Whether you have just a few days or weeks, the mind-blowingly large region of Western Australia offers plenty of opportunities to take an epic journey.
Whether you’re hopping between cities by air or spending weeks driving by car, there’s a lot to check out on the western side of down under.
Local writer Ronan O’Connell plans your perfect 7-day journey by car through Western Australia.
Why You Should Visit Western Australia
The antidote to years of suffocating-feeling pandemic life is a visit to one of the planet’s most serene and sparsely populated places. WA covers more land than England, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany combined, yet is home to less than 1% of their collective population.
By no means does this mean the state is empty. WA has forests as tall as skyscrapers, reefs as long as countries, monoliths as big as airports, beaches as lengthy as rivers, craters as wide as provinces, gorges as deep as oceans, and lakes as large as nations.
Even its capital, Perth, is remarkably green and spacious, wedged between dense forest and pristine coastline, pierced by a river clean enough for swimming and bordered by endless parkland. Space, serenity, and scenery: this is the holy trinity of WA.
Launch Your Journey in Perth
Each morning, native Australian animals frolic in a patch of wilderness only 1970ft (600m) from Perth’s skyscrapers. Join them by wandering one of the world’s biggest inner-city green spaces, Kings Park, to admire kookaburras, quenda bandicoots, brushtail possums, bearded dragon lizards, and 3000 species of flora.
WA’s Aboriginal people coexisted with this natural bounty for 60,000 years before the British colonized Australia. You can learn more about this at Perth’s brand-new, multimillion-dollar WA Museum Boola Bardip. Its highlight is the Ngalang Koort Boodja Wirn permanent exhibition, which shares the lore, traditions, and history of the more than 100 cultural language groups of WA’s Aboriginal community.
Cheer on Australian Football
In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the roar of 60,000 spectators watching Australian football at Perth’s Optus Stadium. A cross between rugby, soccer, and basketball, this homegrown sport is fast-paced, high-scoring, and hard-hitting, making for a spectacular live experience. Afterward, enjoy dinner on the southern banks of the placid Swan River as the Perth skyline twinkles opposite.
The Boatshed Restaurant offers grilled barramundi fish and slow-cooked pork belly that are as memorable as the view. After dining, catch the nearby South Perth ferry across the river, then walk through the city center.
The Harbor Town of Fremantle
Fremantle (or “Freo” as it’s known) is Perth’s bohemian cousin. In this harbor town just 25 minutes southwest of central Perth, skyscrapers make way for heritage architecture and thrift shops. To slip into this distinctive vibe, consider staying at Warders Hotel, a new boutique accommodation built in an 1800s prison-guard facility. It adjoins Fremantle Markets where you can purchase local goods and enjoy a lively atmosphere.
Visit the nearby, 167-year-old Fremantle Prison, a UNESCO site that reflects WA’s convict roots. It’s now a popular tourist attraction with regular tours of dark cells and eerie underground tunnels.
Evening Mussels at Cicerellos
Refuel in the evening by gorging on mussels freshly plucked from the Indian Ocean. Cicerellos, Fremantle’s oldest restaurant, is renowned for its comfort food, including delicious fish and chips.
Drive to Busselton
A 2.5-hour morning drive south from Fremantle ends at the stunning Tuart Forest National Park in Ludlow. Raise your pulse by scaling the majestic tuart trees, which can be up to 400 years old and 108ft (33m) tall. From there, it’s just a 15-minute drive to the Busselton Jetty, the longest timber-piled pier in the Southern Hemisphere.
Wander its length or catch the solar-powered train to its end, where an underwater observatory showcases marine life. After exploring, enjoy a meal at Shelter Brewing Co., known for wood-fired pizzas and seasonal fish.
Wine Tasting on the Way to Margaret River
Start your day with a swim at one of WA’s best beaches, Eagle Bay, followed by an Aboriginal cultural tour at Ngilgi Cave in Yallingup. After experiencing the cave’s beauty, enjoy wine tasting in Margaret River, home to some of the world’s finest vineyards.
At Vasse Felix, stroll through its manicured grounds and participate in guided tastings of award-winning wines. Dine overlooking the vineyard where unique local ingredients shine in every dish.
Among the Trees in Pemberton
Travel southwest to Greater Beedelup National Park, where you can walk among towering karri trees. Climb the 100-plus metal pegs on the Gloucester Tree for spectacular views of the surrounding forest before resting at the classic Pemberton Hotel.
Truffles, Family Fun, and the Beaches of Bunbury
On your drive back to Perth, explore Manjimup, a global truffle hub where you can join guided truffle hunts. Visit Timber and Heritage Park for a glimpse into local history before stopping at Donnybrook’s Apple Fun Park, Australia’s largest free playground.
End your culinary journey with crab risotto at Vat 2, a restaurant situated on the picturesque Bunbury beach.
The Tiny Penguins of Rockingham
On your final day, visit the Bunbury Wildlife Park to see Australian animals before heading to Rockingham. Admire the world’s smallest species of penguin at Penguin Island and enjoy a meal at Latitude 32 restaurant, beachfront with beautiful views of Mangles Bay.
