Western Australia spans nearly a third of the Australian continent but holds barely 10% of the population. This enormous state delivers extraordinary coastlines, vast desert landscapes, historic gold rush towns, and some of Australia’s best wildlife encounters — often without the crowds you’ll face in more populous states. Perth anchors the southwest corner with beaches, botanic gardens, and a surprisingly sophisticated food and wine scene, while adventures north and south showcase landscapes that feel genuinely remote.
The articles below split between Perth guides and regional Western Australia adventures. Perth coverage includes practical tips for beaches like Cottesloe and Scarborough, the excellent Botanic Garden, Rottnest Island’s quokkas, and Caversham Wildlife Park. Regional guides take you to the otherworldly Pinnacles desert, swimming with whale sharks off Ningaloo Reef, Albany’s whaling history, Margaret River’s caves, and the notorious but surprisingly interesting Nullarbor crossing.
Western Australia suits travellers seeking authentic outback experiences, pristine coastlines, and wildlife encounters away from mass tourism. Distances are significant — this state covers more area than Western Europe — but the rewards include experiences you simply can’t replicate elsewhere in Australia.
Travel stories about Perth
- Which Australian cities does Emirates fly to?
- Australia’s capital cities ranked.
- 6 reasons to add Perth to your Australian holiday.
- 5 places in Perth I recommend.
- Visitor tips for the Western Australian Botanic Garden in Perth.
- Practical guide to visiting Scarborough Beach.
- Visitor guide to Cottesloe Beach.
- Quokkas by the beach on Rottnest Island.
- Practical tips for visiting the Caversham Wildlife Park.
- Why the Swan Valley is a perfect stopover.
- Why you should visit Coogee Beach in Perth.
Travel stories about elsewhere in Western Australia
- A tale of mutiny and murder on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
- Discovering the dangers at Australia’s last whaling station.
- Why you should see the Pinnacles at night.
- What it’s like to swim with whale sharks.
- Why I enjoyed the notorious drive across the Nullabor.
- A practical guide to the Museum of the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie.
- An eye-opening drive along Western Australia’s Golden Pipeline.
- Tips for visiting Jewel Cave and Mammoth Cave near Margaret River.
- How to climb the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse near Augusta.
- Guide to visiting the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury.
- The best bits of Torndirrup National Park near Albany.
- Can you visit Breaksea Island in Albany?
- Practical guide to visiting the Brig Amity in Albany.
- The extraordinary history of the Hamelin Pool stromatolites in Shark Bay.
- The cities and regions of Australia that have really improved.
- 8 extraordinary beaches in Australasia.
- How worried should I be about crocodiles in Australia?
