It’s no secret that Western Australia is home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, including the incredible Ningaloo Reef, spectacular and isolated coastlines in the country, huge swathes of wilderness dotted with rugged gorges and dramatic mountain ranges, and of course, home to Australia’s whitest beach.
With all of this in mind, it may come to no one’s surprise that this state, which makes up a third of Australia’s landmass is an absolute goldmine of outdoor adventure opportunity.
Come and experience some of the world’s most thrilling and scenic adventures, for whether it’s on water, land or in the air, you’re bound to find an activity that appeals to your sense of adventure, all within the state.
The best thing is, Perth (the capital of Western Australia) is only a 5.5-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur and shares the same time zone as us!
To help plan your escapade, here’s a must-see list of unique and adventurous experiences to explore across the five diverse regions in Western Australia:
- Go above and beyond
If skydiving has been on your bucket list for a while, or you’ve just been waiting for your chance to leap from a plane at 15,000 ft all over again, Western Australia is the place to make it happen.
You can do it over the beach at Rockingham or admire the breath-taking scenery high up in the air with the Rottnest Island skydive and ferry pass combo. And once you’re back on solid ground, it’s time to whip up your camera and go selfie-hunting with an adorable Quokka on the same day! Seeing this island paradise with your own eyes is a real must-do in Perth.
For something a little more leisurely, you can always hop into a hot air balloon. The sensation of calmly floating up in the air is something you just have to try at least once. Drifting with the wind is quite unlike anything else – it’s a really smooth glide across the sky, with plenty of time to take it all in and snap some really amazing sunsets or aerial shots. If you’re planning to pop the question to your significant other, doing so will certainly make it all the more romantic and memorable. We’re not sure if there’s enough room to get down on one knee though…
- An Instagrammable Playground
Another area that you may want to visit is Castle Rock, where you’ll be greeted by massive ancient granite domes that are 1,100 million years old. At 670 metres above sea level, take in a truly exhilarating view from the suspended Granite Skywalk or scale the last few metres to reach the summit.
This unique granite range of 12 peaks sits in the heart of Porongurup National Park and merely a 4.25-hours’ drive away from Perth. Allow at least 2 hours to complete the steep 3-kilometre return walk and stop to get a closer look at the incredible variety of plant and animal life that makes this region one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
Another popular adventure spot is Collie, which is an outdoor adventure playground nestled in a scenic forested valley in the Darling Ranges. All the beauty, challenges and thrills of the South West bushland are right here. Think white water rafting, water skiing, canoeing, bush camping and fishing, plus bushwalking and mountain biking on some of the world’s greatest long-distance trails.
Visit in springtime (September to November) and you’ll see the valley come alive with blooms of colourful wildflowers. You can be here in just over two hours from the freeway south of Perth, making it an easy weekend getaway.
- Ride along the waves
Your trip is not complete without heading over to rugged Kimberley in the north west region of Western Australia where you’ll find a variety of spectacular waterfalls, including some of the world’s biggest and most stunning. Experience jumping in the waterfall for an invigorating dip, tackle the rough waters or take to the skies in a helicopter for a bird’s eye view of the action.
If bumpy waves and water sports don’t tickle your fancy, you can “surf” in one of Australia’s biggest waves at Hyden – it’s nowhere near the ocean, but uniquely enough home to the world famous Wave Rock. Over 2,700 million years in the making, the wave rises 15 metres over the outback plain, which becomes a sea of colourful wildflower blooms in spring.
Located near the Wheatbelt town of Hyden, it’s a pleasant drive (between 3 to 4 hours) from Perth, where you’ll see picturesque rolling farmlands to wide vistas of wheat and canola fields.
- Free your spirit with natural wonders
Located just over 2 hours north of Perth, Pinnacles Desert is almost like an other-worldly landscape. Formed over millions of years, the lunar-like Pinnacles form one of Australia’s most unique and fascinating natural landscapes. Once darkness falls, get a rare chance to see an unpolluted and breath-taking view of the Milky Way.
Some people love getting up close with fascinating and diverse marine and if you’re one of them, you’ll be in awe of World Heritage-listed Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef. Being one of the largest fringing reefs on Earth, you’ll get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with the largest fish in the sea, the gentle whale shark, as well as a huge variety of marine wildlife including sea turtles, humpback whales, orcas (killer whales) dugong, manta rays and reef sharks!
- Journey back to “the land before time”
Last but not least, a land of breath-taking contrasts covering billions of years in history and over one million square kilometres, the North West is one of the last true wilderness areas on Earth. Find adventure in Karijini National Park, one of Western Australia’s most spectacular natural attractions offering amazing hiking trails through ancient gorges.
Explore tunnels of marbled rock, clamber over boulders, squeeze through narrow tunnels, paddle through waterways and descend deep into ancient chasms.
Ever tried riding a bike on sand or even better riding a fat bike? For anyone unaware, a fat bike is similar to a regular mountain bike but with huge oversized tyres and rims. And you can ride one of these against the sunset on Cable Beach, which is well known as one of the best spots to admire the setting sun.
If we were you, we’d save this for last, for then you can literally say that you spent your last few days in Western Australia riding into the sunset.
For more details and destination inspirations, head over to Tourism Western Australia’s website at https://www.westernaustralia.com.
