By heading west you'll escape the daily grind and enter a world of sun, adventure, nature and a laid back lifestyle. Dive with the world's largest fish, wander amongst the intense landforms of the Karinji National Park or roll out your swag under the desert stars. It's all waiting for you out west.
Pleasures of Perth and Fremantle
The gateway to all this is Perth, WA's capital and an experience unto itself.Perth borders the outback, the lush south-west corner and the coral coast. There are superb vineyards and fine dining, some extreme marine experiences and the best of nature right on your doorstep.
Even more relaxed is the neighbouring port city of Fremantle, at the mouth of the Swan. Here you can get into all sorts of water-based fun, including boating, fishing and whatever kind of surfing takes your fancy.
Rottnest Island
Off the coast of Fremantle, Rottnest Island is home to crystal clear beaches and bays, and over 360 species of fish and marine life.It was named by Dutch explorer William De Vlamingh - translating as 'Rat's Nest' - for the quota of quokka he saw from his boat. Visitors favour bikes and walking around here. For another form of transport try taking the Rottnest Island Railway, which takes passengers to the former gun emplacements on Oliver Hill. There are great views of the island, ocean and mainland from the top.
Coral Country
The Coral Coast contains pristine beaches, exotic marine life, national reserves and the bluest of blue seas you'll ever likely see.
The stretch starts at Cervantes and the unusual rock formations of the Pinnacles and continues up to Exmouth. If Exmouth doesn't ring bells, the internationally renowned Ningaloo Reef on its doorstep should. It's an exceptional spot for diving and fishing, with a swag of spectacular reefs and marine life, as well as the obligatory white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
Inland is just as beautiful, especially in spring when the countryside is carpeted with wildflowers. As if this isn't enough, the Coral Coast also offers a chance to meet the dolphins of Monkey Mia, along with their mates sea lions, manta rays, dugongs and humpback whales and the world's largest fish, the whale shark.
Kalbarri National Park
Further south towards Perth, the Kalbarri National Park covers over 186,000ha and contains more than 800 species of wildflowers.The flowers are a major attraction from July to October, when the ground is carpeted with blazing colours from their blooms.
Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie is located 595km east of Perth and 200km north of Norseman. It retains the atmosphere of a mining town and still bears the imprint of those early days in its streets and buildings.The traditional landowners of the Kalgoorlie area are the Maduwangka people and the name is said to be an approximation of the Aboriginal 'Kalgooluh' which means 'Silky Pear Bush' in the local Aboriginal language.
European settlement of Kalgoorlie began in June 1893 with the discovery of rich alluvial gold deposits near Mount Charlotte. Gold was struck in 1892 when a prospector named Paddy Hannan found gold after one of his party's horses had lost a shoe and they were forced to camp overnight.
Wheatbelt Area
Between the goldfields and Perth lies the wheatbelt area. With a dramatic change in landscape, it presents wheat as far as the eye can see.Located near the small town of Hyden, Wave Rock is the big drawcard out this way. It looks like a tall ocean wave about to break, perfectly encased in stone. It's actually a multicoloured granite formation, a spellbinding 15m high and 110m long. Its gently rounded 'wave' shape has been caused by weathering and water erosion which has undercut the base and left a rounded overhang. Various local tours include the rock, with an emphasis on local wildlife, wildflowers or Aboriginal culture.
Unwind with fine wine
Head south-west into wine country around Margaret River, where award-winning drops, fascinating cellar door experiences and luxury accommodation tucked away in lush forests are the order of the day.
The Margaret River is a cherished holiday spot for surfers and wine lovers alike. The south-west region is famous for its premium wines, particularly its whites chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and riesling.
Last of the wild ones
One of the world's few remaining genuine wilderness areas, the north-west region of WA offers a largely un-trod, vast landscape. It boasts several vast natural formations like the Kimberley's Bungle Bungle Range, and national parks like Karijini in the Pilbara that take the artificial green-water grottos of an aquatic fun park and make them real.Relax on Broome's breathtaking Cable Beach and visit the Dampier area to see the largest concentration of rock paintings in the world.
Visit Cossack, a ghost town that demonstrates how much the towns of the region depend on the mining industry. Last but not least, definitely don't miss checking out Lake Argyle which is so big it's classified as an inland sea!
Outback WA
Enormous crystal clear skies and landscapes of theatrical proportion characterise the golden outback of WA.Enjoy Indigenous history and encounters, visits to settlements built by gold-rush trailblazers and that lonely windmill, a solitary speck on the biggest horizon you've ever seen.
Editor's Pick
Cable Beach Camel RideA must do when visiting Broome is a camel ride at Cable Beach especially at sunset when the beach is illuminated in shades of red and gold. Also on offer are morning and pre-sunset tours along this beautiful stretch of white sand and crystal clear waters.
Cable Beach Camel Ride © Tourism Australia
