Norseman to Kalgoorlie, WA

After the journey across 1200 kilometres of Nullarbour plain heading west, it was time to take a right turn in Norseman and head north to the town of Kalgoorlie Boulder. This journey is a short one ranging in at 188 Kilometres. Although a short journey it is filled with vast views of iconic salt lakes in the region. The Kalgoorlie – Esperance highway takes you over Lake Cowan and runs parallel with it while taking you past the abandoned town of Widgeemooltha, then past Kambalda and Lake Lefroy.
 The start of the drive takes you across Lake Cowan, giving you a first view of the wide open salt lake bed. The road continues on giving you more glimpses and photo opportunities of Lake Cowan, we were lucky to catch a train heading along the tracks that rest right on the fringe of the Lake, a view that would feel very iconic for this region. Passing Lake Cowan, more vegetation appears on the side of the highway giving you signs that you’re moving away from the Salt Lake. Driving further north on highway 94 takes you past Widgeemooltha, a town that started with a discovery of gold in 1890. The aboriginal word Widgeemooltha meaning is thought to be the name of a nearby rock hole or possibly the beak of an emu. Widgeemooltha was made famous to the finding of the largest gold nugget in history of 32.2 kilograms in 1931 turning the town population of 100 people to 1000 gold fever sufferers. The town is now well past its gold glory with the remains of the old pub and some active mine sites in the region.
The next stretch of road takes you past Kambalda, a more recently discovered town in the 1960’s. This part of the region was known for Gold prior to the town existing but large quantities of Nickel encouraged the Western Mining Corporation to build a town in the region. Kambalda provides a great opportunity to get a view of Lake Lefroy before the next 60 kilometres into Kalgoorlie.