel, free RV sites, Dowerin Short Stay Accommodation
Day 2: Dowerin - Merredin 155km, 2hrs
The drive from Dowerin to Merredin winds through Wheatbelt farmland, bush reserves and delightful small towns. Enjoy the CBH museum or a drink at Wyalkatchem pub, visiting Billyacatting Reserve near Trayning for a bushwalk or picnic. Visit the Nungarin Heritage Machinery & Army Museum or a 1st Sunday of the month Nungarin Market Day. In Merredin hit the walk trails, museums, cafes or take in a show at Cummins Theatre or movie at Orana Cinema.
STAY: Motels, B&B’s, self contained apartments, caravan park, backpackers, free RV sites
Wheatbelt Way
The Wheatbelt Way is a fascinating experience starting in Dowerin and spanning 800kms with 24 interpretive sites.
Day 1: Perth - Wyalkatchem 214km, 3hrs
Depart Perth and head to Dowerin to join the Wheatbelt Way. Make sure you pat Rusty the Tin Dog, the first site on this route. Head to Minnivale and Naaning Well, then Wyalkatchem to see Korrelocking Reserve and Wyalkatchem Well.
STAY: Hotel, self contained house, caravan park, free RV sites, free camp sites.
Day 2: Wyalkatchem - Beringbooding 252km, 3.5hrs
Head north through towns of Koorda, Bencubbin and Beacon, inspecting sites 6 to 11. From Beacon head due-east past sites 12, 13 and 14 to Beringbooding and Elachbutting Rock, sites 14 and 15.
STAY: Caravan park, free camp sites
Day 3: Beringbooding - Mukinbudin 210km, 3hrs
Today head south to Westonia visiting Sandford Rocks and Boodalin Soak. Head to Mukinbudin visiting Weira Gnamma Hole and Wattoning Historical Site.
STAY: Hotel, self contained house, caravan park, RV sites, free camp sites
Day 4: Mukinbudin - Perth 323km, 4 hrs
Final day on the Wheatbelt Way taking in sites 20 to 24 as you travel via Trayning, back to start in Dowerin and then onto Perth.