5 Places to add to your Western Australia travel itinerary
Everybody wants to travel the East Coast of Australia and don't get us wrong, we loved traveling the East Coast too.
But if you would ask us about our best memories and favorite part of Australia we both would tell you about our 3 1/2 week campervan adventure in South-Western Australia (and also about Tasmania).
Compared to the East Coast we found the Southwest to be less crowded, offering a more relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. It is definitely a nature lover's dream come true!
Picture this: stunning coastlines with the most pristine beaches you will ever visit, some of the world's tallest trees and world-class wineries. It's a laid-back region where you can surf epic waves, explore hidden caves, and encounter unique wildlife like quokkas.
South-Western Australia provides definitely the whole package for an awesome Aussie experience.
Rottnest Island
Breathtaking island, home of the quokkas
Rotto - as the locals call it - is only a 30 minutes ferry ride away from Fremantle (or 90 minutes from Perth CBD).
The island features breathtaking beaches, turquoise water, historical buildings and is home to small wallaby-like marsupials called quokkas. The most famous thing to do at Rotto is taking a quokka selfie from a specific angle where it seems that the quokka is smiling to the camera.
You can easily get around the Island by bike, relax at the beach and go snorkeling. Usually a day trip is enough to explore and experience Rotto.
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Your visit to Perth is only complete when you’ve visited Rottnest Island.
8 Tips for making the most out of your Rottnest day trip:
- Try not to visit on weekends as many locals are visiting the island as well.
- Catch an early ferry with Rottnest Express to make the most of your day trip
- After landing on Rottnest Island, pick up your bike directly from the crew at the port (included in the ticket price with Rottnest Express)
- Grab a bite at Rottnest Bakery first. There will also be a lot of quokkas in this area.
- Check the wind direction, the beaches in the South of the island are usually more protected in the morning and the ones up north are better in the afternoon hours.
- Keep your eyes open for little quokkas along the way. For us it was not easy to find a quokka to take the famous quokka selfie with us but we found one in the end which even approached us! But it is important not to feed or touch them.
- Little Salmon Bay in the South of Rottnest Island was our favorite beach for relaxing and snorkeling and we ended our day at the Basin which is a great snorkeling spot as well
- Book a late ferry back in advance to make the most of your day trip
Lucky Bay
One of the most beautiful beaches of the World
Without a doubt this is one of the most beautiful beaches of the world. The water gets from crystal clear to turquoise to dark blue. The sand is one of the finest and whitest – when touching it, it feels like touching wheat flour.
On the downside, there are many 4-wheeler trucks driving at the beach and this did not invite to us to go for a swim or relax in the sun. Additionally it was also very windy on the day we went and there was also a shark warning in place.
But overall Lucky Bay has to be on your Western Australia bucket list!
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- If you want to stay at Lucky Bay camping ground, you have to book months in advance!
- Do not make the mistake like us and visit during the middle of the day. We only saw one kangaroo relaxing next to a picnic bench close to the beach. The best time to encounter wild kangaroos at the beach is early in the morning (at sunrise) or late afternoon.
- If you are also planning on traveling the East Coast of Australia another great spot to witness wild kangaroos at the beach is Cape Hillsborough National Park.
Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
Walking high up in the forrest
The Red Tingle tree is a species of tall tree which is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia.
These trees typically grow to a height of 8 to 45 meters (26 to 148 ft) and have a thick, rough and stringy grey-brown or red-brown bark. The tingle Forest date back 65 million years when Australia was joined in the supercontinent known as Gondwana.
At the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk you can walk up on a bridge to the forest canopy (the upper layer or habitat zone formed by mature tree crowns), which is almost 40 meters above the ground and enjoy the view of these trees very closely
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Join their awesome free guided tours that take place daily except during school holidays, peak periods, or inclement weather.
Hamelin Bay Beach
Stunning beach with sting rays swimming very close to the shore
Another stunning Western Australian beach which is famous for its sting rays.
They come very close to the shore so that you can actually see them if you are not in the water.
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You should not feed the sting rays, however, some people are doing it. Usually they are friendly, but be careful not to step on them.
Bremer Bay
Coastal gem known for a large number of killer whales
Have you heard of Bremer Bay?
It is located about a 5 1/2 hours drive from Perth and is particularly known to have the largest congregation of orcas (killer whales) in the Southern Hemisphere! This was one of the main reasons to put Bremer Bay on our South-Western Australia travel itinerary.
Besides witnessing one of the largest killer whale gatherings in the world, Bremer Bay also offers pristine beaches and makes a great base to explore Fitzgerald River National Park.
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Best things to do in Bremer Bay: