Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, accounting for approximately one-third of the continent. Despite its massive size, the population of Western Australia is only 1.8 million with the majority of people living in Perth. Western Australia has stunning landscapes, from sandy beaches to desert plains, beautiful rainforest to coastal hinterlands.
REGIONS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Western Australia can be divided into six regions: Perth, Coral Coast, Kimberly, Outback, Pilbara, and South West.
Perth Perth is the vibrant, modern capital of Western Australia. Located 4,400 kilometres from Sydney, Perth is an attractive travel destination for tourists wanting to get off the beaten path. The city’s stunning skyscrapers are situated between the Indian Ocean and distant Darling Ranges. On the west of Perth is the Swan River, which gives the city a charming harbourside. With a population of just 1 million people, Perth is famous for its friendly, laid-back atmosphere, as well as its sunny skies and white sand beaches. Perth also has excellent restaurants and eateries that cater to all tastes and budgets. The shopping in Perth is fun and affordable with a variety of chic designer outlets. When the sun goes down, Perth pulsates with nightlife in its many bars, clubs, and restaurants.
Coral Coast The Coral Coast is the coastal region that stretches from north of Perth to the town of Exmouth. In this region you will find a treasure trove of beaches, national reserves, and exotic marine life. You can swim with the world’s largest fish, the whaleshark, or snorkel around the stunning Ningaloo Reef, a reef system that rivals the Great Barrier Reef. The Coral Coast is also famous for surfing and windsurfing. People flock to the Coral Coast at all times of the year for beachside holidays. The only bad thing about the Coral Coast is having to leave!
Coral Bay is a two hours drive south from Exmouth. The town has a warm climate all year round, so people of all ages travel to Coral Bay to kayak, scuba dive, and snorkel. Another attraction of Coral Bay is the quad-trekking across the sand dunes. You can also take tour to Ningaloo Reef from Coral Bay.
Ningaloo Reef is the only fringing reef system in the world. Stretching for 260 kilometres along the coast of Western Australia, the Ningaloo Reef is much less developed for tourism than the Great Barrier Reef. However, Ningaloo Reef is much closer to the shore. Sometimes it just takes a few kicks to bring you to the reef system. Ningaloo Reef has 500 species of fish and 220 species of colourful corals. Whalesharks, humpback whales, and dolphins are often sighted around Ningaloo Reef as well. The best way to see the Reef is to scuba dive or snorkel. Ningaloo Reef is easily accessible from Coral Bay and Exmouth.
Exmouth is another popular destination along the Coral Coast of Western Australia. The region has fantastic swimming beaches and scuba diving sites. From Exmouth, you can take an eco-tour of the Coral Coast, including Ningaloo Reef.
Kimberly Kimberly is the far north region of Western Australia. The area offers spectacular scenery and tropical heat. Kimberly only has three towns with a combined population of 25,000. The rest of the Kimberly region is made up of beautiful coastline and desert plains. The best time to visit Kimberly is April to September when the weather and cooler and you don’t have the threat of
Broome is one of the most scenic and colourful spots in Western Australia. The town is located right on the Indian Ocean’s doorstep and acts as the gateway to the beautiful wilderness of the Kimberly. Broome is an old pearling town, so the town is filled with museums, historical centres, and heritage trails.
Outback The Outback encompasses the vast majority of the land in Western Australia. In this region you’ll see vast blue skies and dramatic desert landscapes. There are many tours that can take you through the Western Australian Outback, showing you the scenery and teaching you about Aboriginal culture. You can also explore the Outback on your own, but be sure to take all the essential supplies and plenty of water.
Coolgardie is an old gold-mining town set in the Western Australian Outback. In this town you’ll find historical buildings, museums, as well as accommodation.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is still a thriving goldfield and one of Western Australia’s bigger cities. The town offers museums, accommodation, and good restaurants. Turn of the century architecture, including the magnificent Boulder Town Hall, the red outback just beyond the settlement's streets and nearby ghost towns make Kalgoorlie-Boulder fascinating to visitors.
Pilbara Pilbara is the region just south of the Kimberly and 1,300 kilometres north of Perth. The region has some of the most fantastic rocky landscapes and land rich in iron, natural gas and salt. Pilbara also contains three national parks, including Rudall River and Karijini.
Port Hedland, located on the coast on the northern side of the Pilbara region, acts as the main port for Pilbara’s iron ore. You’ll find restaurants and accommodation in Port Hedland, as well as museums and recreational centres. Port Hedland is also a great place to look for flatback turtles and humpback whales.
The Millstream-Chichester National Park is a semi-arid park located in the Pilbara region. Situated on the Fortescue River, the National Park is filled with waterlilies, ferns and the rare Millstream Palm. During the winter season, the Millstream-Chichester National Park is sprinkled with wildflowers. Other attractions of the National Park are the freshwater pools, including Chinderwarriner Pool, Crossing Pool, Deep Reach Pool and the Python Pool.
South West The South West is filled with green forests and bordered with beautiful beaches. In this region of Western Australia you can sample world-class food and wine, or go whale watching. The South West region is also a top-spot for surfing!
Freemantle is the first town you’ll come across heading south from Perth. Fremantle is also a very multi-cultural and artistic area—you will find a diverse range of restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums, historical sites, theatres, shops, and much more. The famous Fremantle Markets run on the weekends, selling everything from art and crafts, clothing, jewellery, and food. Fremantle also hosts a number of different art festivals throughout the year.
Bunbury is another popular tourist destination on the South West coast. The biggest attraction of Bunbury is the Bottlenose dolphins. There are many tour companies that take you on a dolphin cruise and allow you to swim and snorkel with them. Bunbury also has a wide array of restaurants and cafes.
Margaret River is an excellent holiday location and only a half-hour drive south from Perth! Margaret River has deep forests, spectacular surfing beaches, and limestone caves. The region is also renowned for its world-class wineries and gourmet restaurants.
Albany is located on the southern tip of the South West region, 409 kilometres from Perth. Albany is a thriving multi-cultural city with a dramatic granite coastline, sheltered waterways, white sand beaches. During the winter, whale watching is a popular activity in Albany.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA URL’S: http://www.westernaustralia.com
