Western Australia is a popular destination throughout the year for local and overseas visitors. This Western Australia travel guide covers all the things you need to know for planning your next trip, plus some useful tips for visiting Western Australia.
When is the Best Time to Visit Western Australia?
You can visit Western Australia at any time of the year thanks to the Mediterranean climate of long summers and mild winters. Since Western Australia is such a large state, there can be a big difference in climates from the north to south.
Suggested visiting times for places to visit in Western Australia by region are:
Australia’s North West including Broome, Kununurra & Karijini National Park
The time to visit Australia’s North West is in the dry season, usually May – October depending on the area. Outside of these times it can be extremely hot and humid, with tropical storms. Tourist attractions and experiences may not be open or run during the wet season. Plus in the Kimberley region, including Broome, it is not recommended to swim in the ocean during this time due to the presence of Irukandji jellyfish.
As the dry season coincides with Australia’s winter, it’s a nice time to escape the cold cities and head north for some sunshine!
Australia’s Coral Coast including Exmouth, Coral Bay & Shark Bay
Australia’s coral coast has a similar high season to the North West. The best time to visit weather wise is May – October again. However this region can be visited all year round, and is a popular spot for the Christmas holidays. You might just want to book somewhere that has air conditioning!
Perth & Surrounds
Summer months are the best time to visit, around November to March to make the most of Perth’s beautiful beaches. However, Perth is worth visiting all year round thanks to the mild winters. There may be particular times of the year you want to time your visit to Perth, such as to see the golden canola blooms around August or the purple hues of jacarandas in Perth around November.
Rottnest Island is also best visited over the summer months.
Australia’s South West including Margaret River & Dunsborough
Visitors can explore the South West of WA all year round. Summer months are best to visit the region’s beautiful beaches. Winters are also a great time to visit, spending the day wine tasting before cosying up around a fire at night.
Australia’s Golden Outback including Esperance
Esperance, far along the south east coast of Western Australia, is a lot cooler than the South West. The best time to visit is in summer, although the wind can be quite strong at this time of the year. March and April can still have sunny days, but the winds tend to drop off.
Tip: School holidays in Western Australia are an extremely popular and busy time to travel, particularly over Christmas & Easter. Make sure you book far in advance, particularly for popular camping locations. Check the WA school holiday timetables
How to Get Around Western Australia?
By Car
Car hire is recommended to get around Western Australia, particularly for visitors to the more remote regions. Car hire isn’t strictly required in Perth, but for travellers wanting to explore more widely outside the CBD, it will be quicker and easier.
By Flying
Non stop flights are available between Perth and most major tourist towns such as;
- Perth to Broome
- Perth to Kununurra
- Perth to Exmouth
- Perth to Esperance
The major airlines are Qantas and Virgin Australia, with Rex flying to smaller regional towns like Esperance, Albany, Carnarvon and Monkey Mia.
By Coach or Train
TransWA connects most regional towns across Western Australia, with coach services up to Kalbarri and Geraldtonin the North, to August, Pemberton, Albany and even Esperance in the south west and south east.
Regional trains are also available, including;
- Perth to Bunury
- Perth to Kalgoorlie
More information, including route options and times, are available from TransWA
Accommodation Options
There is a lot of variety in accommodation across Western Australia depending on your budget and preferences.
Options include;
Hotels and Motels
The nicest and more modern hotels are mostly in the Perth CBD, which is a great option for tourists or for locals wanting a staycation.
AirBNBs
AirBnBs are a great choice for travellers to Western Australia, particularly if you want to have more amenities such as a kitchen and laundry facilities. There are a wide range of AirBnBs available across the state, including some quirky and unique options.
Camping
Camping is very popular in Western Australia, particularly across the warmer months. This can include camping in a tent or caravan. Options including staying in caravan parks across the state with powered and unpowered site options at most parks.
Bush camping is also very popular, which usually attracts a small fee. Most sites are bookable by the Parks and Wildlife service, and some operate on a first come, first served basis. Free camping is very limited in Western Australia – your best bet is to download the app WikiCamps to find the rare free camps scattered around the state.
There is no free camping at all in popular tourist towns like Dunsborough, Margaret River and Exmouth.
Campervans
Campervans are another popular option to explore Western Australia, particularly when heading on a road trip in the South West WA or along the coast up north.
Campervan hire options range from the more expensive self contained (meaning you have bathroom and cooking facilities) options, to cheaper options that are mostly just a bed. You may be able to free camp as well as stay at caravan parks when power or kitchen facilities are needed.
WA Road Trip Travel Tips
Take Note of Driving Distances
As Western Australia is a big state, it can take a lot longer than you think to drive between points of interest. For context, Western Australia is about the same size as Western Europe! Look up driving times on Google Maps and factor these in when planning your itinerary.
Some people plan massive road trips across Western Australia, but spend so much time driving that they don’t leave much time to actually explore a destination!
Some driving times between popular places in Western Australia for context;
- Perth to Esperance: 8 hours
- Perth to Exmouth: 13 hours
- Perth to Broome: 23 hours
- Perth to Margaret River: 3.5 hours
- Perth to Denmark: 5 hours
Drive Between Dawn and Dusk
Kangaroos are most active between dusk and dawn. In areas that have kangaroos, which are most areas outside of Perth, limit driving between these times. Hitting a kangaroo at high speed can be fatal for both the animal and people in the car.
Plan Rest Stops
Free camping outside of designated areas is illegal in Australia. Other than the bush camping throughs Parks WA, there are limited free rest stops across Western Australia. These rest areas aren’t intended for camping, but are a spot to rest when making long drives.
Stopping is only allowed for up to 24 hours, and facilities may be limited. To find rest stops in Western Australia, visit the Mainroads site or check on the WikiCamps app.
That wraps up all you need to know in this Western Australia travel guide. Keep these tips in mind when planning your next road trip to Western Australia.
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