Visit cosmopolitan Perth, Buzzing with rooftops bars, hidden laneways and instragram-worthy restaurants and cafes. Sample gourmet food and wine in the Margaret River and Snorkel UNESCO world Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef. Walk on the moonscape of the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park and see the unqiue rock formations that form the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park.
As diverse as it is vast, there are plenty of reasons to visit Western Australia.
You literally have to see this event to believe it. This incredible natural phenomenon occurs when the full moon rises over the exposed tidal flats of Roebuck Bay, creating the illusion of an actual staircase leading up to the moon. Head to Broome between March and November and catch the Staircase to the Moon markets at Town Beach, Broome, where you can sample local produce, buy handmade products and enjoy the sounds of local entertainers.
Twenty-two kilometres of white pristine sand edged by the stunning water of the Indian Ocean makes Broome’s Cable Beach one of Australia’s most visited beaches. From finding a quiet stretch of sand to simply relax on, to swimming, kayaking or surfing, you choose to be as active or inactive as you want. Cable Beach is famous all over the world for its iconic camel rides. Sit astride one of these amazing camels while it walks in time with the camel train giving you another perspective on this location.
Home to the majestic orange and black striped beehive domes – the Bungle Bungles – in Purnululu National Park is one of Australia’s most unusual and fascinating landforms. Due to its remoteness and huge scale, there are areas that have not been seen by the human eye for thousands of years. For the best views over the national park, opt for a plane or helicopter ride or if you are feeling adventurous, hike into the range and explore Echidna Chasm, Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Creek.
Western Australia is not short on incredible animal encounters and swimming with the gentle Whale sharks as they play in the waters off the Coral Coast between March and August, is an experience not to be missed. Watch in awe as these magnificent ocean behemoths, reaching lengths of 40 feet or more, glide gracefully past your boat oblivious to life above the water. Marvel at the size, grace and beauty of the biggest fish in the world as you swim alongside it in the pristine waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park. Fortunately for land-dwellers, their favourite meal is plankton.
Blessed with picturesque scenery, dazzling marine life and some of the best beaches in the world, Rottnest Island is just a short ferry ride from Perth but a world away from city life. With 63 stunning beaches and 20 delightful bays to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect sport for a refreshing swim. Hire a bike and cycle around the island, join a guided walking tour or grab some snorkelling gear and discover the underwater snorkel trails. Whatever you do, join the like of Roger Federer and Margot Robbie, and get a selfie with the cutest inhabitant of Rottnest Island – the Quokka!
One of the best ways to discover the rugged, untouched beauty of the Kimberley Coast is on an expedition cruise. Red ochre, sandstone cliff carved by powerful forces of nature, cathedral like gorges such as King George Falls, cascading waterfalls, tidal streams and pristine beaches are waiting to be explored. This precious wilderness area is also home to galleries of exquisite rock art thousands of years old and a variety of wildlife. Choose from a range of all-inclusive cruises departing from Broome, Wyndham and Darwin, between April and October. April and May are generally regards as the beset months to go to see waterfalls in full force after the wet season.
The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is located in the south west of the state and will give you a bird’s eye view of some of Western Australia’s majestic tingle trees, the biggest trees on Earth. The walk is the first of its kind, climbing 40 metres into the forest canopy and meandering through the treetops for 600 metres. Take in the spectacular scenery of densely forested hills before descending to the boardwalks below to explore the Ancient Empire Walk, a grove of towering veteran tingle trees. These giant eucalypts are found nowhere else on Earth, some standing for more than 400 years.
Over 2,700 million years old and a 3.5 hour drive from the nearest beach, you will find Australia’s largest wave. This curved cliff face, resembling a wave about to break, is 15 metres high and 110 metres long. It has been rounded by weathering and water erosion undercutting its base and leaving a rounded overhang. Water from springs active in the wetter months, runs down the cliff face, dissolving and re-depositing chemicals in the granite, leaving red, brown, yellow and grey stains of carbonates and iron hydroxide. During early spring, Wave rock is surrounded by a sea of native wildflowers. Close by, you can visit a collection of ancient rock paintings.
The wildflower collection in Western Australia is one of the largest floral shows on Earth. With more than 12,000 species, over 60% of which are found nowhere else on Earth, they colour the landscape from the coast to the forest and from the city to the outback. In June and July, the north of the state is covered with vibrant blooms. By October and November, it has moved south through Perth and into the South West. You can take in the spectacle of each region and season on the many wildflower scenic drives and walking trails. Enjoy nature’s spectacle in Kings Park and Bold Park in Perth or head to Kensington Bushland to see over 150 species in bloom.
Explore one of Australia’s most intriguing landscapes in Nambung National Park, around 200 kilometres northwest of Perth. The Pinnacles Desert showcases a lunar-like landscape consisting of thousands of tall limestone spires, shaped over millions of years by the forces of water and wind, rising eerily out of the yellow desert sands. Walk across the moonscape-like surface and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another world. For a bird’s eye perspective, make your way to the Pinnacles Lookout, where you will be able to view the little Painted Desert and the unusual white dunes.
The Indian Pacific traverses Australia from coast to coast, between the sparkling waters of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans.
Setting off from Perth, the train climbs through the scenic Avon Valley and into Western Australia’s expansive wheat belt before arriving at the first stop in Kalgoorlie. There is plenty to see and do in this historic town with its old pubs, heritage architecture and the extraordinary floodlit Super Pit goldmine. Witness Australia’s vasat open spaces as you cross the Nullarbor Plain, before a brief stop at Cook, one of the world’s most isolated townships with a population of just four.
The city of Adelaide is your next stop and it’s here you can choose an Off Train Excursion and indulge in an abundance of food, wine and history. Continue on to Broken Hill and learn of the town’s colourful culture on an Off Train Excursion. Make your way through the spectacular Blue Mountains to experience an Off Train Excursion before continuing to the final destination of Sydney.