A Local's Guide to Western Australia

There’s nowhere I love more than the West Coast of Australia. I was born and raised in Perth, and I’ve travelled across the majority of the country. When visiting Australia, most people rush to Sydney and Melbourne and leave it at that, but the country has far more to offer than just these cities. In fact, I believe the best way to see Australia is to explore some of the more rural locations, and where better to do that than on the beautiful and untouched Western Australian coast.

Where Should Travellers Visit?

Perth

If you’re visiting Western Australia, you’re almost guaranteed to be flying into Perth. It’s as great a place to start a holiday as any. Perth is officially Australia’s sunniest capital city, with 3,200 hours of sunshine per year. That works out to an average of 8.8 hours of perfect weather a day, almost double London’s meagre 4.5 hours. Perth is especially sunny between December and February, where you can expect 11 hours of sunlight a day, and maximum temperatures range between 25°C and 36°C.

If the magnificent weather doesn’t entice you, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. King's Park, one of the world’s largest inner-city parks, which is a short walk from the city centre (or a free CAT bus ride) offers a chance to see native plant-life with botanic gardens hosting over 3,000 species of Western Australian flora. As well as beautiful gardens, bushland walking trails, picnic spots, and cafes, the park provides outstanding views of the Perth CBD (Central Business District), and the Swan River. Personally, I make sure to spend a morning here every time I go back to Perth. You’ll find countless viewpoints and photo opportunities along Bellevue Terrace and the elevated Federation Walkway. The park is a great place to just sit and absorb the beauty of Perth, maybe with a coffee in hand.

If you head back to the city centre, you can find a range of laidback fine-dining establishments to choose from for lunch. I would recommend a visit to the restaurants in the State Buildings or if you’re up for it a trip to one of the many beachside restaurants along the coast. Due to the multicultural nature of Australia, Perth has a wide range of international cuisines, all incredibly tasty and authentic. There’s also a range of modern Australian cuisine, which is playful, inventive, and full of fresh local ingredients.

If you’re in the CBD, and you’re interested in Indigenous Art, I wholeheartedly encourage you to check out the Art Gallery of Western Australia. It’s free and offers a brief insight into the worlds oldest living culture. There’s also a range of contemporary art, and special exhibitions to look through. If you feel like learning more about Australian natural history, the adjacent WA Museum Boola Bardip is well worth a visit.

In the evenings Northbridge and the CBD offer a thriving mix of modern, trendy cocktail bars and pubs. Pubs in Perth tend to be far more modern, relaxed, and casual than their counterparts in the UK. You’ll find an impressive lineup of locally produced beers and wines to try, and I recommend making the most of this, as Western Australia really punches above its weight in this area. West Aussies are particularly good at making IPA’s and Pale Ales, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon (Cab Sav) and Chardonnay. For dinner you can check out Northbridge or take a short train ride to Subiaco (Subi). Subi is renowned for its restaurants and bars, so you can’t go wrong.

If you want to see a historic, and somewhat alternative side of Perth, a trip to Fremantle is well worth the drive. You can expect hip cafes, cocktail bars, live music, markets with arts and craft stalls, as well as unique Federation architecture. When you’re in Freo make sure to check out the Fremantle Markets, and either Little Creatures or Gage Roads Brewery. If you’re in the mood for it, you can take a ghost tour of the supposedly haunted Fremantle Prison.

What other things are there to see and do in Perth?

• Visit the Perth hills and walk around Lesmurdie Falls
• Wine tasting in the Swan Valley
• Catch a game of Aussie rules football, or cricket, at Optus Stadium (Winner of the Austadium Best Stadium award 2019, 2021, 2023-2025)
• Enjoy the Swan River. Particularly nice areas include Crawley, Riverside Drive, or the South Perth Foreshore. If you want to get out on the water, you can stand up paddleboard or take a scenic cruise.
• Visit the historic Perth Mint
• Catch sunset by the coast
• Swim at Cottesloe Beach

Rottnest Island

An essential stop for any traveller to Western Australia is Rottnest Island. Rottnest is the home of the Quokka, Australia’s cutest and cuddliest creature (please refrain from actually cuddling them though as this is illegal!). Quokka selfies have become iconic, and for good reason, these little critters are always smiling, and they’re so photogenic. Quokkas are abundant on Rottnest as they have few natural predators, so you will see them everywhere. The island’s shops and cafes need Quokka-proof barriers just to keep them out.

Once you snap your perfect Quokka pic, there’s much more the island has to offer. If you look east back towards Perth you might be able to make out the city skyline with scenic beaches, boats, and ocean in-between. You can hire bikes for the day and cycle around the island. Make sure to explore the many beautiful beaches and bays, as well as the Bathurst Lighthouse and the Pink Lake (shown above). The main settlement offers quite a few dining options from relaxed cafes to more established restaurants, as well as a few bars, and pubs, to keep you busy.

Rottnest is a short ferry ride from Perth, with departures from Fremantle, and Hillarys Boat Harbour. You can either treat it as a day trip or stay overnight, accommodation ranges from camping and dorms, to eco-resorts and boutique hotels. There’s a lot of different ways to experience it.

The South West

Once you’ve explored Perth and Rottnest it’s time to head to the South West. This region offers breathtaking views, stunning beaches, and some of (in my opinion) Australia’s best wineries. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the towns down here, and I think they have a lot to offer.

Starting with Busselton a 2.5 hour drive from Perth, you’ll find lots to do, especially if you’re a beach lover, or travelling with family. Along the foreshore is the locally famous, and heritage listed Busselton Jetty, stretching 1.8 km into Geographe Bay. At the end of the jetty sits the Busselton Underwater Observatory, one of only six underwater observatories in the world. This observatory lets you see ocean life 8 metres below the surface. There’s also an underwater sculpture park which you can dive through and explore. Back on shore, there’s some great local restaurants, cafes, and a couple of breweries worth checking out.

A 25 minute drive from Busselton, you’ll find my favourite town, Dunsborough. This is a picturesque coastal town, with endless ocean views, and relaxation in abundance. Dunsborough has plenty of its own cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops, but aside from swimming and surfing its greatest strength is as a base for exploring the breweries and wineries along Caves Road, and the south of the Geographe wine region.

Some of my favourite places to check out are:

• Eagle Bay Brewing Co
• Beerfarm
• Wise Winery
• Fishbone Wines
• Meelup Farmhouse

A short drive from Dunsborough we have Margaret River, a famed surfing town, and home to the iconic Margaret River wine region. The town itself offers a relaxed getaway, but the wine tours are unmissable. Many wineries offer free tastings, however it is not uncommon now for wineries to charge a fee for a guided tasting, or a food & wine pairing experience.

The top wineries to visit are:

• Vasse Felix
• Leeuwin Estate
• Cullen Wines
• Voyager Estate
• Cape Mentelle

Broome

Broome is a resort town famed for producing some of the finest pearls in the world. It feels a bit like the outback, but on the coast, surrounded by red sand and dramatic landscapes. Visitors can tour the historic pearl farms, or learn about the town’s history in a tour of Chinatown. Broome also offers Camel rides along Cable Beach, and a chance to see Crocodiles at the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park.

Other things to do in Western Australia

Whale Watching

From May to December, you’ll have the opportunity to catch Western Australia’s annual whale migration. The whales travel from the South West up to the Kimberley. You can expect to see blue whales, humpbacks, and southern right whales. The best way to experience the migration is with a boat tour, which allows you to get close to the action. From March to August you can dive with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef. This is the only place in the world where whale sharks consistently congregate. Finally, if you’re travelling between January and March, you can take a trip to Albany and Bremer Bay to see Orcas.

Discovering Native Animals

I can’t believe I’ve gone this far without discussing Kangaroos! Yes you’re probably going to see them around WA, although I wouldn’t expect to see them in Perth, or busier town centres, but the best place to see them in abundance is a wildlife park. On top of that you’ll see all the other unique creatures Australia has to offer.

It’s important to make any would be visitors aware that Koalas are not native to Western Australia. If you want to see them, you’ll either have to combine your trip with a visit to the east coast of Australia, or visit one of Western Australia’s wildlife parks.

As mentioned earlier, Quokkas are impossible to miss on Rottnest Island. What’s less well known, is that they also inhabit parts of the mainland. They’re far more elusive there, and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one outside Rottnest, but you may be luckier.

In addition to these animals, you can also see echidnas, numbats, bandicoots, wallabies, possums (not American opossums), dingoes, cockatoos, kookaburras, emus, penguins, and dolphins.

What you can expect from WA:

• High quality, locally produced wine and beer
• Authentic cuisine made from fresh ingredients
• Perfect weather and warm days
• Stunning coastline and white sand beaches
• Bushland and the outback
• An easy-going way of life
• Quokkas, Kangaroos, Echidnas, Wallabies, Kookaburras, Penguins, Whales, Dolphins, and more

What you won’t get from WA:

• Koalas (unless you visit a wildlife park)
• A sprawling metropolis like that of Sydney
• Hip trendy laneway cafes and bars like those in Melbourne
• Urban hustle and bustle
• Rainforests like the Daintree

Practical Tips:

• The best time to visit Western Australia is typically between the summer months of December through February, and the autumnal months of March through May. If you’re heading up to Broome, the dry season is best, this lasts from May to October.
• Getting around is best done by car, road trips will take you most places except for destinations like Broome and Ningaloo, where you’ll need to fly. Driving in WA is brilliant, the roads are wide and well maintained.
• Avoid getting too close to the native wildlife as Kangaroos can be quite territorial and aggressive.
• Wear sunscreen, WA is sunny and hot, making it very easy to burn. Hats and sunglasses are essential items.
• When visiting the beach, always swim between the flags. This ensures you’re safe, especially from rips.
• Restaurants in Perth may require bookings in advance, so it’s worth considering this before you’ve even arrived.
• Insect repellent is a must. Mosquitoes can be incredibly annoying.
• Most places in WA are card‑preferred, so you won’t need to carry much cash.

Western Australia is always going to be home to me. The sunshine, the coastline, the wildlife, the food, it all comes together in a way that feels both familiar and special. It’s a part of the world that rewards slowing down, getting outside, and just enjoying where you are. If you’re thinking about making the trip, I genuinely believe WA is one of those places you’ll remember long after you’ve left. If you’d like help planning a trip that captures the best of the region, our tailor‑made ‘Western Australia Explorer’ itinerary is a great place to start, and we can customise it to suit your style.