Western Australia: Wilderness, Reefs and Wide-Open Spaces

Wilderness, reefs and unique habitats

Purnululu National Park covers almost 240,000 hectares of remote land managed as wilderness in the Kimberley region. Its most striking feature is the Bungle Bungle Range: its beehive-shaped karst sandstone formations rise 250 metres above the surrounding semi-arid savannah. Their scale and distinctive shapes make it clear why a visit here is all about the landscape itself.

Getting to Purnululu is also an important part of planning. Access is restricted to high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, as well as single-axle camper trailers and caravans with high ground clearance. Weather and road conditions can affect access, so check the latest information before setting out. The park has 14 walking trails spread across the northern and southern sections of the range.

Off Western Australia’s remote coast, Ningaloo Coast is home to a significant nearshore reef system alongside a limestone karst system. The karst system of Cape Range includes hundreds of caves, sinkholes and underground waters. An estimated 300 to 500 whale sharks gather at Ningaloo Coast each year. These are distinct natural attractions, quite different from Purnululu’s desert and sandstone landscapes.

Shark Bay is also known for its extraordinary natural features: its seagrass beds, at 4,800 square kilometres, are the largest and most diverse in the world. Hamelin Pool is home to the world’s most diverse and abundant stromatolites. Formed by microbial mats, they are described as some of the oldest life forms on Earth.

Explore on foot and by bike

At Karijini, the Gorge Rim Walk is a useful reference point: this 2.4-kilometre trail runs along the edge of Dales Gorge between Circular Pool Lookout and Fortescue Falls Lookout. Karijini is Western Australia’s second-largest national park. Check park notices before hiking, and be sure to consult the latest information about the trail itself.

On Rottnest Island, the Wadjemup Bidi comprises more than 45 kilometres of connected trails and boardwalks. The quokka found there is unique to Western Australia. Another way to discover the island is the Wadjemup Aboriginal Walking Tour, which begins with a traditional ceremony in the sand led by a Noongar guide. Check tour availability before your trip.

For longer journeys, the Munda Biddi Trail and the Bibbulmun Track offer two different ways to explore. The Munda Biddi is a 1,072-kilometre off-road cycling trail through the scenic Darling Range and the forests of southern Western Australia. Twelve purpose-built shelters are located in the forest between country towns that are 40 to 60 kilometres apart. Several trailheads are accessible by car and, according to tourism planning information, are suitable for day rides or short overnight trips; check current access conditions.

The Bibbulmun Track, by contrast, is a 1,000-kilometre long-distance walking trail through the South West, from the Perth Hills to Albany (Kinjarling). The distances give you a sense of the scale of both trails; choosing between them also means deciding between off-road cycling and a walking route. Check the latest track conditions before setting out.

Culture, wine and road trip ideas

In Perth, WA Museum Boola Bardip presents Western Australia’s cultural and natural heritage through three major themes: “Being Western Australian,” “Discovering Western Australia” and “Exploring the World.” The museum is accessible by train and bus. Exhibition content may change. In Fremantle, Fremantle Prison is the only building in Western Australia listed as a World Heritage site—a different cultural focus from the state’s nature and outdoor activities.

Margaret River also offers a clear culinary focus: some of the main grape varieties grown there are Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Chardonnay. The wine region has 100 cellar doors and offers gourmet dining experiences. For a trip focused on wine and food, this offers a different search direction from a tour built around long hiking or cycling routes.

If you’d rather plan a road trip, Western Australia has more than 30 road trip routes across five regions. A self-guided, five-day heritage road trip includes destinations such as Busselton Jetty. Individual routes may no longer be available, so check the details if you’re planning a specific itinerary.

Choose accommodation to match your interests

The experiences described here offer different focuses: remote sandstone landscapes, coastal and karst nature, hiking and cycling trails, city culture, or wine and food. First decide which of these themes you’d like to make the biggest part of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Karratha, Kununurra, Port Hedland, Monkey Mia, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Yallingup, Mandurah, Margaret River, Kalbarri, Pemberton, Perth, Hillarys, Pinjarra, Parryville, Manjimup, Karijini, Halls Creek, Wonnerup, South Yunderup, Kordabup, Torbay, Metricup, Jurien Bay, Warmun, Carbunup River, Dongara, Port Denison, Denham, Eastbrook, Green Head, Forest Grove, Laverton, Lancelin, Prevelly, Cervantes, York, Preston Beach, Rosa Glen, Gingin, Balingup, Toodyay, Carnamah, Beermullah, Collie, Kingston, Newman, Yanmah, Porongurup, Shire of Gnowangerup, Norseman, Greenough, Kendenup, Tom Price, Bibra Lake, West Perth, North Fremantle, Kings Park, Roleystone, Binningup, Burswood, Stratham, Neerabup, Bullsbrook, Jandakot, Port Kennedy, Halls Head, Marangaroo, Meadow Springs, Pelican Point, Wembley, Karridale, Treeton, Schroeder, Frankland River, Carabooda, Bickley, Glen Forrest, Clackline, Baskerville, Nannup, Boyup Brook, Bindoon, Donnybrook, Gracetown, Herron, Stirling Estate, Mount Helena, Kalamunda, Denbarker, Lower Chittering, Chittering, Herne Hill, Darlington, Chapman Hill, Wanneroo City, Dardanup, Osborne Park, Middle Swan, Harvey, Shadforth, Collins, Yeagarup, Marybrook, Kalgan, Scotsdale, Muchea, Rocky Gully, South Guildford, Bramley, Siesta Park, Woodvale, Karnup, Northcliffe, Mount Barker, Swanbourne, Narrikup, Cuballing, Gelorup, Capel, Broomehill Village, Wandering, King River, Eagle Bay, Ringbark, Redmond, Cable Beach, Woodbridge, Oombulgurri, Derby, Lowlands, Spalding, Northam, Drummond Cove, Nedlands, Yanchep, Waggrakine, Mindarie, Kelmscott, Quinninup, Broadwater, Kronkup, Wellard, North Yunderup, Nornalup, Wyndham, Trigg, North Beach, Mullaloo, Cockburn Central, Forrestfield, Thornlie, Wilson, Bellevue, Stirling City, Inglewood, Walpole, Murdoch, Woodanilling, Point Samson, Meekatharra, Harrisdale, Northampton, Pickering Brook, Mumballup, Leeman, Kinross, Bow Bridge, North Boyanup, Yallingup Siding, Dampier, Benger, Bremer Bay, Kukerin, Rosa Brook, Kojonup, Bayswater, Wellington Mill, Cannington, Hazelmere, Brigadoon, Wickepin, Chidlow, Middle Island, City of Busselton, City of Wanneroo, Shire of Broome, City of Stirling, City of Joondalup, Town of Mosman Park, Shire of Toodyay, City of Albany, Shire of Gingin, Shire of Northampton, Shire of Katanning, Shire of Dardanup, Shire of Ashburton, City of Mandurah, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of Williams, City of Melville, Leeming, City of Belmont, Shire of Harvey, Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, City of Bunbury, Shire of Carnarvon, Shire of Denmark, Shire of Esperance, Shire of Exmouth, City of Greater Geraldton, Shire of Northam, City of Rockingham, Shire of Roebourne, Shire of Boddington, Town of East Fremantle, City of Wanneroo, Shire of Murray, Shire of Dalwallinu, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.

For the broader travel overview: Australia.