Mount Augustus National Park

Introduction

At 8 kilometres long, 1106 metres high and covering an area of 4795 hectares, Mount Augustus is the biggest rock in the world. It may not be as famous as Uluru but it is twice the size. About 1700 million years old, it is also three times older than Uluru and is the site of Aboriginal art dating back thousands of years. The Wadjari people have a number of Dreamtime stories relating to the formation of the mountain. In 1858 explorer Francis Gregory was the first European to discover this monocline, naming it after his brother Augustus. Within 20 years, European settlers had moved into the Upper Gascoyne region, setting up sheep and cattle stations in the remote area.  Mount Augustus is covered with small, shrubby trees, grasses and spinifex. Open mulga scrubland is dotted with red river gums and acacias and, during winter and early spring, carpeted with softly coloured everlastings. Native mammals such as the red kangaroo, common wallaroo, dingo, long-tailed dunnart, short-beaked echidna and spinifex hopping-mouse live here, reptiles abound, and over 100 bird species have been recorded, including the crested bellbird, white-winged triller, rainbow bee-eater and wedge-tailed eagle.There are a number of walking trails leading to lookouts, waterfalls, caves, Aboriginal rock-art sites and picnic areas. The Mount Augustus summit hike (12 km return, 6 hours, difficult) is only for the fit and experienced. Take plenty of water and advise the park ranger before departure. The Burringurrah Drive Trail takes you on a 49-kilometre circuit around the base of Mount Augustus.

Fact file

Camping

No camping

Location and access

850 km north of Perth; 490 km east of Carnarvon via Carnarvon–Mullewa and Cobra–Mt Augustus roads; 360 km northwest of Meekatharra via Mt Augustus Rd and Mt Augustus–Woodlands Rd

Park Information

CALM Denham (08) 9948 1208

Size

9168 ha

Where to Stay

Cobra Station (08) 9943 0565
Mt Augustus Outback Tourist Resort
(08) 9943 0527

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Explore Australia’s National Parks

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