Western Australia Travel Guide
The state of Western Australia is big, bold and beautiful, and
despite covering one third of Australia has a population of fewer
than two million. It has miles of coastline washed by the Indian
Ocean and a range of climatic zones from tropical through to
temperate. The northern area is raw and harsh; the south is
characterised by rolling green pasture; to the west is the ocean
while to the east lie golden wheat fields.The true richness of Western Australia lies in its huge mineral
deposits - gold, diamonds, iron ore, bauxite, nickel, natural gas
and oil lie under the ground and provide employment for much of the
population. The goldfields of Kalgoorlie still produce a couple of
thousand of ounces of gold a day. The young and vital state
capital, Perth, was built on the mineral wealth of the state and
offers a leisurely lifestyle centred on its lovely beaches for its
large immigrant population.Western Australia is big on extremes; it boasts 8,000 species of
wildflower, more than any other region in the world. It has the
smallest church, the largest casino and the narrowest pub in the
Southern Hemisphere. Its rocky coastline has also been responsible
for plenty of tragedy - more than 700 vessels have come to grief
here since the first Dutch sailors arrived on the shores of the
state in the 17th century.
Western Australia Travel Guide
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Western Australia Travel Guide
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Description:
At this remarkable resort, situated near the town of Denham
about 525 miles (830km) north of Perth in the Shark Bay Heritage
area, visitors have the opportunity to interact and hand-feed the
local wild dolphins who visit the shore each day. Several
bottlenose dolphins regularly visit the beach at Monkey Mia,
sometimes up to three times a day, while others who are less tame
wait just offshore. Visitors are encouraged to enter the water to
gently touch and feed the dolphins, under the watchful eye of local
rangers who advise on how best to approach and handle the animals
without causing them stress. Monkey Mia also has a Dolphin
Information Centre, and offers good bathing at Shell Beach, unique
in that it has a four-mile (6km) stretch of tiny white shells
stacked up to 33ft (10m) deep. Some of the buildings in the nearby
seaside town of Denham are built out of shells from this beach.
Address:
Shark Bay, Denham
Postcode:
Telephone:
(0)8 9948 1366
Email:
Website:
www.monkeymia.com.au
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Description:
Karijini is the second largest national park in Western
Australia, situated in the Pilbara region. It features breathtaking
gorges, crystal clear rock pools, waterfalls and stunning scenery.
A system of walking trails designed for hikers of various levels of
fitness, from beginner to experienced, have been laid out. There
are picnic and camping areas and a visitor information centre with
interactive natural and cultural displays. The park boasts 50
varieties of Acacia, Eucalypts and Melaeluca in its gorges, 133
types of bird and 92 species of amphibians and reptiles can be
seen, not to mention the dingoes. It is situated about 900 miles
(1,435km) north of Perth on the Great Northern Highway. Tours
operate from Tom Price, Port Hedland, Karratha and Auski.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(0)8 9189 8121 (Karijini Visitor Centre)
Email:
Website:
www.westernaustralia.com/en/Destinations/Australias_North_West/Karijini_National_Park/Pages/Karijini_National_Park.aspx
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Description:
The mid-west section of Western Australia is known as the
wildflower region, particularly between late July and early
September after the seasonal rains, when the spectacular fields of
yellow, pink and white everlasting daisies emerge. The most popular
site for wildflower viewing is the Kalbarri National Park, which
boasts 800 species of flowering shrubs. The park is 370 miles
(590km) north of Perth near the mid-west town of Geraldton and can
be accessed by car from the North West Coastal Highway.
World-renowned botanists, photographers and film-makers visit the
region for the flowers, particularly around the Eneabba and
Arrowsmith River areas. The mid-west is also rich in history and
offers visitors a variety of outback experiences and coastal
activities.
Address:
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Description:
The Goldfields to the east of Perth is a region steeped in
history and legend, where visitors can see relics of the gold rush
and the mines that have made the area famous. It is possible to
tour the Super Pit, Australia's biggest open-cut-mine, which is an
impressive sight at more than 853ft (260m) deep, one mile (2km)
wide and two miles (4km) long. The Super Pit can be found at the
edge of the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. It forms part of the
'Golden Mile', reputedly the richest square mile of gold-bearing
earth in the world. The total amount of gold recovered from the
Super Pit between 1989 and 1999 was incredibly over five million
ounces (142-million grams), and the total is still growing. From
the lookout near the Pit visitors can watch trucks carry rock up to
the refinery from the bottom of the pit, and sometimes witness
carefully controlled mine blastings.
Address:
Kalgoorlie
Postcode:
Telephone:
(0)8 9021 1966 (Kalgoorlie Goldfields Visitor
Centre)
Email:
visitors@kalgoorlie.com
Website:
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Description:
Southwest of Perth, the Margaret River Region is an area
characterised by dairy farms and wineries set within a picturesque
landscape, and is Western Australia's most popular holiday
destination. The area was initially discovered by surfers, but now
holidaymakers head here by the thousand for the tranquil
atmosphere, clean beaches and excellent restaurants, often attached
to wineries. The area also has more galleries, craft studios and
potteries than in the rest of the state put together. Margaret
River is also well known for its 350 caves; four of the best are
open to visitors and feature extraordinary formations.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(0)8 9780 5911 (Margaret River Visitor
Centre)
Email:
welcome@margaretriver.com
Website:
www.margaretriver.com
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Description:
Despite having been absorbed into Perth's urban sprawl,
Fremantle, popularly known as 'Freo', retains its own strong
identity and is a popular destination for day-trippers from Perth.
Its harbour was built in 1903 by CY O'Connor, who also constructed
the Goldfields pipeline before killing himself on a beach near
Fremantle. A bronze statue in CY O'Connor's honour stands in front
of the Fremantle Port Authority. The harbour has been substantially
revamped in recent years and is now filled with outdoor bars and
restaurants and has a laid-back, arty character. In 1987 the port
was the site of Australia's unsuccessful defence of the America's
Cup yachting trophy.
Address:
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Website:
www.fremantle.wa.gov.au
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Description:
One of the world's best small zoos and conveniently located just
five minutes from the Perth CBD on the banks of the Swan River, a
day out at the Perth Zoo is a must for anyone visiting this city.
Home to more than 1800 animals and 230 species, the zoo also has an
extensive botanical section to explore, such as the 'African
Savanna' 'Asian Rainforest' or the 'Australian Walkabout'. With
exciting animals such as numbats, red pandas, Sumatra tigers,
dingoes and otters, the Perth Zoo will appeal to all animal
lovers.
Address:
20 Labouchere Rd, South Perth
Postcode:
Telephone:
(08) 9474 0444
Email:
email@perthzoo.wa.gov.au
Website:
www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au
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Description:
Comprised of over 400 hectares (988 acres) of parkland and
gardens, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens is one of Perth's most
popular attractions for locals and tourists alike. Set on Mt Eliza,
the park offers breathtaking views over the city and Swan River
while over 80 species birds can be found enjoying the indigenous
bushland. Kings Park also features the State War Memorial, the
Royal Kings Park Tennis club and a reservoir and the streets of the
park are tree lined with individual plaques dedicated to Western
Australian Service men and women who died in WWI and WWII. Kings
Park is the perfect place for a relaxing afternoon, picnic,
sightseeing, walking cycling or just exploring the various lookout
points. During the summer months, the park hosts a number of events
such as outdoor concerts, moonlight cinema and the Kings Park
Wildflower festival each spring.
Address:
Fraser Avenue
Postcode:
Telephone:
(+618) 9480 3600
Email:
enquiries@bgpa.wa.gov.au
Website:
www.bgpa.wa.gov.au
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Description:
Established in 1899, the Perth Mint is Australia's oldest
operating mint. Originally built to make gold sovereigns for the
British Empire, nowadays the mint produces precious metal coins for
collectors and coin investors. Visitors to the mint will see the
largest collection of natural gold nuggets in Australia, including
the Golden Beauty nugget, as well as watching molten gold being
poured to make bars and the pressing of precious coins. A unique
range of gold jewellery and coins are also available at the Perth
Mint Shop.
Address:
310 Hay Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(08) 9421 7469
Email:
info@perthmint.com.au
Website:
www.perthmint.com.au
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Description:
Built in 1937, Perth's London Court is set amongst modern
skyscrapers in the heart of the city. The small pedestrian 'street'
is located between the Hay Street Mall and St Georges Terrace, and
is reminiscent of the Tudor style buildings of England. Walking
through London Court, visitors can experience the charming small
shops and cafés as well as the clocks on either end of the lane.
London Court is brimming with dozens of small details, which can be
easily missed such as the statues of Sir Walter Raleigh and Dick
Whittington, wind vanes and stairways leading to fantastic
viewpoints looking out over the court.
Address:
Hay Street Mall and St Georges Terrace
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.londoncourt.com.au
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Description:
Located in the Swan Coastal Plain, just 150 miles (about 245km)
north of Perth, the Nambung National Park is home to one of
Australia's most incredible natural attractions - the Pinnacles
Desert. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Oceania, the Pinnacles
Desert consists of thousands of limestone pillars, protruding from
the yellow desert sand in a variety of shapes and sizes (some
reaching 3.5 metres in height). It is a truly unique sight, unlike
anything you've ever seen before - an unearthly, unforgettable
landscape, best viewed in September and October, when wildflowers
bloom, adding colour to the vast desert expanse. Nambung National
Park also boasts white-sand beaches and marine life, and
picnicking, swimming, fishing, and snorkelling opportunities -
making it a stone-cold 'must-see' attraction in the state of
Western Australia.
Address:
Pinnacles Drive, Cervantes
Postcode:
Telephone:
(08) 9652 7913
Email:
Website:
www.dec.wa.gov.au/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,61/Itemid,755
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Description:
A wonderful example of nature-based tourism, the Valley of the
Giants Tree Top Walk is a must for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
The 0.4 mile (about 600 metre) walk takes place along a
specially-constructed boardwalk, 130 feet (40 metres) above the
forest floor, and winds through the heart of a massive karri and
tingle tree forest - where walkers are literally surrounded by the
forest canopy, in the company of true giants. The walk has a gentle
gradient, allowing access for wheelchairs and strollers, and
connects with the Ancient Empire boardwalk, a cleverly-designed
pathway that brings the grandeur of the 400-year-old trees into
sharp relief. Opened in 1996, the Valley of the Giants Tree Top
Walk has already thrilled more than 2.6 million visitors in its
short history - a concrete testament to the uniqueness of the
experience it offers.
Address:
Valley Of The Giants, between Walpole and Denmark in the
south-west of Western Australia
Postcode:
Telephone:
(08) 9840 8263
Email:
Website:
www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/355/1045/
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