Western Australia Travel Guide: Best Places to Visit

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Plan your Western Australia holiday with our guide to Perth, Rottnest Island, Margaret River, Esperance, Ningaloo, Karijini, Broome and the best WA road trips.

Western Australia is enormous, spectacular and remarkably diverse. From the beaches and city attractions of Perth to the wineries of Margaret River, the turquoise waters of Ningaloo Reef, the red gorges of Karijini National Park and the tropical landscapes around Broome, WA can feel like several different destinations rolled into one.

Whether you're planning your first holiday in Western Australia, putting together a Perth road trip, travelling the coast by campervan or looking for the best places to visit in WA, this guide will help you decide where to go and how to start planning.

One thing quickly becomes clear when looking at a map: Western Australia is huge. Trying to see everything in a week or two usually means spending more time driving than exploring, so it often makes sense to concentrate on one region.

Perth – The Gateway to Western Australia​

For many visitors, Perth/Boorloo is the natural starting point for a Western Australia holiday.

Australia's west-coast capital combines city attractions with beaches, parks, restaurants, nightlife and easy access to some excellent day-trip destinations.

Spend a morning exploring Kings Park and Botanic Garden, where elevated viewpoints overlook the city and Swan River, before heading towards the coast for sunset.

Popular Perth beaches include Cottesloe Beach and Scarborough Beach, while nearby Fremantle offers heritage architecture, markets, museums, cafes and a lively waterfront atmosphere.

Other places worth considering around Perth include:

• Kings Park and Botanic Garden
• Elizabeth Quay
• Fremantle
• Cottesloe Beach
• Scarborough Beach
• Swan Valley
• Hillarys Boat Harbour
• Rottnest Island

Tourism Australia highlights Perth's beaches, Kings Park, Fremantle and Rottnest Island among the city's major visitor experiences. (australia.com)

Rottnest Island – Quokkas, Beaches and Cycling​

Wadjemup/Rottnest Island is one of the most popular places to visit from Perth and deserves at least a full day if your itinerary allows.

Located about 19 kilometres off the Perth coast, the island is famous for its quokkas, white-sand beaches, clear water and relaxed atmosphere. (australia.com)

Cycling is one of the best ways to explore Rottnest. There are shorter cycling routes for casual riders as well as a roughly 22 km full-island route, which the island's official visitor information suggests can take around three to five hours depending on stops. (Rottnest Island)

Popular places to look out for include:

• The Basin
• Pinky Beach
• Salmon Bay
• Parker Point
• Geordie Bay
• Wadjemup Lighthouse
• West End

You can swim, snorkel, cycle, walk or use the island bus.

And while getting a quokka photo is almost a Rottnest tradition, remember that quokkas are wild animals. Visitors should not feed or touch them. (Rottnest Island)

A day trip works well, but staying overnight allows you to experience a much quieter side of the island once many day visitors have returned to the mainland.

Margaret River – Wine, Beaches, Caves and Surf​

Around three hours south of Perth lies one of Western Australia's best-known holiday regions: Margaret River.

The region has built an international reputation around wine, food and surfing, but there's considerably more to see than vineyards.

A Margaret River holiday can include:

• Winery and cellar-door visits
• Craft breweries and local food producers
• Limestone caves
• Forest walks
• Surf beaches
• Cape to Cape Track walks
• Coastal lookouts
• Small towns and galleries

Tourism Australia highlights wine, surfing, limestone caves, coastal hiking and Aboriginal experiences among Margaret River's major attractions. (australia.com)

Rather than driving directly from Perth, consider turning the journey into a road trip.

Busselton, with its famous jetty, is a natural stop, while Dunsborough and Yallingup offer beaches, restaurants, coastal scenery and easy access to the northern Margaret River region.

Further south, Augusta and Cape Leeuwin make another worthwhile extension.

The direct Perth-to-Margaret River drive is roughly 277–280 km and around three to three-and-a-half hours, depending on traffic and your route. (Margaret River)

Esperance and Lucky Bay​

For some of Western Australia's most striking coastal scenery, head much further southeast to Esperance/Kepa Kurl.

White sand and intensely turquoise water have made the region particularly popular with photographers and road-trippers.

One of its best-known attractions is Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park, where kangaroos are sometimes seen around the beach.

Other Esperance highlights include:

• Cape Le Grand National Park
• Lucky Bay
• Hellfire Bay
• Frenchman Peak
• Twilight Beach
• Great Ocean Drive
• Recherche Archipelago

Esperance is approximately an eight-hour drive from Perth, so it deserves several days rather than being treated as a quick excursion. (australia.com)

The Pinnacles Desert​

One of the easiest introductions to Western Australia's unusual landscapes is the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park, north of Perth.

Thousands of limestone formations rise from yellow sand, giving parts of the landscape an almost otherworldly appearance.

You can explore via walking trails or follow the drive route through the formations.

Nambung National Park is within a couple of hours' drive of Perth and can work as a day trip, although it also fits naturally into a longer journey north along the Coral Coast. (Explore Parks)

Nearby attractions include Cervantes, Lake Thetis, Hangover Bay and Jurien Bay, so consider allowing a full day rather than simply driving to the Pinnacles and straight back.

Kalbarri – Coast, Gorges and Road Trips​

Continue north and Western Australia's landscape becomes progressively more dramatic.

Kalbarri combines rugged coastal cliffs with the inland gorges of Kalbarri National Park, making it a popular stop on a Perth-to-Ningaloo road trip.

Rather than rushing through, WA Parks recommends allowing at least a couple of days to explore the gorge areas and coastline. (Explore Parks)

The drive north also passes destinations such as Cervantes, Jurien Bay and Geraldton, making this one of WA's classic road-trip routes.

Ningaloo Reef – Exmouth and Coral Bay​

Continue along the coast and you'll eventually reach one of Australia's outstanding marine environments: Ningaloo Reef/Nyinggulu.

Unlike many reef destinations, parts of Ningaloo are accessible directly from the shore.

The two main visitor bases are Exmouth and Coral Bay, and travellers come for snorkelling, diving, beaches and marine wildlife.

Depending on the season, visitors may encounter:

• Whale sharks
• Manta rays
• Sea turtles
• Humpback whales
• Tropical fish
• Coral gardens

Whale shark season is generally centred around late March to July, although marine experiences vary throughout the year. (australia.com)

Cape Range National Park, Turquoise Bay and Yardie Creek also make Exmouth an excellent base for visitors who enjoy both coastal and outback scenery.

Karijini National Park​

For a completely different Western Australian experience, head inland into the Pilbara.

Karijini National Park is one of the state's most dramatic national parks, with layered red-rock gorges, waterfalls, hiking trails and natural pools.

The landscape has been carved through rock more than 2.5 billion years old, and WA Parks recommends spending at least a couple of nights if possible. (Explore Parks)

Popular areas include Dales Gorge, Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool, Weano Gorge and Hamersley Gorge.

Karijini requires more planning than a Perth day trip. Distances are long, temperatures can be extreme and conditions in gorges can change quickly. Flash flooding is a particular danger when rain is in the area. (Explore Parks)

For many travellers, however, Karijini becomes one of the highlights of an extended Western Australia road trip.

Broome and Cable Beach​

Far north on the Kimberley coast lies Broome/Rubibi, a destination that feels very different from Perth and the South West.

Broome grew around its pearling industry and developed strong Asian, European and First Nations cultural influences. Today it serves as both a holiday destination and an important gateway into the Kimberley. (australia.com)

Its best-known attraction is Cable Beach, famous for its broad sandy coastline and sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

Camel rides along Cable Beach at sunset have become one of Broome's most recognisable visitor experiences.

Other places and experiences around Broome include:

• Gantheaume Point
• Chinatown
• Broome's pearling history
• Roebuck Bay
• Town Beach
• Aboriginal cultural experiences
• Kimberley tours

Broome is extremely remote from Perth. A Perth-to-Broome road trip involves more than 2,000 km each way, so allow plenty of time rather than treating it as an ordinary drive between cities. RAC WA recommends careful preparation and breaking the route into manageable sections. (RAC WA - For a better WA)

Exploring the Kimberley​

Broome is also one of the major starting points for exploring the Kimberley, one of Australia's great wilderness regions.

Depending on your itinerary, the wider region can include dramatic gorges, waterfalls, rugged coastlines, ancient rock formations and remote Aboriginal communities.

This is an area where local knowledge, seasonal conditions and road information are particularly important.

Some routes require a suitable 4WD, and accessibility can change considerably between the dry and wet seasons.

If you're planning a Kimberley road trip, allow far more time than the map might initially suggest.

How Long Do You Need in Western Australia?​

That depends heavily on the region you want to explore.

For a one-week Western Australia holiday, consider concentrating on Perth, Rottnest Island and perhaps Margaret River.

With two weeks, you could explore Perth and much more of the South West, or travel north through the Coral Coast.

Three weeks or longer opens up possibilities such as Perth to Exmouth, extended South West itineraries or a more ambitious northern WA road trip.

Trying to combine Perth, Margaret River, Esperance, Exmouth, Karijini and Broome into a short holiday would mean enormous amounts of driving.

Western Australia rewards slower travel.

Western Australia Road Trip Tips​

Driving is one of the best ways to see WA, but distances can be deceptive.

Before heading into regional or remote Western Australia, check:

• Driving distances between overnight stops
• Fuel availability
• Road conditions and closures
• National park alerts
• Weather forecasts
• Mobile-phone coverage
• Accommodation availability
• Food and drinking water
• Vehicle condition and spare tyre
• Emergency supplies

Avoid long-distance driving when tired and be particularly careful around dawn and dusk when wildlife may be near roads.

Remote-road travel requires considerably more preparation than driving around Perth or the South West.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Western Australia?​

There isn't one perfect time for the whole state because WA covers several climate zones.

Perth, Margaret River and the South West have Mediterranean-style seasons, while Broome, the Kimberley and much of northern WA have distinct wet and dry seasons.

That means the ideal month for a Broome or Karijini trip may be very different from the best time for a Perth beach holiday.

Always check the conditions for the particular region rather than using one weather forecast for all of Western Australia.

Which Part of Western Australia Should You Visit?​

For a first visit, Perth, Rottnest Island and Margaret River make a relatively straightforward combination.

For beaches and dramatic coastal scenery, consider Esperance.

For marine wildlife and snorkelling, investigate Exmouth, Coral Bay and Ningaloo Reef.

For gorges and outback landscapes, Karijini should be high on the list.

For a tropical northern experience, Broome and the Kimberley offer something completely different from southern WA.

And if you love road trips, Western Australia could keep you exploring for months.

Planning a Trip to Western Australia?​

Have you visited WA, or are you planning your first trip?

Share your itinerary and let other travellers help.

Which places in Western Australia are you considering?

How many days do you have?

Are you hiring a car or campervan?

Would you choose Margaret River, Esperance, Ningaloo or Broome?

What are the best places you've discovered in Western Australia?

Post your questions, recommendations, road-trip routes and Western Australia travel tips below.

Whether you're planning a weekend in Perth or an epic journey from Perth to Broome, we'd love to hear about it.