Western Australia Travel Guide

Our Western Australia Travel Guide will show you some of the highlights from North to South, East to West of this massive chunk of Australia.

Western Australia is Australia's largest State. Size-wise it is 3.7 times larger than Texas in the USA or half the size of Europe. With such a large area comes a large array of things to see and do.

There is something for everyone, red dirt, crystal clear waters, wineries, stunning flora, and amazing fauna. Getting a selfie with a Quokka is an absolute must.

swimming hole in a cave — Karijini National Park. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Table Of Contents

Destinations
Western Australia Highlights
Festivals and Events
Planning Your Visit
Getting Here
Further Reading

Destinations

Perth & Surrounds

perth city skyline — Perth City Skyline. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Perth has the reputation of being the sunniest capital city in Australia. Even though the city is nestled beside the Swan River, it is a short trip to one of 19 glorious local beaches. A chilled city with trendy local eateries and small bars.

Jump on a ferry to explore the eclectic seaside suburb of Fremantle, known as Freo to locals. Or venture further and discover the local wine region of Swan Valley.

Cottesloe Beach

After a day of swimming, snorkelling, and surfing lay out the picnic rug and watch the spectacular sunset over the beach.

Rottnest Island

Besides meeting the happiest animal on earth, the quokka, there are pristine beaches, marine life, golf, numerous walks, and much more to be enjoyed.

Elizabeth Quay

A dynamic entertainment and leisure precinct on the banks of the Swan River.

Broome & The Kimberley

camels with people riding them on a beach — Camels on Cable Beach, Broome. Credit: Greg Snell

The beauty of the region's red landscapes, turquoise water, and blue skies will mesmerise you. Plus you will be spoilt on the choice of activities.

Discover Aboriginal rock art and learn about their culture. Fly over thunderous horizontal waterfalls. Learn about Australia's pearling history. Go for a sunset camel ride on Cable Beach. Explore stunning National Parks and gorges.

Purnululu National Park

The park is home to the spectacular beehive-like Bungle Bungles. Explore the range by foot, and then take a scenic flight to truly appreciate their beauty.

Talbot Bay

The Horizontal Falls were described by David Attenborough as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”. A natural phenomenon of the fast moving tidal current squeezing through two narrow gorges.

Roebuck Bay (Broome)

See a rare Aussie mammal, the Snubfin Dolphin. Roebuck Bay is home to the only population in the world.

Esperance & The Golden Outback

a family standing at the bottom of wave rock — Wave Rock, in Hyden. Credit: Peng Boon Tan

Esperance is a beach and nature lover's paradise. Expect snow-white sand and crystal clear turquoise water. For a colour change swim in the pink waters of Lake Hillier.

You will find Australia's largest outback city in The Golden Outback, Kalgoorlie. A mix of the current immense mining operation and vibrant goldrush history.

Hyden

Go rock surfing on the 15M high/110M long multi-coloured granite cliff, Wave Rock (pictured).

Mount Augustus

The world's largest monolith. This giant red rock is two and a half times the size of Uluru.

Twilight Bay

One of the best beaches in the world with crystal clear turquoise water and blinding white sand.

Exmouth & The Coral Coast

whale shark in the water — Swimming with whale shark (Rhincodon typus). credit: Tourism Western Australia

The Coral Coast of Western Australia is home to whale sharks, turquoise waters, wildflower carpets, pristine islands, and arid outback landscapes. Explore the Pinnacles, Kalbarri National Park, and the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

Exmouth is whale shark central and your launchpad to visit the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef that 500 species of fish and over 200 varieties of coral call home. You'll find more than the biggest fish in the world (whale shark) in Exmouth's waters. There are also dolphins, manta rays, turtles and humpback whales.

Ningaloo Reef:

Regarded as one of the world's last great ocean paradises, and one of the longest near-shore reef systems in the world.

Nambung National Park

Walk amongst The Pinnacles. Natural limestone structures that stand tall and dotted through the yellow sands of the park.

Shark Bay World Heritage Area

Shark Bay is the largest bay in Australia and home to 10,000 dugongs, the most stable population in the world.

Margaret River & The South West

three people on horses riding on a farm — Jesters Flat, Margaret River. Credit: Frances Andrijich

Margaret River is WA's wine region. Along with its award-winning wines, foodies will love the local truffles, olives, cheese, freshwater crayfish, and much more.

The South West has so much more to offer than wine and food. Discover pristine beaches, towering forests, caves, national parks, and wildlife.

Manjimup

Go hunting for black truffles in winter, or enjoy this prized fungi freshly plucked from the ground in one of the region's restaurants.

Bremer Bay

From January to Early April take a whale watching cruise to see the migrating Killer Whales/Orca. The area attracts over 100 of them seasonally.

Geographe Bay

Walk or catch the train down the 1.8km heritage-listed Busselton Jetty and visit the Underwater Observatory.

Mid West

red sand with a red sand hill in the background at sunset — Late afternoon on the Telfer Track, east of Newman. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Mid West WA starts on the coast with the main towns being Geraldton, Dongara, and Kalbarri. It then extends East to Wiluna on the edge of the Western Desert. Wiluna is the gateway to the revered Gunbarrel Highway and Canning Stock Route drives

Geraldton is a base for those wanting to explore the Coral Coast and 122 islands make up the pristine Houtman Abrolhos Islands. You will also find the Pink Lake, is also known as Hutt Lagoon, a short drive away.

Yallabatharra

Drive or take a scenic flight from Geraldton to really appreciate the bright bubblegum pink waters of Hutt Lagoon. Visit between July and September for a side order of local wildflowers in bloom.

Murchison GeoRegion

Visit 21 sites of national/ international significance, discover ancient land and culture on the self-drive trail.

Mullewa

Seasonal wildflowers and brilliant night skies for stargazing, a good spot is at Perkins Well #2.

Port Headland & Pilbara

gorge with water in front of it — Carawine Gorge, located on the Oakover River, east of Marble Bar and Nullagine. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Port Hedland is one of the world's largest and busiest working harbours. Welcome to iron ore central. There are numerous tours that give visitors a taste of the shipping and mining operations of the area including Dampier Salt’s operation.

Besides mining operations, the Pilbara has some of the world’s most stunning ancient natural landscapes. It is also rich in Indigenous culture and archaeological sites.

Staircase to the Moon

A natural phenomenon not to be missed. When the full moon rises across the exposed tidal flats it creates the impression of a staircase leading to the moon. There is a viewing deck next to the Cooke Point Caravan Park on Goode Street.

Karijini National Park

Hike numerous trails, discover red layered cliffs lining plunging gorges, refreshing waterfalls, and swim in emerald waterholes.

Dampier Archipelago

A haven of coral reefs, sponge gardens, and more than 650 species of fish. It is also a renowned turtle nesting area for six species of marine turtle including the green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles.

Wheatbelt

sculpture standing in shallow water on a pink lake — Antony Gormley Sculptures at Lake Ballard. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

The Wheatbelt of WA starts with the pristine white beaches and clear turquoise waters of Jurien Bay and Cervantes in the west. It then works its way through to the Avon Valley and the Wheatbelt Way.

Jurien Bay Marine Park

Take a boat tour and visit the home for 21% of Western Australia's population of sea lions.

Lake Ballard

Home to the largest outdoor art gallery on Earth by artist Antony Gormley. 51 individually cast black chromium steel sculptures are installed on the white salt plain and each represents a local resident of Menzies.

Brue Rock

Head to the Kokerbin Nature Reserve to visit the third largest monolith in Australia Rock/Kokerbin Hill.

Western Australia Highlights

aerial view of a car driving along a road with red dirt and scrub either side — Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Our top five picks for the XXXX Travel Guide. Of course, there is so much more to see and do.

Dampier Peninsula
For something rather unique stay at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm in the Master Pearler’s Private Retreat.

Manjimup
Go for a truffle hunt in Manjimup, the epicentre of truffle production in Western Australia. Truffle harvesting season is between May and September.

All Over WA
Wildflowers! Western Australia is home to the largest collection of wildflowers on earth with over 12,000 species. The season starts in the north in June and finishes on the south coast in November.

Shark Bay
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed home of dolphins, dugongs, sea lions, and turtles. Head offshore to Ningaloo reef and swim with the whale sharks.

Kalgoorlie
Come to see one of the world's largest open cut mines, and stay for the golf. Kalgoorlie is home to a multi-million dollar international golf course that is on the way to becoming one of the world's top desert courses. It is also the starting point for the Nullarbor Links, the world's longest golf course.

Festivals and Events

camels on broome beach as the sunsets behind them — Sunset Camel Ride on Cable Beach. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

January
Fringe World Festival, Perth (various venues)

February
Perth Festival
Boyup Brook Country Music Festival
Porongurup Festival
South West Craft Beer Festival, Brusselton
Big Day Out
Perth Comedy Festival

March
Nannup Music Festival
Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe
Livelighter Harvey Harvest Festival, Harvey

April
The Karijini Experience
Donnybrook Apple Festival

May
Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival
Ord Valley Muster, The Kimberley
Moondyne Festival, Avon Valley
Ningaloo Whale Shark Festival
Jazz by the Bay, Dunsborough
WA Day Festival, Perth

June
Albany Classic Motor Event
Mullewa Muster & Rodeo
Truffle Kerfuffle
Pinjarra Festival

July
Revelation Perth International Film Festival
Mowanjum Festival

August
Gascoyne Food Festival
Nannup Flower & Garden Festival
Cinefest Oz

September
Shinju Matsuri, Broome
Kings Park Festival, Perth
Perth Royal Show

October
Perth Royal Show
Beer & Beef Festival
The York Festival

November
Perth International Jazz Festival
Gourmet Escape

December
Hopman Cup

Planning Your Visit

pink lake with a road running next to it — Hutt Lagoon, near Port Gregory. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

WA is Australia's largest state, it's BIG. With its size comes a wide variety of weather conditions. Mediterranean climate in the south, desert in the east and tropical conditions in the north.

Perth: The average maximum summer temperature is 29°C, and around 12°C in winter.

Margaret River & South West: Summer temperatures between 25-35°C, and 8-16°C in winter.

Exmouth & Coral Coast: Quite a large area with a Mediterranean climate in the south and a sub tropical climate in the north.

Broome & North West: The dry season is between April - September with a maximum daytime temperature of around 29°C. From October to March you will experience tropical rainstorms, high humidity, and temperatures in the high 30s.

Esperance & The Golden Outback: Summer temperatures can reach as high as 37ºC and range from 15ºC in winter.

Book your accommodation well in advance if visiting an area during school holidays or a festival.

Even in summer pack a light jumper for the evenings, especially if you are in the Outback.

Summer: Water activities and longer daylight hours to explore.
Autumn: Milder weather for hiking and outdoor activities.
Winter: Best time to visit the northern parts of the state.
Spring: Hiking and the native flowers are blooming.

Getting Here

train on a jetty — Busselton Jetty. Credit: Tourism Western Australia

By Air: Perth Airport is the main International and Domestic Airport. There are many Regional Airports dotted around the State.

By Train: The Indian Pacific runs from Sydney to Perth via Adelaide. The Indian Pacific is also one of Australia's Greatest Train Journeys. Transwa also run train lines from Perth to Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Merredin, and Midland to Northam.

By Sea: Pre-COVID times Freemantle (Perth) was the major cruising port for Western Australia. At present cruising is on hold.

By Bus: TransRegional runs various bus services throughout Regional WA.