Things to do with kids in Kalgoorlie & Australia's Golden Outback
The Golden Outback covers a huge area, from the goldfields around Kalgoorlie down to the beaches of Esperance, so it is really a few different trips.
In Kalgoorlie, the free Super Pit Lookout looks into a working gold mine 3.7 kilometres long, and with good timing you might see a blast. The Museum of the Goldfields in town is free too, with gold bars, nuggets and a lift up an old mine headframe.
Down on the coast, Esperance is known for white sand and clear water. At Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand, kangaroos lie about on the beach with their joeys; keep your distance and don't feed them. Closer to town, Twilight Beach has lifesavers on summer Sundays. Wave Rock, the granite wave near Hyden, is a trip of its own, about four hours from Perth, with a short loop walk to Hippo's Yawn.
135 family outings, waterfalls and walks across the region, sorted by drive time from Kalgoorlie. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.
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Top things to do in Golden Outback WA
Share the sand with kangaroos at Lucky Bay
A group of 10 to 20 kangaroos, mostly mothers and joeys, spends much of its time lounging on this Cape Le Grand beach. They are wild animals, so keep your distance and don't feed them. The sheltered bay is good for swimming, and park entry is $17 per vehicle.
about 6 hr 15
Beach · Lucky Bay
Photo: Cookaa, CC BY-SA 3.0
Take a calm-day dip at Hellfire Bay
Hellfire Bay, also in Cape Le Grand, is good for a refreshing dip when the sea is calm. Accessible toilets and barbecues sit up a brick-paved path with some steep sections. Feral bees can be a problem here, so steer clear of any hives.
about 6 hr 15
Beach · Hellfire Bay
Photo: Cookaa, CC BY-SA 3.0
Swim between the flags at Twilight Beach
Twilight Beach is 7km west of Esperance, on the 40km Great Ocean Drive loop. Lifesavers patrol on Sundays from December to March, 9am to 3.30pm, so swim between the red and yellow flags. Further round the loop, the Nine Mile lagoon is good for a snorkel.
about 6 hr
Beach · Twilight Beach
Photo: DaHuzyBru, CC BY-SA 4.0
Stand under the curl of Wave Rock
Wave Rock rises 15m and stretches more than 100m, like a granite wave about to break. It is near Hyden, about four hours' drive south-east of Perth, with toilets and bins at the entrance. A vehicle fee, which also covers Hippo's Yawn, is paid at the ticket machine or the kiosk.
about 5 hr 15
Lookout · Wave Rock
Photo: Jonathan LaRocca from Houston, TX, United States, CC BY 2.0
Follow the loop track to Hippo's Yawn
Hippo's Yawn is an unusually shaped granite tor that was once part of the larger outcrop. A loop track of about 1km joins it to Wave Rock and the carpark, or you can drive there. It is the second most visited site in Hyden.
about 5 hr 15
Walk · Hippo's Yawn
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Look into the Super Pit
The free lookout on Mt Monger Road in Boulder opens 7am to 7pm daily over a working gold mine. The pit is 3.7km long and 1.5km wide, and you might see a blast. Access is restricted during blasting, so check blast times before you go.
about 10 min
Lookout · Super Pit Lookout
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ride the lift up the headframe at the Museum of the Goldfields
Entry to this Kalgoorlie museum is free, and it opens 10am to 3pm daily. It holds the largest display of the State's collection of gold bars and nuggets. A lift runs up to a viewing platform on the Ivanhoe Headframe, though it can stop in high wind or heavy rain.
under 5 min
Museum · Museum of the Goldfields
Photo: Chuq, CC BY-SA 4.0
Walk out to the figures on Lake Ballard
Fifty-one black steel figures stand across 10 square kilometres of salt lake, 51km west of Menzies. They are about 500m apart, so allow at least two to three hours, and go early or late for the best light. There's no drinking water, so bring plenty, and park in the carpark, as driving on the lake is not allowed.
about 2 hr 45
Lake · Lake Ballard (Inside Australia)
Photo: Tamsin Slater, CC BY-SA 2.0
Climb Frenchman Peak with older kids
The 3km return climb takes 1.5 to 2 hours, over steep granite that is slippery when wet. Parks WA rates it Class 4, which calls for good fitness and bushwalking experience, so skip it in wet or windy weather. Near the top is a cave thought to have been formed by waves.
about 6 hr 15
Walk · Frenchman Peak
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Everything on the map
Over the border
Nearest first, from Kalgoorlie
Animals
Waterfalls, lakes and swimming
Over 30 minutes
from Kalgoorlie
Over 1½ hours
from Kalgoorlie
Walks and lookouts
Over 30 minutes
from Kalgoorlie
Over 1½ hours
from Kalgoorlie
Big playgrounds
Museums and history
Over 30 minutes
from Kalgoorlie
Over 1½ hours
from Kalgoorlie
Libraries, cinemas and theatres
Over 30 minutes
from Kalgoorlie
Also in this region, more than 4 hours from Kalgoorlie
Laverton (about 4 hr 30): Laverton Outback Gallery, Laverton Pool, Old Laverton Police Precinct, The Great Beyond Visitor Centre & Explorers' Hall of Fame
Elsewhere in the region (about 5 hr 15): Hippo's Yawn, Wave Rock, Merredin Peak, Rotary Lookout, Blue Haven Beach, Twilight Beach, Kellerberrin Hill Lookout, Barrens Lookout, Wellstead sand bar, Madura Pass Lookout
Lake King (about 5 hr 15): Bush Engineers Tractor Museum
Mukinbudin (about 5 hr 30): Mukinbudin Pioneer Memorial Aquatic Centre
Merredin (about 5 hr 30): Cummins Theatre, Merredin District Olympic Pool, Merredin Military Museum, Merredin Railway Museum, Merredin Regional Library, Orana Merredin
Nungarin (about 5 hr 30): Shire of Nungarin Public Library, Heritage Machinery and Army Museum, Nungarin Swimming Pool & Gymnasium
Narembeen (about 5 hr 30): Grain Discovery Centre, Narambeen Machinery Museum, Narembeen Aquatic Centre
Gibson (about 5 hr 45): Esperance Bird & Animal Park
Ravensthorpe (about 6 hr): Dance Cottage Museum, Farming and Mining Display, Ravensthorpe Public Library, Ravensthorpe Visitor Centre & Museum
Bencubbin (about 6 hr): Mt Marshall Aquatic Centre
Bandy Creek (about 6 hr): Wylie Head beach
Esperance (about 6 hr): Bay of Isles Leisure Centre, Fenwick 3 Cinemas, Historic Village, James Street Park playground, Aunty Joan's Dolly Mix, Bow Park, Esperance Mini Golf, Esperance Miniature Railway, Ralph Bower Adventureland Park playground
Trayning (about 6 hr): Shire of Trayning Aquatic Centre
East Munglinup (about 6 hr): Munglinup Beach
Yelbeni (about 6 hr 15): Yelbeni Centenery Museum
Kellerberrin (about 6 hr 15): Kellerberrin Pioneer Museum
Sandstone (about 6 hr 30): Sandstone Heritage Museum & Visitor Centre
Lake Grace (about 6 hr 45): Australian Inland Mission Hospital Museum
Wyalkatchem (about 6 hr 45): School House Museum, CBH and Agricultural Museum, Wyalkatchem Shire Library
Minnivale (about 7 hr): ARHS Museum
Quairading (about 7 hr): Quairading Memorial Swimming Pool, Quairading Museum, The Quairading Vintage Club
Fitzgerald River National Park (about 7 hr 15): Point Ann
Ballidu (about 7 hr 45): Ballidu Heritage Centre
Dumbleyung (about 7 hr 45): Bluebird Discovery Centre
Cuballing (about 8 hr): Cuballinmg Restore Vintage Machinery Display
Wubin (about 8 hr): Wheatbin Museum Machinery Precinct
Narrogin (about 8 hr): Narrogin Regional Leisure Centre, NEXIS (Narrogin Exhibition Space), Old Courthouse Museum
Dryandra (about 8 hr 15): Barna Mia Nocturnal Wildlife Experience
New Norcia (about 8 hr 30): Machinery Display, New Norcia Visitor Centre, Museum, Art Gallery and Gift Shop
Yalgoo (about 9 hr 15): Yalgoo Museum
Forrest (about 10 hr 45): Forrest Airport Museum
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.