10 Spectacular Places That You Must Visit in Western Australia
by Lana.B, CrowdSourcedExplorer | 10 January 2023 | South America Travel Guide
Many tourists from other countries only travel to the eastern states of Australia, so they are unaware of the stunning natural beauty that Western Australia (WA) has to offer.
Western Australia is a hidden treasure when it comes to tourism!
Western Australia is a fantastic location for ecotourism, boasting attractions such as the breathtaking Jewel Cave, a beautiful Pink Lake, and some of the friendliest dolphins you'll ever meet.
In addition, the state is home to several intriguing metropolitan centres that you won't want to miss.
Let's look at some of the top tourist destinations in Western Australia (WA), shall we?
Note: All travel times used in this article, use Perth as a starting point.
Moore River National Park
Just an hour's drive up the coast or up the Great Northern Highway from Perth is the picturesque Moore River Region.
Begin your seaside adventures in Guilderton, a picturesque town perched on the banks of the Moore River. Visitors can enjoy the most of Moore River's natural surroundings on foot, thanks to the area's many hiking paths. Tourists also enjoy swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and cruising along the river for its scenic beauty and abundance of aquatic life. With a boardwalk leading out to a scenic overlook, this location is perfect for bird-watching or a leisurely picnic.
Popular activities in the Moore River National Park include fishing, which is accessible both in the river and in coastal areas such as Ledge Point, Caraban, and Quinns Rocks.
Booking a beach home in the area allows guests to spend multiple nights and make the most of the area's many attractions.
Chittering
Chittering is an excellent destination for a day trip or staycation close to Perth if you want to reconnect with nature. Perfect for being at one with nature, with a travel time of only around 1-1.5 hours.
Located in the Avon Valley Region, the Darling Ranges are home to Chittering Valley, a lush and verdant area filled with pristine bushland, wetlands, wineries, orchards, and some pretty breathtaking wildflowers.
Joey the Tiny Cabin is the sweetest place to spend the weekend if you're planning on making a getaway of it!
Black Diamond Lake, Collie
A visit to Black Diamond Lake on a hot day is required since the lake's water is so wonderfully blue, making it likely to be one of the most Instagrammable locations in Western Australia (WA). Great for camping, with a travel time of around 2-3 hours.
This area, located in Collie, is reserved exclusively for swimming; however, if you are interested in camping, you can do it at Stockton Lake, which is accessible by pulling your boat ashore.
Albany
Even though the Great Southern is often more remote, it is occasionally well worth the trip.
Albany, Western Australia's (WA) earliest European settlement, was founded in 1826, a few years before Perth. Great for food, drinks & history, while the travel time is around 5-6 hours. This area is a tourist hotspot offering a delightful variety of historical sites, waterfront eating and drinking establishments, along with beautiful coastline locations.
There's something for everyone here: excellent wine, eating, fishing, surfing, swimming, diving, hiking, mountain biking, four-wheeling, and camping!
Visit the National Anzac Centre, a cutting-edge interpretive museum perched over King George Sound, and transport yourself back in time. Experience the Great War through the eyes of the ANZACs and their stories.
Learn why Albany is known as a whaling town at Discovery Bay and see the gentle giants up close on a whale tour in the magnificent King George Sound.
The Gap, one of the most intimidating rock formations on the southern coast, is located just a few minutes outside of town, and its 18-turbine wind farm, which overlooks the beautiful Sandpatch beach, is sure to blow your mind.
You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to places to stay!
Exmouth
Pilbara is often associated with Australiaโs mining industry, but offers much more.
Great for fishing, while the travel time is around 14-15 hours. Ancient Aboriginal rock-art sites and two gorgeous national parks hide canyons, summits, ponds, and wildlife.
Exmouth is a Pilbara jewel where you can snorkel, fish, and spot whale sharks. Turquoise Bay is among them. The Drift Snorkel Area is one of the beach's most unique features. The current sweeps you on a fantastic voyage as you glide over coral bommies.
Be careful:
Donโt miss the exit spot, or you'll be dragged through the reef gap! Get out before the sandy section where the current intensifies.
Karijini
We highly recommend going on a hunt for waterfalls, and Karijini is the best in the world.
Great for waterfalls, while the travel time is around 15-16 hours. As one of Western Australia's most remarkable tourist destinations, this area features fifteen tight, magnificent gorges, private pools, and enormous waterfalls.
There is a lot of fauna and more than 800 distinct plant species in this crimson slice of the Hamersley Range, so it is a must for nature lovers!
When it comes to accommodation, you can choose between the primary, park-operated Dales Gorge Campground and the more luxurious, eco-friendly tents and trailers at Karijini Eco Retreat, depending on how much you want to splurge or how much you want to rough it.
Esperance
Esperance, in the Bay of Isles, enjoys an idyllic location thanks to its calm waters and beautiful sands.
Great for beaches, while the travel time is around 8-9 hours. Beach life is fantastic, and the atmosphere is laid back. The Recherche Archipelago, a group of 105 islands off the town's coast, is home to various marine wildlife, including fur seals, penguins, and seagulls, and features beautiful beaches and distant national parks to the southeast.
Blue Haven, Twilight Beach, Fourth Beach, West Beach, Salmon Beach, and many more are all available for sunbathing and postcard-making.
There are plenty of options for lodging, regardless of your budget, but if you're seeking something out of the ordinary, you should check out Esperance Chalet Village.
Coral Bay
Coral Bay is great for snorkeling, but with a long travel time of about 12-13 hours. The town has only one street and a white-sand beach, so you can snorkel and swim on foot. Bliss.
Bright, gorgeous coral is only 10m away from the coast. Join an ocean excursion to observe turtles and fish; it really is surreal.
Because Coral Bay is a popular vacation spot for families, during peak season, you'll need to act fast if you want to stay at one of the area's hotels and resorts.
Broome
Broome has long been known for its laid-back vibe and one-of-a-kind personality, despite its humble beginnings as a pearling town in the outback. Buses cost $190 - $290 and take 35h from Perth, while flying from to Broome costs between $170-$750 and takes 4h 44m.
If you appreciate fresh, local food, the outdoors, and culture, you'll adore this unusual destination!
Perhaps you're already envisioning yourself on a camel riding into the sunset along Cable Beach, but if you want to make the most of your time in the natural playground that is the Northwest of Australia, you'll need to plan ahead.
Visit a pearl farm, ride a hovercraft to see dinosaur footprints that date back 120 million years at Roebuck Bay Marine Park, take a walking tour to learn about the town's multicultural history, or fly over Gantheaume Point and the rugged red Pindan Cliffs from above on a helicopter and take in the scenery.
Activities as diverse as beach polo and Aboriginal cultural celebrations are often held in Broome and the Kimberley. It's the perfect site to start your experience in the north-west, where the forest meets the Indian Ocean.
Horizontal Waterfalls
Talbot Bay, in the Buccaneer Archipelago, is home to the swift tidal currents known as the Horizontal Falls, which are squeezed through two tiny gorges of the McLarty Range.
These waterfalls, nicknamed โHorries", look like they were flipped on their sides!
You can't drive up to the Horizontal Falls, unfortunately. But from Broome or Derby, you can take a seaplane or a helicopter to get there quickly. Flying from Perth to Broome takes about 2.5 hours, while driving will take at least two days.
The seaward gorge is 20 meters broad while the landward gorge is 10 meters. As the tides come in, seawater can't move through the gorges quickly enough, causing a waterfall-like torrent and a 4-meter height differential between the two sides.
This remarkable place is one of the world's greatest natural wonders!
Enhance Your Journey
Magnificent scenery, fascinating animals, beaches, ancient waterways, authentic aboriginal experiences, superb occurrences, cultural inspiration, spectacular hikes, and pathways, in-short Western Australia encourages you to pick your adventure!
Take your vacation to the next level with CrowdsourcedExplorer.com by adding the wow factor and a laid-back lifestyle, set against iconic red landscapes and kilometers of glittering coastline.
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