Kalgan's Pool - WA

Kalgan Pool is situated deep in the eastern end of the Ophthalmia Range. Much of the journey to the gorge is in/along the Kalgan Creek water course which requires a 4WD to negotiate due to loose shale, river rock, and stretches of water. Access to this site is 4WD only due to water crossings.

To get here, you should fill out a permit application to drive on the BHP Railway service line to access the Kalgan Creek Track (available free online or for gold coin donation at the Newman Visitors Centre). The trip from Newman to the Kalgan's Pool is slow going, taking about 80 mins on mostly rocky tracks with gravel, corrugations and many long stretches of creek water to drive through - some up to 600m long.

NOTE: Kalgan Pool itself has suffered badly since the dewatering of the aquifer under/near to the Hope Downs iron ore mine was allowed to go ahead in 2014. All of the once beautiful waterholes in the Newman Waterhole Circuit have been adversely affected, these being Kalgan Pool, Thunder Gorge, Eagle Rock Pool, Eagle Rock Falls and Three Pools. However, there's oodles of crystal clear water being pumped into Kalgan Creek about 1.2km down stream of Kalgan Pool which has created a whole new scenario.