The Super Pit, Kalgoorlie-Boulder: Visiting Guide, Best Time To Go, And More!

The Super Pit (Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia) is not your regular tourist spot. It’s a massive, noisy mine that’s 3.5 km long, 1.5 km wide, and 600 metres deep.

Also known as “Fimiston open-pit mine”, this is the biggest gold mine in Australia. From the lookout, the heavy machinery and giant trucks look like toy cars!

It’s free to enter and opens pretty much all day, every day. The best time to go whenever there’s a controlled blast – we’ll tell you more about that further down.

The place is a 6-hour drive from Perth, so it’s nice for a 2-3 day road trip. There are other ways to get there, but there’s no public transport so you’ll need a car anyway.

It’s not all gold and glory, though. There’s a high environmental cost of running the mine, which we’ll touch on as well, as well as what’s going to happen after the gold runs out.

What to expect during a visit to the Super Pit

We recognise the traditional owners of this land, the Wangkatja.

This place is massive, noisy, dusty, and mind-blowing! It’s a working mine, so you’re going to see heavy machinery and giant trucks.

The scale is hard to wrap your head around until you see it – it’s 3.5 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide, going down over 600 metres.

Watching the trucks move around like tiny toys is quite surreal!

The Super Pit Lookout

The highlight is definitely the lookout, as it gives a bird’s-eye view of the pit.

It’s open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, no entry fee. There are facilities like toilets and seating areas, too.

There’s also a small shop where you can grab souvenirs and snacks. There aren’t any food trucks or restaurants, so pack your meals if you’re planning to stay a while.

Tours are on hold at the time of writing due to construction work. Check their website for any updates!

Best time to visit the Super Pit

The best time of the year to visit is from April to October – you don’t want to be out there roasting in the Aussie summer. The cooler months are perfect for exploring the area (which has little to no shade).

As for the best time of day to visit, it’s whenever there’s a blasting.

They do controlled explosions regularly, usually in the afternoon, but can be cancelled, postponed, or even done earlier without warning as it largely depends on the weather.

If you want to see one, check the website often to see the updated blasting schedule.

Those who have witnessed one have their minds blown, almost literally. The feeling of the ground rumbling must be insane!

If you miss it, don’t worry though – the sunset is jaw-dropping, too!

How to get there?

Kalgoorlie-Boulder is about 600 kilometres east of Perth, or a 6-hour drive.

Flying from Perth is faster – just over an hour. We recommend using Trip.com to find great deals for flights. Once you land, the Super Pit Lookout is well signposted and easy to find.

But public transport is scarce, so having your own car is a must. If you’re flying there, you can rent a car directly at the airport. Check Rental Cars to help you find good deals.

That’s why you might want to make a road trip out of it! Here are some towns you can stop or even stay overnight on your way there:

• Northam. It’s the largest town in the Avon Valley and offers beautiful heritage buildings and the iconic Avon River.

• York. It’s the oldest inland town in WA and is rich in history and heritage. It’s perfect for a leisurely stroll through its historic streets.

• Merredin. It’s ideal for an overnight stay, as it’s a bigger town than the previous ones. It has all the amenities you might need and some interesting sites to explore.

• Coolgardie. Just 38km from Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie is a historic gold mining town that gives you a taste of the gold rush era.

History of the Super Pit

Built in 1989, the Super Pit is one of Australia’s most iconic mining operations.

Kalgoorlie is one of the richest gold deposits in the world. But the Super Pit itself is actually a combination of several old gold mines, dug into one massive pit.

This giant operation makes it way more efficient to extract gold from this area.

The development of the Super Pit required significant investment in infrastructure, technology, and manpower… After all, it’s a monstrous hole in the ground.

Nowadays, it’s managed by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM operations). This mining giant operates the Fimiston Processing Plant and the Mt Charlotte underground mine, among other things.

The mining process is a high-tech operation that blends brute force with cutting-edge technology. It’s not only about extracting ore – they need to do dust suppression, water management, and waste handling.

All while balancing the extraction of resources with environmental care for a sustainable operation (they’re still working on that).

What’s the impact of the Super Pit on Kalgoorlie-Boulder?

The Super Pit is more than just a mine – it’s the lifeblood of Kalgoorlie.

The mine itself provides jobs to thousands of people, which also helps the local businesses grow – from retail shops to restaurants, the entire town benefits from the mine’s presence.

The town’s culture and history are deeply intertwined with mining. Events and local initiatives often see support from the mining sector.

The mine also supports local schools, sports teams, and community projects. It also funds training programs for locals for skills and employment.

But there’s a significant environmental cost of such a massive operation.

This causes a constant push and pull between economic benefits and the protection of the environment.

That’s why the Super Pit is involved in several environmental initiatives looking to reduce its impact on the surrounding area. These efforts include rehabilitation projects to restore mined land and initiatives to protect local wildlife.

Whether these efforts are enough is another matter… But regardless of this, the Super Pit is the cornerstone of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s economy.

The future of the Super Pit

The gold will run out someday, right? They estimate this will happen around 2035, so they’re already planning for what’s next.

The focus is on sustainability and making sure that the legacy of the mine keeps helping the community long after the last ounce of gold is extracted.

The plans include massive rehabilitation efforts to restore the land and turn it into a usable space, whether for tourism, agriculture, or other industries.

This is to ensure that the environmental impact of the mine is mitigated and that the community can thrive in a post-mining future.

Top Tips

Bring sturdy shoes, preferably boots, this ain’t the place for your flashy sneakers. The ground is uneven and dusty as hell.

Also bring a hat, sunscreen, and water. Sunglasses are a must, too, to keep that dust out of your eyes.

Safety is key. Stay behind the barriers at all times and keep your distance from machinery, remember that it’s still a working mine.

Did you know?

The Super Pit sits on the historic Golden Mile, which is considered the richest square mile of gold-bearing earth in the world.

It marks the spot where Paddy Hannan, the Irish gold prospector first struck gold. This famous discovery started the Great Gold Rush.

The mine has been producing gold for over a century, contributing massively to the Australian economy.

The idea for the Super Pit was conceived by the infamous Australian businessman Alan Bond. Although he never saw the project completed due to financial troubles, his vision for consolidating the mines set the stage for the creation of the Super Pit.

FAQs

The bottom line

This open pit gold mine has been running for a while now. And, although its time is running out, the impact it has on Kalgoorlie-Boulder is undeniable.

It’s the heartbeat of the town, putting food on the table and growing the economy. But there’s an environmental price to pay, which we can only hope can be mitigated before it’s too late.

That said, Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit is a unique attraction that everyone should see at least once. If you’re able to see a blast, share the experience in the comments!