Thinking about WA in 2014
Apr 21st, 2013, 08:17 AM
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Thinking about WA in 2014
My wife and I travel to Australia every two years or so, combining visits with my wife's family on the east coast with travel to a different part of the country each time. Over the years, we've been to many places, some more than once (the Red Center and North Queensland, for example). WA remains the "last frontier" as it were, though we did to a trip to the Kimberly (in the north of WA) in 1997.
So..we're looking for some advice as we start thinking about our trip! Our main interests center around outdoorsy things - nature, scenery, walks, wildlife, birds - as well as country towns, historical sites, good food and wine tasting. I'm assuming we would fly in and out of Perth and would probably rent a 4WD to get us around. We would plan on spending about 14-17 days in WA. We would be happy to have a few long days of driving, but would also like to stop in a few places for 2-4 nights before moving on. A must see will be visiting Ningaloo Reef, but would also like to visit Karijini National Park and the wine country near Perth if possible. Of course other suggestions would be most welcome! We can be pretty flexible with respect to time of year - definitely want to avoid the heat.
Thanks!
So..we're looking for some advice as we start thinking about our trip! Our main interests center around outdoorsy things - nature, scenery, walks, wildlife, birds - as well as country towns, historical sites, good food and wine tasting. I'm assuming we would fly in and out of Perth and would probably rent a 4WD to get us around. We would plan on spending about 14-17 days in WA. We would be happy to have a few long days of driving, but would also like to stop in a few places for 2-4 nights before moving on. A must see will be visiting Ningaloo Reef, but would also like to visit Karijini National Park and the wine country near Perth if possible. Of course other suggestions would be most welcome! We can be pretty flexible with respect to time of year - definitely want to avoid the heat.
Thanks!
Apr 21st, 2013, 04:13 PM
#2
Well, I was going to suggest the SW of WA, which is my personal favorite part of the state and offers most everything on your wish list...but Ningaloo and Karijini are in the opposite direction and will use most of your time.
A few questions first - what time of year? That makes a huge difference when visiting the NW of WA. Do you plan to snorkel with the whale sharks (March-June)?
Secondly - what part of Ningaloo? Ningaloo can be accessed from both Coral Bay and Exmouth - they're about 152 km apart, but getting up there can be an ordeal if you plan to drive.
If you choose to drive, do be aware of the HUGE distances and isolation. Flying one way and driving the other would be ideal, but one way car fees in WA are very expensive.
Keep in mind that even if you rent a 4x4 many car rental agencies won't allow you to drive them on WA's unsealed roads
and some areas are completely off limits to rental vehicles (you'll need to check with the companies directly). Some rental agencies won't allow you to take your car beyond a 500 km radius of Perth, others will, but will charge you a surcharge...lots to consider.
Flights up north are also very limited and not particularly convenient or reliable.
We made the trek from Perth to Exmouth and return a few years back. My detailed trip report can be found here, and might give you a few ideas.
http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...y-long-way.cfm
A few questions first - what time of year? That makes a huge difference when visiting the NW of WA. Do you plan to snorkel with the whale sharks (March-June)?
Secondly - what part of Ningaloo? Ningaloo can be accessed from both Coral Bay and Exmouth - they're about 152 km apart, but getting up there can be an ordeal if you plan to drive.
If you choose to drive, do be aware of the HUGE distances and isolation. Flying one way and driving the other would be ideal, but one way car fees in WA are very expensive.
Keep in mind that even if you rent a 4x4 many car rental agencies won't allow you to drive them on WA's unsealed roads
and some areas are completely off limits to rental vehicles (you'll need to check with the companies directly). Some rental agencies won't allow you to take your car beyond a 500 km radius of Perth, others will, but will charge you a surcharge...lots to consider.
Flights up north are also very limited and not particularly convenient or reliable.
We made the trek from Perth to Exmouth and return a few years back. My detailed trip report can be found here, and might give you a few ideas.
http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...y-long-way.cfm
Apr 23rd, 2013, 10:24 PM
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You'd have to come in March to snorkel with the whale sharks Ralph. I love Ningaloo - we camped in the Cape Range National Park - it was pristine and beautiful. It's one of my favourite places on the west coast.
The camping area was very well managed (in 1997) but I'm not sure what's there now.
We really loved Karijini and Millstream National Parks as well but it's a bit of a hike in there isn't it Ralph? Not sure what you might be able to fit in in two weeks.
For myself I would have to say it would be totally worth the trek up to Ningaloo if you were seriously going to swim with the whale sharks.
Having said that - you would have no problem occupying yourselves for two weeks south of Perth in the Margaret River region, there are some lovely places to visit there - some that come to mind just now are Pemberton (really loved that little spot) Denmark - ooh but I've just checked the map - they are a bit of a way around the corner. Sorry!
Western Australia is so big and so diverse seriously, you really couldn't go wrong wherever you choose.
The camping area was very well managed (in 1997) but I'm not sure what's there now.
We really loved Karijini and Millstream National Parks as well but it's a bit of a hike in there isn't it Ralph? Not sure what you might be able to fit in in two weeks.
For myself I would have to say it would be totally worth the trek up to Ningaloo if you were seriously going to swim with the whale sharks.
Having said that - you would have no problem occupying yourselves for two weeks south of Perth in the Margaret River region, there are some lovely places to visit there - some that come to mind just now are Pemberton (really loved that little spot) Denmark - ooh but I've just checked the map - they are a bit of a way around the corner. Sorry!
Western Australia is so big and so diverse seriously, you really couldn't go wrong wherever you choose.
Apr 24th, 2013, 04:12 PM
#6
Whale shark season runs from March-June. The whale sharks migrate north, so if you go early in the season, it makes sense to base yourself in Coral Bay. If you go later in the season, Exmouth makes more sense.
Exmouth and Coral Bay are only 152 km apart, so it's quite feasible to do both. The primo dive sites are closer to Exmouth - if you're a diver, you'll be interested in the Navy Pier dive out of Exmouth. Exmouth has the added advantage of being a 90 minute drive from Cape Range Nat'l Park and Yardie Creek. Coral Bay isn't near anything but itself (part of Ningaloo)...a tiny village on a lovely bay with excellent snorkeling, but not a whole lot to do other than relax and jump in the water.
Other interesting sites along the way to Coral Bay/Exmouth via the coast are Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and Shark Bay (we loved Denham, Monkey Mia was a captive-type resort, but easily accessed from Denham). Carnarvon, WA's bread basket also makes an interesting stop, as does Geraldton.
And there go your two weeks - not time for much else as the distances are so huge and the locations remote.
WA is best avoided in Dec-Feb IMO as it's just too freaking hot to be any fun. It's also cyclone season up north, so not a good time to visit the NW coast, although it's considerably cooler down south.
September-November is wildflower season in WA - a beautiful time to visit. May is also a beautiful month and my personal favorite time to be in WA. June-August is our rainy season, such that it is. Weather is very iffy that time of year.
Huge state, a lot on offer.
Exmouth and Coral Bay are only 152 km apart, so it's quite feasible to do both. The primo dive sites are closer to Exmouth - if you're a diver, you'll be interested in the Navy Pier dive out of Exmouth. Exmouth has the added advantage of being a 90 minute drive from Cape Range Nat'l Park and Yardie Creek. Coral Bay isn't near anything but itself (part of Ningaloo)...a tiny village on a lovely bay with excellent snorkeling, but not a whole lot to do other than relax and jump in the water.
Other interesting sites along the way to Coral Bay/Exmouth via the coast are Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and Shark Bay (we loved Denham, Monkey Mia was a captive-type resort, but easily accessed from Denham). Carnarvon, WA's bread basket also makes an interesting stop, as does Geraldton.
And there go your two weeks - not time for much else as the distances are so huge and the locations remote.
WA is best avoided in Dec-Feb IMO as it's just too freaking hot to be any fun. It's also cyclone season up north, so not a good time to visit the NW coast, although it's considerably cooler down south.
September-November is wildflower season in WA - a beautiful time to visit. May is also a beautiful month and my personal favorite time to be in WA. June-August is our rainy season, such that it is. Weather is very iffy that time of year.
Huge state, a lot on offer.
Apr 25th, 2013, 08:49 PM
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The Swan Valley is the Perth wine region. It is really close to the city and has many restaurants, wineries, breweries etc.
A good website is www.swanvalley.com.au
An interesting place on your drive up north is The Pinnacles Desert. It has thousands of limestone pinnacles some up to 5 metres high.
www.visitpinnaclescountry.com.au
I agree with Melnq8 Dec-Feb is way too hot! We travelled to the Southwest this past January for a week and the temperature every day didn't get below 40 degrees C. A couple of days got as high as 45 degrees C!
A good website is www.swanvalley.com.au
An interesting place on your drive up north is The Pinnacles Desert. It has thousands of limestone pinnacles some up to 5 metres high.
www.visitpinnaclescountry.com.au
I agree with Melnq8 Dec-Feb is way too hot! We travelled to the Southwest this past January for a week and the temperature every day didn't get below 40 degrees C. A couple of days got as high as 45 degrees C!
Apr 26th, 2013, 10:02 AM
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Thanks all for the great advice. Funny, I often warn people on this board about the distances in Australia, and here I am myself perhaps underestimating the time we'll need for a proper look around WA!
Aug 4th, 2013, 03:25 PM
#12
Beautiful time to visit IMO - wildflower season officially begins in September, although I saw quite a few while out hiking yesterday. September is a nice time for poking around. August has just begun, but we had the most beautiful weekend, I thought for sure spring was here early.
I'd still suggest the SW Ralph, it really is the gem of WA IMO.
Maybe something like this:
Perth-Kalgoorlie (for a taste of the Outback)-Esperance-Albany-Denmark-Walpole-Pemberton-Nannup (via Manjimup which will take you along a section of the prettiest road in the SW)-Margaret River-Busselton-Harvey (think oranges)-Pinjarra.
Esperance has the most incredible beaches I've ever seen...on the drive to Albany you'll go right past the short detour to Fitzgerald River Nat'l Park, the most botanically significant national park in WA...and in September, a major bonus!
http://www.fitzgeraldcoast.com.au/re...-national-park
Albany has a lot on offer too - beaches, bush walks, good food and wine, coastal scenery, the wind farm, etc. Denmark is a cute little town with more good food and wine, some pretty wonderful coastal attractions (like Elephant Rocks), many national parks, etc. Walpole is home to Valley of the Giants and the Treetop Walk - towering trees found no where else in Australia, incredible forests.
Pemberton is a timber town, lots of forest walks, lakes, a tour of the timber mill is quite telling. Some of the world's tallest and oldest trees are found here and you can climb to the top of three of them (scary, but if I can do it, anyone can!) Try the marron, freshwater crayfish.
I highly recommend a side trip from Pemberton to Northcliffe and D'Entrecasteaux Nat'l Park - incredible coastal cliffs and windswept beach which very few people seem to know about. A beautiful place indeed.
Nannup is just an excuse to see another pretty area of the SW - the drive from Bridgetown-Balingup-Nannup is said to be one of the prettiest in the SW, and I tend to agree.
Then there's the massive region of Margaret River, wine nirvana, fresh produce, beaches, bushwalks, caves....
Busselton - home to the 2 km long jetty - photogenic as all get out.
I suggest you return to Perth via the country town of Harvey and Pinjarra - much prettier than the highway IMO.
Might be a challenge to fit all of that into two weeks, but you'd definitely be seeing some of the best that WA has to offer.
I'd still suggest the SW Ralph, it really is the gem of WA IMO.
Maybe something like this:
Perth-Kalgoorlie (for a taste of the Outback)-Esperance-Albany-Denmark-Walpole-Pemberton-Nannup (via Manjimup which will take you along a section of the prettiest road in the SW)-Margaret River-Busselton-Harvey (think oranges)-Pinjarra.
Esperance has the most incredible beaches I've ever seen...on the drive to Albany you'll go right past the short detour to Fitzgerald River Nat'l Park, the most botanically significant national park in WA...and in September, a major bonus!
http://www.fitzgeraldcoast.com.au/re...-national-park
Albany has a lot on offer too - beaches, bush walks, good food and wine, coastal scenery, the wind farm, etc. Denmark is a cute little town with more good food and wine, some pretty wonderful coastal attractions (like Elephant Rocks), many national parks, etc. Walpole is home to Valley of the Giants and the Treetop Walk - towering trees found no where else in Australia, incredible forests.
Pemberton is a timber town, lots of forest walks, lakes, a tour of the timber mill is quite telling. Some of the world's tallest and oldest trees are found here and you can climb to the top of three of them (scary, but if I can do it, anyone can!) Try the marron, freshwater crayfish.
I highly recommend a side trip from Pemberton to Northcliffe and D'Entrecasteaux Nat'l Park - incredible coastal cliffs and windswept beach which very few people seem to know about. A beautiful place indeed.
Nannup is just an excuse to see another pretty area of the SW - the drive from Bridgetown-Balingup-Nannup is said to be one of the prettiest in the SW, and I tend to agree.
Then there's the massive region of Margaret River, wine nirvana, fresh produce, beaches, bushwalks, caves....
Busselton - home to the 2 km long jetty - photogenic as all get out.
I suggest you return to Perth via the country town of Harvey and Pinjarra - much prettier than the highway IMO.
Might be a challenge to fit all of that into two weeks, but you'd definitely be seeing some of the best that WA has to offer.
Aug 5th, 2013, 12:41 PM
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I've tried several time to post on this thread and it keeps losing my comments before I'm finished , so here it is in brief :
-Take the train to Kalgoorlie for the history and the relaxing ride.
-check out Bibbulmun Breaks for a prearranged two or three days on the track.
-lots and lots to do south of Perth and in the Margaret River region
-view from Augusta lighthouse worth the climb.
-I agree Pemberton is charming.
-Communities along the south coast small. The coast and forests the big attraction.
-Ningaloo reef is fabulous but communities and diversions along the way few and far, far between.
-Take the train to Kalgoorlie for the history and the relaxing ride.
-check out Bibbulmun Breaks for a prearranged two or three days on the track.
-lots and lots to do south of Perth and in the Margaret River region
-view from Augusta lighthouse worth the climb.
-I agree Pemberton is charming.
-Communities along the south coast small. The coast and forests the big attraction.
-Ningaloo reef is fabulous but communities and diversions along the way few and far, far between.
Aug 5th, 2013, 12:51 PM
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No longer relevant to the OP but I have to say I can't agree that Dec.-Mar. is "way too hot" in WA In the north and downtown Perth, maybe, but we were in Margaret River for 5 weeks Jan/Feb last year and had only 2-3 days we would consider too hot, just as we would experience in southern Ontario in the summertime. On the other hand we went to an outdoor Movie at the Vineyard and after a chilly evening discovered that the nighttime temperature there had been identical to the daytime temperature 'back home' in the dead of winter. Other years we have visited between October and January, and always found pleasant outdoor temperatures, but January best for the beach.
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