14 things to do in Western Australia: from whale sharks to wine

If you’re looking for a road trip, it’s a great place to explore, so whether you’re heading north up the Coral Coast or south towards the Cape, then here are my 15 favourite things to do in Western Australia.

1. Swim with whale sharks and manta rays on the Ningaloo Reef

On the north west coast of Western Australia you’ll find the Ningaloo Reef, one of the most beautiful fringing reefs in the world. Heading out from Exmouth to swim with whale sharks is one of Western Australia’s most iconic experiences. You’ll hop on a boat and head out beyond the reef to spot these giants of the deep. These majestic creatures are huge, often over 7 metres long, and so gentle. Watching them serenely glide past is incredible and not at all scary – while the whale sharks are enormous, they are very relaxed and not dangerous. If you are lucky you’ll hopefully be able to swim with several whale sharks during the day, each time is better than the last as you feel more comfortable in the water and it starts to sink in that you are really swimming with wild whale sharks. It was one of the best wildlife encounters of my life – a truly once-in-a-lifetime day.

2. Fly over the Abrolhos Islands

From Geraldton and Kalbarri, you can flat out to the Abrolhos Islands, one of Australia’s newest national parks. This tiny group of islands is famous for the first European building in Australia and as the scene of the gruesome mutiny that caused its construction. The low-lying islands are dotted like jewels in the ocean, where fishermen live seasonally and pull spiny rock lobsters from the shallow waters. Most scenic flights will fly over the 3 island groups before landing on East Wallabi Island and spending the day snorkelling amongst the pristine coral, hiking through the shrub land to find the eponymous wallabies and wandering along the empty beaches enjoying the solitude of the tiny island.

It’s a fantastic day trip to take from Geraldton on the mainland and you’re seriously missing out on a piece of Australian history and some of the best views on the west coast if you don’t visit. We can book you a half day or full day trip out to the islands – just ask!

3. Wander along the wide beaches of Lucky Bay

Whether you drive over from Perth via Wave Rock or arrive in Esperance after the unique experience crossing the Nullarbor Plain, this tiny town that clings to the edge of the continent is a special one. You’re here to explore the beautiful Cape Le Grand National Park, around an hour further west from Esperance. Hellfire Bay, Little Hellfire Bay and Thistle Cove are all spectacular beaches, and if you are up for a hike, you can embark on the coastal walk between all three, soaking up the vast views over the ocean. Finally you’ll come across Lucky Bay, one of the most famous beaches in Australia. This pristine curve of sand is squeaky clean and walking along the arced sands will be a highlight of your holiday. Run along the beach, swim in the turquoise waters, watch rays riding the surf and look out for the famous kangaroos that love to lounge on the best beach around!

4. Fly over the pink lake on Middleton Island

From Esperance, you can take a scenic flight down towards Cape Arid National Park. The journey takes in the spectacular views of the coastline, including the vast curve of Lucky Bay and the perfect beaches of Hellfire Bay and Thistle Cove. You’ll know when you’ve arrived at Middleton Island, when you see a pop of pink on the horizon and begin to soar over the famous pink lake. It’s an incredible experience to see the lake from above – the pilot will circle it a few times to make sure you get views from all angles before heading back towards Esperance. Look out for dolphins on the journey home – I saw a huge pod leaping from the water as I looked down from the little plane above.

5. Visit the ANZAC Museum

In the south coast town of Albany,  you’ll find the National ANZAC Centre, the museum that celebrates Australia and New Zealand’s military history. It is a fascinating place, with most of the exhibits about WWI and the role the ANZACs played in Gallipoli. I found it quite emotional, especially as the museum has huge windows that overlook the Frenchman’s Bay, where hundreds of ships were gathered in 1914, taking soldiers off to war. The museum has a clever system – when you arrive you are given a card with a real soldier on it, who experienced the war. As you go around and learn about different things, you can scan your card and learn how the war unfolded for that particular man. It made it all feel much more real and personal.

6. Hike through the gorges of Karijini National Park

Karijini is a stunning national park in the north of Western Australia full of red rock gorges, bright blue pools and gushing waterfalls. The landscape is just vast – spend your time hiking across the top of Dales Gorge before descending into the deep, admiring the angular beauty of Fortescue Falls before heading back along the floor of the gorge, following the river to its destination, Circular Pool. Karijini is perfect for hiking and exploring from a 4WD car or camper. If you only have a 2WD you can still visit but some of the park will be off limits because of the unpaved roads.  A trip to Karijini can either be done after Exmouth before driving onwards to Broome, or from Exmouth as a return trip, so you can fly back out of Exmouth to Perth.

7. Cycle around Rottnest Island

The little island of Rottnest lies just a short ferry ride away from Perth. It’s the perfect place to explore on a day trip – we can book you a ferry and bike package to explore the island yourself on arrival. My favourite beaches are Little Parakeet Bay, Ricey Beach and Little Salmon Bay. You can also kayak along Pinky’s Beach and relax in the warm shallow waters of Porpoise Bay. If you’d like to spend more than a day here, it’s easy to spend a night or two – we recommend Discovery Rottnest where you can relax in a lovely glamping tent right on the beach.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for quokkas, the tiny local marsupials that have made Rottnest their home. You won’t need to go out of your way to meet the little animals – you’ll find them munching on berries in the shade of the trees or lurking behind fishermen in search of a snack. They are very friendly and cheeky, but you mustn’t feed them – hard to resist as they are so cute!

8. Learn about Aboriginal culture in Perth

One of our favourite things to do in Perth is explore Kings Park, known in the local Noongar language as Karrgatup. Enjoy a 90 minute walking tour of the park with a local guide – you will learn about the area’s intriguing past and spiritual significance to Noongar People. Start your experience with the Noongar welcome and ochre ceremony before hearing a Dreamtime story, traditional songs and Noongar language against the backdrop of modern-day Perth.

9. Road trip around the South-West Cape

Although Margaret River is famous for its pretty vineyards and boutique cellar doors, there are so many other things to see in this area of the South-West Cape. Start your time here in Hamilton, where you can see the rays playing in the surf in the early morning, before exploring Cape Leeuwin and the traditional lighthouse there. If you’re up for a serious hike, the Cape to Cape Track is one of the famous Walks of Australia, which spread over 5 – 8 days can be a brilliant way to see the region. We can organise this trip with luxurious hotel stays and delicious meals each night along the trip.

Driving along Caves Road you can stop in at a couple of the interesting caverns like Jewell Cave, which is incredibly beautiful inside. You an also spend the afternoon at one of many white-sand beaches along the Naturaliste coastline, simply whiling away the afternoon with a picnic.

10. Sip white wine in Margaret River’s many vineyards

The iconic vineyards of Margaret River are the perfect place to kick back and enjoy yourself. Leave yourself enough time to visit several vineyards, tasting a wide variety of the region’s sensational wines. It’s good to get an overview of different vineyards when you are there – not just the big, commercial ones but small boutiques as well. Be honest and let them know if you know nothing about wines – the guides at each vineyard are so helpful and love sharing their passion and knowledge. Many of the larger cellar doors will have delicious food offerings as well, whether you fancy a fine dining lunch or fresh fish tacos from a coal barbecue.

11. Look for dugongs in the turquoise waters of Francois Peron National Park

If you’re road tripping up the west coast, you’ll likely stop at Monkey Mia, in Shark Bay, where almost everyone stops in to see the dolphins that splash and play in the beaches around the resort. Before moving on, make sure you have a day to explore Francois Peron National Park, which is adjacent to Monkey Mia and is a world class park with nature and culture to discover. This unique spot is where the red sands of Australia meet the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean; on a tour you can visit lookouts like Skipjack Point and Cape Peron to enjoy the views across the bay. You’ll also be able to out for a snorkelling session in one of the many sheltered bays – spot turtles, sharks, dugongs and manta rays!

12. Cruise along the Kimberley Coast

North of Broome lies the Kimberley Coast, a rugged region of wild islands, red rocks and craggy waterfalls. You can explore inland by 4WD or enjoy the luxurious treat of cruising between Broome and Darwin. If you choose the latter, then ten days of joy await – you’ll visit the spectacular Horizontal Falls, enjoy sunset canapes on the orange beaches and get up close to Montgomery Reef where the reef appears to rise from the ocean as the tide recedes. Discover the Indigenous rock art of the region and even visit Mitchell Falls by helicopter to see the four-tiered cascades. The Kimberley is a spectacular region to discover and cruising along the coast is one of the best ways to do it.

13. Stroll amongst the tingle trees in the Valley of the Giants

Just outside of Walpole, on the south coast, you’ll find the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. This spectacular place will take you by elevated walkway up into the canopy of the tingle trees, which are found nowhere else on Earth. Look for native birds in the lush treetops and listen to the sounds of the forest – it’s a serene place that is perfect for just soaking up the beauty of Western Australian nature. Descending from the treetop walk, you’ll emerge in the Ancient Empire Walk, where you’ll wander along boardwalks past native eucalyptus trees that are over a century old. It’s a magical place that’s definitely worth a stop on your drive through the area.

14. Soak up the views from Elephant Rocks

Just south of Denmark you’ll find Greens Pool, where the enormous Elephant Rocks look like the huge creatures relaxing in the turquoise water. It’s a gorgeous place to spend the day swimming and perfect for all the family as the cove is so protected from the swell of the Southern Ocean.  Take a picnic to enjoy on the stunning beaches before floating in the shallow bays and leaping from the rocks into the warm water.

Planning a holiday in Western Australia?

If you’re looking for a trip to Western Australia, then look no further. Whether you want to plan an Australian wildlife safari, an epic road trip to the Ningaloo Reef or a relaxing vineyard break in the South West Cape, we can help you plan your trip. If you want to start to plan, give us a call on 1273 320 580 or request a quote.

We are experts in planning tailor-made holidays to Australia, as well as round the world flights, so we can work together with you until we’ve created your perfect holiday.