Golden Wheat Fields
Golden Outback
The Golden Wheat Fields covers a massive area of Western Australia's Golden Outback, and as in the namesake, a lot of the land is used for the farming of crops. There are some wonderful places to explore in the Wheat Fields, from the Wave Rock near Hyden, the wildlife preservation area of Dryandra Woodland, in spring there are the spectacular carpets of wildflowers, and the quaint little country towns that you will come across as you explore the region.
Why not go back in time and drive the Pioneers Pathway, a self-drive route through the Wheatbelt, following the old prospectors trail on their way to the goldfields of Yilgarn and Kalgoorlie, or drive the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail, a pipeline completed in 1903 to provide fresh water to the goldfields and surrounding farms.
Golden Wheat Fields Attractions
Hyden and Wave Rock
Wave Rock
Wave Rock is about a 4 hour drive (340 kms) East of Perth along the Brookton Highway. Standing 15 metres high, 110 metres long and shaped like a massive wave, the granite rock formation was created by weathering and water erosion about 60 million years ago.
Hyden
Hyden is only 3kms from Wave Rock and offers a range of accommodation, along with plenty of places for you to enjoy the local produce. While you are in Hyden, have a look around as there are many other attractions to see while you are here.
- From September to December is the wildflower season, with dozens of varieties of flowers producing carpets of colour.
- Located 18kms north of Wave Rock is Mulka's Cave. Here you will see some of the best Aboriginal Rock Art found in the Southwest of Western Australia.
- 20kms North of Hyden are The Humps, a large granite formation. Here you will see more Aboriginal Rock Art with painted hand marks on the rocks.
- Wave Rock Wildlife Park covers 3 hectares of native bushland with hundreds of birds and animals from the area, including kangaroos, emus, wallabies etc.
- Hyden also features the largest collection of lace in the southern hemisphere. There are over 2,000 items dating from 1650 to the present, including an off cut from Princess Diana's wedding veil.
Wave Rock Visitor Centre
Wave Rock Wildflower Shop
Hyden, WA, 6359
Telephone: (08) 9880 5182
Mukinbudin
About 3 hours drive (300kms) Northeast of Perth is Mukinbudin, a wheat and sheep farming district with massive granite rock formations for you to explore. If you like to get off the beaten track, there are some good places to test out your 4x4 driving skills, and if you time it right the area is also a great place to see the wild flowers in bloom.
Beringbooding Rock
Built in 1937 at a cost of 10,000 pounds, the Beringbooding Rock has the largest rock water catchment tank in Australia, holding 2 and a quarter million gallons (10,237,500 litres). There are also some Aboriginal Rock Art paintings of hands, and two wells from early pioneers.
Elachbutting Rock
The Elachbutting Rock is a massive granite outcrop with a wave rock similar to Hyden's Wave Rock, and Monty Pass, a 30m tunnel caused by a rock slide. On the eastern side of the rock in season there are masses of Donkey Orchids, and close by to the rock you can also visit an echoing cave. This area is also very popular spot for 4x4 wheel clubs.
Wattoning Historical Site
This historical site was used for carting water at the turn of the century from a gnamma hole, and a soak and two wells constructed by early pioneers. Here you will also find the remains of an early homestead.
Bulk Grain Storage Silo
This silo was built in 1949 by Lloyd George (Jack) Jones and has carefully been dismantled and restored in Mukinbudin in recognition of the importance of the grain growing industry.
Mukinbudin Visitor Centre
Shire Office, Maddock Street
Mukinbudin, WA, 6479
Telephone: (08) 9047 1102
Kulin
Kulin is on the way to Esperance from Perth and is in the heart of the Wheatbelt region. The area was known for its sandalwood production, gold fossicking and pastoralism, and today is a booming Wheatbelt town.
The Tin Horse Highway on the way to the Jilakin Race Track is well worth a drive down as the local farmers try and out do each other with tin horse sculptures. Months before the Kulin Bush Races, the farmers are busy constructing their new sculptures, with the horses made from all sorts of materials striking all kinds of poses.
Merredin
Around 3 hours drive (260kms) East of Perth on the way to Kalgoorlie is Merredin, the largest regional centre in the east of the Western Australian Wheatbelt. It is a massive grain region, supporting over 15,000 people and supplying approximately 40% of Western Australia's grain harvest.
Merredin has a massive grain handling terminal, and if you are interested in having a closer look at this massive site then join a tour that departs daily from Merredin in the late afternoon. There are also over 980 wildflower species native to the area, and half day tours are ran from August to October. Contact the Central Wheatbelt Visitor Centre for details on both of these tours.
Merredin Peak Trail
Take a walk up the Merredin Peak Trail and see uninterrupted views across the town of Merredin and the surrounding rural area. You will also see engineering techniques used by the early pioneers to harvest water from the rock.
Totadgin Conservation Park Interpretive Trail
The Totadgin Conservation Park has a mini wave rock and also a stoned lined well which is one of a series of watering points developed throughout the area by the explorer Hunt. In winter and spring there is also an abundance of wildflowers and orchids.
Merredin Visitor Centre
85 Barrack Street
Merredin, WA, 6415
Telephone: (08) 9041 1668
Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail
Completed in 1903 and still operating today, the pipeline carries fresh water 560kms from the Perth Hills to Kalgoorlie. The pipeline also supports regional towns and farms, covering an area of 440,000 square kilometres and around 100,000 people.
The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail will take you through many pioneering towns which were established with the availability of water which opened up the area to farming. You will come across old pumping stations, dams and wells that were built before the pipeline, quaint country towns and scenic walks. There are 25 designated stops along the trail, with information points revealing the history of the project and stories of the many thousand people who were involved in its construction.
Pioneer's Pathway
The Pioneer's Pathway takes you through the heart of the Wheatbelt down to the Yilgarn and Kalgoorlie Goldfields, following the once well worn trail followed by many prospectors off to make their fortune. The Pathway starts at either Northam/Toodyay or Merredin and will take you through many small towns along the way, showing off numerous buildings from the era and the spectacular wildflowers during the season.
The road is sealed with two lanes, and if you are taking the Great Eastern Highway, is only an additional 44kms added onto your trip.
Merredin Weather - Average Temperatures and Rainfall
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg. Max (°C) | 33.7 | 32.9 | 30.1 | 25.3 | 20.6 | 17.2 | 16.3 | 17.2 | 20.4 | 24.6 | 28.4 | 31.9 |
| Avg. Min (°C) | 17.7 | 17.9 | 16.1 | 12.8 | 8.9 | 6.8 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 9.5 | 13.0 | 15.7 |
| Avg. Rain (mm) | 13.8 | 15.6 | 20.6 | 23.6 | 41.5 | 50.4 | 51.2 | 39.0 | 25.8 | 18.2 | 13.9 | 13.8 |
| Avg. Rain Days | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 8.0 | 11.0 | 11.9 | 10.2 | 7.2 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 2.4 |