Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

Planning your time out west requires focus on a couple of areas. It's unlikely you'll cover the whole state, even if you decide to permanently relocate. To narrow down your choices, consider whether you have a few days to spend in and around Perth and Fremantle. Does the thought of cooler air and the coastal scenery of the South West appeal to you, or would you rather get in a car and drive to far reaches east or north? Or, do you want to trek north along the coast to Monkey Mia or Ningaloo Reef Marine Park to frolic in and under the waves with amazing sea creatures?

If You Have 3 Days

Spend most of the first day knocking around Perth's city center. Take the train to pleasantly restored Fremantle and stroll through the streets, stopping for breaks at sidewalk cafés. In the evening in either city, have dinner overlooking the water. Over the next two days, take a ferry to Rottnest Island and cycle around, walk on the beach, fish, or try to spot the small local marsupials called quokkas. For a longer excursion, take a coach tour to Nambung National Park Pinnacles, the captivating coastal rock formations, or south to the Treetop Walk.

If You Have 5 Days

Now you can take on some of the larger distances in Western Australia. Fly north to Monkey Mia to learn about and interact with dolphins, or to Ningaloo Reef Marine Park to dive with whale sharks and watch the annual coral spawning. Or drive a couple of hours to the South West coastal area to see spring wildflowers, wineries, orchards, forests, grazing dairy and beef herds, and national parks, and to generally enjoy the good life. You'll have enough time for a day or two around Perth before flying to the old goldfields towns of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. They may remind you of America's Wild West -- except that camel teams rather than stagecoaches used to pull into town -- but this is pure Oz all the way.

If You Have 7 Days or More

With seven days you can consider all options, mixing parts of the three- and five-day itineraries. Of course, you could opt to spend the entire week leisurely making your way along the coast of the South West, tasting the top-quality regional wines and locally grown foods. Or, you could head for the caves and rough shorelines that define Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Stirling Range National Park is a great place for hiking, especially in spring amid the vast wildflowers. If you plan to go north to view Karijini National Park and its stunning gorges and rockscapes, taking a plane will give you more time to explore.