EXPERIENCE PERTH
Kings Park & Botanic Gardens in Perth, Western Australia, is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world - at more than 400 hectares (988 acres) it is larger than New York’s Central Park. Showcasing some of the world’s most unique flora, here you will find towering trees, natural bushland, lakes, grand lookouts and sculpted botanical gardens.
The vibrant port city of Fremantle, Western Australia, boasts the best preserved example of a 19th century port streetscape in the world, with its world-famous heritage buildings and a fascinating maritime and convict history. Soak up the laidback ambience, chill-out in a street cafe, enjoy fish and chips fresh off the boat at the Fishing Boat Harbour; or a cleansing pale-ale at an award winning microbrewery.
Perth is the only capital city in Australia where you can chose to either explore a word-class wine region, picnic in one of Australia’s oldest conservation areas or watch the sunset over the ocean, all with in 30 minutes from the city. And with more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia, whichever activity you choose, chances are that there will be a blue sky overhead. It’s no wonder Perth has been voted as one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Rottnest Island boasts some of the world’s finest beaches and bays, as well as unique animal and plant life. A short ferry ride from Western Australia’s capital city Perth, Rottnest is a car free zone and home to the world famous quokka, a unique marsupial that is only found in Western Australia.
Perth, Western Australia, has plenty to tempt shoppers with over 900 specialty shops that can be enjoyed seven days a week. Fashion lovers should head to the King Street precinct housing leading fashion houses including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. There are also unique opportunities to purchase jewellery items made from gold nuggets, Argyle diamonds, Australian opals and Broome pearls.
AUSTRALIA’S SOUTH WEST
Western Australia grows more black truffles, one of the most expensive food items sold in the world, than the rest of Australia put together. Each year, from June to August, you can buy fresh truffles or enjoy truffles at one of WA’s fine restaurants.
The South West region of Western Australia has been named one of the world’s Top 10 Regions in Lonely Planet’s BEST IN TRAVEL 2010, and is famous for its internationally renowned forests, beaches and wineries.
Margaret River Wine Region is the only wine region in Australia where you can experience stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, premium wineries, world-class surfing and caves all in the one place. The Margaret River Wine Region is one of the largest and most diverse wine regions in Australia.
More than 1800 beautiful and bizarre species of flowering plants, as well as a myriad of lichens, mosses and fungi, have been recorded in Fitzgerald River National Park. This represents nearly 20 per cent of the total number of plant species in Western Australia, in an area that covers only a tiny fraction of the State.
The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, 10 minutes north of Walpole on Western Australia’s south coast, was the first walk trail of its kind in the world. At 600 metres (656 yards) long and 40 metres (44 yards) above ground, it has been specially designed to minimise impact on the forest. Walking amongst the tall forest trees is a breathtaking experience.
AUSTRALIA’S NORTH WEST
Karijini National Park, in Western Australia, is home to some of the oldest rock formations in the world, dating back two billion years. One of Australia’s largest and most spectacular national parks - amazing gorges and waterfalls are easily accessible.
The Kimberley region and its coastline are regarded as one of the world’s ‘last true wilderness areas’, more than 20 million years in the making. This is the only place in the world where you can ride the unique Horizontal Waterfalls, marvel at the beehive like formations of the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park and cruise on Lake Argyle, the largest freshwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere and more than 20 times the size of Sydney Harbour.
The Gibb River Road is Australia’s most unique 4WD experience with more natural attractions than any other unsealed journey in the nation. The scenery along the drive is spectacular, red rugged ranges, gorgeous gorges, mystical boab trees and blue sky as far as the eye can see. At night rest at one of the stations or camp under the stars.
Cable Beach, located in Broome in the North West of Western Australia, is the only place in the world where you can take a sunset camel ride on 22 kilometres (14 miles) of pristine white beach sands that fringe the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
The Bungle Bungle range in the World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park, Western Australia, is the most unique range in the world, 350-million-years in the making. The Bungle Bungle range is by far the most outstanding example of cone karst in sandstones anywhere in the world! Flying over or camping in the range is an exhilarating experience.
The North West of Western Australia is the only place in the world where you can see the Staircase to the Moon. Occurring across the coastline at Onslow, Dampier, Point Samson Peninsula, Port Hedland and Broome, this natural phenomenon occurs when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats at extremely low tide from March to October, creating the optical illusion of a staircase reaching for the moon. Staircase to the Moon is often complemented by local night markets – sample local fare, purchase crafts and delight in talented local entertainers.
The large tidal movement in the Kimberley, in Western Australia, has created one of the world’s most unique attractions – the Horizontal Waterfalls. This is the only place in the world it can be found. Get up close by taking a boat ride through the falls.
In the late 1890’s, a collection of Australian Aboriginal rock art featuring distinctive stick like figures was seen by European eyes for the first time. Archaeological dating has placed the Gyorn Gyorn paintings, sometimes known as Bradshaws, among the oldest discovered.
AUSTRALIA’S CORAL COAST
Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, is one of the best places in the world for swimming with the largest fish in the sea, the gentle Whale Shark which grows up to 16 metres (52.5 feet) long. Ningaloo is one of very few regions in the world where Whale Sharks gather regularly in coastal waters and are easily accessible to visitors.
Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, one of the most biodiverse reefs in the world, is the largest coral reef in the world found so close to land, making it easily accessible from the shore. Home to a myriad of marine life, slip on a snorkel or diving gear and swim with graceful manta rays, sea turtles and schools of brightly coloured fish in the clearest turquoise water imaginable.
Monkey Mia, Western Australia, is renowned for its amazing 40 year wildlife ritual, where wild dolphins have a daily ritual of coming close to the shore, to the delight of visitors. It is one of the best and most reliable places for dolphin interaction in the world – the dolphins visit almost daily, not just seasonally.
The Shark Bay World Heritage Area in Western Australia is one of only 16 sites worldwide that satisfy all four natural criteria for World Heritage listing – for its natural beauty, biological diversity, ecological processes and link to Earth’s history. Shark Bay’s sheltered waters are also home to the world’s largest dugong population, and 10% of the world’s dugong population are found here. As well as the world-renowned affable dolphins of Monkey Mia, the many bays and inlets in the region are ablaze with multicoloured sea life. The turquoise waters are so clear that docile dugongs, manta rays and marine turtles are easy to spot.
The Pinnacles, Western Australia, is regarded as one of Australia’s most unique landscapes. You can walk amongst these incredible limestone spires that rise eerily out of the sand, some several metres tall. It’s the only place in Australia like it.
Shell Beach is one of only two in the world, formed from billions of the same tiny shells made from just one type of animal. Walk across the shells along a beach that stretches for approximately 110 kilometres (68 miles) and is between seven and ten metres (23 and 33 feet) deep, then take a dip in the azure blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, Western Australia, is one of only two places in 0the world with the oldest living marine fossils known to man - stromatolites. The mystery surrounding their origin has attracted scientists from across the globe, who have compared the find to that of a zoologist discovering a living dinosaur. Access to Hamelin Pool and the stromatolites is easy via a 200 meter (219 yard) boardwalk with interpretive signage along the way.
AUSTRALIA’S GOLDEN OUTBACK
Located near Esperance in Western Australia, Lucky Bay is Australia’s whitest beach and rated one of Australia’s best beaches for its pure white sand, clear turquoise water and perfect swimming conditions.
Western Australia produces 75% of the country’s gold and has approximately two-thirds of Australia’s gold resources. In Kalgoorlie, the site of one of Australia’s biggest gold rushes, you can visit the biggest open-pit gold mine in Australia and Australia’s only Mining Hall of Fame.
“Inside Australia” is Australia’s largest world class sculpture exhibit, showcasing 51 statues and covering an area of 10 square kilometres (3.8 square miles). Located on the flat salt lake of Lake Ballard in Western Australia’s outback and created by the world famous artist, visitors can walk amongst the Antony Gormley statues, which represent residents from the nearby town of Menzies.
In Western Australia there is a world-famous wave that is 300 kilometres (186 miles) inland. Wave Rock is a two billion year old granite cliff, standing 15 metres (49 feet) high, 110 metres (361 feet) long and shaped remarkably like a huge wave. You can stand on Wave Rock and surf one of Australia’s biggest waves!
Mount Augustus National Park in Western Australia is home to the world’s largest ‘rock’. Estimated to be 1750 million years old, Mount Augustus itself is about eight kilometres long (5 miles) and covers an area of 48 square kilometres (18.5 square miles) making it twice the size of Uluru (Ayers Rock). Head out to Emu Hill Lookout at sunset for spectacular photo opportunities, set up an outback camp or drive the 49 kilometre (30.5 mile) scenic trail.
Play a few holes at the world’s longest golf course – The Nullarbor Links; spanning the 1,365 kilometers (848 miles) Eyre Highway from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
