NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION Mount Augustus is in Western Australia, 300 miles (490 km) east of Carnarvon HEIGHT 2,823 ft (860 m)
BASE CIRCUMFERENCE
Around 20 miles (32 km)
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
Jan: 89°F (32°C); Apr: 77°F (25°C); Jul: 60°F (15°C); Oct: 74°F (23°C)
This spectacular solitary peak, which is known as Burringurrah by the local Aboriginal people, rises above an arid plain of shrubland dotted with emu bushes, river gums, and wattles. Red kangaroos, emus, snakes, and small rodents are common in the area. Surrounding the rock are trails and dirt roads that lead to Aboriginal rock engravings, pools, and caves, and there is a 8-mile (12-km) round-trip summit trail for fit hikers. The visible part of this sandstone mountain, which lies on a subterranean granite base, might look very like Uluru, but it’s more than twice as large as its more famous Northern Territory rival, with a summit ridge measuring 5 miles (8 km).
Practical Information
Getting There From Carnarvon on the west coast of Australia, go east to Gascoyne Junction and continue on a gravel road for a total of 300 miles (490 km) until you reach Mount Augustus National Park.
When to Go The national park is accessible all year round, but it’s most pleasant between April and October