GlobalSpa
26-Dec-2024
If there's one place that deserves a top spot on your 2025 bucket list, it's Western Australia.
Swim with gentle whale sharks, drive along the picturesque Indian Ocean coast, marvel at natural wonders found nowhere else on Earth, taste your way through hundreds of cellar doors in world-class wine regions, live the urban life intertwined with nature, and chase endless summer—welcome to Western Australia.
Western Australia spans one-third of the Australian continent, offering over 12,500 kilometers of coastline (20,000 including islands) & an incredible diversity of experiences. Here are 6 reasons why you should go ahead & pack your bags to leave for Western Australia.
Frolicking in The Sunniest Capital: Perth
With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Perth proudly holds the title of Australia’s sunniest capital city. This is a destination that merges urban cool with raw natural beauty, offering a dynamic cityscape brimming with bars, restaurants, hotels, shopping, and cultural spaces. Its iconic Kings Park and Botanic Garden (Kaarta Komba), overlooking the Swan River and city skyline, stands as one of the world’s largest inner-city parks. Sunbathe or take a dip at Perth’s 19 metropolitan beaches, including the iconic Cottesloe Beach and serene Bathers Beach in Fremantle. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can do jet skiing, parasailing, or sunset cruises, while food lovers revel in fresh seafood and cool beverages while looking at the sun set over the Indian Ocean. Known as Freo to locals, explore historic buildings, enjoy fresh seafood at the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, and sample local brews at one of the many breweries. Perth really is unlike any other capital city on Earth. Within an hour of Perth’s CBD (Central Business District), you can swim with wild dolphins at Rockingham, explore the crystal caves of Yanchep, discover the breathtaking trails of Perth Hills, and cruise the estuary and canals in Mandurah. A little further afield, take an early morning drive to the Avon Valley for hot air ballooning over farmlands, native bush and fields of flowers.
Sipping & Surfing in Margret River
The Margaret River region is a paradise where natural beauty meets a laid-back lifestyle, making it a dream destination and a place F1 star Daniel Ricciardo envisions as the perfect retirement spot. With its towering karri trees in the Boranup Forest, stunning coastline, and 75 epic surf breaks, this region is a haven for adventurers and nature lovers alike. Beneath its surface lies a labyrinth of over 100 limestone caves. Venture underground from the reflective beauty of Lake Cave’s permanent lake to the vast chambers of Jewel Cave and the self-paced Mammoth Cave. At Ngilgi Cave, marvel at its stalactites and stalagmites, delve into its rich history, enjoy a mesmerising didgeridoo performance by an Aboriginal guide, and uncover 600 million years of stories in the Ancient Lands Experience. Celebrated as Australia’s premium wine region, Margaret River boasts more than 100 cellar doors and award-winning wineries, along with some of Australia’s best ‘paddock to plate’ fresh produce like marron, black truffles, venison, and artisanal cheeses. For outdoor enthusiasts, the iconic 135-kilometer Cape to Cape Track offers the most amazing coastal views, pristine beaches, and forest trails, and experience it with the region’s finest food and wine. Whether you’re exploring underground marvels, savouring world-class wines, or basking in the beauty of the surf, Margaret River delivers an extraordinary escape like no other.
Living the Bliss Life at Rottnest Island
Just off the coast of Perth lies Rottnest Island (Wadjemup), a car-free island paradise brimming with pristine beaches and unique wildlife. Home to the world’s happiest animal, the friendly quokka is a marsupial that appears to smile. The Whadjuk Noongar people, the island's original custodians, share its rich cultural and spiritual significance through immersive Aboriginal tours and the Wadjemup Museum. With 63 secluded beaches and 20 bays, Rottnest has white sands, crystal-clear waters, and naturally sculpted coves. From certain spots, you’ll see humpback whales breaching, seals floating or dolphins bobbing. Explore this stunning island by bike, Segway, bus, or foot, and dive into vibrant underwater worlds filled with coral, fish, and shipwrecks. Whether basking on the beach, snorkelling in the turquoise waters, or encountering a quokka, Rottnest Island is a blissful escape.
Wine & Dine at Swan Valley
The Swan Valley, over 185 years old and Australia’s oldest wine-growing region, is a must-visit destination just 25 minutes from Perth. Accessible via a scenic cruise along the Swan River (Derbal Yerrigan), this picturesque area produces premium wines like Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Shiraz, and fortified varieties. The Swan Valley Heritage Cycle Trail offers a charming way to explore, with three routes that lead to fresh produce stalls, picnic spots, galleries, cafes, wineries, microbreweries, and distilleries. This is where you’ll find coffee roasters hauling hessian sacks of beans, gin distillers applying bottle labels, growers hand-picking asparagus and winemakers pouring tastings in between checking barrels. Adventurers can opt for guided tours by river cruise, kayak, limousine, or even a horse-drawn wagon, while families enjoy activities like koala holding and kangaroo feeding at Caversham Wildlife Park. Indulgent stops at Whistler’s Chocolate Company, The House of Honey, and Mondo Nougat Factory add a sweet touch to this diverse destination.
Gazing the Lunar-like Landscape of The Pinnacles
A natural wonder and cosmic beauty, The Pinnacles is located in Western Australia's Nambung National Park. Following the scenic Indian Ocean Drive, these formations create one of Australia’s most otherworldly landscapes. Shaped by natural forces over millions of years, you will see thousands of towering limestone spires rising from golden sands. The Pinnacles shift hues with the changing light, looking unique at any time of the day. By night, they transform into a stargazing destination where you can see a billion-star sky, free from artificial light interference. Even Adam Gilchrist and his son Harry went stargazing at The Pinnacles to experience the Milky Way stretching across the dark sky above.
The tours here include a gourmet Australian barbecue with local wines, sound healing sessions, and Aboriginal Astronomy stories, connecting you to the ancient Dreamtime. Whether standing at the lookout or marvelling at the stars through high-powered telescopes, The Pinnacles promise a journey that feels truly out of this world.
Swimming Face to Fin
At the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef (Nyinggulu), one of the planet's most biologically diverse marine environments, you can snorkel amidst 200 species of coral and 500 species of vibrant fish. This underwater paradise is also one of the few places on Earth where you can swim with the gentle whale shark or majestic humpback whale, making it truly unmissable. Along the 'humpback highway,' witness the Southern Hemisphere's largest whale migration, with 30,000 whales passing along Western Australia’s coast from May to December. At Monkey Mia, wild dolphins delight visitors by swimming right up to shore, while manta rays and turtles await snorkelers and boat cruisers in the area. Whether sunbathing with kangaroos, diving into vibrant reefs, or spotting whales from coastal lookouts, Western Australia is a dream destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
The Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) segment is a cornerstone of Indian leisure travel to Western Australia, emphasizing the deep cultural and familial connections that drive this demand.
Adventure through ancient gorges, cycle the scenic trails of Swan Valley, or stroll along Rottnest Island’s pristine beaches while meeting its famous quokkas. With its stunning coastline, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage, Western Australia promises you unforgettable memories that will keep you coming back for more.
