Western Australia
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Western Australia Travel Guide: Where to Go in WA

Western Australia is the largest state in Australia and one of the least crowded — roughly 2.6 million square kilometres with fewer than 3 million people, most of them in Perth. That ratio makes it the natural destination for travellers who want scale, silence and landscapes that have barely changed. From the fringing coral of Ningaloo (World Heritage) in the north-west to the pearl-blue Indian Ocean at Cable Beach in Broome and the wine country and karri forests of the South West, WA rewards those who commit to the distances.

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Hero photo: Chasing the Sun by Tam Schwerdt via Google
By ·Regional Travel Specialist ·Last updated June 2026

Researched from verified local operators and aggregated traveller reviews — not recycled listings.

Best for
Reef, wilderness, wine & remote beaches
Price range
Varies by region
Vibe
Epic scale, low crowds
Getting there
Statewide — fly to each region
Capital
Perth
Regions covered
Australia's Coral Coast, Australia's North West, Australia's South West
Known for
Ningaloo Reef, the Kimberley, Cable Beach, Margaret River wine, karri forests

Our Western Australia coverage spans three distinct regions: the Coral Coast (Ningaloo Reef, whale sharks, Exmouth), the North West (Broome and the Kimberley), and the South West (Margaret River wine country and surf coast). Pick a region below.

Every topic, covered

Australia's Coral Coast Australia's Coral Coast Ningaloo Reef, whale sharks and Exmouth Coral Coast Guide → Australia's North West Australia's North West Broome, Cable Beach and the Kimberley wilderness North West Guide → Australia's South West Australia's South West Margaret River wine country, surf and caves South West Guide → Ningaloo Reef Ningaloo Reef The World Heritage fringing reef and whale shark season Ningaloo Reef Guide → Broome Broome Cable Beach, pearling history and the Staircase to the Moon Broome Guide → The Kimberley The Kimberley Gorges, the Gibb River Road and the Bungle Bungles The Kimberley Guide → Margaret River Margaret River WA's wine-country and surf-coast hub Margaret River Guide →

A State the Size of a Continent

A State the Size of a Continent
Photo: Verde Speranza via Google

Western Australia covers a third of the Australian continent. From Perth, each of its three headline regions is a flight away: Learmonth Airport for the Coral Coast (~2 hours), Broome for the North West (~2.5 hours), and the South West is a three-hour drive — the only one within driving range. Each region is a distinct biome and a distinct travel experience, which is why most travellers pick one and go deep rather than trying to cover all three in a single trip.

Our guides start with the three regions that represent WA's most-visited drawcards and are expanding from there. Choose a region and let the town and topic guides plan the detail.

Where to Start in Western Australia

Where to Start in Western Australia
Photo: Rob Mold via Google

The choice of WA region usually comes down to what kind of trip you want. Ningaloo and the Coral Coast are for travellers who want a world-class reef experience that remains uncrowded by international standards — the whale shark season (March to August) and Turquoise Bay's walk-in snorkelling are the headline. The North West suits those who want either a relaxed tropical town base (Broome) or a genuine wilderness adventure (the Kimberley) — or a combination with Broome as the soft landing before the deeper country. The South West is the easiest from Perth: a long-weekend wine-and-surf trip that suits couples, food lovers and families who want variety in a compact area.

All three reward more time than a single day. Build four nights minimum for the Coral Coast or North West given the flight commitment; three nights is the floor for the South West.

Where to Stay

Exmouth Escape Resort
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01. Exmouth Escape Resort

4.5 (428 reviews)

Exmouth Escape Resort — Western Australia

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Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort
town guide

02. Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort

4 (960 reviews)

Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort — Western Australia

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Western Australia known for?
The Ningaloo fringing reef and whale sharks on the Coral Coast, Cable Beach and the Kimberley wilderness in the North West, and the Margaret River wine region in the South West — all set within the largest and least-crowded state in Australia.
Where do your Western Australia guides currently focus?
Three regions: Australia's Coral Coast (Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth), Australia's North West (Broome and the Kimberley) and Australia's South West (Margaret River).
Which WA region is best for families?
The South West (Margaret River) for its compact logistics, surf lessons and cave tours. The Coral Coast suits adventurous families with older children — whale shark tours have age minimums and the heat is serious. Broome works well for families with its wide beach and town infrastructure; the deeper Kimberley is better suited to self-sufficient travellers.

Explore more of Australia

Glen Aplin Glen Aplin Granite Belt, Queensland Queensland's most underrated wine valley Explore the guide → Hamilton Island Hamilton Island The Whitsundays, Queensland Whitsundays island resort — Whitehaven Beach, reef trips and golf-buggy life Explore the guide → Narooma Narooma South Coast, New South Wales Crystal-clear inlet, surf beaches, oysters and Montague Island Explore the guide → Kangaroo Valley Kangaroo Valley Shoalhaven, New South Wales Hampden Bridge, kayaking and wombats in a green valley Explore the guide → Dubbo Dubbo Central West, New South Wales Open-range zoo and Outback gateway on the Macquarie River Explore the guide → Byron Bay Byron Bay Northern Rivers, New South Wales Australia's iconic beach town and most easterly point Explore the guide → Ningaloo Reef Ningaloo Reef Australia's Coral Coast, Western Australia Swim with whale sharks and snorkel a World-Heritage reef straight off the beach Explore the guide → Broome Broome Australia's North West, Western Australia Cable Beach sunsets, pearling history and camels on 22km of sand Explore the guide → The Kimberley The Kimberley Australia's North West, Western Australia Gibb River Road, the Bungle Bungles, gorges and waterfalls in Australia's last frontier Explore the guide → Margaret River Margaret River Australia's South West, Western Australia World-class wineries, surf breaks and limestone caves three hours south of Perth Explore the guide →

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Amir Neta
Regional Travel Specialist · Regional travel & small-business specialist

Amir Neta researches and writes BookFromOwner's regional travel guides, focusing on owner-operated stays, cool-climate wine regions and the lesser-known corners of regional Australia. Every guide is built from on-the-ground research, verified local operators and aggregated traveller feedback — not recycled listings.

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