Welcome to Western Australia
Western Australia is the country at its biggest and most elemental — a state so vast it spans a third of the continent, from Mediterranean Perth and the vineyards of Margaret River to the coral of Ningaloo and the red-earth grandeur of the Kimberley. This is where quokkas pose on car-free islands, whale sharks glide over fringing reef, kangaroos laze on blinding-white beaches, and the Indian Ocean swallows the sun each evening. This is the guide we give our own guests — the icons, the regions, and how to plan a trip across the wild west.
Sunset city, islands & wine
Most journeys begin in Perth — one of the world's sunniest capitals, all river, parkland and Indian Ocean beaches, with characterful Fremantle at its mouth. Offshore lies Rottnest Island and its famous quokkas. A few hours south, Margaret River pairs premium wine with surf breaks, cave systems and towering Karri forests — the easiest and most rewarding introduction to WA.
Reefs, whale sharks & the Kimberley
Head north and the coast turns spectacular. The Coral Coast strings together the Pinnacles, the dolphins of Monkey Mia and World-Heritage Ningaloo Reef, where you can swim with whale sharks. Far to the north, the Kimberley is one of Earth's last great wildernesses — red pindan cliffs and turquoise sea at Broome's Cable Beach, the Gibb River Road, and the beehive domes of the Bungle Bungles.
White sands & a carpet of colour
Down south and inland, the Golden Outback hides some of Australia's best-kept secrets — the squeaky-white sand and beach kangaroos of Esperance, the granite wave of Wave Rock, and the gold-rush streets of Kalgoorlie. And each spring, the whole state erupts into the world's greatest wildflower display — 12,000 species, most found nowhere else on Earth.
The essentials
Planning Western Australia: your questions
Enormously — WA is Australia's biggest, wildest state, with experiences you'll find nowhere else. Swim with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef, meet quokkas on Rottnest Island, sip world-class wine in Margaret River, ride a camel along Cable Beach in Broome, and picnic beside kangaroos on the white sand of Esperance. Add Perth's sunshine and the world's greatest wildflower show, and it's unforgettable.
WA is vast, so match your time to your regions. For Perth, Rottnest and Margaret River, allow 5–7 days. Add the Coral Coast and Ningaloo and you'll want 10–14 days. The Kimberley is a big commitment of its own — 7–12 days. Few visitors see it all in one trip; most focus on the south-west or the north. See our getting around guide.
WA is famous for its coast and wide-open wild — Ningaloo Reef and its whale sharks, the quokkas of Rottnest, Margaret River wine and surf, the red pindan and turquoise sea of Broome and the Kimberley, the Pinnacles, Wave Rock, the white sands of Esperance, its glorious Indian Ocean sunsets, and the planet's biggest wildflower displays each spring.
It depends on where you're headed. The South West and Perth shine in spring and autumn (Sep–Nov, Mar–May); the Coral Coast is great in autumn–spring (whale sharks Mar–Aug); and the Kimberley is a dry-season destination (May–Oct). Wildflowers roll from June in the north to November in the south. See our best time to visit guide.
Most trips start in Perth, then combine flying and driving — the state is enormous (Perth to Broome is over 2,000 km). Self-drive is superb for the South West and the Coral Coast Highway; for the Kimberley and the far north, flights, 4WD and guided tours make sense. See our getting around guide.