Kalgoorlie-Boulder tourism boom sparks accommodation shortage

Kalgoorlie-Boulder, a landmark mining city 600 kilometres east of Perth, is facing an accommodation crunch as a surge in mine workers and tourists vies for limited lodging.

With over half a million passengers passing through Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport in the past 12 months, the city's tourism industry is booming, but tour operators say finding a place to stay has become a significant challenge.

Rents are at historic highs, and hotel occupancy rates have been among the highest in the state during the 2025/2026 financial year, peaking at around 90 per cent in October 2025.

Tourism boom puts pressure on accommodation

Leanne Kamp, who has been running gold prospecting tours through the Goldfields for two decades, says the mining boom and influx of fly-in, fly-out miners are exacerbating the accommodation shortage.