GUNUNG · Australia
Mount Augustus
Burringurrah (bahasa Wadjari)
Source
Mount Augustus (Burringurrah) — inselberg batu pasir di kawasan Gascoyne, Australia Barat. Photo: source
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Source: Open-Meteo
Information
- Elevation
- 1.106 m
- Country
- Australia (AU)
- Location / Range
- Mount Augustus National Park, Gascoyne region, Western Australia
- Mountain type
- Sandstone & conglomerate inselberg (asymmetrical anticline) — often called 'the largest single rock in the world', not a volcano
- Volcanic?
- No (non-volcanic)
- Coordinates
- -24.3250, 116.8417
- Difficulty
- Strenuous (Summit Trail Grade/Class 5): about 12 km round trip, about 650 m of ascent, roughly 5–8 hours; only for fit, experienced hikers because of the extreme heat
- Best Season
- Cooler months, roughly April–September (Trails WA lists the Summit Trail open May–August); the Summit Trail is closed each 1 November–28 February due to extreme heat
- Permits & Rules
- Park fees/rules apply; no camping inside the park — stay at the Mount Augustus Tourist Park on the park edge. It's advised to start climbing by 07:00 at the latest and carry at least 4 liters of water
- Hazards
- Extreme heat (several hikers have died from heat-related issues), no water on the trail, very remote area (±1,000 km from Perth, access roads mostly gravel), and a steep rocky climb in the upper section
Description
Mount Augustus, known to the local Wadjari people as Burringurrah, is a giant inselberg standing 1,106 metres above sea level — about 860 metres above the surrounding plain — in Mount Augustus National Park in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, roughly 1,000 km north of Perth. Its central ridge runs for almost eight kilometres, and the site is widely promoted as the 'world's largest monolith'. That claim, however, does not come from the geological literature: scientifically Mount Augustus is an asymmetrical anticline — layers of sandstone and conglomerate folded into an arch — making it quite different from Uluru, which is a true monolith. Its rocks formed from sand and gravel laid down by an ancient river system around 1,600 million years ago. It is more than twice the size of Uluru yet far less visited because of its remoteness. For the Wadjari people, Burringurrah is sacred through a Dreamtime story of a young boy who was speared and turned into rock, and the area holds ancient rock engravings (petroglyphs). The Summit Trail (Beedoboondu) climbs about 650 metres and demands good fitness and serious caution about the heat.
Gallery
Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.
Routes
Edney's Trail
SulitA half-day walk in Mount Augustus National Park leading to a lookout — one of several non-summit trails around the rock.
SourceFlintstone Rock walk (Beedoboondu)
MudahA short, easy stroll from the Flintstone–Beedoboondu car park to a large flat rock over a stony creek bed where Aboriginal (Wadjari) rock engravings can be seen. It also serves as the trailhead for the Summit Trail.
SourceSummit Trail (Beedoboondu)
Sangat berat / Class 5 — hanya pendaki bugar & berpengalamanThe main and most popular route to the summit, climbing about 650 m from the Flintstone–Beedoboondu car park. The first section is relatively gentle; after the Gully Trail junction it becomes much steeper, with minor scrambling near the top. Authorities strongly advise starting no later than 7am and carrying at least 4 litres of water; several people have died of heat-related illness, and the trail is closed annually 1 November–28 February.
SourceClimbing Experiences
Trip reports about Mount Augustus are dominated by outback road-trip stories to one of the world's biggest rocks, with much content stressing its scale — more than twice that of Uluru — and its remoteness. Those who climb the Summit Trail describe a long, hard rocky route, the importance of an early start, and the dangers of extreme heat and no water. Another recurring theme is the Wadjari cultural heritage (petroglyphs) around the base.
References
The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.