Discover Western Australia

Rock formations, reefs and unique habitats

Purnululu National Park is in Western Australia’s Kimberley region and covers almost 240,000 hectares of remote land managed as wilderness. In the Bungle Bungle Range, beehive-shaped karst sandstone formations rise 250 metres above the surrounding semi-arid savannah. Fourteen hiking trails extend across the northern and southern parts of the range. Access to the park is restricted to high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, as well as single-axle camper trailers and caravans with high ground clearance. Weather and road conditions can affect access; check the latest advisories before setting out.

In Shark Bay, seagrass meadows cover an area of 4,800 square kilometres and are considered the largest and most diverse in the world. Hamelin Pool contains the world’s most diverse and numerous stromatolites. Formed by microbial mats, these are considered some of the oldest life forms on Earth. Shark Bay is therefore notable for both its extensive habitats and its unusual geological and biological formations.

On Western Australia’s remote coast, the Ningaloo Coast is home to a significant coastal reef system alongside a limestone karst system. The Cape Range karst system within the Ningaloo Coast includes hundreds of caves, sinkholes and underground waterways. An estimated 300 to 500 whale sharks gather at the Ningaloo Coast each year.

Hiking and cycling: different kinds of routes

In Karijini National Park, Western Australia’s second-largest national park, the Gorge Rim Walk follows the edge of Dales Gorge. The 2.4-kilometre trail runs between Circular Pool Lookout and Fortescue Falls Lookout. Check park advisories before hiking. The stated distance and named endpoints make this walk easy to distinguish from the region’s long-distance trails.

On Rottnest Island, more than 45 kilometres of interconnected paths and boardwalks make up the Wadjemup Bidi. The island is also known for the quokka, which is unique to Western Australia. The Wadjemup Aboriginal Walking Tour offers a cultural perspective: it begins with a traditional ceremony in the sand, led by a Noongar guide. Check tour booking availability before your trip.

For cyclists, the Munda Biddi is a 1,072-kilometre off-road cycling trail through the scenic Darling Range and the southern forests of Western Australia. Along the route are twelve purpose-built forest shelters between country towns, which are 40 to 60 kilometres apart. Several access points reachable by car make day rides and short overnight trips possible; check current access conditions before setting out.

The Bibbulmun Track offers a different kind of route: this 1,000-kilometre long-distance hiking trail crosses the South West region, from the Perth Hills to Albany (Kinjarling). Comparing it with the Munda Biddi shows two different ways to travel—a long cycling trail and a long hiking trail. So when planning, it’s not just the total distance that matters, but also whether you want to experience the route by bike or on foot.

Culture, wine and trip planning

Fremantle Prison is the only building in Western Australia listed as a World Heritage Site. In Perth, the WA Museum Boola Bardip presents the state’s cultural and natural heritage through three major exhibition themes: “Being Western Australian,” “Discovering Western Australia” and “Exploring the World.” Specific exhibition content may change. The museum is accessible by train and bus.

In the Margaret River wine region, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Chardonnay are among the main grape varieties grown. The region has 100 cellar doors and offers gourmet dining experiences. For travellers interested in wine and food, this offers a different focus from national parks, coastal landscapes and long-distance trails.

There are different ways to plan a road trip, too: Western Australia has more than 30 road-trip routes across five regions. A self-guided five-day heritage tour around the state includes stops such as Busselton Jetty. Road-trip route availability may change; check when planning your trip. To find a hotel location, it helps to first list the places you want to visit and the activities you want to do.

Discover more destinations: Broadwater, Cable Beach, Porongurup, City of Greater Geraldton, Shire of Exmouth, Shire of Esperance, Shire of Denmark, Shire of Carnarvon, City of Bunbury, Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Shire of Harvey, City of Belmont, Oombulgurri, Kelmscott, Quinninup, Pemberton, Perth, Shire of Gnowangerup, Kalbarri, Margaret River, Mandurah, Yallingup, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Monkey Mia, Port Hedland, Kununurra, Karratha, Hillarys, Waggrakine, Yanchep, Drummond Cove, Nedlands, Northampton, Harrisdale, Kordabup, Pinjarra, Parryville, Manjimup, Karijini, Halls Creek, Wonnerup, South Yunderup, Torbay, Yanmah, Metricup, Inglewood, Thornlie, Wilson, Bellevue, Stirling City, Cockburn Central, Forrestfield, North Beach, Mullaloo, Trigg, Jurien Bay, Warmun, Carbunup River, Dongara, Port Denison, Denham, Eastbrook, Green Head, Forest Grove, Laverton, Lancelin, Wellard, North Yunderup, Nornalup, Wyndham, Shire of Dalwallinu, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Northam, Prevelly, Cervantes, York, Newman, Preston Beach, City of Wanneroo, Shire of Murray, Shire of Boddington, Town of East Fremantle, City of Rockingham, Shire of Roebourne, Rosa Glen, Gingin, Balingup, Toodyay, Carnamah, Beermullah, Collie, Kingston, Shire of Northam, Mindarie, Derby, Norseman, Greenough, Kendenup, Tom Price, Bibra Lake, West Perth, North Fremantle, Kings Park, Roleystone, Binningup, Burswood, Stratham, Neerabup, Bullsbrook, Jandakot, Port Kennedy, Halls Head, Marangaroo, City of Busselton, Meadow Springs, Pelican Point, Wembley, Karridale, Treeton, Schroeder, Frankland River, Carabooda, Bickley, Glen Forrest, Clackline, Baskerville, Nannup, Boyup Brook, Bindoon, Donnybrook, Gracetown, Herron, Stirling Estate, Mount Helena, Kalamunda, Denbarker, Lower Chittering, Chittering, Herne Hill, Darlington, Chapman Hill, Wanneroo City, Dardanup, Osborne Park, Middle Swan, Harvey, Shadforth, Collins, Yeagarup, Marybrook, Kalgan, Scotsdale, Muchea, Rocky Gully, South Guildford, Bramley, Siesta Park, Woodvale, Karnup, Northcliffe, Mount Barker, Swanbourne, Narrikup, Cuballing, Gelorup, Capel, Broomehill Village, Wandering, King River, Eagle Bay, Ringbark, Redmond, Spalding, Woodbridge, Kronkup, Lowlands, Walpole, Murdoch, Woodanilling, Point Samson, Meekatharra, Pickering Brook, Mumballup, Leeman, Kinross, Bow Bridge, North Boyanup, Yallingup Siding, Dampier, Benger, Bremer Bay, Kukerin, Rosa Brook, Kojonup, Bayswater, Wellington Mill, Cannington, Hazelmere, Brigadoon, Wickepin, Chidlow, Middle Island, City of Wanneroo, Shire of Broome, City of Stirling, City of Joondalup, Town of Mosman Park, Shire of Toodyay, City of Albany, Shire of Gingin, Shire of Northampton, Shire of Katanning, Shire of Dardanup, Shire of Ashburton, City of Mandurah, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of Williams, City of Melville, Leeming

For the overview of destinations in the wider region: Australia.