8 Must Visit Places in Western Australia: From Perth to Broome
*Disclaimer* This post may contain affiliate links, if you purchase through one of these links I would receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Back in 2018, I embarked on a fabulous group tour for 2 weeks. It was a round trip starting and ending in Perth in which I travelled north up the coast to Broome, stopping at many places on the way.
On that trip, I made memories for a lifetime and fell in love with the state of Western Australia. With isolated roads, dramatically changing landscapes, diverse wildlife and stunning coastlines it’s a road trip I urge you all to take.
I know tour groups are some people’s worst nightmare, but as a first-time solo traveller, it was the perfect way to ease myself in. But if your skin crawls at the thought, plenty of people opt to rent a vehicle and drive this route themselves.
Now being a little more secure and confident when it comes to travelling I think this would be the best way, as you can march to the beat of your own drum. Just make sure to know where the next gas station is, once you go north of Perth you are in the middle of nowhere quite a lot.
So if you are planning a Western Australia road trip or just want some inspiration on where to visit, keep reading to discover 8 beautiful destinations you can’t miss between Perth and Broome.
Rottnest Island
Take the ferry from the city of Perth and be transported to paradise, aka Rottnest Island, in around 90 minutes. The crystal clear water and silky white sand beaches are almost unbelievable even when you're standing amongst it all.
The best way to get around the island in my opinion is to hire a bike and cycle your way from the beach to viewpoint, to more beaches. Some highlights of the island for me were Little Salmon Bay, Bathurst Lighthouse and Cape Vlamingh. From Cape Vlamingh I was lucky enough to see some dolphins not too far from the island.
Whilst you're there don’t forget the all-important selfie with the VIP of the island, the Quokkas, your cute new furry friend. These bundles of joy are native to Western Australia and part of the marsupial family. Two really important things to remember when you see a Quokka is don’t ever touch them and also don’t feed them, human food can make them really sick.
80 Mile Beach
The name says it all really, but with unobstructed coastal views for miles, it’s quite the sight. Whether you want to hunt for seashells, birdwatch, fish, swim or just take a peaceful beach walk
With tons of diverse wildlife to see, there is one special creature that draws a lot of attention from tourists. Flatback turtles are known visitors to the shores of 80 Mile Beach and even nest here between October and March. If you want to learn more about this I recommend taking a look at the Care for Headlands Turtle Monitoring program here.
Karijini National Park
I still think about the beauty of Karijini National Park to this day. I would go as far as to say it's one of the best places I have ever been. In the depths of the Western Australian outback, this national park is full of hiking trails, viewpoints and swimming holes.
My favourite trail was to Hamersly Gorge, which is where the infamous Spa Pool is located, an absolutely unmissable feature of the park. But please be careful on the trail as it does require a little bit of scrambling, I got a lovely little lifetime memory (scar) from a fall here.
I also recommend the Dales Gorge Walk, with swimming stops at the culturally significant Fern Pool and the park’s biggest waterfall Fortescue Falls and some striking views along the way.
With plenty more to explore within the park, it’s worth staying a few nights either within the park or the nearest town which is Tom Price. We camped within the park for a few nights at the Karijini Eco Retreat and it was so magical at night, the clear skies and remote location made for some of the best stargazing ever.
Ningaloo Reef
Ningaloo Reef is home to 450 different species of marine life and 250 different species of coral, representing over 50% of the Indian Ocean’s coral life. Most people stop in the town of Coral Bay in order to explore the reef.
Ningaloo Reef is the best snorkelling spot I have ever experienced. The blue waters, vibrant coral and incredibly diverse sea life are guaranteed to blow your mind. Our snorkelling tour was incredible we got to swim with manta rays and also got a glimpse of reef sharks, turtles, dolphins and countless amounts of other sea creatures.
If you go between June and October you may even be able to see humpback whales as it’s estimated over 40,000 whales pass through the waters of the Ningaloo Reef. And unlike its other side of the country's neighbour, the Great Barrier Reef, this place had a lot fewer tourists and thankfully a lot less damage to the coral. I actually preferred Ningaloo over the Great Barrier Reef.
Kalbarri National Park
Located 450km north of Perth, Kalbarri is a popular destination for hikers and people looking to escape the city life in Perth. The arid landscape throughout Kalbarri was something I had never experienced before and I was completely in awe of it. Even whilst melting in the heat and experiencing the attack of a thousand flies, the views kept me marching on through.
The most popular hike here would be the loop walk, which starts and finishes at the famous photo spot of Nature’s Window. With plenty of insane views around the park be sure to check out Z Bend Lookout, Hawk’s Head Lookout, Ross Graham Lookout and the daring Kalbarri Skywalk. It gets extremely hot in the summer and it's recommended you do this in the cooler months as in summer there is a lack of shade and temperatures can soar above 50 Celsius.
Kings Park
A slight curveball compared to the other incredibly diverse landscapes Western Australia offers, but nonetheless, I was impressed by Kings Park and you should not miss it on your trip to Perth.
It’s the largest inner city park in the world and offers breathtaking views of the Swan River and the city skyline. Whether you just want to take some good snacks, a blanket and a book ready to chill or you decide to walk around and explore what the park has to offer, you won’t be disappointed.
The Botanic Gardens inside the park stretches over 17 hectares of land and contains 25% of Western Australia's flora, which all comes at no cost to explore. Or if you fancy some more stunning views, why not head up the Treetop Walk where you can see views of Kings Park and the Swan River from above.
Discover more things to do in Perth here -->
Stromatolites at Hamelin Pool
Hamelin Pool Nature Reserve is inside of the World Heritage-listed area of Shark Bay and is home to the oldest living fossils the Stromatolites.
These gorgeous living organisms put oxygen into the ocean before trees even existed, as scientists believe they have been around a whopping 3.5 billion years. Thanks to the protection programs in place, the Stromatolites found here are believed to be the best example of their kind in the world.
On your visit make sure to stay on the boardwalk and guided paths to help preserve these ancient wonders. Also look out for the bubbles in the water, as what you are seeing is actually the Stromatolites producing oxygen and breathing life into the earth.
Sunset at Cable Beach
Who doesn’t love a good sunset over the ocean? The sunsets on Cable Beach were absolutely gorgeous with insane colours surrounding you it’s one of the best things you can do whilst in Broome.
If you wish to see the sunset whilst riding a camel or on a 4WD tour, you're in the right place as this is all offered in Broome by many tour companies. But if you're like me you probably just want to kick back on the beach and watch the sun fall down into the horizon, maybe with a cocktail in hand from the nearby beach bar.
Photo Diary
I honestly never recommend a destination more to anyone than Perth and its beautiful surroundings, I had such a magical time in Western Australia.
I promised myself I would be back before 30 and would love to explore Albany, Margret River and Esperance. So let me know in the comments below your recommendations for a road trip down to the south coast of Western Australia!
Looking for more Australian travel inspiration?
