WA WANDERLUST: EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF WEST

Posted by Eleina Antoniou on 12 November 2018 | Comments

Tags: Western Australia; Rottnest Island; Rottnest Express; Forest Rise Chalets and Lodge; Cape to Cape Explorer Tours; Perfect Nature Cruises; Live Ningaloo; Willie Creek Pearls; Kimberley Quest; Sealife Charters; Helispirit

You may think that Western Australia, the largest state in Australia, is mostly outback. But in the southwest corner you’ll not only find the state’s capital, Perth but also the delightful Margaret River wine region. Making your way up the coast, the sights you will encounter are breathtaking, with beautiful sandy beaches on one side and vast desert on the other. At the top of the state lies the mighty Kimberley region. Need some more inspiration? Here’s a selection of our favourite places and activities for your next visit to WA.

 Once you’ve explored Perth, take the ferry to Rottnest Island and meet the world’s happiest animal, the quokka. Rottnest Island is easily explored by bicycle, but if you’d prefer someone else to take the wheel, check out Rottnest Express who run a variety of day tour packages on the island.

After experiencing all Rottnest Island has to offer and saying farewell to the quokkas, head down to the Murray River region to experience Australia’s longest and most iconic river, home to great food and wine, music festivals, family-friendly nature activities and tonnes of history. If you want to indulge, you can’t go past Forest Rise Eco Retreat as a base for exploring the wineries in the region. If hiking is more your thing, Cape to Cape Explorer Tours offers self-guided and guided hiking packages to explore the stunning natural beauty of the region on foot.

As you travel north, make sure you stop in at Monkey Mia to see the dolphins and dugongs up-close. For the best chance to see them, head off on a charter with Perfect Nature Cruises, the only boat licensed to interact with the marine life in the area’s exclusion zone, giving you much better chances of seeing this beautiful wildlife up close - especially the ever-shy dugongs as they munch away on their preferred diet of seagrass.

If the idea of swimming with whale sharks gets your adrenalin pumping, make sure you stop in at Exmouth and experience these incredible animals with Live Ningaloo, where you can swim or snorkel with these majestic marine creatures.

When you reach Broome, check out the farm at Willie Creek Pearls, a proudly owned family business, and learn the history of pearling in Broome before watching one of the world’s most incredible sunsets at Cable Beach. From Broome, hop on a Kimberley Quest cruise and venture through the Kimberley region on a luxurious vessel - you can select from a variety of cruises ending in numerous locations, perfect for any length of time.

Keen for a spot of fishing while you’re up north? You’re in luck! The Karma IV from Sealife Charters offers a range of fishing charters to remote destinations including the Kimberly regions, Scott Reef and the Rowley Shoals. Their crew has over 20 years of experience in the region, which means that you’ll get expert guidance throughout your entire fishing trip.

Now, if fishing, seeing quokkas, staying in a luxurious lodge, hiking the wilderness, spotting dugongs and swimming with the largest known extant fish species just isn’t quite enough to make your trip to the west one you’ll never forget, top off your adventure with a bang and take a HeliSpirit tour to witness the state’s beauty from above.

Happy exploring!