Cue rewards people who slow down

From the highway, Cue can look like a small outback town you could see in an hour. Spend two days here and a very different place begins to appear.

Wander through one of Western Australia's remarkable gold rush streetscapes, visit abandoned mining towns, stand beneath the ancient rock overhang at Walga Rock, watch the sun fall across the Murchison and meet some of the people who call Cue home.

Book first.
Then hit the road.

Book your Cue accommodation before travelling. Mining activity, contractors, work crews, school holidays, events and the winter tourism season can place heavy demand on a relatively small number of rooms and caravan sites.

Cue does not have a full supermarket. Limited food and basic supplies are available locally, but self-catering travellers should arrive prepared. Full supermarkets are available in Mount Magnet to the south and Meekatharra to the north.

Some of the best places around Cue are reached on outback roads. Carry drinking water, allow plenty of daylight and check the current road report before heading out of town.

Start in the heart of historic Cue

On weekdays, begin at the Cue Community & Visitor Centre at 72 Austin Street. Pick up local information and get your bearings before exploring on foot.

Then walk Austin Street and the surrounding town centre. Cue's stone buildings are not reproductions — many survive from the extraordinary gold rush years when the town was at the centre of the Murchison Goldfields.

Look out for the Government Buildings, former Gentlemen's Club, Old Municipal Chambers, historic shopfronts and other buildings throughout the heritage precinct.

Stop at the Queen

The Queen of the Murchison Guest House & Café is right in the centre of town and makes an easy stop before heading out into the surrounding goldfields.

Café: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 am–4:00 pm.

Walk through
Big Bell

Continue into the goldfields to the abandoned town of Big Bell.

Once a substantial mining community, its former streets, foundations and surviving ruins remain scattered across the landscape.

The remains of the Big Bell Hotel and surrounding townsite give visitors a striking sense of the scale and ambition of mining settlements that once existed far beyond Cue.

Come back for sunset

Return to town and head to Cue Lookout as the afternoon light begins to soften. Just north of town, the lookout gives you a view over Cue and the surrounding Murchison landscape.

Walga Rock

Make Walga Rock — Walganha — the centrepiece of your second morning.

The enormous granite formation rises from the red Murchison landscape and contains an extensive gallery of Aboriginal rock art beneath its overhangs. This is a culturally significant Aboriginal place as well as an extraordinary geological landmark.

Take your time and visit respectfully. Do not touch, trace, wet or interfere with paintings or rock surfaces. Follow onsite signs and cultural guidance.

Lake Nallan

If you'd rather finish your second day somewhere quiet, head north toward Lake Nallan, approximately 20 kilometres from Cue.

Conditions vary enormously with rainfall. When water is present the lake and surrounding nature reserve can attract significant birdlife, while good seasons bring wildflowers across the surrounding country.

Outback landscapes change with the seasons — part of the attraction is never knowing exactly what the country will look like when you arrive.

48 hours deserves a 48-hour stop

Self-contained RV travellers can use the Shire's free 48-hour RV stop at the northern corner of Dowley Street and Robinson Street.

Maximum stay is 48 hours. Travellers wanting powered sites, ablutions or a longer stay should book at Cue Tourist Park.

Start your visit with us

Drop into the Cue Community & Visitor Centre for local information, maps and help planning your time in the Murchison.