Region
Western Australia
Base in Perth 3–4 nights, add one region by flight; do not road-trip Perth to Broome in under a week.
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Key facts · Australia
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD, A$)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- I · 230 V
- Time zone
- UTC+10 east
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
Western Australia is a third of the continent with one city. Perth and the south-west corner are easy: beaches, wine, Rottnest quokkas, all within a few hours' drive. Everything else — Ningaloo, the Kimberley, the Pilbara, the Nullarbor — is a flight or a multi-day drive, so pick one region per trip and treat the rest as a separate holiday.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- PerthCity guide
Only international gateway; beaches, Fremantle, Rottnest day-trip.
Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
- Exmouth / Coral BayGuide: planned
Ningaloo Reef; whale sharks Mar–Jul. Fly or 2-day drive.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Perth 4, Rottnest and Fremantle as day-trips
- 7 nights
- Perth 3 + Margaret River 2 + Albany 2 (one-way drive south)
- 10 nights
- Perth 3 + fly Exmouth 4 + Perth 2, or swap Exmouth for Broome in the dry
- Perth to Broome is 2,237 km (1,390 mi); Perth to Exmouth 1,260 km (783 mi). These are multi-day drives with long empty stretches, not day-trips.Perth to Broome is 1,390 mi (2,237 km); Perth to Exmouth 783 mi (1,260 km). These are multi-day drives with long empty stretches, not day-trips.
- Fatigue kills on WA highways. Plan fuel, water and rest stops; never drive a dirt track without telling someone your route.
- Rented 2WD cars are usually banned from unsealed roads — that voids insurance. The Gibb River Road and Canning Stock Route need a 4WD and preparation.
- Summer (Dec–Feb) inland heat and the wet season in the north close tracks and parks; the Kimberley is a dry-season destination.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rottnest Island | Perth | 90 min | check | Ferry from Fremantle or Barrack Street; book ahead in summer, bikes sell out. |
| Fremantle | Perth | 35 min | check | Train from Perth Station; prison tours and the market on weekends. |
| Swan Valley | Perth | 40 min | check | Half-day wine loop; a car or tour is easier than the bus. |
| Nambung National Park (Pinnacles) | Perth | 150 min | check | Long day; pair with Cervantes. Entry fee per vehicle. |
Bags between cities
Luggage is not the problem here — distance is. One-way car hire Perth to Adelaide is sometimes available without a drop fee; most rentals cannot cross the state border at all, so confirm before booking.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | × | × | go | go | go | × | × | × | go | go | go | × |
| Margaret River | go | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | ok | go | go | go |
| Broome | × | × | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | × |
| Australia (country-wide) | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth and the south-westMediterranean coast and forest | hot | hot | ok | best | best | wet | wet | wet | ok | best | best | hot |
| Tropical north (Kimberley, Pilbara coast)Broome, Kununurra, Karratha | wet | wet | wet | ok | best | best | best | best | ok | ok | wet | wet |
| Inland (Goldfields, Nullarbor)Kalgoorlie, Esperance hinterland | hot | hot | ok | best | best | ok | ok | ok | best | best | ok | hot |
- Perth and the south-west
- Dry hot summers (35 °C (95 °F)+ days), mild wet winters. Best Oct–Apr; wildflowers in the Wheatbelt Aug–Oct.Dry hot summers (95 °F (35 °C)+ days), mild wet winters. Best Oct–Apr; wildflowers in the Wheatbelt Aug–Oct.
- Tropical north (Kimberley, Pilbara coast)
- Wet season Dec–Mar brings cyclones and closed roads; go May–Sep.
- Inland (Goldfields, Nullarbor)
- Desert extremes; 40 °C (104 °F)+ in summer, cold nights in winter. Carry water always.Desert extremes; 104 °F (40 °C)+ in summer, cold nights in winter. Carry water always.
The state spans Mediterranean, tropical and desert zones, so 'best time' depends entirely on which region you pick.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane | Perth | Domestic flight | 4–5 h | Perth is the only WA airport with international commercial flights; most interstate flights land here too. Overnight red-eyes are often cheaper. |
| Adelaide | Perth | Eyre Highway by car | 3+ days | The only sealed road in from the south, across the Nullarbor. One-way hire Adelaide to Perth is sometimes fee-free — check the border-crossing policy. |
| Sydney / Adelaide | Perth | Indian Pacific train | 3–4 days | Slower and dearer than flying, but you can bring a car from Adelaide. Passengers cannot start or end at country towns. |
| Darwin | Broome / Kununurra | Coach (Greyhound) or Victoria Highway by car | 1+ week by road | The northern sealed entry. Broome's international link to Singapore is currently off — fly via Perth. |
Regional passes
WA national park entry pass
buyPer-vehicle entry adds up fast; a 5-day or 14-day pass pays off from the second park. Buy online and display it. Camping fees are extra.
Transwa regional rail and coach
checkProspector to Kalgoorlie, Australind to Bunbury, Avonlink to the Wheatbelt, plus coaches. Not walk-on — book in advance.
Integrity Coach Lines (Perth–Broome)
checkThree services a week up the coast via Geraldton, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Karratha and Port Hedland; the only practical non-flying option north.
One-way car hire
checkUseful for Perth–Margaret River–Albany; confirm in writing that the car may cross the WA border, as most cannot.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Seafood — rock lobster, oysters, fish and chips | Fremantle, Cervantes, Albany | Fremantle's fishing harbour is the classic stop; lobster is priced by the season. |
| Modern Australian and Asian-influenced dining | Perth: Northbridge, Leederville | Book weekend dinners; kitchens often close by 21:00.Book weekend dinners; kitchens often close by 9:00 PM. |
| Wine and long lunches | Margaret River, Swan Valley | Cellar doors close mid-afternoon; a designated driver or tour is the safe option. |
| Beef and barramundi | Broome, Kimberley | Dry-season menus; many kitchens shut in the wet. |
| Bakery pies and roadhouse food | Highway towns | On long drives, eat when you see a roadhouse — the next one may be hours away. |
Go next
Perth
plannedThe state's base
Start here; everything else is a flight or a long drive from Perth.
Kimberley
plannedFly Perth to Broome or Kununurra, ~2 h 30–3 h
Dry season only; the Gibb River Road needs a 4WD.
Pilbara
plannedFly Perth to Karratha, ~2 h
Karijini gorges; hot and remote, plan fuel and water.
South West
plannedDrive Perth to Margaret River, ~3 h
Wine, surf and forest; the easiest add-on to Perth.
Gascoyne
plannedFly Perth to Exmouth, ~1 h 50, or drive 1,260 km (783 mi)Fly Perth to Exmouth, ~1 h 50, or drive 783 mi (1,260 km)
Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay; whale sharks Mar–Jul.
Goldfields–Esperance
plannedProspector train to Kalgoorlie, ~7 h
Mining history and Esperance beaches; inland heat in summer.
Wheatbelt
plannedDrive or Avonlink train from Perth, 1–2 h
Wildflowers Aug–Oct; a day-trip from Perth.
Mid West
plannedDrive or coach Perth to Geraldton, ~4 h
Coast and wildflower country on the road north.
Queensland
plannedFly Perth to Cairns or Brisbane
Reef and tropics on the east coast.
New South Wales
Fly Perth to Sydney, ~4 h
Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Victoria
plannedFly Perth to Melbourne, ~3 h 30
Great Ocean Road and Melbourne food.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 3 bases
- Day trips
- 4, 35 min to 2 h 30
- Nights suggested
- 4–10 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- May (all zones)
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
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Sources
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