Aerial view of Western Australia coastline with red cliffs and turquoise water
Independent Western Australia travel guides

Western Australia Travel Guides

The real WA. No fluff, no filler.

Practical WA travel guides for road trips, reef, outback towns, beaches, national parks and places to stay - written for people planning real trips across Western Australia.

Explore WA road trips Where to stay
17destinations in this selection
5regions
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12 surprising facts about Western Australia

  1. One state, almost a third of Australia

    Western Australia covers more than 2.5 million square kilometres, almost a third of the country. It is Australia’s largest state.

  2. A coral reef within swimming distance

    At Ningaloo, parts of a World Heritage-listed coral reef lie close enough to the beach to explore by snorkelling directly from shore.

  3. Plants found nowhere else on Earth

    Western Australia has more than 12,000 plant species. Many grow naturally nowhere else, making its wildflower season particularly special.

  4. The world’s largest wild quokka population

    Wadjemup / Rottnest Island is home to the world’s largest wild quokka population. Smaller populations also live in mainland south-western Australia.

  5. A lake that turns pink

    Hutt Lagoon’s pink colour comes from pigments produced by microscopic algae. Its appearance changes with the weather, season and light.

  6. Waterfalls that appear to flow sideways

    At the Horizontal Falls in the Kimberley, powerful tides squeeze seawater through narrow rock gaps, creating the appearance of waterfalls flowing sideways.

  7. Rock more than 2.5 billion years old

    Karijini’s gorges cut through rock more than 2.5 billion years old. The rock formed long before dinosaurs existed.

  8. Tiny organisms behind the Bungle Bungle stripes

    The Bungle Bungle Range’s dark stripes come from cyanobacteria growing on damp sandstone. The orange bands dry too quickly for them to grow.

  9. Dinosaur footprints beside the ocean

    The coastline around Broome preserves dinosaur footprints about 130 million years old. Some become visible when the tide retreats.

  10. Up to two million rock engravings

    Murujuga contains an estimated one to two million rock engravings. This Aboriginal cultural landscape remains under the custodianship of the Ngarda-Ngarli people.

  11. A Perth park bigger than Central Park

    Kings Park covers about 400 hectares, making it larger than New York’s Central Park. Around two-thirds is protected native bushland.

  12. Water for the Goldfields since 1903

    Opened in 1903, the Golden Pipeline carries water roughly 560 kilometres from Mundaring Weir in the Perth Hills to Kalgoorlie.

Plan by geography

Choose a Western Australia region

WA’s distances are easier to understand region by region. Select an area for its best time, realistic trip length, driving notes, destination guides and accommodation.

Perth and SurroundsMargaret River and the South WestNingaloo Reef and the Coral CoastThe Kimberley and North WestEsperance and the Golden Outback

Start with a WA planning guide

Choose accommodation, a road trip, an itinerary or the season guide that matches the decision you need to make next.

Trip planning

Where to stay in WA

Compare accommodation guides by region.

Trip planning

Getting around WA

Public transport, airports, regional trains and practical driving advice.

Trip planning

Accessible travel in WA

Plan transport, accommodation, toilets, equipment and current access conditions.

Trip planning

WA road trips

Choose the right route and season.

Trip planning

Ready-made itineraries

Match days, distance and travel style.

Trip planning

Campervan guide

Driving, camping and road-trip basics.

Trip planning

Wildflower season

Where and when to see flowers.

Trip planning

Whale watching

Plan by month, species and region.

Trip planning

Aboriginal cultural experiences

Travel respectfully with cultural context.

Campsite diagram comparing a Mini in an open clearing with one obstructed by a tree and vehicle awning.
Trip planning

Internet beyond mobile coverage

Taking a caravan or campervan around WA? See how Starlink works at camp, what it needs for power and how to set up a portable Mini.

Read the Starlink travel guide

Explore WA by region

Start with a regional hub, then choose the destination that fits your route.

Perth and Surrounds

Use Perth as the base for city beaches, the Swan River, Fremantle, the Swan Valley, the Perth Hills and island day trips. This is WA’s easiest region for a short visit and the best connected by public transport.

Close-up of a pink flower with yellow flowers behind it
Destination guide

Perth

Plan Perth beaches, public transport, Rottnest day trips, Kings Park and practical places to stay.

Stone entrance arch with Fremantle lettering
Destination guide

Fremantle

Plan Fremantle with practical information for the markets, Fremantle Prison, the harbour, beaches, transport and Rottnest ferries.

Quokka standing beside a tree on Rottnest Island.
Destination guide

Rottnest Island / Wadjemup

Plan your Rottnest Island visit with ferry options, admission fees, beaches, quokka advice, booking rules and a practical one-day itinerary.

Margaret River and the South West

Plan a southbound trip through Margaret River wine country, the Geographe coast, tall forests and the Great Southern. Short distances between many towns make this the most flexible multi-stop region from Perth.

Surf break at the Margaret River mouth
Destination guide

Margaret River

Complete Margaret River guide. Wine, ancient caves, surf beaches, karri forests, farmers markets. The best of WA in one region.

Low sunlight on the train rails and blue buildings at Busselton Jetty.
Destination guide

Busselton & Dunsborough

Plan your Busselton and Dunsborough trip with beaches, jetty tickets, Cape Naturaliste, Ngilgi Cave, transport, places to stay and a three-day itinerary.

Turquoise water and granite boulders at Greens Pool, with a beach and coastal vegetation.
Destination guide

Denmark & Pemberton

Plan Denmark and Pemberton with beaches, forest walks, the Tree Top Walk, current access notes, park fees, places to stay and a five-night road trip.

The Gap natural rock arch at Torndirrup, Albany
Destination guide

Albany

Complete Albany guide. The Gap, Torndirrup National Park, National ANZAC Centre, Valley of the Giants, whale watching on WA's wild south coast.

Ningaloo Reef and the Coral Coast

Follow the Indian Ocean north through Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Coral Bay, Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef. This is a long coastal corridor, so choose fewer bases or allow enough time for the distances.

Nature's Window rock arch over Kalbarri gorge
Destination guide

Kalbarri

Complete guide to Kalbarri WA. Kalbarri Skywalk, Nature's Window, coastal cliffs, wildflowers, Murchison River gorges. Best time to visit and practical tips.

A low rock-lined path beside the water on Geraldton’s foreshore, with buildings and trees behind.
Destination guide

Geraldton

Plan Geraldton with local sights, beaches, Abrolhos trips, Greenough, access updates, costs and a practical three-day itinerary.

Palm trees beside a paved foreshore path and the beach in Denham.
Destination guide

Shark Bay / Denham

Plan Shark Bay and Denham with Monkey Mia fees, Shell Beach, Hamelin Pool access, Francois Peron camping and a practical three-day itinerary.

Coral formations beneath clear turquoise water
Destination guide

Coral Bay

Plan Coral Bay snorkelling, Ningaloo Reef tours, seasonal wildlife, beach access, transport and places to stay.

Colourful fish swimming above coral in clear blue water
Destination guide

Exmouth

Exmouth travel guide 2026. Turquoise Bay snorkelling, Yardie Creek, Cape Range National Park, whale sharks and manta rays.

A spotted whale shark swimming underwater
Destination guide

Ningaloo Reef

Complete Ningaloo Reef guide. Swim with whale sharks, snorkel pristine coral, watch manta rays and humpback whales on the UNESCO reef.

The Kimberley and North West

Broome is the coastal gateway to a vast region of tropical seasons, remote highways and 4WD routes. Plan around current road access, fuel range and realistic driving days rather than map distance alone.

Pearl luggers and red pindan cliffs at Broome
Destination guide

Broome

Complete Broome guide. Cable Beach, Staircase to the Moon, Gantheaume Point dinosaur tracks, pearls and the Kimberley gateway.

Layered red walls and green vegetation in Dales Gorge, with a tree in the foreground.
Destination guide

Karijini

Plan your Karijini visit with gorge walks, current entry fees, camping bookings, road access, safety advice and a practical three-day itinerary.

Esperance and the Golden Outback

Combine Esperance’s south coast with Wheatbelt and Goldfields routes, or focus on one area to avoid rushed driving. The region spans huge distances from beaches to mining towns and remote outback tracks.

Granite headland above Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
Destination guide

Esperance

Plan Esperance, Lucky Bay and Cape Le Grand with practical beach, transport, road-condition and accommodation advice.

Heritage main street in Kalgoorlie, Goldfields
Destination guide

Kalgoorlie

Complete Kalgoorlie guide. The Super Pit, Museum of the Goldfields, Hannan Street heritage pubs, Coolgardie ghost town and goldfields history.

Photo credits

Preview images are cropped to fit the cards.

Rottnest Island / Wadjemup: Photo: Ena Music / RottnestQuokka (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted for the web; no crop.

Shark Bay / Denham: Photo: Calistemon / Denham, Western Australia, July 2020 03.jpg (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0. Oriented, resized and compressed for the web; embedded metadata removed; no crop.

Karijini: Photo: Gypsy Denise / Karijini National Park, Pilbara Region, Western Australia, Dales Gorge 02.jpg (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0. Oriented, resized and compressed for the web; embedded metadata removed; no crop.

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When should you go?

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Explore seasonal advice in our destination guides. Enable JavaScript for the interactive month comparison.

Wildflowers · Karijini · Denmark / Pemberton · Ningaloo

Recent and updated guides

Practical planning guides for destinations, transport and accessibility.

Geraldton travel guide

Accessible travel in Western Australia

Denmark and Pemberton: beaches, tall forests and a south-west road trip

Busselton and Dunsborough visitor guide

Pinnacles and Nambung National Park visitor guide

Getting around Western Australia

About WA Travel Guides

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Plan Your Trip

Detailed guides by Australians who live and travel here.

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All Prices in AUD

Every price in Australian dollars with a live currency converter built in.

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Three Languages

Read every guide in English, German or French. Switch any time.

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