Wiluna

The Shire of Wiluna covers an enormous area of some 184,000 square kilometres, which is predominantly a mining and pastoral area. The weather conditions are very harsh in the area with average rainfall of approximately 250mm (10 inches) per annum and extreme temperature variations between summer (over 40 degrees) and winter (below freezing).

The town of Wiluna is the principal centre in the Shire, and there are also a number of mining villages and aboriginal communities. The township of Wiluna is 966 kilometres northeast of Perth and is situated on the edge of the desert at the gateway to the Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway. A flight with Skippers Aviation from Perth takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

In 1906 Alfred Canning was commissioned to survey and build a stock route from Wiluna to Halls Creek. The stock route through 1500 kilometres of desert took four years to complete.

The Canning Stock Route is one of the most isolated tracks on earth. This also makes it one of the most challenging 4WD tracks anywhere in the world today. Every year many 4WD enthusiasts take up the challenge to cross this harsh environment.

The Gunbarrel Highway was explored and surveyed by Len Beadell, with completion of the last section of the road in 1958. The road was the first east-west road to go across the centre of Australia.

The Gunbarrel Highway is a popular 4WD route that directly connects Western Australia to many popular tourist destinations in central Australia. The road travels through a very isolated and unpopulated part of the Australian outback, with towns and fuel stops far and few between.