Mount Augustus is known as Burringurrah to the local Wajarri Aboriginal people. The park was gazetted on 22 September 1989 and is made up of former parts of Mount Augustus and Cobra Stations.
During 1999-2000, the State purchased nearby pastoral leases Cobra and Waldburg and part leases of Mount Philip and Dalgety Downs with the aim of managing the whole area – including the national park – for conservation. The total area is now 607,603 hectares.
Take the 49km Loop Drive around the sandstone inselberg. Access rocky creeks and gorges, open plains, view Aboriginal rock engravings (petroglyphs) and encounter a variety of wildlife.
Abundant wildlife
The majority of Mount Augustus is vegetated. Arid shrubland dominated by wattles, cassias and eremophilas cover the inselberg and the surrounding plain. Take the time to sit quietly in the early morning or late afternoon and you will be rewarded with the site of shy-but-inquisitive wildlife. Marvel at the factors which have shaped the surrounding wildlife – infertile soils and greater climate variability than many other parts of Australia.
Groves of white-barked river gums indicate water seepage from the inselberg - so precious to the local ecology. Mulga, gidgee and other wattles are dispersed across the plain, along with spinifex pigeons, crimson chats, mulga parrots and babblers – all foraging for food resources. Nearby, emus seek out fruits, and bustards (or wild turkey) sneak up on insects and small reptiles on the ground. Bungarras (goannas) and red kangaroos are common on the plain, while euros and birds of prey are found closer to the mount.
At Cattle Pool on the Lyons River, a tributary of the Gascoyne, permanent pools attract waterbirds such as black cormorants, ibis, heron, and a variety of ducks. In the trees are blue-winged kookaburras, sacred kingfishers and corellas.
Your safety
Read safety information on hiking at Mount Augustus, bushwalking and paddling or kayaking and plan your visit.
The risks from exposure and dehydration are significant in this area. During the hotter months (September to April) these risks are extreme and temperatures can often exceed 40°C. Prepare well for your hike and:
- Hike in groups of three or more experienced hikers and stay on marked trails. In an emergency, a group usually improves outcomes.
- Tell a trusted and responsible person of your plans using this form and provide sufficient detail to them so they can get help if required. Ask them to raise the alarm if you haven’t returned and/or contacted them by the agreed time.
- Each person needs to carry and drink a minimum of 1 litre per hour when hiking and more in hotter weather. There is no drinking water in the park.
- Carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite phone.
- Carefully review your daily drinking water needs. Carry cool water if possible.
- Hike in the cooler months (May to August) and check the weather forecast for localised changes before setting out on a hike.
- Wear a broad brimmed hat, loose long-sleeved clothing, sturdy footwear and apply sunscreen.
- Take regular breaks when hiking.
- Hike during the cooler parts of the day – there will also be more wildlife about during this time.
Hiking trails are usually natural unmodified surfaces. Beware of:
- undercut cliff edges.
- loose rocks and unstable surfaces
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Geology
Mount Augustus is an ‘asymmetrical anticline’. Anticline means that rock layers have been folded into an arch-like structure – with the oldest layers at its core. Asymmetrical means that each side of the arch-like structure is not physically even or symmetrical, with Mount Augustus being steeper on its north-eastern side than the south-west side.
Mount Augustus is often referred to as a monocline (meaning one sided slope) or monolith (meaning one rock) and is often compared to Uluru. Individually each has been described as the ‘largest monolith in Australia’. Both consist of sedimentary rock, but they differ in almost all other aspects including dimensions, lithological variations (physical characteristics of the various rock types), geological evolution, rock structures, and ages of both the landforms and the underlying rocks.
The rocks at Mount Augustus consist of sand and gravel deposited by an ancient, south-easterly flowing river system that drained the region about 1600 million years ago. This river system flowed over a faulted and eroded surface of 1800 - 1620 million year old granitic and metamorphic rocks. The river deposits consolidated to form sandstone and conglomerate, and were then buried beneath younger marine sediments, which were laid down when shallow seas covered the region between 1600 -1070 million years ago.
The rocks were buckled into their present-day structure about 900 million years ago when movement along faults in the underlying granitic and metamorphic rocks caused localised, strong, north-east directed compression. The marine sedimentary rocks that overlay the sandstone and conglomerate have since been eroded from Mount Augustus, but now form the hills around Cobra and Mount Augustus homesteads.
There are also boulders of exotic rock types such as fine-grained siltstones up to 60cm in diameter derived from older pre-existing rock units. These can be observed in the stream channel of Kotka Gorge and along the track to Goordgeela Lookout.
In addition to the occurrence of exotic rock types within the sandstone, parts of Mount Augustus consists of rocks completely different in age and character from the sandstone. At the western end of the inselberg the cover of sandstone has been stripped away to expose older, underlying igneous and metamorphic rocks (observed at ‘The Pound).
The Mount Augustus Sandstone, at about 1.6 billion years old, is about three times older than the sandstone of Uluru. Importantly, this is different to the age of the actual landform – the island mountain (inselberg) called Mount Augustus.
Information on the ages of Mount Augustus and Uluru is highly speculative and many reporters have confused the age of the rocks underlying the landform with that of the actual landform.
Because Mount Augustus is composed of multiple rock types it is inaccurate to call it a monolith – meaning one rock type – or claim that it is the ‘world’s biggest rock’. Likewise, a monocline, meaning a one-sided slope connecting two horizontal or gently inclined strata (layers) is also inaccurate.
Driving and relaxing
The 49km Loop Drive around Mount Augustus allows access to all visitor sites within the park. Please note that after rainfall, the Shire of Upper Gascoyne may temporarily close the Loop Drive – which is shire managed.
The Loop Drive and all access roads are generally two-wheel-drive friendly. Drive to the road conditions and obey road closures and speed limits
Hiking
There are a range of trails of varying degrees of length and difficulty. Spend a few days doing shorter hikes before considering the longer and much more difficult trails. All trails in the park are essentially unmodified, often steep and with limited directional signage on the difficult trails. Hikers should download the Mount Augustus National Park Burringurrah visitor guide and visit TrailsWA for more information on each trail.
The following walking trail classifications apply to Mt Augustus hikes. Please respect the Wajarri Traditional Owner’s request that visitors do not walk the mount at night for reasons of safety and heritage protection.
Class 3
Moderate hiking trail with clear directional signage. May include minor natural hazards such as short, steep sections, steps, and unstable or slippery surfaces. An average level of fitness is needed.
Class 5
Extremely difficult, rough, unformed trail with very difficult sections and limited directional marking. You will encounter natural hazards such as long, steep sections, rock scrambles, and frequent unstable or slippery surfaces. Only for self-reliant, very experienced bushwalkers with a high level of fitness.
Camping
There is no camping available in the national park. Camp sites and other types of accommodation are available at the Mount Augustus Outback Tourist Park. The tourist park is privately owned and operated by the owners of Mount Augustus Cattle Station. Fuel and basic supplies are available from the tourist park.
Open fires are not permitted in the national park.
Drinking water is not available in the national park. Carry enough water for your own needs.
Getting there
Mount Augustus is a two day drive from Perth via Carnarvon or Meekatharra. The park is 465km from Carnarvon via Gascoyne Junction. The 172km road between Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction is sealed but all other roads in the area are unsealed. Be aware that there are long distances between settlements, supplies and services – this is outback Australia. Drive to the road conditions and obey road closures and speed limits.
Air charters to Mount Augustus are an option. Alternatively, go to www.australiasgoldenoutback.com or search for Mount Augustus tours online for other opportunities.
Before you go, download geo-referenced maps of Mount Augustus National Park to your mobile device and locate yourself without the internet. These maps must be used with the free Avenza Maps app. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Mount Augustus National Park - Summit Trail
Mount Augustus National Park - Overview
