Western Australia offers big, bold, and beautiful bucket list items that will encourage exploration and nurture your sense of adventure. From the craggy coastline of the southern edge to the red-crusted beauty of the North West, get ready to gold star your travel bucket list as we take you on a whirlwind tour of the state’s must-sees and dos.
Open the door to Perth at Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay, Perth. Image – Bigstock
No Western Australia travel wish list could start anywhere other than the capital Perth. Start your visit with a leisurely stroll around Elizabeth Quay. This regenerated precinct overlooks the magnificent Swan River and is home to the TransPerth ferry, which takes you across the river to South Perth. For just a couple of dollars, you’ll get a short river cruise and a water view of the city. Back at the quay, consider lunch at The Island, a family-friendly microbrewery with al fresco dining to soak up the sun. Enjoy amazing views of the river, the city, and the 29-metre-high sculpture entitled Spanda (but known locally as ‘the paper clip’).
At Elizabeth Quay you can also get a fascinating introduction to Western Australia’s Indigenous cultural heritage. Learn about the region’s First People — the Noongar — on a 90-minute walking tour with Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours. They also offer a guided walk through Kings Park.
View Choice Hotels accommodation options in Perth here.
Immerse yourself in convict history in Fremantle
Fremantle Prison. Image courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
The port city of Fremantle is steeped in colonial history, and along with ten other sites across the country, Fremantle Prison has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as a record of convict life. If ghosts and scary stories thrill you, head to the prison for an after-dark tour. The Torchlight Tour takes you along the cold walls and empty halls, which were built by convicts between 1852 and 1859. As you trail behind one of the many charismatic tour guides, you will hear spine-tingling tales of life behind bars.
Honour Australia’s heroes in Albany
Image courtesy of National Anzac Centre
Perched high above the coastal city of Albany on Western Australia’s southern coastline is the National Anzac Centre. This award-winning museum within the Princess Royal Fortress details the history and heartbreak of the men and women who fought for our freedoms during the Great War. The interactive display lets you follow your chosen soldier from recruitment to training to the battlegrounds. Navigate the path through to the end, where you’ll discover your soldier’s fate. It’s an emotive experience that visitors from any nation will appreciate.
Head to the best of beaches in Esperance
Hit the beach in Lucky Bay. Image courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
Every Western Australia bucket list must include a visit to the beach. And if you were to only visit one, Lucky Bay near Esperance wouldn’t disappoint. It is blessed with the kind of coastal beauty that is almost too good to be true. Think blinding white sand, translucent turquoise water, and photogenic kangaroos lounging on the sand (we kid you not!). Pack a picnic, towels, sunscreen, a footy ball and a camera, and settle in for a classic Aussie day at the beach.
View Choice Hotels accommodation options in Esperance here.
Dig into WA’s gold mining history in Kalgoorlie
Go for gold in Kalgoorlie. Image courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
Western Australia’s modern history is entwined with its mining heritage, and 600 kilometres east of Perth, Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit Mine Lookout is a jaw-dropping sight. The pit is 480 metres deep, 1.5 kilometres wide and almost four kilometres long. Kalgoorlie’s gold mining history dates back to 1893 when Paddy Hannan found the first nugget. Mine tours are also available at Hannans North West Tourist Mine. View Choice Hotels accommodation options in Kalgoorlie here.
Get a bird’s eye view of the North West from Karratha
Go for gold in Kalgoorlie. Image courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
Western Australia’s vast and ancient North West covers the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, and if you’re short on time, a scenic flight can help you cover a lot of ground quickly. From Karratha, take a helicopter flight over the Dampier Peninsula for epic visuals of its islands and bays. While flying over, keep watch for sea turtles, dugongs, dolphins, and humpback whales. Of the 42 islands beneath you, 25 of them are nature reserves. Many of the islands and islets are home to rock wallabies and quolls, and also nesting grounds for seabirds and turtles. The overhead view offers stunning contrasts of the red rock of the outback, the white sands of the beaches, and the blue-green waters of the ocean. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
View Choice Hotels accommodation options in Kalgoorlie here.
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About the writer
Jennifer Morton is a freelance writer and photographer. The Canadian expat has lived all over Canada, New Zealand and Australia. When Jennifer is not writing about travel, you may find her lounging on the beach, fishing with her son, sipping coffee at a cafe, reading a book or zooming in on a beautiful scene. She’s also likely to be boarding a plane – or jumping out of one.