Oct 7, 2021
Spanning more than 2.5 million kilometres, Western Australia, Australia’s largest state, is a fabulous playground with a variety of activities and natural attractions that lure visitors from all over the world. Here are the top five must-do experiences for any visit to WA.
Western Australia (WA) is Australia’s largest state, accounting for more than a third of the continent and with more than 12,500 kilometres of mainland coastline. The sheer size of WA lends to an abundance of attractions within its borders and diverse scenery that is known for its vibrancy – turquoise waters juxtapose with white-sandy beaches and bright ochre landscapes. Perhaps the most exceptional characteristic of WA, though, is its sense of remoteness. As you venture into the outback, the serenity (and lack of mobile reception) will make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. Evergreen Tours to Western Australia take guests to the very best highlights, from north to south. Here are five of the state’s best attractions.
The beaches and brews of Broome
A gateway to the remote northern Kimberley region, the small coastal town of Broome typifies the contrasting colours of Western Australia. Saddle up for a camel ride along the powdery white sands of Cable Beach and catch the famous Western Australia sunset as it casts deep orange hues across the Indian Ocean. Delve into the rich history of Broome’s pearling industry on a pearl farm tour and discover how some of the world’s most coveted pearls have been sourced here since the late 1800s. If Broome’s heightened temperatures encourage you to sit back and relax, head to Matso’s to enjoy a cold one (or two) at Australia’s most remote brewery. Its award-winning beers, with refreshing flavours like mango and ginger, are inspired by the region’s tropical climate and laid-back vibe.
Camel ride on Cable Beach
Ningaloo Reef’s fascinating sealife
Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is world-famous, but there’s another reef on Australia’s western shoreline that is just as magical. The World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest fringing reef, stretching close to 300 kilometres along the Western Australia coastline. Though the reef is teeming with all sorts of marine life, its most popular dwellers are whale sharks, the world’s biggest fish, that visit Ningaloo in large numbers to feed from March to July. In the winter months, you may also spot humpback whales, dolphins, dugongs and manta rays as they embark on their migratory journeys.
Whale sharks of Ningaloo Reef
Freshwater adventures on Lake Argyle
Forming part of the Ord River Irrigation System, Lake Argyle is one of Australia’s largest reservoirs with a surface area of 1,000 square kilometres. A cruise down the Ord River, which feeds Lake Argyle, offers an interesting insight into the formation of this vast freshwater system, which began construction in the 1940s and was officially opened in 1972. You’ll also spot its varied wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles, 16 species of native fish, and native bats. It’s also an ideal spot for birdwatching, with more than 270 species (about a third of Australia’s bird species) recorded in the area.
Lake Argyle
Immerse yourself in WA’s ancient national parks
Western Australia offers a veritable playground for outdoor exploration within its vast national parks. Outback adventures take in the serene waterfalls and ancient rock formations of Karijini National Park, the expansive river gorges of Kalbarri National Park, Nambung National Park’s otherworldly limestone pinnacles, or the beehive-like structures of the Bungle Bungle range in Purnululu National Park. As well as the dramatic landscapes, you’ll see an array of native flora and fauna including wildflowers, acacia (wattle), and, in the Kimberley region, giant boab trees with their enormous trunks.
The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park
Go off-grid in El Questro
In the Kimberley region, El Questro Wilderness Park covers more than one million acres of the El Questro Station cattle farm. Cruise through the almighty Chamberlain Gorge, a three-kilometre stretch of freshwater surrounded by walls of red Kimberley rock, which tower up to 60 metres high. You may spot rock wallabies as they hop across the landscape, crocodiles sunbathing on the gorge banks, as well as the elusive barramundi and the crafty archer fish, which catches its prey by spitting water into the air at unsuspecting insects.
Plan your visit to Western Australia with Evergreen Tours, choosing from their 12-Day Kakadu & Kimberley Explorer, or the 22-Day West Coast Discovery.
El Questro Gorge Falls
The trail from Darwin to Broome and onwards to Perth encompasses such a wide range of vistas and landmarks, ancient history and fascinating wildlife, it can feel like a country all of its own.
This is just a small list of the many incredible experiences waiting for you on Evergreen’s West Coast Discovery tour, from Darwin to Perth, or sample the top end on our Kakadu and Kimberley Explorer, from Darwin the Broome. Read more about Evergreen’s Kimberly and Western Australia.
This is just a small list of the many incredible experiences waiting for you on Evergreen’s West Coast Discovery tour, from Darwin to Perth, or sample the top end on our Kakadu and Kimberley Explorer, from Darwin the Broome. Read more about Evergreen’s Kimberly and Western Australia.