When most people opt for a holiday in Australia, they gravitate toward the East Coast. Although the East Coast boasts Australia’s most famous cities, Sydney and Melbourne, we think that most people are missing a trick by travelling to Eastern Australia only.
In truth, Western Australia boasts perhaps the most diverse and exciting landscape the country has to offer.
Travelling across the West Coast, from the North to the South, means a journey through desert, mountain, forests, lush beaches, and a cool urban centre of its own; Western Aus boasts the highly hip Perth. Just rent a car in Malaga with Northside Rentals and enjoy the freedom of exploring this diverse landscape.
Here are our top 8 destinations to guarantee an unforgettable holiday, in the oft-overlooked destination of Western Australia.
1) Ningaloo Reef
At 300km long, the Ningaloo Reef is the world’s largest fringing coral reef, and truly one of the last of the ocean’s great paradises.
The reef is just a few footsteps from the beach – a feature few ocean paradises like this can boast. Grab your snorkel and step to it; witness a stunning array of wildlife in this perfect, turquoise water.
2) Gyorn Gyorn Paintings
Who knew Western Australia was home to some of the earliest figurative paintings ever made?
The Gyorn Gyorn paintings date back to 60,000 years ago – making them five times older than the pyramids.
Join an Aboriginal tour guide, and take a look at some of the 100,000 paintings scattered across the North Kimberley wilderness. Be introduced to the early history, legends and myths of one of the oldest cultures on earth.
3) Mount Augustus
Mount Augustus is known as the world’s largest monolith, and is twice the height of the oft-visited Uluru. Go and pay a visit to this magnificent natural formation, that juts out of the landscape in a striking deep red.
A visit to Mount Augustus also gives the opportunity to see some local wildlife; the area notably boasts red kangaroos, emus and over 100 species of birds.
4) Pinnacles
The Pinnacles are at least as impressive as Stonehenge – only they weren’t arranged by man. Instead these natural obelisks were formed from the remains of marine life, millions of years ago.
It is definitely worth a trip to the Nambung National Park and to see these haunting wonders first hand. Trip across the orange desert and be inspired by their stretch across the landscape, in all their ghostly beauty and solemnity.
5) Margaret River
No one’s doubting Western Australia is a great place to visit for an array of natural wonders, but sometimes we need more… human entertainment.
Go to Margaret River and enjoy all the benefits of being in the heart of Australia’s wine country. Enjoy over 100 wineries in the area, and the many boutique restaurants where you can wine and dine your fill.
6) Lucky Bay
Like the sound of going to Australia’s whitest beach?
Who wouldn’t!
Lucky bay can proudly boast that title. Head down to five kilometres of gorgeous white shoreline curling around the bay, and take a dip in the dazzling turquoise water, which is just perfect for swimming.
7) Wildflowers in the Outback
There are few natural phenomena as attractive as when wildflowers illuminate a field at the beginning of Spring. Pay a visit to the outback plains of Pilbara, Goldfields and Coral Coast and enjoy the greatest wildflower display on earth.
Western Aus has the most extensive wildflower blossom on earth, with over 12,000 species – and 60% can’t be found anywhere else on the planet. Enjoy these vibrant plumes from August to November.
8) Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk
Take a walk across the treetop bridge over 40 metres above the ground. Admire the immense tingle forest from a bird’s eye view, and watch the tops of these gigantic trees below you, as you snake above the forest on this coolly constructed bridge.
Fun fact: the giant eucalyptus trees that line this walk are found nowhere else on the globe.
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