Lonely Planet - Lonely Planet Perth & West Coast Australia

If the huge expanses of WA were a separate nation, it would be the planets 10th-largest country. Most of the states population clings to the coast, yet you can wander along a beach for hours without seeing another footprint, or be one of a handful of campers stargazing in a national park.

The south is a playground of white-sand beaches, expanses of springtime wildflowers and lush green forests teeming with life. Up north in the Kimberley, youll encounter wide open spaces that conceal striking gorges, waterfalls and ancient rock formations.

WA has plenty for the active traveller. Traverse the 963km Bibbulmun Track (or focus on a few spectacular day walks), or mountain bike the 1000km Munda Biddi Trail. Shorter but equally interesting walks include wandering amid the wildflowers of the Stirling Range National Park and negotiating Porongurups granite formations. Dive and snorkel in stunning marine parks and around fascinating shipwrecks, or surf around Margaret River and kiteboard and windsurf off Lancelins expansive beaches.

WAs fauna includes kangaroos, emus and colourful parrots, and there is also the chance to get acquainted with lesser-known local critters like quokkas, bilbies and potoroos. The WA coasts lengthy dalliance with the Indian and Southern Oceans means opportunities to spot marine wildlife also abound. Each year about 30,000 whales cruise the coast-hugging Humpback Hwy. At Ningaloo Marine Park you can dive with the worlds largest fish, the whale shark, and at Rockingham, Bunbury and Monkey Mia you can interact with wild dolphins.

Perth and neighbouring Fremantle are cosmopolitan cities, yet both retain a laid-back feel courtesy of their fantastic beaches and parks. The mining boom continues to add a glitzy sheen to everything in the shadow of its skyscrapers, and earlier boom times have left grand architectural legacies in Fremantle, Albany, Guildford and York.

Around Margaret River and the southwest, vignerons and brewers craft world-class wines and beers, complemented by the inventive menus of the regions restaurants. Truffles are grown down south, and WAs seafood is consistently sublime.

Greens Pool, William Bay National Park ()
ORIEN HARVEY/GETTY IMAGES

Why I Love Perth & West Coast Australia

By Brett Atkinson, Author

Despite being very familiar with Australias eastern states, I always find the countrys far west a compellingly different destination. Perths pride at being the worlds most remote capital is reflected in the verve and independence of the locals, and I love exploring the states emerging culinary scene, which combines great wine and local produce. Fremantles historic townscape and excellent pubs serving great craft beer is worth multiple leisurely explorations, and the states combination of the outbacks elemental red-dirt expanses and cliff-studded coastline is truly like nowhere else Ive been.

See for much more.

Perth & West Coast Australias Top 12

AUSCAPE / UIG/GETTY IMAGES