Things to do in Western Australia (WA), Australia
Western Australia is by far Australia's largest state in terms of geography, however 85% of its population live in the South-West corner of the state near where the capital city, Perth, is located. Western Australia has a booming export business, especially minerals such as iron ore, nickel, gold and liquefied natural gas.
Perth itself is a city full of historical sights, natural exhibits, arts and culture with lush national gardens and impressive river views from the city itself. Bordering the shores of the Indian Ocean, Perth is one of the most isolated capital cities in the world - it is actually closer to Indonesia's capital Jakarta than it is to Sydney - which has lead it to develop its own unique charm that differs to many other East coast Australian cities. The entire city has an energetic, outdoors atmosphere as a result of its adjacency to the Swan River and surroundings of vast natural Australian bushland.
There are multiple must-see sights in the region outside of the city, including the inspiriting Pinnacles Desert limestone pillars, the Margaret River wine region, the geographic marvel Wave Rock, and the spectacular Valley of the Giants. The Southern areas are also home to Australia's tallest forests, with trees that tower above making for both formidable and beautiful natural structures. While in the region, be sure to check out:
Western Australia is a massive place full of wonders of geography; simply finding the time to enjoy them all will likely be your biggest challenge!
What is Western Australia famous for?
Western Australia's size is deceptive as most of the state is made up of arid desert land with little habitation, as Perth and the city of Broome provide the focus for most of the state's tourist economy. Broome in particular has some wild and rugged landscape features that make it a prime destination despite its small size; wonders like the Geikie and Windjana Gorges as well as the peninsula of Cape Levique showcase perfect examples of Australia's individualistic topography, with their juxtaposition of sand-coloured beaches clashing with the fiery red dirt and rock colours of the Australian outback.
Western Australia's cruises allow you to see firsthand the large population of freshwater crocodiles that reside in the river's waters, with dingos and wallabies not uncommon sights on the nearby shores. In terms of tourism, Western Australia is most famous for:
Western Australia Accommodation
Some of the most popular places to stay in Western Australia include:
When is the best time to visit Western Australia?
Being such a huge area it is difficult to pinpoint a summary of "Western Australia" as a whole in terms of weather or climate. Perth itself, being a coastal city, is usually somewhere between hot and warm as well as dry, with February generally being the hottest month of the year, while Winters are relatively cool and wet.
Who should visit Western Australia?
If you are looking to "get away from it all" and see some grand features of geography that capture the true heart of Australia while still having easy access to a comfortable, modern and cosmopolitan city, Perth and Western Australia in general make for a great choice for all travellers, both young and old. In addition, if you're looking for more detailed information on all the major regions of Western Australia, be sure to check out our City Guides page for a breakdown of their weather, top things to do, how to get there and much, much more!
