Gascoyne Junction WA 6705  (Pop 50)

Gascoyne Junction is a pleasant Coral Coast region service centre located 1 067 km north of Perth. Sitting at the junction of the Gascoyne and Lyons Rivers, the township is surrounded by huge sheep stations and mining operations. Visitors are also drawn to this area for its natural beauty and stunning national parks. Dry Bed River Dash (Oct).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Gascoyne River WA’s longest river running 760 km with permanent pools in the dry season and providing a habitat for native flora and fauna. Old Roads Board Museum, Scott St (1912) pays tribute to the township’s interesting history. Junction Hotel, Mullewa Rd (1906) notes the highwater mark from 1980s flood. Federation Park features Hackers Hectare for budding sculptors and historic Pioneer Cemetery sitting adjacent.

Nearby:
Kennedy Range NP 1 400 sq km park protecting ancient banksia and marine fossils, Aboriginal sacred sites and endangered species. As it is surrounded by pastoral leases, permission to visit from individual stations is usually required. Ideal birdwatching, and bushwalking park with stunning springtime wildflower displays. Mount Augustus NP (294 km n-e) or Burringurrah is the world’s largest monolith measuring 8 km long and covering close to 5 000 ha. Believed to be about 1 650 million years old, it is both much larger and older than Uluru (Ayers Rock). A 49 km circuit drive offers excellent views and Aboriginal rock art is found at Mundee, Ooramboo and Beedoboondu rock.

Visitor Information Centre: Shire offices, Scott St. Tel (08) 9943 0988.

Airport:
Carnarvon Airport (CVQ), James St. Tel (08) 9941 1394. (172 km west).

Hospital:
Carnarvon Hospital, Cleaver St. Tel (08) 9941 0555. (174 km west).