I’m considering a trip to Australia, & prefer the wild & natural & open places (as opposed to the particularly touristy places), so I’m considering driving all over WA, from the Bight/Esperence up to the Kimberleys (imo, the interior is a bit too much for my 1st trip to Oz).
Highlights I’m aware of: Birthing whales in the Bight, Esperence’s beaches, the SW cape (where Indian & Great Southern oceans meet), Perth’s black swans, the Pinnacles, Monkey Mia’s dolphins (MUST SEE imo!), possibly diving with Ningaloo’s whale sharks, 80 mile beach, & the Kimberleys. (forgive me for improper spelling).
-What are your attitudes toward WA?
-What attractions do you recommend? (Feel free to elaborate on one’s I mentioned or add ones of your own.)
-How much time would you recommend for WA?
Thanks bunches.
All you guys are fantastic! Thanks a ton for all the info! One thing that’s confusing me is the driving times; I seem to think they’re faster than you guys (& YOU know better). I know your kpm max speeds are generally lower than the US’s mph max speeds, but I figured you all sped like we do. When our speed says 55, we drive 65. If it’s 65, we drive 75 or 80. Looks like I better rethink my travel times. Thank you.
WA is a huge state that needs some care when driving about, especially for tourists. When travelling do remember that there can be up to a two hour drive between fuel stops in the north of the state. So when travelling in the more remote area do prepare for the long distances (extra water, spare jerry can of fuel that sort of thing).
A few other attractions you might want to check out are:
Aboriginal Rock paintings (about 10 000 of them) all over the Burrup peninsula on the Dampier Archipelago near Karratha.
Prehistoric plantlife and an Oasis in the desert at Millstream National Park
Take flight over the Bungle Bungles rock formations (its too fragile to drive through) in the Kimberley
Visit Karijini National Park in the Hammersley ranges of the Pilbara where you will find several of the most amazing gorges, each entirely different in colour and aspect.
Gibb River Road (Kimberleys) is well worth travelling down during the dry season.
Vist the port of Dampier and see the 250+ carriage long trains offloading at the port. Visit the office in town there and take a tour of the mine works at East Intercourse Island and Parker Point.
Visit Point Sampson and make sure you have a meal at Mobys Kitchen – seafood straight from the trawlers just down the street. The best eats in the Pilbara (note you may have to queue).
Allow plenty of time to travel around WA. Remember it takes about 2 days (well 20 hours non stop) from Perth to Karratha and thats only halfway up the coastline. I would recommend taking a few weeks off to do the trip. Between 2 and 3 might just do it.
I have not been to WA but I definately want to go there – especially the Kimberleys. I have heard a lot of good things about the place. Another thing I would do (apart from what you have mentioned) is Margret River… there are some beautiful wineries and farms around there if you are interested in that kind of thing. If you want to get away from it all then WA is definately the spot to do so!
So – you want to drive over all of WA? All??? Because that is going to take you a long time!!! I would suggest at least 1 month.
Have a look at these sites
http://www.getaboutoz.com/driving.htm
http://www.australianexplorer.com/wa_driving_distances.htm
http://www.australia.com/maps/western-australia/distance-and-size.aspx
References :
A couple more sights that I would suggest are the Tingle trees in the Valley of the Giants, and the karri forests in general. The Valley of the Giants is a little commercialised now, but I think its still worthwhile. Maybe the cave systems in the southwest, but again access to them is only via touristy set ups. There are tuart forests near Busselton that are also unique, but maybe not as spectacular as the other sights you already know about.
Finally, if you are fit enough and you can set aside enough time, I would suggest walking part of the Bibbulmun Track. I have heard good things about it, but never done any of it myself.
Remember that WA is a huge state. If you are serious about seeing all of these places in one trip, then you should be thinking in terms of a month or more.The other thing is that you will be crossing multiple climate zones, so it might be hard to choose a time when the weather will be good everywhere.
References :
http://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/
WA is a huge state that needs some care when driving about, especially for tourists. When travelling do remember that there can be up to a two hour drive between fuel stops in the north of the state. So when travelling in the more remote area do prepare for the long distances (extra water, spare jerry can of fuel that sort of thing).
A few other attractions you might want to check out are:
Aboriginal Rock paintings (about 10 000 of them) all over the Burrup peninsula on the Dampier Archipelago near Karratha.
Prehistoric plantlife and an Oasis in the desert at Millstream National Park
Take flight over the Bungle Bungles rock formations (its too fragile to drive through) in the Kimberley
Visit Karijini National Park in the Hammersley ranges of the Pilbara where you will find several of the most amazing gorges, each entirely different in colour and aspect.
Gibb River Road (Kimberleys) is well worth travelling down during the dry season.
Vist the port of Dampier and see the 250+ carriage long trains offloading at the port. Visit the office in town there and take a tour of the mine works at East Intercourse Island and Parker Point.
Visit Point Sampson and make sure you have a meal at Mobys Kitchen – seafood straight from the trawlers just down the street. The best eats in the Pilbara (note you may have to queue).
Allow plenty of time to travel around WA. Remember it takes about 2 days (well 20 hours non stop) from Perth to Karratha and thats only halfway up the coastline. I would recommend taking a few weeks off to do the trip. Between 2 and 3 might just do it.
References :
Karijini National Park: http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,47/Itemid,755/
Bungle Bungles: http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,47/Itemid,755/
Millstream-Chichester National Park: http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,48/Itemid,755/
Burrup Peninsula Rock Art: http://www.discoverwest.com.au/western_australia/gibb_river_road.html
Western Australian living in Sydney
,,,^..^,,,
Good choice Monkey Mia is one of my favourite spots also Exmouth my daughter has just been swimming with the Whalesharks being from WA other sights I would recommend are
Kalbarri (my favourite),Kunnunurra and Ord river region (El Questro station) ,Karijina also Rottenest Island and Fremantle then go down south and take in Busselton ,Margret River Yallingup and visit the caves.
You lucky bugger I hope you have a ball its my backyard you are visiting so we will make you welcome.
References :
Great post by Author! I have visited Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Alice Springs is Wattarka, The Gold Coast. Australia having nice tourism attraction. Australia having a wide range of things to visit. For more information about Australian Tourism visit http://www.travelaustralia360.com/australian-tourism.html