Western Australia Travel Stories
/images/header-pics/western-australia/wa_souwest_gloucesterRidgeW.jpgBremer Bay - A rare find Australia's South WestFitzgerald River National Park is renowned for its spectacular scenery and flora, which supports a number of threatened animals. More than 1,800 beautiful and bizarre species of flowering plants, as well as lichens, mosses and fungi, have been recorded - including 62 species found nowhere else. MoreAbrolhos Islands - Abrolhos Islands Australia's Coral CoastThe Houtman Abrolhos Islands, with their rich flora and fauna and surrounding coral reef communities, form one of Western Australia's unique marine areas. The islands lie about 60 km west of Geraldton, on the Western Australian coast. MoreNambung - Beautiful Nambung Australia's Coral CoastNambung National Park, spanning 17,487 hectares, has beautiful beaches, coastal dune systems, shady groves and low heathland rich in flowering plants. Wildflower season is spring (August to October), creating a memorable spectacle. MoreDerby - Buccaneer Archipelago Australia's North WestThe Buccaneer Archipelago is a stunningly rugged area off the Kimberley coast in Western Australia, consisting of up to 1,000 islands. The scenery is spectacular with white sandy beaches, patches of rainforest, mangrove estuaries, cliffs, indigenous rock art and hidden reefs. MoreDampier - Coasting the coast line Australia's North WestDampier is the gateway to the Dampier Archipelago, a group of 42 uninhabited islands just off the Pilbara coast. The Dampier area is home to several Aboriginal communities that sell artwork, as well as a church built by missionaries out of pearl shells. Fishing and nature walks are a feature of this wonderful stretch of coastline. MoreHalls Creek - Drive in or fly over? Australia's North WestFour-wheel drive vehicles are the only way to reach the Bungle Bungle Range, 250 kilometres south of Kununurra. Scenic flights by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft are a great way to enjoy its spectacular scenery and also gain a perspective of its massive size. MoreFremantle - Fremantle fun PerthFremantle is a vibrant port city just 20 kilometres south of Perth. Traditionally a historic town, it offers an eclectic mix of art, dining and nightlife - old mingling with new. A collection of heritage-listed buildings houses modern attractions, museums, art galleries and shops. Maritime experiences include a visit to the working Fishing Boat Harbour and Fremantle Port as well as the Maritime Museum which houses the reconstructed hull of the Batavia, sunk off the coast in 1629. MoreMargaret River - Gourmet traveller Australia's South WestThe Margaret River region is renowned as one of Western Australia's most popular destinations. Be prepared for indulgence in the gastronomic delights of world-class wineries and gourmet vineyard restaurants. MoreGeraldton - Lobsters galore Australia's Coral CoastThe Batavia Coast has fishing, reef diving, surfing, wind surfing, yachting and unspoiled beaches. It is also one of the world's richest sources of rock lobster (crayfish) and its villages and towns all harbour lobster boats. MoreDunsborough - Moby Dick Australia's South WestBetween September and December see whales basking or at play in Geographe Bay, near Dunsborough. It's an unforgettable experience viewed from vantage points such as the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, and several tour boats take you closer for a fish-eye view. MoreBroome - Moons in your hand Australia's North WestBroome, capital of Australia's South-Sea pearl industry, has plenty of places to buy pearls, and visitors can tour of a pearl farm and a pearling museum. There is also a cemetery with headstones dedicated to the memory of some 900 Asian pearl divers. MoreKalgoorlie - Outback civilisation Australia's Golden OutbackIn the middle of the vast outback, Kalgoorlie is pleasant and welcoming, with lovely architecture, many bars and nostalgic hotels laced with wrought-iron verandas. It is close to the Super Pit, the world's largest open-cut goldmine. MoreNewman - Stretching horizons Australia's North WestThe remote Rudall River National Park is the largest park in Western Australia and one of the largest in the world. Desert country, it features salt lakes, giant sand dunes and stony plains. Dingos, small marsupials and reptiles live here, as well as more than 90 species of birds, which make use of the natural pools. MoreKarijini - Stunning Karijini Australia's North WestKarijini National Park is Australia's second-largest national park covering 100,000 square kilometres. It is punctuated with 100 metre sheer-sided chasms, crystal clear rock pools and cascading waterfalls. MoreCocklebiddy - Tumbling parrot shows Australia's Golden OutbackNuytsland Nature Reserve, on the edge of the Great Australian Bight, features the Eyre Bird Observatory, panoramic views of dunes, treeless plains and 100-metre cliffs plunging into the sea. Over 240 species of birds have been recorded around here. MoreShark Bay - Wildlife waterland Australia's Coral CoastThe turquoise waters of the Shark Bay World Heritage area are a haven for dolphins, manta rays, sea snakes, whales and up to 10,000 dugongs. Bathe at Shell Beach (made up of tiny white shells); and see the Hamelin Bay stromatolites. More
