Only 100 kilometres inland from Perth, Northam is the regional centre of the rich (and very English looking) pastoral lands of the scenic Avon Valley. Apart from being a choice country retreat not far from the big smoke, it's position on both the railway line and main highway to Kalgoorlie, have made the town a popular stopover point.

As one of the state's first rural settlements and major railway towns, Northam is brimming with colonial heritage. The Old Train Station and the other grand historical buildings still gracing the streets, now house a variety of interesting museums and galleries. On the outskirts of town, the Avon and Mortlock Rivers not only attract white swans and other beautiful waterbirds, but canoeing enthusiasts from all over the country. The first weekend in August is particularly busy, with the running of the extreme 135 kilometre Avon Descent Canoe Race. Power boats are also invited, but thankfully they compete in a different division.

Thirty five kilometres directly south of Northam, York is another gorgeous historical town, regarded as one of the highlights of the Avon Valley. York is this perfect name for this village which has gone out of it's way (sometime overboard) to resemble it's English counterpart. It's wealth of superb old buildings, coaching inns and cottages have all been painstakingly restored, perfectly preserving a by-gone era and earning York a National Trust classification. The streets are also filled speciality old-time museums, quaint craft workshops, antique stores, rose gardens, and cosy B&B's, enhancing the town's appeal and atmosphere. Chances are you'll time your arrival with one of the markets or major annual events and that the citizens of York love to host.

Back on the Great Eastern Highway heading east of Northam, the important wheatbelt towns of Merredin and Southern Cross brake up the journey nicely for those en-route to Kalgoorlie. Each is home to a few historical museums which portray their prominent pasts, as well as a good range of essential services for travellers.

Just under 200 kilometres south of Merredin, Hyden is another town supporting the surrounding cereal farms, best known on the tourist trail for it's proximity to Wave Rock. Wave Rock is a fascinating 2700 million year old piece of multicoloured granite which looks like a gigantic wave about to break. Close by, the other unusual rock formations of Hippos Yawn, The Breakers, and The Falls are connected by walking trails, and are also worth a look. Further out of town, Mulka's Cave contains some very accessible Aboriginal rock-art.

Great Northern Highway

Travelling north-west of Perth, the Great Northern Highway presents a more direct, but decidedly duller route to the Pilbara and the Kimberly. The gold mining towns of Mount Magnet (562 kilometres from Perth) and Meekatharra (768 kilometres from Perth) help break up the monotony, providing essential services, a variety of mining attractions, and access to the area's interesting ghost towns.

Travelling further, and encompassing the Great Sandy Desert and Little Sandy Desert, this section of the Western Australian Outback is vastly uninhabited. Apart from a lean scattering of roadhouses, Newman is the only sign of civilisation in this hot and desolate area. On the Great Northern Highway 424 kilometres north of Meekatharra, the town was originally established to support the huge iron ore mining operation at the Mount Whaleback deposit. Although responsibility was handed to the local shire in the eighties, Newman is still predominantly a company town, and a tour of the world's largest open-cut mine is the only way comprehend the scale of this incredible set-up. Also in town worth a visit is the BHP run Iron-Ore Silver Jubilee Museum and Gallery.

At the top end, the Great Northern Highway connects the Pilbara with the Kimberley, and the Sandfire Roadhouse provides a rest stop in the middle of the barren 600 kilometre journey between Port Headland (see the Pilbara) and Broome (see the Kimberley). West of the roadhouse, the very secluded Eighty Mile Beach has a caravan park which provides several accommodation options.