Western Australia is home to a diverse range of remarkable outdoor landscapes. From the region’s capital Perth / Boorloo, you can explore golden outback, irresistible coastlines and more, with rare wildlife encounters and unforgettable moments all within easy reach of the capital. Head for a bucket-list topping adventure in this enchanting region of Australia.
Get there with Qatar Airways, with regular flights from the UK to Perth.
Broome / Rubibi, where red outback meets turquoise waters
The attractive beach town of Broome / Rubibi is home to some rather unique coastal landscapes, with evocative ancient sites to boot. Dubbed the western gateway to the vast outback landscapes of The Kimberley, Broome / Rubibi is the coastal hideaway nestled alongside one of Australia’s most untouched playgrounds.
Discover the authentic dinosaur footprints preserved in the rocks of Gantheaume Point, take a stroll along the white sands of Cable Beach, or head to a pearl farm to witness the historic trade of these rare treasures. Don’t miss a boat trip to the remarkable Horizontal Falls (as remarkable as they sound) nor a sunset beach ride with Broome Camel Safari.
When the sun has finally sunk away, one final enchantment awaits: the staircase to the moon. When the full moon rises over the mangroves of Roebuck Bay / Yawuru Nagulagun at low tide, the unique tidal movements reflect the light in such a way that a staircase joins the full moon to the coastline.
Enchanting landscapes at Bungle Bungle Range / Purnululu
The Kimberley’s most recognisable landscape, the Bungle Bungle Range / Purnululu is a sight to behold. From the red sands of the outback rise a sea of unique dome-shaped rocks, each curved and rounded with the patterned stripes of 350-million-year-old sedimentary layers.
You can see it from above on a scenic flight, but nothing quite beats the first-hand experience of an Aboriginal Elder guide, where you can hear their stories as you explore the magnificent Echidna Chasm and Cathedral Gorge. Your jumping off point is the town of Kununurra, which is itself in the heart of an adventure wonderland. Fringed by national parks and a giant lake, it’s the perfect centrepoint for your intrepid trails into the eastern edge of the Kimberley.
Margaret River Region, for beaches, wildlife and wine
Discover idyllic coastlines, premium winemaking, ancient caves and spectacular walking routes through wildflowers and forests – Margaret River is one of Western Australia’s most dynamic regions. Just three hours drive from Perth, head on a true adventure – the spectacular hiking trail of the Cape to Cape Track.
Stretching over 135 kilometres, hikers can navigate the ridge that separates the two lighthouses at Cape Naturaliste and Leeuwin here on Wardandi Noongar Country. Expect to be met by incredible forest landscapes, panoramic ocean views and pre-historic cliff formations. On land you’ll certainly see kangaroos, while dolphins are often spotted surfing and humpback whales performing aquatic acrobatics just off the coast May-November.
Meet the Salt People of Lake Ballard
Deep in the heart of the Golden Outback, you’ll find Lake Ballard. A vast saltpan of startling white and coral red is interrupted by black steel figures that scatter across the landscape. Designed by famed British artist Anthony Gormley, they take an already vivid scene and turn it into a culturally significant art installation.
Gormley met with the Wongi, the peoples of this great plain, and let each encounter inspire each of his sculptures. The figurative representations are all the more powerful for it; each is transparently an individual, carefully positioned in a community of saltpan figures. The landscape, its unique colours and awesome sense of space, is an evocative canvas that evolves as the day progresses. Light and shadow dance around the sculptures, and the changing light creates different moods as it hits the glimmering salt and red sands of the lake. It is, undoubtedly, a mesmerising sight.
Sunbathing with kangaroos at Esperance / Kepa Kurl
Sunbathing kangaroos on Australia’s whitest-sand beach? It could only be Esperance / Kepa Kurl. There’s a wealth of breathtaking coastal and outdoor experiences on tap here.
Firstly, of course, the to-die-for beach. Glistening white sands, kangaroo guests, turquoise waters – it doesn’t really get much better for a gorgeous beach getaway. But there’s so much more to unpack. Along the Cape Le Grand National Park hiking trail you can encounter hermit crabs, starfish, seals, dolphins, mesmerising sunsets – talking of which, Frenchman’s Peak offers the best views across the scattered islands of the Recherche Archipelago at twilight.
South of the town opens up fantastic surfing and fishing opportunities at stops like West Beach or Bandy Creek Harbour. For a truly unforgettable experience, take a scenic flight over the pink waters of Lake Hillier.
The enchanting waters of Hutt Lagoon
Hutt Lagoon is a sight to be seen with its bubble-gum pink waters, easily explored by foot, buggy or scenic flight. During the wildflower season, nowhere comes close to matching the kaleidoscopic scenes that you’ll find inland here. The best way to soak up the lagoon’s vivid palette is from the skies. Take a scenic flight from Geraldton or Kalbarri and admire the pink waters and patchwork of rare wildflowers as you cruise through the air.
Under the surf at Shoalwater Marine Park
Discover an enchanting expanse of untouched islands, reefs and unique wildlife. Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is home to the tiniest penguins in the world who inhabit the aptly named Penguin Island. Here, the Little Penguins (which, quite wonderfully, is their official name) breed in the burrows of the island, and are fed regularly by volunteers at the Discovery Centre (where you can get a closer look at these unique penguins).
In the surrounding reefs, snorkelling and diving are a must. You’ll spy all manner of marine life, from sea stars to schools of fish. Plan it right and you might even spot a pod of bottlenose dolphins glide past. They are extremely common in these waters, and swim with dolphin tours are readily available.
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