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0207 001 4504The 7,500-mile coastline has remote hideaways, city shorelines and even vineyard beaches
Experiences Perth’s urban cool, Margaret River’s wine country, and wild Rottnest Island
See dramatic landscapes like nowhere on Earth, including two-billion-year-old rock formations
Covering 2.5million square miles, Western Australia is a geographical juggernaut. It’s the size of Western Europe and Australia’s largest state making it the perfect choice for either an unforgettable Australia escorted tour or independent exploration. The state capital Perth is both the world’s most isolated major city and the sunniest metropolis in Australia. Bordered by the Indian Ocean on the west and Northern Territory and South Australia way off to the east, Western Australia – known as WA – is home to UNESCO reefs and rock formations, world-class wineries, and a selection of the finest beaches to be found on the planet.
And holidays to Western Australia have never been easier. The introduction of direct flights from London to Perth has made WA, and Australia, more accessible than ever before. Qantas’ direct flight leaves London Heathrow at lunchtime and arrives in Perth at lunchtime the following day.
Given Western Australia’s vast size, you can easily spend two weeks just in the environs of Perth and the south west of the state, taking in its cityscape, beaches and the local attractions on Rottnest Island. Combine this with a few days south in the Margaret River wineries and Albany, or opt to travel further north up the Coral Coast towards Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef. Or you could even venture towards the Golden Outback, to Kalgoorlie, to discover the spirit of the Gold Rush.
Western Australia spans 2,400 kilometres from north to south, so you’ll likely want to take an internal flight from Perth up to the attractions in the more tropical north, such as the beach resort town of Broome and The Kimberley. For a campervan or self-drive adventure from Perth up to Exmouth, stopping along the Coral Coast, ten or more days is an ideal amount of time. Those with a week or less should focus on the South West and we’d recommend hiring a car so you can experience the multiple attractions of this diverse region. If you’re planning on heading further east towards Adelaide, or even to Sydney, this is the perfect opportunity to try one of the world’s great rail journeys across the vast expanse of the Nullarbor Plain on the legendary Indian Pacific. From Perth it takes three days to get to Adelaide, and four to reach Sydney.
You can happily spend a few days in Perth and its surrounding neighbourhoods. With a vibrant centre full of restaurants, shops and cultural venues, Perth is also home to one of the world’s largest inner city parks, Kings Park. The Swan River creates a stunning contrast against a skyline of city high rises. For watersports enthusiasts, there’s sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.
Or, simply go for a stroll or take a Segway tour along the boardwalks on the riverfront. From here, you can take a cruise to Fremantle, the Swan Wineries, or to Perth’s holiday island of Rottnest. With 63 beaches and 20 bays, Rottnest Island packs a big punch. Here you can hire a bike, rent snorkels, and search for dolphins. You’re also bound to spot a cute quokka, the furry marsupials that are endemic to Rottnest.
Less than three hours south of Perth is the Margaret River region, home to over 100 wineries. Gourmet restaurants and producers abound as do great beaches. There are plenty of eco-adventures to be had, including coastal walks, dolphin swims and whale-watching. 30,000 humpback whales migrate along the coastline each year from June to December. Further south and to the east is Albany, with its ANZAC history, seafood and cooler climate wines.
The seemingly never-ending southern coastline takes you to Esperance. These beaches have some of Australia’s whitest sand, which even the local kangaroos gravitate to. If you’ve travelled this far over, why not head north in the Golden Outback to explore rugged Kalgoorlie’s frontier goldfields and colonial buildings? It’s the Outback’s biggest city and home to The Super Pit, one of the world’s largest open cut mines, at nearly four kilometers long and over one kilometre wide. Close by is Lake Ballard, home to a stunning art installation by Sir Antony Gormley.
Stretching north of Perth is the Coral Coast Highway. An epic road trip which combines two world heritage listed sites and incredible wildlife every step of the way. Discover the lunar landscape of The Pinnacles, the bright pink lake at Hutt Lagoon and rugged gorges at Kalbarri National Park. Meet the famously friendly wild dolphins at Monkey Mia before spotting the largest fish in the ocean, the gentle whale shark as well as manta rays and humpback whales at Ningaloo Reef. Inland, you can spot black-footed rock wallabies, emus and echidnas.
You can drive even further north but, if you want to visit Broome in the far northwest, we’d recommend taking a short domestic flight from Perth. Broome is Australia’s pearling capital, home to Cable Beach and its famous camel tours. Witness how the pearls are cultured and discover this vibrant multicultural community. It’s home to many Asian communities, whose ancestors rushed to the area in the 1880s when pearls were discovered.
Perth averages nine hours of sunshine every day, regardless of the season, with around 130 blue sky days a year. South of Perth around the Margaret River wineries the climate is Mediterranean. The further north you travel, the climate becomes more subtropical, right up until you reach Broome in the northwest.
That means, in the north, the dry season runs from April to September, when temperatures peak at 30°C. But you can expect heavy rain showers in the ‘green season’ from October to March, with more humidity and high thirties being the norm. The north is better to visit during the UK’s spring and summer time, whereas further south during this period temperatures in Perth can fall as low as 12°C. Between November and February, meanwhile, Perth and the southwest see average temperatures in mid-to-high twenties.
If you're keen to swim with Whale sharks in Exmouth the best time to visit is from March to August. Between May and December, humpback, southern right and blue whales make their way along Western Australia's coast so keep your eyes peeled whenever you're looking out to see. For your chance to see killer whales (orcas) head down to Bremer Bay on WA's south coast between January and March.
You can happily spend a few days in Perth and its surrounding neighbourhoods. With a vibrant centre full of restaurants, shops and cultural venues, Perth is also home to one of the world’s largest inner city parks, Kings Park. The Swan River creates a stunning contrast against a skyline of city high rises. For watersports enthusiasts, there’s sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.
Or, simply go for a stroll or take a Segway tour along the boardwalks on the riverfront. From here, you can take a cruise to Fremantle, the Swan Wineries, or to Perth’s holiday island of Rottnest. With 63 beaches and 20 bays, Rottnest Island packs a big punch. Here you can hire a bike, rent snorkels, and search for dolphins. You’re also bound to spot a cute quokka, the furry marsupials that are endemic to Rottnest.
Less than three hours south of Perth is the Margaret River region, home to over 100 wineries. Gourmet restaurants and producers abound as do great beaches. There are plenty of eco-adventures to be had, including coastal walks, dolphin swims and whale-watching. 30,000 humpback whales migrate along the coastline each year from June to December. Further south and to the east is Albany, with its ANZAC history, seafood and cooler climate wines.
The seemingly never-ending southern coastline takes you to Esperance. These beaches have some of Australia’s whitest sand, which even the local kangaroos gravitate to. If you’ve travelled this far over, why not head north in the Golden Outback to explore rugged Kalgoorlie’s frontier goldfields and colonial buildings? It’s the Outback’s biggest city and home to The Super Pit, one of the world’s largest open cut mines, at nearly four kilometers long and over one kilometre wide. Close by is Lake Ballard, home to a stunning art installation by Sir Antony Gormley.
Stretching north of Perth is the Coral Coast Highway. An epic road trip which combines two world heritage listed sites and incredible wildlife every step of the way. Discover the lunar landscape of The Pinnacles, the bright pink lake at Hutt Lagoon and rugged gorges at Kalbarri National Park. Meet the famously friendly wild dolphins at Monkey Mia before spotting the largest fish in the ocean, the gentle whale shark as well as manta rays and humpback whales at Ningaloo Reef. Inland, you can spot black-footed rock wallabies, emus and echidnas.
You can drive even further north but, if you want to visit Broome in the far northwest, we’d recommend taking a short domestic flight from Perth. Broome is Australia’s pearling capital, home to Cable Beach and its famous camel tours. Witness how the pearls are cultured and discover this vibrant multicultural community. It’s home to many Asian communities, whose ancestors rushed to the area in the 1880s when pearls were discovered.
Perth averages nine hours of sunshine every day, regardless of the season, with around 130 blue sky days a year. South of Perth around the Margaret River wineries the climate is Mediterranean. The further north you travel, the climate becomes more subtropical, right up until you reach Broome in the northwest.
That means, in the north, the dry season runs from April to September, when temperatures peak at 30°C. But you can expect heavy rain showers in the ‘green season’ from October to March, with more humidity and high thirties being the norm. The north is better to visit during the UK’s spring and summer time, whereas further south during this period temperatures in Perth can fall as low as 12°C. Between November and February, meanwhile, Perth and the southwest see average temperatures in mid-to-high twenties.
If you're keen to swim with Whale sharks in Exmouth the best time to visit is from March to August. Between May and December, humpback, southern right and blue whales make their way along Western Australia's coast so keep your eyes peeled whenever you're looking out to see. For your chance to see killer whales (orcas) head down to Bremer Bay on WA's south coast between January and March.
Want to explore? There’s plenty to see in Australia
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Between them, our travel specialists have years of holiday expertise.
Our tailor-made holiday packages make it easy for you to discover more of the world.
Whether you're looking for luxury or simplicity, we've got the perfect holiday for you.
Travelbag is fully protected by ATOL, so your booking is completely secure.