Kalgoorlie Attractions | Tourism

The ‘pub’ is of huge historical importance to this area. During the Gold rush days Kalgoorlie boasted 93 hotels and 8 breweries. Today the ‘pub’ is still a significant landmark in Kalgoorlie and you will find one on almost every corner, including possibly Australia’s most photographed pub; The Exchange Hotel.

As well as being pleasant places to spend a few hours on a warm day several of Kalgoorlie’s pubs are important examples of historical architecture and home to memorabilia dating back to Gold Rush times. You are also sure to find a character or two at one of the local watering holes and most are only too willing to share their story with you.

Whilst Kalgoorlie itself is surrounded by stretches of desert, the city is a hub of vibrant activity. It is also home to a wealth of interesting things to do and see including visiting the Flying Doctors Visitor Centre and the Airfields Riding Centre in Greenhill Road. And don’t forget to stop by at least one of many the cafes, restaurants and nightclubs.

A must do on your trip to Kalgoorlie is a visit to the Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame which is located 7km north of Kalgoorlie. The Hall of Fame is a great way to find out more about the past, present and future of mining for gold in Australia. Your entry fee includes an underground tour of old mine shafts at Hannans North Tourist mine and you just may strike it rich whilst panning for gold on the tour.

You also need to pay a visit to the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, its a huge open pit mine and only a 3 minute drive to the lookout from central Kalgoorlie. Its rich in history and also very lively with 4 huge 10 million dollar diggers in the pit and 20 of the biggest dump trucks operating in it. The lookout is free to visit and with daily blast at 1pm the look out is somtimes closed during this time. The size of the Super Pit is 3km by 4km and 700 metres deep, is one big eye opener that you don't want to miss out on.

To get a good feel for the town of Kalgoorlie and the surrounding area make sure you also take a ride on the Golden Mile Railway, also known as the Rattler. And at the end of the day you can cool off by taking a dip at Western Australia’s largest indoor pool in Johnson Street.

Whilst Kalgoorlie itself is full of history it is also an excellent place to discover more about the history of Western Australia. Start your tour of discovery at the WA Museum Kalgoorlie-Boulder which is located at 17 Hanna Street, Kalgoorlie. Open everyday apart from Christmas Day and Good Friday, the museum was established in 1891 and today is home to more than two and a half million specimens and artefacts of significance to Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Western Australia.

Not only does Kalgoorlie have a rich gold mining history, it is also traditional Aboriginal land and home to the Maduwangka people. The name ‘Kalgoorlie’ is an Indigenous word for the ‘Silky Pear Bush’, a native species common to the area. Exploring the Indigenous culture is another must do when visiting Kalgoorlie. The local galleries are an ideal place to start and feature art works by the local Indigenous people and goldfields art, which make great souvenirs of your visit to Kalgoorlie.

To view artwork by local artists you must visit the Goldfields Arts Centre in Cheetham Street and the Goldfields Aboriginal Art Gallery in Dugan Street. The Desert Art Gallery also displays local artwork and also regularly features the work of artists in residence and local and international award winning artists.

Any time of year is a great time to visit Kalgoorlie but locals will tell you that the best time to visit is in September when the famous Boulder to Kalgoorlie Cup (a horserace) attracts visitors from near and far. The population of the town swells at this time of year and if you are looking for fun this is the place to be. The race is as much a tradition of the town as Gold mining so it is certainly something to put on your itinerary if you are heading to Kalgoorlie in September.

Kalgoorlie is a warm and welcoming place to visit with plenty of options when it comes to places to stay and things to do. If you are looking to have a holiday with a difference make sure you visit Kalgoorlie.