Cave Hill Woodlines

This historic trek note takes you back to the days when timber was needed to support mining operations at Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Evidence of the woodlines is everywhere, from the remnants of rail sleepers and loading ramps near the main track, to granite slab walls on rock monoliths used to trap valuable water. Today and 65 years since operations had ended, the bush and the Salmon Gum and Gimlet forests have reclaimed the land.

There’s not only an abundance of historical significance in the region, but also many amazing natural land features. Just some of the sights you will encounter include; Burra Rock, which is a large granite outcrop that slopes steeply southward and Cave Hill which is one of the largest and highest granite monoliths in the region.

There are some camping and picnic sites available in Burra Rock and Cave Hill Nature Reserve with BBQ pits and toilet facilities. Camping is also permitted at The Breakaways which is near a soft rocky outcrop just south of the main route.

No permits are required for Cave Hill Woodlines, although road conditions for this trek may vary so please check with the Coolgardie Visitors Centre on: (08) 9026 6090

Preparation for this route should be as for any other remote 4WD track, including carrying sufficient fuel, water, food, supplies, communications gear, safety equipment and first aid, along with emergency backup supplies. Check your fuel range and plan detours for resupply at either Newdegate or Hyden. The terrain is dense in many places and the track winding with driver visibility impaired when passing traffic so a flag on your vehicle is recommended.

There are numerous tracks in the area and some may be unnamed or not shown on maps. A wise precaution is to get hold of some updated and detailed mud maps of the area. You could also get some digital maps of the region such as: Explore the Holland Track and Cave Hill Woodlines and you could load these into software-based navigation like OziExplorer, which incidentally should be already installed and running on your laptop. See our navigation articles for more information.

Be well prepared with a GPS, HF radio or Satellite phone as you may not see another vehicle for days. We advise that you refer to the latest information and advice about outback communications in the Communications Topic.

There may be risks with getting punctures, so please make sure you have adequate recovery gear and puncture repair kits. Travellers should read the 4WDriving Topic for related articles and checklists for vehicle setup and driver awareness.

The tracks are a mix of gravel tracks and bitumen roads when you head closer to the towns. Some of these tracks have large washaways beside them, so caution should be exercised. The natural terrain on this trek is predominantly bushland with relatively thick forests of Salmon Gum and Gimlet. There are some large granite outcrops and monoliths with rock pools and the occasional salt water lake.

Some of the animals and birds that you may encounter on this trek note include: Kangaroos, Emus, Foxes, Mallee Fowl and Thorny Devils. During Spring, the region produces magnificent wildflower and flowering shrubs. Around Hyden and Wave Rock during this time produces a superb variety of orchids.