From quokka spotting on Rottnest Island to exploring the wilderness of the Kimberley, these are the extraordinary spots you need to tick off on your next holiday in Western Australia.
Just half an hour by ferry from Fremantle or Perth, an island holiday in Western Australia awaits. Rottnest Island is known as “Rotto” to the locals. The island boasts a staggering 63 secluded white sand beaches along with 20 bays. Turquoise-hued waters encircled by protected coral reefs are ideal for snorkelling. You may even spot dolphins, turtles and the puppies of the sea – New Zealand fur seals.
Rottnest means “rat’s nest”. After Dutch explorer, Willem de Vlamingh mistook the island’s marsupials as rats in in 1696. Now, the quest for a selfie with one of its adorable quokkas is the main attraction. You can even take a free guided walk into the natural quokka habitat to get a great snap. The island boasts plenty of accommodation from camping to luxury apartments perfect for families. And is perfectly set up for bike riding and scootering.
Segway tours are a great way for kids aged 12 and above to explore some of Rottnest’s hidden treasures in a fun and eco-friendly way.
Nestled among the bush along the WA coast, just three hours south of Perth, the Margaret River region packs a hefty holiday punch. The laid-back and lovely region incorporates Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River and Augusta. It is renowned for producing some of Australia’s best wine. For wine tasting without any whining, many of the vineyards are set up with child-friendly entertainment.
Beyond grapes, the region boasts a treasure trove of remarkable natural attractions. Amid the brightest jewels in Margaret River’s tourism crown are breathtaking national parks for hiking and exploring, a labyrinthian limestone crystal cave network under the surface of Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, some of the country’s best seasonal whale watching, beaches with dazzling blue water and some of the best big-wave surfing locations in the world.
Or see the Margaret River from a whole new perspective… from horseback with a Jesters Flat tour. The Saddle Club is great for little learners, with the 2.5-hour session including grooming, saddling and bush riding, or opt for an amble through the trees of the world-famous Karri Forest on the Boranup Forest Ride.
Then don’t miss the famous Busselton Jetty that stretches almost two kilometres into Geographe Bay. Families can take a train along its length where an underwater observatory awaits.
Australia’s Coral Coast is a 1,100-kilometre cornucopia of wild wonders. From the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and Ningaloo Reef – the largest fringing reef in the world – to the ethereal landscape of the Pinnacles Desert, the epic dunes of Lancelin, the vivid pink of Hutt Lagoon and the ancient river gorges of Kalbarri National Park. Visit the dolphins of Monkey Mia or swim with whale sharks. Families can snorkel across pristine reefs teeming with marine life and spot sea turtle hatchlings during nesting season. Younger kids can explore the wonders of the reef by Sub Sea Explorer, a semi-submersible glass bottom boat.
A colossal and complex landscape encompassing surreal landforms, rugged gorges and sparkling waterfalls peeking out from patches of lush rainforest, the Kimberley is one of the world’s great wilderness areas. Whether your kids are off in space or down to earth, they’ll find something to spark joy here. Explore one of the world’s largest meteorite craters at Wolfe Creek. Or hike over the surreal landscape of the beehive-shaped Bungle Bungles. Explore ancient cave systems and rich Indigenous culture. Cruise the vast inland sea of Lake Argyle or speed through Horizontal Falls in a high-powered jet boat. And then put your feet up by the fire at your cattle station campsite for a well-earned break.
Imagining the prehistoric battles of the sauropod and a T.Rex-like predator is easy on a tour with local Yawuru guide, Bart Pigram, who’ll show you the perfectly preserved dinosaur tracks at low tide while sharing the Dreaming stories of the Djugun-Yawuru people of Broome. Or perhaps you’d rather explore the tidal flats of Roebuck Bay by hovercraft.
This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.
Main image: Conto Spring Beach, Margaret River © Tourism Western Australia
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