The Coolgardie bioregion is a significant part of the Great Western Woodlands - a region that spans almost 16 million hectares, extending from Kalgoorlie in the north to Salmon Gums in the south, and from the wheatbelt in the west to the Nullarbor Plain in the east.
The Great Western Woodlands is internationally significant with respect to its natural values, having been recognised as the largest and most intact temperate (or semi-arid) woodland remaining on the planet!
The forever changing colour, diversity and beauty of this amazing landscape will truly captivate you and so too will the extraordinary nature of the Great Western Woodlands.
A wildflower and wildlife wonderland
Amazingly, more than 20% of all Australia's known plant species and 30% of all Australia's Eucalypts are found here - making it Australia's 'Eucalypt heartland'.
The region is also home (and refuge) to hundreds of native animal species including rare and threatened species such as the beautiful Chuditch (or Spotted Quoll), Western Brush Wallaby, Greater Long-eared Bat and Red-tailed Phascogale. The Great Western Woodlands is also exceptional for its reptile diversity with 138 species - at last count - found here. For more information, visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/articles/vertebrates-of-the-great-western-woodlands
Bird watchers will delight in traversing this mesmerising landscape as more than 150 species - including Regent parrot, Malleefowl, and the unique western subspecies of Crested shrike-tit and Varied sitella - are found in the region. For more information, visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/articles/birds-of-the-great-western-woodlands
A rich, living Indigenous heritage
Not only is this area remarkably biodiverse, it is also an ancient landscape with a rich and living Indigenous cultural heritage including the Ngadju, Myrning, Noongar, Gubrun and Wongi peoples. There are many important cultural heritage sites throughout this region.
Ancient landscapes
When adventuring in the Great Western Woodlands take time to consider the age of this great land. This region forms part of the Yilgarn Craton - one of the oldest rock formations on Earth. Unlike many places on Earth, this land has remained stable since before mammals appeared and thus the area reflects a continuous biological lineage stretching back some 250 million years.
The dramatic age of this region is hard to comprehend but easy to feel. When gazing on one of the many massive salt lakes found here you may notice the river-like shape. These vast and beautiful salt lakes are ancient river beds which once were bordered by lush rainforest.
Western Australians are proud to be the custodians of this unique region. For more information, visit http://www.gww.net.au/
