Mount Augustus (Western Australia)

Mount Augustus (Wajarri: Burringurrah) is a large inselberg in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, set within Mount Augustus National Park. It is commonly described in travel literature as one of the largest single rock formations of its type in the world.

The site offers a network of walking trails and short drives that access river gorges, lookout points and rock formations around the massif. Interpretive signs and trailheads explain the local landscape and there are opportunities to view Aboriginal rock engravings. Camping and basic visitor facilities are available within the national park.

The formation is the remnant of much older folded and eroded rock layers; its present shape results from long-term geological uplift and erosion. European explorers recorded it in the 19th century and the name Mount Augustus was applied by early surveyors, while the area has long cultural significance for the Wajarri people.

The feature rises from the arid plains of the Gascoyne region in inland Western Australia and sits within Mount Augustus National Park. It is a remote destination in the state’s interior, reached by sealed and unsealed roads from regional centers and served by station accommodation and park campgrounds.

• Local name and significance: Known to the local Wajarri people as Burringurrah and commonly described in guidebooks as one of the world's largest single rock formations.
• Viewing tip: Best light for photography is usually in the early morning or late afternoon when shadows accentuate the rock's relief.

What to See #

• Mount Augustus National Park: Located within Mount Augustus National Park, the park includes vehicle access, campgrounds and marked walking routes that lead to river gorges and lookout points around the formation.
• Wajarri cultural sites: A number of recorded Aboriginal rock engravings and other cultural sites created by the Wajarri people lie on and around the formation and are accessible via marked trails and interpretive sites.