Western Australia

About Western Australia

The largest of Australia's states and territory's, Western Australia has it all and is a must do for visitors - generally as a trip on itself unless part of a grand tour. However, most Aussie's have never made the trip west and would struggle to place some of its leading destinations on a map!

Western Australia has a thriving economy, based on mining, agriculture and tourism, it is a bone of contention to many Western Australian's that they are effectively bankrolling their cousins further east. That said, much of the proceeds of the latest mineral boom (no recession here!) have been channeled into local infrastructure and recreational facilities - great news for the visitor.

Outside of Perth the state is big and empty - even by Australian standards. The tourist board describes Western Australia as a land of great contrasts, magic and wander - which sounds like marketing boloney if ever I heard it...so what is it really like? Did I mention it was big?

Massive...so the climate and geology vary dependant on where you are - let's break it down...

Perth and surrounds.

Perth is the capital of the state and home to about three quarters of WA's 2.2million people. Set on the Swan river, the main focus of many locals entertainment is water based. White sandy beaches can be found about 15 minutes from the city centre and Kings Park is all that a city park should be. Perth's climate is Mediterranean, with very hot, dry summers and mild but wet winters. Autumn is a good time to visit as the temperature is not so fierce and rainfall still less likely.

The Perth area extends to include Fremantle, about 20 minutes drive south, Fremantle is a lively cosmopolitan port with a highly acclaimed cappuccino strip. Further south still is Rockhampton and Mandurah, whilst to the north is Lancelin and to the east the Avon Valley and Peel district. West (by boat) is Rottnest Island - a favourite playground for Perthites.

Australia's South West.

This is where we are! It's ace here!

So what have we got? Loads of great, empty, sandy, beaches - many with absolute world class swells. We have wine, lots of it and it's very good! We're not too shabby on the food front either. We have forests, with majestic trees that are really rather tall. Caves which are dark. Lots of walks, through spectacular scenery, you'll see wild flowers, kangaroos and possibly dolphins and whales playing in the ocean. We also have some very relaxed and happy locals - why wouldn't we be?

The weather. Great in summer - not too hot, but hot enough and no rain. Spring's nice, the whales and wildflowers arrive, it's still a bit cool and wet though. Autumn's lovely, cooling down a bit after summer - the water is still warm. And winter. Wet. Very wet. When it isn't wet, it is windy - but in all honesty it is usually both! On the plus side the surf gets huge and you can drink wine indoors...you'll also have some of the world's best beaches entirely to yourself!

Places to go in south west, western Australia include Bunbury which is good for the dolphins at Koombana Bay and has a Big W, Busselton and Dunsborough on Geographe Bay - great for kids as the water is calm. (Note - Dunsborough is vastly superior to Busselton in so, so many ways...) On the Indian Ocean coast you'll find Yallingup and Margaret River (actually Margaret River township is about 10kms inland, but you need to head to the sea to surf - somewhat obviously.) Right down south you'll find Augusta (next stop the Antarctic and it feels like in winter), Walpole (karri forest), Denmark and Albany. Further inland is Pemberton and along the Blackwood River are Nannup, Bridgetown and Ballingup.

Australia's Golden Outback.

So called as the marketing boys and girls really needed to justify their money - but then I certainly can't do any better!

A vast area, extending from the tropics, down to the Southern Ocean, encompassing Esperance on the coast and the Kalgoorlie Goldfields. The wheat belt is also part of this areas, famous (locally) for its wildflowers in the Spring and the Golden Outback contains a few significant deserts (therefore earning it's name) - the Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert and some of the Nullarbor Plain.

This is what the "outback" means to Australians - vast open spaces and dazzling night sky's, it gives you a sense of self. (Any-one got a job in marketing that needs filling?)

Australia's Coral Coast.

Another big region (they are all big), basically stretches from the Pinnacles in the south to the Ningaloo reef in the north. Clearly the further up you go, the hotter you will get. The top of this region is hot year round (very hot in summer) - it is busiest in winter with reason...

Starting from the south then, the Pinnacles are well worth a visit and can be done easily in a day from Perth. Also in the Nambung national park is Hangover Bay, an outstanding beach. Up a bit, you come to Cervantes and Jurien Bay - Jurien Bay is home to some resident sea lions. Past Geraldton you get to Kalbarri, where the terrain becomes a bit more rugged. Next stop is the Shark Bay World Heritage Area - crystal clear waters home to dugongs, dolphins (Monkey Mia) and stromatolites - very exciting if you are a scientist.

At the top of the region - and if you've come this far you may as well keep going...is the Ningaloo reef. Less famous than the Great Barrier reef, but without the additional boat journey to get there as Ningaloo can be accessed from the shore. The main settlements are Coral Bay and Exmouth - both good bases to explore the reef though Exmouth is closer to the Cape Range National Park which is the highlight of many a backpackers trip around Australia.

Australia's North West.

Broome. And the Outback / the Kimberley - this is where much of the movie Australia was shot.

Broome is busy in winter as this is when the weather is at its best. The long, white, sandy beach sandwiched between red desert to the east and brilliant blue ocean to the west is the image most associated Broome. Historically it was a pearling town attracting many Japanese, Broome has retained much of this culture. It summer it is really hot (really) and wet - and susceptible to cyclones...

The rest of this region is very sparsely populated, one of the last great wildernesses. Watch out for the crocs...

What to do and where to stay in Western Australia - Perth and surrounds, Australia's South West, Australia's North West, Australia's Coral Coast, Australia's Golden Outback

What to do and where to stay in Australia - New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, ACT