Western Australia - One of a Kind Travel Guide

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

A one of a kind travel guide

The Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park

Letter from the editor

Aesop, the wise Greek storyteller, wrote that “Adventure is worthwhile”, and no matter how big or small the adventure you choose is, I wholeheartedly agree.

One state full of unforgettable adventures is Western Australia. Cavernous red-coated gorges, pristine beaches, ancient landscapes billions of years in the making, vibrant cities and towns, vine-dotted regions rich in great food and wine, and coastal delights ranging from horizontal waterfalls to eclectic islands and some of nature’s most beautiful ocean creatures.

Travel Associates can curate your dream Western Australian itinerary. With more than 300 experienced agents – all with a minimum of 10 years travel under their belts – they know that every client is different, with individual travel styles and tastes, and love nothing more than creating perfectly personalised travel experiences to suit.

Pick up the phone and start chatting to the Travel Associates team about where you will go on your Western Australian adventure, and once your dream holiday is set, and excitement mounts, you can travel with confidence, knowing that your travel advisor is there to support you along the way and that every little detail has been considered.

My last Western Australia visit took me to Margaret River and some of its hidden – and not-so-hidden gems – including four days on the Cape to Cape Track, some incredible gourmet food and wine experiences and countless hours watching the magnificent Indian Ocean and the surfers carving up the world famous breaks.

Where

will you go on your adventure?

WALKING ON A DREAM

STEP OUTSIDE OF THE EVERYDAY AND INTO A DREAM. A PLACE WHERE REALITY AND THE OTHERWORLDLY COMBINE.

Open your eyes to the underwater enchantment of Ningaloo Reef / Nyinggulu, glide with majestic whale sharks, and dive into a world of colour and coral.

Just like a dream, sometimes everything is quite real, sometimes truly magical. This is a place of natural wonders, supernatural contrasts and rare experiences. A truly wondrous and dreamlike place to explore.

WESTERNAUSTRALIA.COM

Gantheaume Point, Broome

REGIONS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

KIMBERLEY & THE NORTH WEST

Wild, rugged, and ancient, the Kimberley and the North West feature one of a kind experiences that will leave you speechless. Marvel at the tidal force of Horizontal Falls, explore the ancient Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, adventure along the Gibb River Road, enjoy the serenity of Lake Argyle and fall in love with beautiful Broome.

NINGALOO REEF & THE CORAL COAST

World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, part of the Coral Coast, is on everyone’s bucket list for a reason. It is the only place in Australia where you can swim with the majestic gentle whale shark in what is surely a life-altering experience. The Coral Coast is also home to the famous dolphins at Monkey Mia, the hidden gem that is the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, the stunning pink lake Hutt Lagoon, and the Kalbarri Skywalk.

PERTH

Perth is a dream destination with a vast array of experiences within easy reach. Visit arty and historic Fremantle with its maritime buzz, cruise over to quirky Rottnest Island with its engaging quokkas, settle in for a long lunch and superb wine tastings in the abundant Swan Valley, and relax with a swim and surf at heavenly, Norfolk Pine-clad Cottesloe Beach.

MARGARET RIVER REGION & THE SOUTH WEST

Like a fine wine, this region seems to blossom brighter every year, with nature’s bounty delivering in its scenery, its produce and food, and of course, its wine. Spend time tasting the epicurean delights of the Margaret River Region, explore above and below historic Busselton Jetty, marvel at tall timber forests and immerse yourself in the stunning coastal enclaves of Dunsborough and Yallingup.

ESPERANCE & THE GOLDEN OUTBACK

Dive into the colours of this remarkable region. Visit Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park - Australia’s whitest beach, surf into Wave Rock, and explore wild places like the gold rush history of Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields, and the islands of the Recherche Archipelago.

THE KIMBERLEY

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

PERTH

ESPERANCE

MARGARET RIVER

NINGALOO REEF

UNEARTH THE TREASURES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

“One of the greatest natural wonders of the world” - DAVID ATTENBOROUGH (Horizontal Falls)

Horizontal Falls, Talbot Bay

JOURNEY INTO WESTERN AUSTRALIA FOR DREAMLIKE, ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCES.

Western Australia is a kaleidoscope of colour, from incandescent blues and desert reds to heavenly whites, bubblegum pinks, chocolate browns and forest greens. That’s before we include the riot of wildflowers and wildlife that paint this vast, wide-open state.

Western Australia is blessed with one of a kind experiences from the opportunity to swim with gentle whale sharks showcased in dappled sunlight as they cruise quietly through the turquoise water at Ningaloo Reef, to the crazy and staggering tidal flows of the Horizontal Falls in the North West’s Buccaneer Archipelago. The one and only David Attenborough even described this natural phenomenon as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world” Witnessing an otherworldly sunset from the saddle of an unhurried camel in Broome is indescribably beautiful, as is seeing the textured, red-layered cliffs and waterfall-fed pools of Karijini National Park, eroded by nature over billions of years.

Nature also achieved greatness in the Margaret River Region, traditional land of the Wadandi (Saltwater) People, with terroir that produces some of the finest wines in the world, surf breaks that lure the best surfers on the planet, the ethereal Boranup Forest and an underworld of caves carved out of ancient limestone.

Another little-known treasure, the Abrolhos Islands, sitting off the coast of Geraldton. These 122 island pearls on pristine coral reef are home to a Noah’s Ark of bird and marine life.

RECONNECT WITH THE LAND...

Reconnect with the land on the Bibbulmun Track, a hiking trail that beckons you to walk 1,000 kilometres from the Perth Hills, to Albany, or just bite off a sample on one of nine sections. On the Walpole to Denmark track, stop to marvel at the Valley of the Giants, with red tingle trees that soar to 75 metres into the sky. Feel the spirit of the area from the ground on the Ancient Empire walk or take to the trees and enjoy a bird’s eye view from up in the canopy on the Tree Top Walk. It’s hardly surprising that there is unique flora to be found in this one area of the state.

Cape Range National Park near the Coral Coast town of Exmouth is also home to flora and fauna that is endemic to its striking landscape of gorges and beaches, including a unique white centred variety of the Sturt’s Desert Pea and the beautiful green bird flower. There have been an astonishing 630 species of wildflowers found in the park and the rare, black-flanked rock wallaby might also be spotted in its textured gorges.

Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, Denmark

Western Australia’s Golden Outback unearths a place that is so different, so unique, it is hard to fathom. The white salt plain of Lake Ballard is home to the largest outdoor art gallery on Earth. World-renowned artist Antony Gormley carefully placed a collection of 51 individually cast black chromium steel sculptures 500 metres apart and stretching across 10 square kilometres of this extraordinary natural landscape.

Then there is the bubblegum pink Lake Hillier on Middle Island in the Recherche Archipelago. It’s so pink you think it can’t possibly be real, and that someone has emptied a huge bottle of pink dye in its waters. It makes for a spectacular sight next to the blue of the ocean. Hutt Lagoon on the Coral Coast is another pink surprise, a beguiling lake that changes colour from pink to red to purple and silver like a chameleon. Much like Western Australia, you never know what you are going to see, only that it will be wondrous.

Yardie Creek, Cape Range National Park

Antony Gormley Sculptures, Lake Ballard

Lake Hillier, near Esperance

Our Top 7 Food Experiences IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

From truffles and rock lobster to fine food and wines – what more could you ask for?

Mandoon Estate, Swan Valley

Feast in the Swan Valley

This oh-so-pretty region of Perth is the only wine region within an Australian capital city and the second oldest wine region in Australia, with the first grapes carefully planted in 1829. The Mediterranean-style climate sees more than 40 wineries flourishing here, with Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Shiraz varieties thriving. Follow the Fine Wine Trail to 12 award-winning wineries, visit one of the many breweries, cideries or distilleries, or settle in for a divine meal in one of the 70 restaurants and cafés from stylish Wild Swan at Mandoon Estate to trendy Padbury’s Café in Guildford, with its wickedly good Meringue Munro Pancakes.

Snuffle into truffle season

Down in the Southern Forests and Valleys region, in Manjimup and Pemberton, the soil produces hidden gems beneath the surface – black truffles. You might be surprised to know that this region is now the pre-eminent producer of black truffle in the Southern Hemisphere, with the season running, conditions dependent, from June to August. Truffle lovers should head to Manjimup in June 2023 for the annual Truffle Kerfuffle, with visitors able to watch highly trained dogs sniffing out the “black gold” around Fonty’s Pool and learn some of the secrets of the growers. Truffles are also on the menu for top restaurants in Perth and around the Great Southern region during the season.

Sittella Winery, Swan Valley

Manjimup truffles by Australian Truffle Traders

Hats on at Wildflower at COMO The Treasury

Awarded three Chefs Hats in the 2022 Australian Good Food Guide Awards, Wildflower at COMO The Treasury should be the first place you book on your next visit to Perth. The location, on the rooftop of the historic State Buildings, is equally as impressive as the food, with Head Chef Michael D’Adamo creating contemporary dishes revolving around the Aboriginal ethos of six seasons with farmer and foragerdriven menus.

Apply for Shore Leave

Celebrating the succulent seafood that entices off the coast of Geraldton, the traditional land of the Yamatji Peoples, Shore Leave is a seafood festival like no other. On from 27-30 April 2023, the event is a joyous mélange of seafood, culture, food and adventure highlighting this unique Mid West region. There is a veritable buffet of events, with marine discovery tours, markets, live music, a lobster cook off and the one of a kind Abrolhos Long Table Lunch, with guest chef Brendan Pratt curating a truly inspiring seafood menu paired with premium Vasse Felix wines. Matt Moran’s Mid West Paddock to Plate is also in very high demand.

COMO The Treasury, Perth

Shore Leave, Geraldton

Sip & savour at Vasse Felix Estate

Vasse Felix signifies the start of it all. The founding wine estate in the Margaret River Region with Dr Tom Cullity planting the first vines back in 1967. Dr Cullity’s goal was to “make the best possible wine”. Mission accomplished, and not just with wine, as Vasse Felix is an ultimate winery experience with dreamy gourmet cuisine in a historic setting.

Book in for a seated tasting in the Cellar Door, wine and charcuterie in the Wine Lounge, a divine long lunch in the Restaurant or an exploration of history and culture in the Art Gallery and The Vault.

The Vault - Vasse Felix, Margaret River

A Wild Seafood Experience

Scenic Mandurah, an aquatic wonderland just south of Perth, seduces with long stretches of coastline, tranquil canals and an estuary twice the size of Sydney Harbour. Seafood is most definitely on the menu, with a highlight sure to be the Wild Seafood Experience, a threehour crayfishing adventure on the luxurious Reef Affair II. Cruise off the coast and pull up the lobster pots, learning about lobsters and the conservation efforts, before returning to the tranquil estuary waters to enjoy a seafood ocean-to-plate banquet, including the justcaught lobsters and Mandurah Blue Swimmer crabs, while admiring the canals, and with luck, the wild dolphins that reside there. This tour runs in summer.

Tarry at Yarri Restaurant & Bar

Just like uncovering buried treasure, when you step through the doors at Yarri you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. Located in Dunsborough in the Margaret River Region, the restaurant’s interior is as striking as a fine jewel, with Yarri wood, limestone and leather reflecting the bushland palette of its location. As for the menu, chef Aaron Carr’s menu honours nature, seasonality, produce and place, ethically-produced and presented to their full potential.

Wild Seafood Experience, Mandurah Cruises

Yarri restaurant, Dunsborough

WE RECOMMEND

COMO THE TREASURY, PERTH

This property is truly sublime, and we have an excellent package available for a one night stay in a Heritage Room, a six-course tasting menu at Wildflower with wine pairings, breakfast daily at POST, access to the wellness facilities, valet parking, welcome drinks, a selection of in-room refreshments and more.

Speak with your Travel Advisor to book >>

SIGNATURE CAPE TO CAPE WALK

- A GREAT WALK OF AUSTRALIA Walk Into Luxury offers four days of guided walking on the Cape to Cape Track, with three nights in an Oceanfront Pool Villa at the luxurious Injidup Spa Retreat. Apart from the spectacular scenery on the Track, have a three-course lunch at Vasse Felix, dinner and wine with a private chef at Injidup, and a sumptuous dinner out.

Speak with your Travel Advisor to book >>

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Experience four nights’ luxury accommodation on a private estate in a truffle forest in Pemberton. You’ll have a private chef, do a truffle hunt at Stonebarn Trufferie, spend an afternoon at Picardy Estate discussing winemaking with the owner and winemaker, hike through Karri forest, and hit your sweet spot at Pemberton Honey Company.

Speak with your Travel Advisor to book >>

THE FOODIE ESSENTIALS - SHORE LEAVE FESTIVAL

Geraldton’s Shore Leave Festival is on from 27-30 April 2023, and we have a great package for discerning foodies. It includes four nights in apartment-style accommodation, tickets and air transfers to the Abrolhos Long Table Lunch on East Wallabi Island, as well as the Midwest Paddock to Plate Experience with Matt Moran.

Speak with your Travel Advisor to book >>

FILL YOUR CUP IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Vasse Felix, Margaret River

Margaret River might be the premier wine region in Western Australia, but there are several others worth raising your glass to.

Blessed with the right mix of sunshine and rain in perfect soil with a dash of salt from the Indian Ocean, Western Australia’s wines are heaven-sent.

There are nine wine regions, with Margaret River the best known and the most popular, especially for its world-renowned cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. This wondrous region, caressed by the ocean on three sides and adorned with perfect green pastures, pockets of karri forest and vine-clad hills, has more than 200 wineries.

From small owner-operated venues like single vineyard House of Cards and Windows Estate , where every vine is hand-pruned, to superstars like Cullen Estate , which was the first winery in Australia to be certified 100 per cent carbon neutral, all have that special Margaret River touch. Many vineyards in the region are focusing on organic, biodynamic and natural winemaking, with stunning results. Leeuwin Estate is legendary for its wine tasting, wine label art and restaurant, as is family-owned and run Voyager Estate , which grows all of its grapes on site. And Vasse Felix , the one that started it all in this region, continues to shine.

Windows Estate, Yallingup

Cullen Estate, Wilyabrup

Voyager Estate, Margaret River

TRAVEL ADVISOR TIP

“Olio Bello offers a unique lakeside glamping experience on its spectacular and award-winning 320 acre organic olive farm, in the heart of Margaret River. It is unique, authentic and owner operated with an amazing atmosphere”

GILLIAN WOODLEY TRAVEL ADVISOR Travel Associates Hobart

Margaret River might be the best known wine region in Western Australia, but the Swan Valley is the oldest, and the Great Southern Wine Region is the largest – not just in WA but in mainland Australia.

Wine has been produced in the green, leafy Swan Valley since 1829. Grape varieties flourish under the warming sun, as they have for almost 200 years. Olive Farm Wines is a four-generation winery, having produced wine from the very beginning. Their vino to bottle tour is an informative look at their colourful and impressive history. Sandalford is another heritage winery, dating back to 1840, with its then owner, J.S. Roe, granted the land by Queen Victoria as a thank you for his work as Surveyor General in the fledgling colony. He certainly deserved it, as the person responsible for setting aside the land for Kings Park and laying out the towns of Perth and Fremantle.

Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley

Olio Bello, Cowaramup

It boasts five sub-regions including Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup, with over 70 producers creating fine cool-climate wines in a clean, green environment. Forest Hill in Mount Barker is a family owned vineyard and is the oldest in the region, with its grapes planted in 1965, while pretty Singlefile Wines near Denmark has won awards for its chardonnay.

In Perth, wine bars and wine rooms are on tap, for after work drinks, pre-dinner tipples or just because. Call into Shadow Wine Bar in the Alex Hotel, home to an award-winning sommelier, to try some new recommendations for up-and-coming wineries. In Fremantle,

Nieuw Ruin, located in a heritage cottage, promotes ‘good cocktails, good food and weird wine’, with more than 300 bottles from boutique, independent wine producers near and far. In Subiaco, Cherubino City Cellar, owned by top Australian winemaker Larry Cherubino, pairs its wines – from Italy and Western Australia – with impressive art and an equally impressive menu.

For a spectacular view over Perth, flutter into the Songbird Bar & Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Perth for cocktails or fine wines in a stunning setting or settle in and enjoy an intimate setting at Wine Merchant in the historic State Buildings.

The Great Southern wine region lives up to its name, stretching in all directions from the rugged south coast.

Shadow Wine Bar, Perth

Wine Merchant, Perth

Singlefile Wines, Denmark

Songbird Bar & Lounge, Perth

Don’t like wine?

Not everyone loves wine, so there are many other options for a beverage or two after a wondrous day in Western Australia. In Margaret River, go to ‘Giniversity’ at Margaret River Distilling Co, where you can drop into the cellar door for a tasting of craft spirits, linger over lunch and cocktails or do a gin blending class. Follow the Craft Beer Trail from Busselton to Margaret River in the South West, with Beer Farm one of the favourites. Located within a converted dairy farm in pretty Cowaramup, this brewery is a welcoming and friendly place for all. The Swan Valley has a one of a kind Distillery Trail, with visitors able to experience five award-winning distilleries in less than a day, producing spirits including gin, vodka, brandy, limoncello and rum. If cider is your beverage of choice, Funk Cider is a boutique, natural cidery in the Swan Valley, with 12 taps of cold, weekly-rotating, fresh ciders.

TRAVEL ADVISOR’S

HIDDEN GEM

“An afternoon of leisure at Black Brewing Co in Wilyabrup with a gin or beer paddle and honey sriracha buffalo chicken wings. Absolutely incredible food and location”

NATHAN DARE | BUSINESS LEADER

Dare & Turner Travel Associates

Funk Cider, Swan Valley

Giniversity, Margaret River Distilling Co

Black Brewing Co, Wilyabrup

NATURE’S Wild ABOUT THE WEST World’sanimalhappiest

Quokka, Rottnest Island

From colourful wildflowers to wildlife big and small, Western Australia is an enchanting escape.

Visitors come from near and far to feel the wonder of Western Australia. They come to swim with the magnificent whale sharks that glide through the waters of Ningaloo Reef. They love cruising to Rottnest to ooh and aah over the adorable, Instagrammable quokkas. Rare mammals, kangaroos, endemic plant species, ancient trees with a spiritual depth that you can feel to your core, and that is just the beginning.

Whale Shark, Ningaloo Reef

Wild horses, Broome

Boab Tree, East Kimberley

One of many spectacularly beautiful places to admire and explore, is the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park in the Margaret River Region, and one of the best ways to really explore is on foot. The Cape-to-Cape Track is one of the world’s great walks, covering 135 kilometres between the lighthouses at Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. Wander windswept, shellstrewn and dazzling white sand beaches and tune into the ancient coastal geology of enduring granite and limestone forged by wind and waves. Native wildflowers – 2500 wildflowers carpet this area in spring – create a floral fantasy in a riot of colour in the coastal heath while tea-tree and peppermint form shrubs in the wooded glades. Forests of jarrah and she-oak in the north recharge your spirit and give way to magnificent karri in the south, and native orchids nestle in the canopy to delight keen observers.

Walk the complete track with Cape to Cape Explorers, who offer eight-day guided tours from end-to-end or can support self-guided tours. For an abridged version, to allow time to fully immerse in the Margaret River Region many delights, Walk Into Luxury’s four-day adventure will showcase the most scenic areas, with guests based at the five-star Injidup Spa Retreat and enjoying gourmet experiences from wine tastings to several divine meals including lunch and wine tasting at Vasse Felix. Closer to Perth, Rottnest Island is a wonderland of varied landscapes and habitats comprising six unique eco-systems and is a haven for wildlife. The quokka is the only mammal native to the island and its most famous resident, delighting visitors with their cute appearance and laidback nature. Known as the ‘world’s happiest animal,’ the brown-grey furry quokkas can be found either sleeping, resting or hopping along to feed on this magical island.

Cape to Cape Track, Margaret River

Quokkas, Rottnest Island

Boranup Forest, Margaret River

For a wondrous aquatic dalliance of the larger kind, Ningaloo Reef offers visitors a profound experience to swim with majestic whale sharks or glide soundlessly near humpback whales, in clear turquoise waters. Whale sharks cruise close to the surface to feed on plankton, attracted by nature’s ancient ritual mass-spawning of coral on the Ningaloo Reef between March and August.

Swim with magestic whale sharks

Joining a snorkelling tour is the perfect way to encounter these gentle giants in their otherworldly ocean habitat and drift through a passing parade of other reef inhabitants. Live Ningaloo is a multi-award-winning small group tour operating out of Exmouth, with full-day tours to snorkel with these gentle gargantuans of the deep, and in humpback whale season, from August to October, offer full-day whale watching and humpback whale swim tours.

Swimming Whale Shark, Ningaloo Reef

The awe-inspiring natural phenomenon of the Horizontal Falls is found in Talbot Bay, part of the Buccaneer Archipelago of over 1000 islands, north-west of the Kimberley towns of Broome and Derby. Formed by some of the largest tidal surges in the world forcing huge volumes of water to surge through narrow channels in the cliffs, the resulting rapids produce the supernatural horizontal waterfall effect that is amongst the globe’s greatest natural wonders.

Best witnessed by an adrenaline-inducing boat ride or on a low-flying scenic flight, this geological marvel is an unforgettable experience. Experience a combination of both, with a seaplane flight from either Broome or Derby and a boat tour through the falls with Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures

Horizontal Falls Horizontal Falls

Slip into Broome time to discover the cultivation of pearls, one of nature’s most beautiful creations, in the magnificent Kimberley landscape. At Willie Creek , cruise the crystal-clear waters to learn about the cycle of live oyster and pearl production surrounded by the huge variety of native birdlife amid the backdrop of pristine tidal waters and teeming mangrove swamps. Paspaley Pearls and Cygnet Bay Pearls , both pioneers of the pearling industry in this vibrant part of Australia, also conducts tours at their Pearl Farms.

WE RECOMMEND

JEWELS OF THE KIMBERLEY

What an adventure this will be! A 13-day Outback Spirit Journey with too many highlights to mention. Horizontal Falls, Geike Gorge, the Gibb River Road, El Questro, Cathedral Gorge in the World Heritage-Listed Bungle Bungle Range, Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek National Parks, rarely seen Gwion and Wandjina rock art galleries – and that is just a taste!

Speak with your Travel Advisor to book >>

PERTH & ROTTNEST EXPLORER

Indulge yourself with a two-night stay at the 5-star InterContinental Perth City Centre in a Classic Room, with an upgrade on booking, subject to availability, confirmed late check-out and breakfast daily. Enjoy a Swan River Cruise on the Eco Express and the full-day Adventure Rottnest Experience including return ferry ride and bike hire.

Speak with your Travel Advisor to book >>

Willie Creek Pearl Farm, Broome

Luxury ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

The Travel Associates team specialises in one of a kind luxury travel experiences. Here you will find a curated list of some of our favourite luxury hotels in Western Australia, from glamping tents by the beach to elegant city properties and country estates.

Our expert travel advisors all have more than a decade of experience in travel and pride themselves in curating exceptional holiday experiences for clients. Helping you choose a hotel is just the tip of the iceberg. We can tailor-make the perfect holiday for you, to ensure your Western Australia holiday is an absolute gem.

Our expert travel advisors recommend these luxury properties in Western Australia

COMO THE TREASURY, PERTH

A beautiful marriage of luxury and history, COMO The Treasury is a 48 room five-star hotel located in the beautifully restored State Buildings, dating back to the mid-19th century. This elegant, sophisticated hotel, designed by Kerry Hill, features 48 lavish guest rooms and suites featuring the original high ceilings, cornices, and balconies. COMO The Treasury has two restaurants, including the brilliant and innovative Wildflower, and Post, situated where the post office used to be. More restaurants and bars await in the State Buildings, just steps away, including local favourites Long Chim, Petition, and Wine Merchant. Then there is the lure of immersing in world-renowned COMO Shambhala’s wellness therapies. COMO The Treasury is an elegant, restful base from which to explore the wilder lures of Western Australia.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book >>

THE RITZ-CARLTON, PERTH

Soaring above vibrant Elizabeth Quay on the Swan River, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth is a haven of sophistication and a wonderful place to base yourself after a day seeing some of the many alluring sites around this dazzling city. The 205 guest rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows to allow for guests to soak up the views, and the location allows easy access to the iconic Bell Tower, as well as Kings Park and Botanic Gardens. Guests can book in for pampering at the awardwinning spa, children are catered for at Ritz Kids, and for an exquisite evening, savour cocktails at Songbird on the rooftop, before dinner at Hearth.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book >>

SAL SALIS NINGALOO REEF

If getting away from it all is what you are seeking, then Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef is the place. You will find it 1,200 kilometres north of Perth, a few barefoot steps away from the Tiffany-blue waters of Ningaloo Reef. Sal Salis has 16 off-grid eco-luxe safari tents, carefully placed away from each other on platforms so as not to harm the environment. The handcrafted jarrah beds will lull you to sleep after a night spent under the stars to a soundtrack of the Indian Ocean, kissing the sand. Kayak, paddleboard, or snorkel to see myriad fish, join a whale shark tour, or explore the hidden gem that is Cape Range National Park, with canyons cloaked in 30,000 years of existence. We highly recommend Sal Salis, it is one of a kind.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book >>

SMITHS BEACH RESORT, YALLINGUP

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, this beachside treasure offers beach houses, villas, and apartments with views over the Indian Ocean and its blockbuster sunsets brought into the space through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Close to Yallingup and on the extraordinary Cape to Cape Track, guests of Smiths Beach Resort have an enchanting playground of nature’s bounty just out the front door, with the white sands and blue surf of Smiths Beach, the spectacular one of a kind Aquarium, and the glorious Canal Rocks nearby.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book >>

BERKELEY RIVER LODGE

Situated on the Kimberley Coast, this is Australia’s most remote luxury lodge experience and certainly one of the finest. Villas are on stilts atop sand dunes, and activities are far away from your everyday life. Fly over the region on a helicopter flight with Truenorth Helicopters, with a range of tours that showcase the ruggedly beautiful Kimberley region with its gorges, waterfalls and red rock artistry.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book >>

CABLE BEACH CLUB RESORT & SPA

Blazing orange Indian Ocean sunsets silhouette unhurried camels on Cable Beach, an experience that is not to be missed when in quirky, laid-back Broome. Cable Beach Club is located by the blindingly beautiful white strip of Cable Beach with its backdrop of blue ocean and blue sky. It is the perfect fushion of Broome character and Kimberley style with a touch of Asian influence.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book >>

Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Adventures, Shark Bay

Western

Aboriginal people have long inhabited the lands of Western Australia, with ancestries stretching thousands of years. The state’s variety of diverse, genuine and perspective-shifting Aboriginal cultural experiences offer visitors meaningful interaction with the oldest continuous civilisation on Earth.

Aboriginal-owned and operated tourism experiences give control of the stories back to the people they belong to, helping to preserve and protect their rich ancient traditions while offering cultural insight, authenticity, and meaningful connection to visitors.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal peoples; Elders past, present and emerging.

Australia’s sprawling landscape echoes with Aboriginal culture and stories dating back millennia

Koomal Dreaming offers visitors the chance to experience Wadandi and Bibbulmun country in the South West region through the eyes of traditional custodian, Josh “Koomal” Whiteland, who will introduce you to the world’s oldest living culture with his authentic, personal interpretation. Highlights include full-day cultural connections where you can taste native foods, discover bush medicine and meet the animals, plants and dreaming spirits that have enriched the lives of Wadandi and Bibbulmun people, these people have walked the lands of the Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River areas for over 50,000 years. On the twilight tour of Ngilgi Cave, be moved by the skill and intensity of Josh’s didgeridoo playing and fire-making. Hearing the ethereal sounds of the didgeridoo played deep inside the Earth is spine tingling.

TRAVEL ADVISOR TIP

“The Ngilgi Cave experience shed light on a different side of WA, Josh, the guide, was so passionate about his heritage and he explained all about the area and how they found the cave. If only the walls of the cave could talk, imagine what things you would learn, and hear”

JO KENNEDY | BUSINESS LEADER Kennedy & Turner Travel Associates

Aboriginal Cultural Tour in Ngilgi Cave with Koomal Dreaming, Yallingup

In the Kimberley, there are many tours with Aboriginal custodians, where you can listen to an Elder, marvel at ancient rock art galleries, camp on Country, discover art, music, bush tucker and medicine, and explore rugged chasms and World Heritage listed national parks. Join Kingfisher Tours for the one-night Purnululu Experience, walking along sandy creek beds to reach the magnificent and soulful Cathedral Gorge. The tour, with an Aboriginal Custodian, will also take you to Echidna Chasm, hearing the origin stories of the rugged massifs. Other highlights include a flight over, and a walk around the spiritual Beehive Domes of Purnululu National Park, aerial views of the Ord River and Lake Argyle, and a night camping out in luxury at Bungle Bungle Wilderness Camp.

In Broome, Yawuru man Bart Pigram runs Narlijia Tours and shares his Aboriginal and multicultural perspective on tours that tell the story of life in Broome. Narlijia – meaning ‘true for you’ in the Yawaru language – operates several tours in this exotic and charming town on the white sands of Cable Beach. The popular Mangrove Tour takes in the beauty of the mangrove ecosystem with its array of native and aquatic animals, and on the jabalbal (mudflats) of Roebuck Bay / Yawuru Nadulagun, with its azure water a divine backdrop. The mangroves are teeming with life from mud worms, fish, crabs and possibly crocodiles, with the two-hour tour also covering Aboriginal history and the settlement of the area.

Aboriginal-owned and operated Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences delivers authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences that educate and share culture with visitors to Perth, the traditional land of the Whadjuk people. Go Cultural’s local Noongar guides share their own stories as they visit Perth’s most culturally significant locations on a journey into Perth’s Aboriginal past that is filled with cultural insight, authenticity and meaningful connection.

Purnululu National Park with Kingfisher Tours, Kimberley

Mangrove Tour with Narlijia Tours, Broome

A travel expert’s itinerary

Western Australia is a dream travel destination, with many one of a kind experiences. Some of our Travel Advisors recently travelled in Western Australia and have created an exciting four-night itinerary in, and out of Perth.

Busselton Jetty, Margaret River Region

Day One

Morning

Make your way to the land of abundance – the Margaret River region – from your Perth hotel, or from the airport, in a hire car or with a tour company such as Perth Luxury Tours

AFTERNOON

Arrive at Vasse Felix and immerse yourself in the history of Margaret River’s founding wine estate –established in 1967. Enjoy a tour of The Vault – the Estate’s museum and historic wine collection before settling in for a private tasting and lunch at the award-winning Vasse Felix restaurant on the Chef’s High Tables.

Evening

After the long, enjoyable and sure-to-be memorable lunch at Vasse Felix, be transferred to the beautiful, contemporary Smiths Beach Resort, positioned by the sand at idyllic Smiths Beach near Yallingup. Dinner will be another gourmet experience, at Lamont’s Smiths Beach.

Vasse Felix, Wilyabrup

Lamont’s Smiths Beach, Yallingup

Smiths Beach, Yallingup

Smiths Beach, Yallingup

Aboriginal Cultural Tour in Ngilgi Cave with Koomal Dreaming

Black Brewing Co, Wilyabrup

Morning

Smiths Beach Resort is an ideal place to stay if you want to experience some of the superb Cape to Cape Track, which runs from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin showcasing the wildly spectacular coastline. Experience a taste of the track with a twohour hike with an experienced guide from Cape to Cape Explorer Tours. You will loop around from Smiths Beach towards Canal Rocks, taking in the idyllic local rock pool known as The Aquarium, the beautiful coastal vegetation, and learn about the cultural history of the region.

Afternoon

After lunch, visit Olio Bello, a local gem that is one of Australia’s finest olive oil producers. Located in charming Cowaramup on a beautiful farm that is 100 per cent certified organic, enjoy the Olio Bello Experience, a tasting of this liquid gold. Olio Bello invites visitors to experience the beauty of the seasons as they unfold across the property, where their olive trees are the stars of the show. No matter what time of the year one stays, nature never disappoints.

For a sweet treat, a visit to Gabriel Chocolate in Yallingup will hit the spot. Gabriel Chocolate imports the world’s finest quality raw cacao beans to craft award-winning fine chocolate, from their lightest milk chocolate to their darkest dark.

Evening

Finish off this special day with dinner at the outstanding and award-winning Yarri Restaurant and Bar in Dunsborough. Yarri honours nature, seasonality and the Margaret River region by sourcing ethically produced seasonal ingredients and presenting them simply, at their fullest potential.

After the hike, you can freshen up, then Perth Luxury Tours will transfer you to the Caves Road Collective, which is home to Black Brewing Co. with its range of innovative WA craft beer; Dune Distilling where spirits are infused with local botanicals, Ground to Cloud Wines with wines from the on-site vineyard and an in-house restaurant. Enjoy lunch in this vibrant venue, which will give you a quintessential taste of the region, complemented by a gin paddle or your pick of craft beer or local wine.

A highlight of the day will be the Koomal Dreaming experience with Wadandi custodian, Josh ‘Koomal’ Whiteland. The Wadandi and Bibbulman people of the Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River areas of Australia’s South West have walked this ancient land for 50,000 years. Josh will introduce you to the world’s oldest living culture on the authentic, Twilight Didgeridoo Tour. It will begin with a short guided bushwalk identifying traditional medicine, plants and knowledge about the region, before venturing into Ngilgi Cave where the good spirit Ngilgi dwells. Josh will share Dreamtime legends and you’ll be truly mesmerised when he plays the didgeridoo in the cave. It will send shivers up your spine.

Yarri cuisine reflects the six seasons of Western Australia’s Nyungar people and country and is a celebration of the specialist growers and farmers, vignerons, distillers, fishermen, butchers, cheesemakers; and many more people who make up their region.

Little Salmon Bay, Rottnest Island

Day THREE

Morning

Say farewell to the Margaret River Region and transfer to Jandakot Airport in Perth for a flight to Rottnest Island, WA’s idyllic island getaway. Located off Fremantle, Rottnest is a hidden gem, with so many beautiful coves, beaches and places to explore on two legs or two wheels.

Afternoon

The swimming and snorkelling on Rottnest’s pristine beaches are spectacular, with the azure blue colour of the water quite astonishing against the golden sand. Explore all around the island on a bike, stopping to have lunch at one of the cool cafes, such as Isola Bar E Cibo

Evening

Enjoy a stay at the pretty Samphire Rottnest , which is located on the beachfront, in the heart of Thomson Bay. Have a drink at the Sea Deck overlooking the beach, laze in one of two lagoon pools, get salty in the ocean and then relax in your beautiful, beach or pool side room.

The Beach Club, Samphire Rottnest

Cycling around Rottnest Island

Isola Bar e Cibo, Rottnest Island

Day Four

Morning

Go for a morning swim and have a leisurely breakfast before your trip to Perth with SeaLink Rottnest, the largest and most modern fleet to the island with stabilised high-speed catamaran ferries.

Transfer to your hotel, with two superb, five-star options. Our Travel Advisors highly recommend both The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, and COMO The Treasury, Perth. The RitzCarlton is striking, situated on vibrant Elizabeth Quay with views over the river, the skyline and urban parks. A visit to the rooftop Songbird Bar is a must, with the signature Songbird cocktail served in a stunning birdlike glass.

COMO The Treasury is also exquisite, with this 48-room luxury hotel occupying historic State Buildings dating from the

mid-19th century. COMO The Treasury has two restaurants, including the innovative Wildflower, and Post, situated where the post office used to be. There are more restaurants and bars located just steps away in the State Buildings. Finish off your WA tour with a massage in the world-renowned COMO Shambhala.

In Perth, explore around Elizabeth Quay, have brunch at Cooee at The Old Swan Brewery, visit the Swan Valley for a few hours of wine tasting, or visit the Western Australia Museum Boola Bardip, which celebrates the unique culture, landscape and history of WA. Adrenaline seekers will want to experience the climb to the top of the Matagarup Bridge, and then zipline 400 metres across the Swan River.

The Ritz-Carlton, Perth COMO Shambhala, COMO The Treasury, Perth

Day FIVE

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or if you have a later flight, take the time to explore more of Perth’s many delights.

Stay longer, travel further

It makes sense to see more of WA while in this big, beautiful state. Kimberley and the North West would be an excellent choice, and it is just over a two and a half-hour flight from Perth to Broome. You would need four or five days to truly experience this exotic and wild place, from the blood orange sunsets over Cable Beach, to a boat trip to see the Horizontal Falls, a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, or an enlightening tour of Willie Creek Pearl Farm, to discover the colourful pearl lugging history of this sun-drenched region.

James Price Point, Broome

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Extending 660 kilometres across Western Australia’s Kimberley region, the Gibb River Road cuts through some of Earth’s most otherworldly country, from Derby to Kununurra.

Originally built for droving cattle across the rugged outback, ‘The Gibb’ as it’s known by locals, takes in spectacular outback gorges, secluded swimming holes, vast national parks, ancient rock art, thundering waterfalls and endless wildlife encounters.

Accessible between May and October and only by four-wheeldrive, do the trip in around 12 days or take as long as you like.

Along the way, you’ll meet plenty of friendly locals eager to share their stories. Choose to stay at a remote wilderness lodge, outback station or luxury homestead, or simply camp out under an endless canopy of stars.

And to complete your Kimberley dream adventure, visit tropical Broome, vast Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park.

GIBB RIVER ROAD (660KM)

CAPE LEVEQUE

DAMPIER PENINSULA

ROWLEY SHOALS MARINE PARK DERBY

DRYSDALE RIVER NATIONAL PARK WESTERNAUSTRALIA.COM

PENTECOST RIVER CROSSING, GIBB RIVER ROAD