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Major city · Australia

Menzies

Give Menzies one night, not a base: the town is a 300 m walk, and the reason to stop is Lake Ballard, 51 km west on unsealed road.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Dec–Feb (40°C+ days), and the first weekend of June if you want a quiet town
Airport
KGI
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Menzies is a Goldfields town of about 100 people that boomed to 10,000 after the 1894 gold find and then emptied out. Almost everything worth seeing sits along a 300 m stretch of Shenton Street, with the 51 sculptures on Lake Ballard a 51 km drive west. Most travellers use it as a break on the Goldfields Highway between Kalgoorlie and Leonora.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Menzies, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and cake at the Achievable Outback CafecheckA$8–15 (≈ US$6–10)
  • Budget bedLake Ballard camping, a night, per personA$0 (≈ under US$1)
  • Mid-range bedMenzies Hotel room, a night, per roomA$90 (≈ US$60)
  • High-end bedMenzies Hotel room, a night, per roomA$90 (≈ US$60)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$60 (≈ US$40) · Mid A$110 (≈ US$75) · High A$200 (≈ US$140)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Lake Ballard sculpturesGold rush heritage buildingsMenzies Hotel, the last original pubNiagara Dam
Airports
KGI Kalgoorlie–Boulder Airport (The nearest airport with scheduled flights, 132 km south; Perth (PER) has the international connections.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Menzies: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

36°C

20°C

2 rd

Feb

35°C

20°C

2 rd

Mar

32°C

17°C

3 rd

Apr

28°C

13°C

3 rd

May

23°C

9°C

4 rd

Jun

19°C

6°C

5 rd

Jul

18°C

5°C

5 rd

Aug

21°C

6°C

4 rd

Sep

25°C

9°C

3 rd

Oct

29°C

13°C

2 rd

Nov

33°C

16°C

2 rd

Dec

35°C

19°C

2 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is small enough to walk: most sights line a 300 m stretch of Shenton Street. You need a car for Lake Ballard, Niagara Dam and the cemetery; the Lake Ballard road is unsealed but passable without a 4WD. A weekly GRT Express bus links Kalgoorlie–Boulder and Laverton via Menzies.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Lake Ballard

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Drive the Menzies–Sandstone Rd, signposted from the Goldfields Hwy at the north end of town; unsealed but smooth

51 km west. Go early or late: midday heat on the salt is brutal. Free camping at the lake.

Niagara Dam

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

North on the Goldfields Hwy to the Kookynie turn-off (42 km), then 16 km to the dam turn-off

1897 dam with two short trails (1.6 km and 1.1 km) and camping; a rare chance to swim.

Kookynie

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Continue past the Niagara Dam turn-off on the road north

Grand Hotel Kookynie has beds and meals; call ahead before relying on it.

Kalgoorlie–Boulder

go

Door to door: About 1 h 40 min

Goldfields Hwy south, 132 km

The nearest full set of services: supermarkets, fuel, airport.

Leonora

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Goldfields Hwy north, 105 km

The next town north with fuel and supplies.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Shenton Street (town centre)

The caravan park and the Menzies Hotel rooms are both on the main strip; everything is a short walk.

Lake Ballard

Free basic camping 51 km west: long-drop toilet and fire rings only, bring water and food.

Niagara Dam

Maintained campsites above and below the dam wall, 58 km north; a swim and two short trails.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$60–100 (≈ US$40–70) excl. bed
Mid
A$100–170 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
High
A$170 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Menzies Hotel room1 × 1 night × A$90A$90
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$110A$220
GRT Express bus, Kalgoorlie to Menzies2 × A$45 · Weekly service, about 1 h 40 min; tickets from the Kalgoorlie visitor centre.A$90
Pub meal at the Menzies Hotel2 × A$18 · checkA$35
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$49
Trip total≈ A$267 per person per day, bed includedA$534≈ US$400

Single about A$70, double about A$90; worn rooms, call ahead.

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and cake at the Achievable Outback CafecheckA$8–15 (≈ US$6–10)
Pub meal at the Menzies Hotelcheckabout A$17.50 (≈ US$12)
Caravan park sitecheckA$20 (≈ US$14) unpowered / A$26 (≈ US$18) powered
GRT Express bus from KalgoorliecheckA$45 (≈ US$30)
FuelcheckExpect a Goldfields premium over Perth prices

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Menzies is a very small, quiet town and personal safety is not the issue. The real risks are heat, distance and supply: no supermarket, limited fuel, long unsealed drives and no phone signal in places. Tell someone your route before heading to Lake Ballard.
  • There is no supermarket in Menzies: stock up in Kalgoorlie or Leonora.
  • Fuel up before you arrive; services in town are limited.
  • Lake Ballard has no shade and the salt surface gets unbearably hot at midday: go early or late, and carry water.
  • Flies are heavy around the lake during the day; a net or repellent helps.
  • The railway station is fenced off and used by a mining company; you can only walk the perimeter.
  • Summer days regularly pass 40°C; plan drives for the morning.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MenziesMenzies

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Shenton Street, the caravan park, thanksTo the caravan park on Shenton Street, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No consulates in Menzies; the nearest consular help is in Perth. US, UK, Canadian and other embassies and consulates-general are in Perth (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • GRT Express, Kalgoorlie → Menzies: A$45 (≈ US$30), about 1 h 40 min, Thursdays (check)
  • GRT Express, Laverton → Menzies: A$57 (≈ US$40), about 2 h 30 min, Fridays (check)
  • Menzies Hotel room: single about A$70 (≈ US$50), double about A$90 (≈ US$60) (check)

Say or show

  • Where's the servo? — Where is the fuel?
  • Is it bitumen all the way? — Is the road sealed?
  • How far to the lake? — How far to Lake Ballard?
  • Can I fill my water bottles? — Do you have water?
  • Will I get reception? — Is there phone signal out there?
  • Thanks, mate — Thanks, mate

No supermarket in town: buy food and water in Kalgoorlie or Leonora. Fuel up before you arrive.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Menzies. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Feb (40°C+ days), and the first weekend of June if you want a quiet town · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for KGI: transfer time from Kalgoorlie, last fuel, and a Menzies fallback if you arrive after dark.
  2. Walking cluster on Shenton Street with the visitor centre as the anchor and opening hours for the Achievable Outback Cafe and Menzies Hotel.
  3. Lake Ballard page with heat, fly and road-surface cutoffs plus the free camping rules.
  4. Niagara Dam and Kookynie fixtures so the northern loop can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources