Australia's largest state — 2.527 million km² — spans Mediterranean Perth / Boorloo on Whadjuk Noongar Country, the Pinot and Cabernet vines of Wadandi Margaret River, Ningaloo Reef (UNESCO 1987) where you swim with whale sharks from shore, the ancient Pilbara gorges of Karijini on Banyjima and Yinhawangka Country, the newly UNESCO-listed Murujuga Cultural Landscape (11 July 2025, 1-2 million petroglyphs), and the vast Kimberley on Bardi, Bunuba, Ngarinyin, Miriwung-Gajerrong and Kija-Jaru Country. Four distinct regions, each a destination in itself.
Western Australia is the country's largest state — 2.527 million square kilometres, roughly one-third of the Australian continent and larger than Western Europe. It has approximately 12,500 km of coastline (more than the continental USA) facing the Indian Ocean. The state holds four UNESCO World Heritage sites: Ningaloo Coast (listed 2011), Shark Bay / Gathaagudu (listed 1991), Purnululu / Bungle Bungles (listed 2003), and the newly inscribed Murujuga Cultural Landscape (listed 11 July 2025 — only the second Australian property inscribed solely on Aboriginal cultural values, after Budj Bim in Victoria in 2019).
Western Australia is home to many Aboriginal nations. The south-west corner — from Geraldton to Esperance, encompassing Perth / Boorloo, Margaret River, and Albany — is Noongar Country, with 14 dialectal groups who have lived here continuously for at least 45,000 years. The Pilbara is Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Banyjima, Yinhawangka, Kurrama and the broader Ngarda-Ngarli peoples of Murujuga. The Gascoyne and Coral Coast is Yamatji Country (Malgana, Yinigudura, Thalanyji, Baiyungu). The Kimberley is home to Yawuru (Broome), Bardi-Jawi, Nyikina, Bunuba, Ngarinyin, Wunambal-Gaambera, Miriwung-Gajerrong, Kija and Jaru peoples. The Goldfields and desert interior is Wongatha, Wongi, Ngadju, Maduwongga, Martu, Ngaanyatjarra and other desert nations. Perth was settled by the British as the Swan River Colony in 1829.
Five reasons WA rewards the long trip — and why the scale that daunts becomes the thing you remember most.
Ningaloo Reef — UNESCO World Heritage Coast inscribed 2011 — is a 260-kilometre fringing reef along the Yinigudura, Thalanyji and Baiyungu coast of Yamatji Country. Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo is a fringing reef, meaning it hugs the coastline and is accessible directly from shore — at Turquoise Bay (Cape Range National Park), you walk 50 metres from the beach and you are snorkelling on healthy coral.
Ningaloo is one of only three places on earth with a reliably predictable whale shark season (the others are the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and Donsol in the Philippines). Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus, the largest fish in the ocean — adults reach 12 m and 20+ tonnes) aggregate at Ningaloo from mid-March to early August in response to the March coral-spawning event. Licensed operators use a spotter aircraft to locate sharks, then position small snorkelling groups ahead of the animal's swimming direction. Other Ningaloo marine encounters: humpback whale season (June-November), manta ray resident year-round (Coral Bay is the manta ray capital), dugongs, reef sharks, six species of marine turtle.
On 11 July 2025, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape in the Pilbara was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List — only the second Australian property inscribed solely on the basis of Aboriginal cultural values, after Budj Bim (Gunditjmara Country, Victoria) in 2019. Murujuga encompasses the Burrup Peninsula, the 42 islands of the Dampier Archipelago, and surrounding marine and submerged areas — approximately 100,000 hectares of land and sea Country.
The site contains an estimated 1-2 million petroglyphs (rock engravings) — the world's largest and densest concentration of rock-art engravings, recording more than 50,000 years of continuous Ngarda-Ngarli cultural care. The engravings pre-date the pyramids of Egypt and the oldest European cave art. Traditional Owners are the Ngarda-Ngarli peoples: primarily the Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Yaburara, Mardudhunera and Woon-goo-tt-oo, represented today by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. Access to engraving sites is via Ngarda-Ngarli guided tours only — self-guided access is not permitted for most of the Cultural Landscape. The main visitor site is Ngajarli Trail (formerly Deep Gorge) — a boardwalk designed with Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.
The Kimberley covers 423,517 km² — three times the size of England — with fewer than 40,000 people. It is one of the last true wilderness frontiers on earth. The landscape has been carved by seasonal monsoon floods over more than a billion years into a network of ancient gorges, cascading waterfalls, and vast savanna. The Kimberley is on the Country of the Yawuru (Broome), Bardi-Jawi, Nyikina, Bunuba, Ngarinyin, Wunambal-Gaambera, Miriwung-Gajerrong, Kija and Jaru peoples. It holds some of the world's oldest continuous rock art traditions, including Gwion Gwion (formerly Bradshaw) figures — some estimated at over 17,000 years old — and the Wandjina figures of the Ngarinyin, Wunambal-Gaambera and Worrorra peoples.
The defining Kimberley experiences: Purnululu / Bungle Bungles (UNESCO World Heritage 2003 — Kija and Jaru Country, 350-million-year-old orange-and-grey striped sandstone beehive domes, only mapped by non-Indigenous Australians in 1983), the Gibb River Road (660 km unsealed 4WD track, Broome to Kununurra, through the Kimberley's heart — Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Bell Gorge, El Questro), the Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay (tidal waterfalls produced by 11 m spring tidal ranges forced through a narrow coastal gap), and Mitchell Falls in Wunambal-Gaambera Country (a four-tiered waterfall accessible by helicopter or 4-day walk).
Margaret River (280 km south of Perth on Wadandi Noongar Country) produces approximately 3% of Australia's wine by volume but over 20% of its premium wine by value — the most disproportionate quality-to-volume ratio in Australian viticulture. The Margaret River GI (Geographical Indication) has about 215 wineries. Flagship varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay (both world-class and widely regarded as Australia's finest for their respective styles). Key estates: Vasse Felix (1967 — the region's founding vineyard), Cullen Wines (1971 — biodynamic leader), Leeuwin Estate (Art Series Chardonnay), Moss Wood, Cape Mentelle, Xanadu, Howard Park, Voyager Estate.
The region combines wine with Cape-to-Cape coastal walks (135 km between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin — walk any section), limestone caves (Jewel Cave, Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave — 150+ karst caves in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge), surf beaches (Prevelly, Yallingup, Gnarabup), tall-tree forests (Boranup karri forest, the jarrah woodlands), and truffle country (Manjimup, Pemberton — June-August black winter truffles, Australia's most celebrated truffle region).
Western Australia hosts approximately 12,000 wildflower species, of which about 60% are found nowhere else on earth. The South West Australia Floristic Region is recognised as one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots — the only Australian region with that status. The wildflower season runs June to November, starting in the warmer north (Kalbarri, Mid West) and moving progressively south to the cooler Great Southern by October-November.
Prime wildflower regions: Coalseam Conservation Park and Mullewa (Yamatji Country, 450 km north of Perth — everlasting daisy carpets in August-September), Kalbarri National Park (800+ species, June-October), Kings Park in Perth (the annual Kings Park Festival runs every September — 17,000 wildflower plants from every WA region on display), Wave Rock / Hyden area (Wheatbelt), and the Stirling Range National Park (Minang Noongar Country — 1,500+ plant species, more than the entire British Isles, in a single mountain range — October-November).
WA's climate genuinely varies by region — the south-west is Mediterranean, the Kimberley is tropical with distinct wet and dry seasons, the interior is arid. Regional timing matters more here than anywhere else in Australia.
Perth and the South West shine: 25-32°C in Perth with a reliable Fremantle Doctor sea breeze most afternoons, long daylight (twilight until 8:30 pm at Perth's 32° S latitude), and Cottesloe, Scarborough and Trigg beaches at their best. Margaret River is peak season for wine tourism. However, avoid the north — the Kimberley enters its monsoonal wet season (November-April), roads and gorges close due to flooding, and Broome has extreme humidity. Ningaloo is still warm-water friendly but past the main whale shark season. Karijini and the Pilbara routinely exceed 45°C and can be dangerous. Cyclone season runs November-April across the north-west coast.
One of the two best overall WA seasons. Perth 18-26°C, stable dry weather. Ningaloo whale shark season peaks from mid-March through May — the warmest water temperatures and the highest concentration of whale sharks in response to coral spawning (March full moon). Karijini and the Pilbara are accessible again (temperatures drop to 30-35°C). Margaret River is in harvest season (March-April). The Kimberley remains closed for most of March, starts to open for 4WD travel in late April-early May. April-May is Cooee's recommended window for combining Perth, Margaret River, Ningaloo and the first accessible Kimberley weeks in a single trip.
Peak tourism season for the entire northern half of WA. Broome and the Kimberley are at their best — dry, 30°C days, cool 15°C nights, all roads open, gorges flowing from the monsoon. Purnululu / Bungle Bungles, the Gibb River Road, Mitchell Falls, and El Questro are all at their peak. Humpback whales migrate past Ningaloo and along the entire WA coast (June-November). Wildflowers begin in the Mid West (Geraldton, Kalbarri) in July-August. Perth is cool and wet (12-18°C, most rainfall of the year in June-August). Margaret River is in truffle season (June-August). Book Kimberley tours and Broome accommodation 4-6 months ahead — this is the most competitive booking window in WA.
Widely regarded as the single best season for the whole state. Perth 17-24°C, stable, bright. Wildflowers move south through September-November: Mid West in September, Perth's Kings Park Festival in September, the Wheatbelt and Esperance by October, Stirling Range in November. Ningaloo transitions from whale sharks (ending mid-July) to manta ray and humpback whale encounters. Kimberley stays dry through September-October, with October-November being the "build-up" to the wet — humid but still accessible. Margaret River vineyards in bloom. Whale migration continues. Spring is our most-recommended season for a 10-14 day WA trip.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | Peak | Peak | Peak | Cool | Cool | Cold | Cold | Cool | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
| Ningaloo whale sharks | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Kimberley access | Wet | Wet | Wet | Late | Dry | Dry | Dry | Dry | Dry | Build | Build | Wet |
| WA wildflowers | — | — | — | — | — | ✓N | ✓N | ✓N | ✓Mid | ✓S | ✓S | — |
| Cyclone risk (NW) | ⚠ | ⚠ | ⚠ | ⚠ | — | — | — | — | — | — | ⚠ | ⚠ |
Noongar six-season calendar: The Whadjuk Noongar calendar in Perth recognises six seasons, not four: Birak (Dec-Jan — dry, hot), Bunuru (Feb-Mar — peak heat), Djeran (April-May — cooler, ants emerge), Makuru (June-July — wettest), Djilba (Aug-Sep — flowers begin), Kambarang (Oct-Nov — wildflower peak). This is the ecological reality of the Perth region — the four-season European calendar was imposed on an environment it doesn't fit. Kings Park and the Western Australian Museum both use the six-season framework in signage today.
Eleven destinations that define the WA journey. Most first-time trips combine three or four; a full state traverse is usually a 3-4 week commitment split across regional flights. Start with Perth, add whichever of the four zones — South West, Coral Coast, Kimberley, Pilbara — best matches your season and interest.
The world's most isolated major capital — nearest neighbour city Adelaide is 2,130 km east — and arguably Australia's most underrated. On Whadjuk Noongar Country, the city sits at the mouth of the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River). Perth gets more sunshine hours than any Australian capital (~3,200/year). Highlights: Kings Park and Botanic Garden (4.06 km² — one of the world's largest inner-city parks, with a panoramic view over the city and river), Fremantle / Walyalup (the 1829 port town — Fremantle Markets since 1897, Fremantle Prison UNESCO World Heritage 2010), Cottesloe Beach, Elizabeth Quay, the AGWA (Art Gallery of WA, free), WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Wadjemup in Whadjuk Noongar — "the place across the water". 19 km offshore from Fremantle, car-free, 63 beaches and 20 bays in 19 km² of island. Home to an estimated 12,000 quokkas (the small marsupials now globally famous as social-media subjects). Access by ferry (~30 min from Fremantle) — bike-hire at the jetty is the standard way to explore. Essential context: Wadjemup is also a deeply sorrowful site of Aboriginal incarceration. From 1838 to 1931, the island was used as a prison and forced-labour camp for Aboriginal men and boys from across WA — approximately 4,000 Aboriginal people were imprisoned, with at least 373 deaths buried in unmarked graves near the Quod, making Wadjemup the largest known deaths-in-custody burial site in Australia. The Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground is formally recognised today. Respect signage at cultural sites.
Wadandi Noongar Country. 215 wineries producing 3% of Australia's wine by volume but over 20% by premium value — the most disproportionate quality-to-volume region in Australia. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are the flagships. Key estates: Vasse Felix (1967 founder), Cullen (1971 — biodynamic leader), Leeuwin Estate (Art Series Chardonnay), Moss Wood, Cape Mentelle, Voyager Estate. Beyond wine: Cape-to-Cape Track (135 km coastal walk Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin), the limestone cave system (Jewel Cave + Mammoth Cave + Lake Cave + Ngilgi Cave — named after the Wadandi ancestor spirit Ngilgi), surf beaches (Yallingup, Prevelly, Margaret River Main Break), and Boranup karri forest.
Nambung National Park — Yued Noongar Country — 2 hours north of Perth on the Indian Ocean Drive. Thousands of limestone pinnacles up to 3.5 metres tall rising from yellow sand. Formation: ancient seashells accumulated into limestone, roots of coastal plants crystallised calcite around themselves, the plants died, the sand shifted and exposed the columns. Best visited at sunset (the raking light makes every pinnacle cast a long shadow) or sunrise (quieter crowds, cooler temperatures, pale ochre colour). Combine with Cervantes for fresh rock-lobster lunch, and the Lancelin sand dunes (sand-boarding, 1 hour south of Cervantes on the way back to Perth). Spring (August-October) pairs the Pinnacles with wildflowers along the coastal heath.
UNESCO World Heritage Coast (2011). 260 km fringing reef on Yinigudura, Thalanyji and Baiyungu Country — Australia's largest fringing reef and one of the longest in the world. Ningaloo is accessible directly from shore (unlike the Great Barrier Reef): at Turquoise Bay, the reef edge is 50 m from the beach. Exmouth (~1,250 km north of Perth, fly in via Learmonth LEA) is the main base. Whale shark season mid-March to early August (Ningaloo is one of only three reliably predictable whale shark sites on earth). Humpback whale migration June-November. Manta rays year-round (Coral Bay has the largest resident population). Six species of marine turtle nest along the coast November-March. Cape Range National Park limestone gorges meet the reef at their base — Yardie Creek boat tour for black-footed rock wallabies.
Gathaagudu — "two waters" in Malgana — is UNESCO World Heritage since 1991, one of the few sites inscribed for all four natural criteria. On Malgana Country. Marine highlights: Monkey Mia — wild bottlenose dolphins that have been visiting the beach since the 1960s (ranger-supervised feeding programme 7:45 am daily — strictly 3 feedings per day, limited participants, to maintain the dolphins' wild foraging behaviour), the world's largest seagrass meadows (4,800 km² — the primary food for the world's largest dugong population, approx. 10,000), and Hamelin Pool Stromatolites — living microbial colonies that represent the oldest form of life on Earth, structurally unchanged for 3.5 billion years (viewing boardwalk is free, 30 min south of Denham). Shell Beach — one of only two beaches on earth made entirely of shells (Cardiid cockles, up to 10 m deep), 60 km long. Francois Peron National Park 4WD red-cliffs-meet-turquoise-water panoramas.
On Banyjima, Yinhawangka and Kurrama Country. Karijini's gorges are carved into 2.5-billion-year-old banded ironstone of the Hamersley Range — some of the oldest exposed rock on Earth. Walls of red, purple and gold; rock pools of extraordinary clarity. Dales Gorge (Fortescue Falls + Fern Pool + Circular Pool — the easy-access introduction), Weano Gorge and Hancock Gorge (the "spider walk" — bracing between gorge walls 3 m above water, 30 m section), Knox Gorge, Kalamina Gorge, Joffre Falls. Located 1,400 km north of Perth (fly to Paraburdoo PBO or Newman ZNE, then drive). The Karijini Eco Retreat — inside park boundaries — is the only accommodation in the park. Access April-October only (summer exceeds 45°C and the gorges flood). Class 5 hiking in several gorges — proper closed-toed shoes, sun protection, 3 L water minimum.
UNESCO World Heritage 11 July 2025 — Australia's second property inscribed solely on Aboriginal cultural values (after Budj Bim 2019). The Murujuga Cultural Landscape encompasses the Burrup Peninsula and the Dampier Archipelago's 42 islands in the Pilbara, near Karratha. An estimated 1-2 million petroglyphs (rock engravings) — the world's largest and densest rock-art assemblage — recording more than 50,000 years of continuous Ngarda-Ngarli cultural care. Traditional Owners: Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Yaburara, Mardudhunera and Woon-goo-tt-oo, represented today by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. The engravings pre-date Egyptian pyramids and the oldest European cave art. Access is via Ngarda-Ngarli guided tours only. Main visitor experience: Ngajarli Trail (formerly Deep Gorge) boardwalk, designed with the Corporation. Tours depart Karratha.
Rubibi in Yawuru — the gateway to the western Kimberley. 2,240 km north of Perth (fly direct — 2.5 hours). Population ~15,000. Cable Beach — 22 km of white sand on the Indian Ocean (the classic sunset camel train on the beach is a Broome signature, but check your operator's welfare record). Gantheaume Point — 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints visible at low tide on the red sandstone, along with the iconic red-meets-turquoise coastal colour. Staircase to the Moon — a natural phenomenon where the full moon rising over Roebuck Bay's exposed tidal mudflats creates an optical staircase of reflected light (visible March-October, dates published by Tourism WA). Broome Historical Museum, Streeter's Jetty, the Pearl Luggers Museum — Broome's 1880s-1960s pearling history. Willie Creek Pearl Farm tours.
The Kimberley covers 423,517 km² — three times the size of England — with fewer than 40,000 people. Purnululu National Park (UNESCO 2003) — on Kija and Jaru Country — is the Bungle Bungles, 350-million-year-old orange-and-grey striped sandstone beehive domes only mapped by non-Indigenous Australians in 1983. Access from Kununurra by scenic flight (30 min each way) or 4WD via Spring Creek (55 km unsealed). Essential walks: Cathedral Gorge (the natural amphitheatre with concert-calibre acoustics), Echidna Chasm (a slot canyon where walls close to shoulder width and light changes from orange to gold over 20 minutes at solar noon). The Gibb River Road runs 660 km of unsealed Kimberley interior — Windjana Gorge (freshwater crocodiles), Tunnel Creek, Bell Gorge, Mitchell Falls. El Questro Wilderness Park. All tours May-October only.
On Wongatha and Maduwongga Country. Kalgoorlie was founded in June 1893 when Paddy Hannan discovered surface gold, triggering the largest gold rush in WA history. The KCGM Super Pit (Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines) — 3.8 km long, 1.5 km wide, 600 m deep — is one of the world's largest open-cut gold mines (visible from Hannan's Lookout, no tours inside the pit for safety). Museum of the Goldfields (state-run, free — the underground experience, the gold pouring, the Hannan's discovery diorama). Coolgardie (25 km west) — once WA's third-largest city, now a heritage ghost town. Wave Rock (Hyden, 330 km SE of Perth) — a 2.63-billion-year-old granite inselberg shaped like a breaking wave, 15 m high, 110 m long. Lake Ballard (Antony Gormley's 51 Inside Australia sculptures on a salt lake, 1.5 hours north of Menzies).
Cooee tip — WA's distances are bigger than you think: Perth to Broome is 2,240 km (roughly London to Athens). Perth to Ningaloo is 1,250 km. Perth to the Kimberley border is 3,000+ km. Almost every first-time WA trip under-budgets drive time. Our recommendation: fly over the long legs — Perth to Learmonth (for Ningaloo), Perth to Broome (for the western Kimberley), Perth to Kununurra (for Purnululu and El Questro), Perth to Paraburdoo or Newman (for Karijini). Drive the short, scenic legs (Perth-Margaret River, Kalgoorlie loop, Ningaloo coast circuit). Carry 20 L water per person on any remote drive and fuel up at every station past Geraldton.
Western Australia is home to more than 60 Aboriginal language groups — the largest concentration of Aboriginal languages in Australia. Traditional Owner corporations now lead major regional planning, tourism, and cultural-heritage work across the state.
Noongar Country extends across the south-western corner of WA — from north of Jurien Bay down to the southern coast between Bremer Bay and Esperance — covering approximately 200,000 km². Archaeological evidence from Devil's Lair near Margaret River confirms continuous Noongar occupation for at least 45,000 years. The 14 Noongar dialectal groups:
The South West Native Title Settlement (finalised 2018-2021) is Australia's largest native title agreement, valued at approximately AU$1.3 billion, administered by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) through six regional corporations. Place names in common use: Boorloo (Perth CBD), Walyalup (Fremantle), Wadjemup (Rottnest), Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), Djarlgarro Beelier (Canning River), Kinjarling (Albany), Koombanup (Bunbury). The Wagyl (or Waugal) — the creator serpent — shaped Perth's waterways.
The Whadjuk Noongar seasonal calendar recognises six seasons, each approximately two months long and tied to ecological change rather than fixed calendar dates:
The six-season framework is used today by Kings Park, the WA Museum Boola Bardip, Bushland Perth councils, and Noongar educators. It is ecologically more accurate for the Perth region than the four-season European calendar.
Rottnest Island / Wadjemup is celebrated today as a quokka-filled holiday island, but its history requires acknowledgement. Wadjemup was separated from the mainland approximately 6,500 years ago as sea levels rose after the last Ice Age; prior to that, Whadjuk Noongar people used the high ground for ceremonies and meetings.
From 1838 to 1931, colonial authorities used Wadjemup as an Aboriginal prison and forced-labour camp. Approximately 4,000 Aboriginal men and boys were forcibly transported from across Western Australia — Noongar Country, the Kimberley, the Pilbara, the Goldfields, and the desert interior — to be imprisoned on the island. Many were convicted of offences in a language and legal system they did not understand; many had been defending their Country from colonial encroachment. At least 373 Aboriginal prisoners died at Wadjemup, buried in unmarked graves in at least two areas north of the Quod (the former prison building). Wadjemup holds the largest known deaths-in-custody burial site in Australia.
The Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground is now formally recognised. The Wadjemup Museum acknowledges the history; the Wadjemup Bidi cultural walking trails weave Whadjuk perspectives throughout the island. Visitors are asked to approach Wadjemup with respect — the quokkas and beaches coexist with genuine grief. The Quod is no longer used as tourist accommodation. Sorry Business ceremonies are held annually.
On 11 July 2025, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris — the culmination of decades of advocacy by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Ngarda-Ngarli peoples.
The Cultural Landscape covers approximately 100,000 hectares, encompassing the Burrup Peninsula (formerly Dampier Island, now connected by a causeway), the 42 islands of the Dampier Archipelago, and the surrounding marine areas and submerged landscapes. It contains an estimated 1-2 million petroglyphs — rock engravings cut into the iron-rich weathered basalt boulders — representing the world's largest and densest rock-art assemblage. The engravings record more than 50,000 years of continuous cultural care; many depict species now extinct on the mainland (Tasmanian tigers, thylacines) or long since lost to regional extinction (megafauna, fat-tailed dunnarts). The engravings pre-date the pyramids of Egypt, the Stonehenge monoliths, and the oldest European cave art.
Murujuga is only the second Australian property inscribed solely on the basis of Aboriginal cultural values — the first was Budj Bim Cultural Landscape (Gunditjmara Country, Victoria) in 2019. Traditional Owners are the Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Yaburara, Mardudhunera and Woon-goo-tt-oo peoples (collectively referred to as the Ngarda-Ngarli). Visitor access is managed exclusively through Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation tours and the Ngajarli Trail (formerly Deep Gorge) boardwalk. Bookings essential.
Acknowledgement: Cooee Tours acknowledges the Noongar peoples (14 dialectal groups including Whadjuk, Wadandi, Minang, Yued, Ballardong, Binjareb, Kaneang, Pibelmen, Wiilman, Koreng, Wudjari, Njunga, Njakinjaki, Amangu) of south-western WA; the Yamatji peoples (Malgana, Yinigudura, Thalanyji, Baiyungu) of the Gascoyne and Coral Coast; the Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Yaburara, Mardudhunera, Woon-goo-tt-oo, Banyjima, Yinhawangka, Kurrama and broader Ngarda-Ngarli peoples of the Pilbara and Murujuga; the Yawuru, Bardi-Jawi, Nyikina, Bunuba, Ngarinyin, Wunambal-Gaambera, Worrorra, Miriwung-Gajerrong, Kija and Jaru peoples of the Kimberley; the Wongatha, Wongi, Ngadju, Maduwongga, Martu, Ngaanyatjarra and other desert nations — as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of what is now Western Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, and acknowledge their continuing connection to Country, culture, and language. We also acknowledge the Turrbal, Jagera, and Quandamooka peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the Brisbane region where Cooee Tours is based.
Six established Cooee Tours formats across the state's four zones. First-time visitors typically combine Perth + Margaret River (3-4 days) with one northern zone (Ningaloo 5-7 days, Kimberley 7-10 days, or Pilbara 5 days).
Two-day Perth introduction. Day 1: Kings Park panorama → Fremantle Markets + Prison → Cottesloe Beach sunset. Day 2: Fremantle ferry to Wadjemup / Rottnest — bike-hire circuit, quokkas, The Basin swim, Wadjemup Bidi cultural sites. We handle the ferry booking + bike reservation. Max 12 guests.
Three days on Wadandi Noongar Country. Day 1: drive south from Perth via Busselton. Day 2: 4 cellar doors (Vasse Felix 1967 founder, Cullen biodynamic, Leeuwin Art Series, one boutique producer) + winery lunch. Day 3: Cape-to-Cape Track section, Ngilgi Cave, Prevelly surf break, return Perth. Designated driver, max 10 guests.
Five days on the Ningaloo Coast. Fly Perth-Learmonth. Day 1: Exmouth base. Day 2: Whale Shark Swim (full day, spotter plane + marine biologist on board). Day 3: Turquoise Bay snorkel, Yardie Creek boat. Day 4: Coral Bay Manta Ray tour. Day 5: Mandu Mandu Gorge, return Perth. March-August only. Max 10 guests for the boat.
Five days across the Pilbara. Fly Perth-Paraburdoo. Days 1-3: Karijini on Banyjima Country — Dales Gorge, Weano + Hancock (spider walk), Knox Gorge, Joffre Falls. Day 4: drive to Karratha. Day 5: Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation guided tour of Ngajarli Trail petroglyphs (UNESCO 2025). Fly Karratha-Perth. April-October only. Max 10 guests.
Ten-day Kimberley crossing. Fly Perth-Broome. Day 1-2: Broome (Cable Beach, Gantheaume, Horizontal Falls seaplane). Days 3-7: Gibb River Road 4WD — Windjana Gorge + Tunnel Creek (Bunuba Country with Bungoolee Tours), Bell Gorge, El Questro (Zebedee Springs, Emma Gorge). Days 8-9: Kununurra + Lake Argyle sunset + Purnululu / Bungle Bungles scenic flight. Day 10: fly Kununurra-Perth. May-September only.
Two weeks covering the headline experiences. Days 1-2 Perth + Rottnest. Days 3-5 Margaret River. Days 6-8 Pinnacles + Monkey Mia + Kalbarri (drive north). Days 9-11 Ningaloo whale shark + Cape Range. Days 12-13 Karijini (fly from Exmouth to Paraburdoo). Day 14 return Perth. April-July ideal for combining South West + Coral Coast + Pilbara weather windows. Max 12 guests.
Getting there, the regional flight network (use it), 4WD and remote-drive safety, cyclone season, and what Perth to Broome actually takes.
Perth Airport (PER) — the major international gateway, 15 km east of Perth CBD. Direct international routes include London, Paris, Rome, Zurich, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bali, Johannesburg, Mauritius. Domestic hub for Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar, Rex. Airport to CBD: Airport Line train (~20 min to Perth CBD, A$5), Uber/Ola (~A$35-50), taxi (~A$50-65).
Regional airports (use these to skip long drives):
Driving from Adelaide — 2,700 km via the Nullarbor Plain (approx. 3 days minimum, genuinely remote drive with fuel stations 200+ km apart). The Indian Pacific train runs Adelaide-Perth (48-hour journey, one of the world's great rail experiences).
Standard 2WD is sufficient for: Perth CBD and suburbs, Margaret River, the Pinnacles (sealed access), Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Exmouth + Cape Range (sealed loop), Broome and Cable Beach.
High-clearance 4WD required for: most of Karijini (several gorge access roads), the Gibb River Road (660 km unsealed, Derby to Kununurra), Purnululu / Bungle Bungles access road (55 km unsealed from Spring Creek), Cape Leveque and the Dampier Peninsula (Yawuru/Bardi Country — most sections unsealed), Mitchell Falls, most desert routes.
Remote-drive safety rules:
Cyclone season: November to April on the WA north-west coast (Exmouth, Karratha, Broome and northwards). Major cyclones are infrequent but can be severe and shut down all travel and transport for days. The Bureau of Meteorology (bom.gov.au/cyclone) is authoritative. Avoid planning essential north-west travel in the last two weeks of March through early April without accepting the risk of cancellation.
Kimberley wet season: approximately November to April. Most unsealed roads and many national parks close. Purnululu is completely inaccessible. The Gibb River Road closes to all but essential traffic. Broome remains open but extremely humid (30°C+, 80% humidity). The dry season (May-October) is the only practical window for most Kimberley travel.
Bushfire season: Perth region and South West — December to April. Inland WA — varies by region. On days with Total Fire Ban or Catastrophic Fire Danger, do not enter remote bushland areas; avoid the Wheatbelt and Goldfields on Catastrophic days. Check emergency.wa.gov.au for current warnings.
Crocodiles: Saltwater crocodiles inhabit all water bodies north of Broome, including tidal creeks, river pools, and some Kimberley gorges. Never swim in unsigned water bodies in the Kimberley. Respect "Crocwise" signage throughout.
Perth CBD: Ritz-Carlton Perth (Elizabeth Quay), COMO The Treasury, Crown Towers Perth, QT Perth, Hyatt Regency, Parmelia Hilton. Boutique: The Melbourne Hotel, Alex Hotel.
Fremantle: Esplanade Hotel by Rydges, Be. Fremantle, Warders Hotel.
Margaret River: Cape Lodge (Luxury Lodges of Australia), Empire Retreat, Pullman Bunker Bay, The Surfpoint.
Exmouth / Ningaloo: Novotel Ningaloo Resort, Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, Exmouth Escape Resort, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef (luxury wilderness tents).
Karijini: Karijini Eco Retreat (only in-park accommodation — tented cabins), Tom Price caravan park, Karijini camping.
Broome: Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa, Ramada Eco Beach, The Pearle, Oaks Broome, Mangrove Hotel.
Kimberley: El Questro Station (Homestead + Bungalows), Emma Gorge Resort, Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge (Purnululu), Berkeley River Lodge (remote coastal), APT Wilderness Lodge (Mitchell Falls).
Kununurra: Kimberley Grande, Country Club Resort, Freshwater East Kimberley Apartments.
Booking note: Kimberley lodges and Ningaloo accommodation often fill 6-9 months ahead for dry-season (May-October) and whale-shark (March-August) peak windows.
Three circuits tuned to WA's scale — from a 7-day South West focus to a 14-day full-state traverse.
Fly PER. Kings Park panorama + sunset on Mount Eliza. Dinner Northbridge or Perth CBD.
Kings Park Botanic Garden morning walk → Perth CBD heritage + AGWA. Afternoon: Fremantle / Walyalup — Fremantle Markets (Fri-Sun), Prison (UNESCO 2010), Little Creatures Brewery, Cappuccino Strip dinner.
Ferry from Fremantle B Shed 7:30 am. Bike-hire circuit (24 km round island). Quokka spotting at the Settlement. The Basin + Parakeet Bay swimming. Wadjemup Bidi cultural trail. Return 4:30 pm ferry. Overnight Perth.
Drive north via Yanchep + Cervantes (rock lobster lunch). Pinnacles at sunset (raking light). Overnight Perth or Cervantes.
Drive south to Margaret River via Busselton. Day 5: cellar doors (Vasse Felix 1967, Cullen biodynamic, Leeuwin Art Series). Day 6: Ngilgi Cave + Cape-to-Cape walk section + Prevelly surf beach.
Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk (Walpole — 40 m walkway through 400-year-old tingle trees) or direct return to Perth via Bunbury. Depart PER.
Perth city + Kings Park. Pinnacles day trip.
Drive north. Kalbarri Skywalk (two glass-floored lookouts 100 m above the Murchison River gorge). Continue to Monkey Mia. 7:45 am ranger dolphin feeding. Hamelin Pool stromatolites + Shell Beach.
Drive to Coral Bay. Manta Ray reef tour. Snorkel Bill's Bay independently. Continue to Exmouth.
Full-day whale shark swim (pre-booked, March-August). Spotter plane + marine biologist.
Turquoise Bay snorkel. Yardie Creek boat tour (black-footed rock wallabies). Mandu Mandu Gorge walk.
Option A: Fly Learmonth-Perth, depart next day (save 2 days driving). Option B: drive to Tom Price + Karijini for 2 days (adds 4 days to the trip).
Perth city + Kings Park + Fremantle + Rottnest day.
Wadandi Noongar Country. Wine + Cape-to-Cape + Ngilgi Cave + Boranup karri forest.
Drive north via Cervantes (Pinnacles) → Geraldton → Kalbarri (gorges + Skywalk) → Monkey Mia (dolphins + stromatolites).
Coral Bay Manta → Exmouth + whale shark day → Cape Range snorkel + Yardie Creek → Mandu Mandu Gorge.
Drive Exmouth-Tom Price or fly Learmonth-Paraburdoo. Dales Gorge, Weano + Hancock spider walk, Joffre Falls. Karijini Eco Retreat.
Fly Paraburdoo-Perth. Depart PER.
Brisbane-based, 35+ years of Australian touring. ATAS accredited. WA specialists — Ningaloo whale shark operator relationships since 2001, Murujuga UNESCO 2025 Ngarda-Ngarli partnerships, Gibb River Road logistics mastered.
Tell us your dates, which zones interest you (South West, Coral Coast, Pilbara, Kimberley), and any specific bucket-list experiences. We'll come back within 1 business day with regional-flight plans, accommodation recommendations, and tour sequencing tuned to the season.
"Swimming with a 9-metre whale shark at Ningaloo was the most extraordinary hour of our lives. Cooee booked us on a boat with a marine biologist who explained everything — and the spotter plane found four sharks in one day. The reef walks from Turquoise Bay the next morning felt like a dream in comparison."
"Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation's Ngajarli Trail tour was utterly humbling — 1-2 million petroglyphs that pre-date the pyramids, just weeks after its UNESCO inscription in July 2025. Our Ngarda-Ngarli guide held space for the cultural weight of what we were seeing. Would never have found this through a generic booking site."
"Wadjemup / Rottnest was complicated in the best way — the quokka photos on the ferry over, the cycling circuit, and then the Wadjemup Bidi cultural trail where our guide explained the island's prison history from 1838 to 1931. We left with a deeper respect for the place. Glad Cooee frames it properly."
"Margaret River blew us away. Vasse Felix (the 1967 founder) and Cullen (biodynamic since 1971) back-to-back on day one, the Cape-to-Cape coastal walk at Prevelly the next morning, and a Ngilgi Cave tour that named the Wadandi ancestor spirit the cave is named after. The wine region is extraordinary; the way Cooee framed the Wadandi Country context made it more so."
"Gibb River Road 10 days was everything we'd hoped for and harder than we expected. Cooee handled the 4WD, the river crossings, the permits, and the recovery gear. Bungoolee Tours' Bunuba guide at Windjana Gorge told us about Jandamarra (1873-1897) and the Bunuba resistance — one of the best hours of our trip. El Questro's Zebedee Springs sealed it."
"Karijini's spider walk through Hancock Gorge — 3 metres above the pool, bracing between two walls of 2.5-billion-year-old banded ironstone — is the most Australian 10 minutes I've ever had. The Eco Retreat accommodation inside the park was perfect. Fly in via Paraburdoo saved two days of driving. Spot-on planning from Cooee."
Brisbane-based, 35+ years guiding Australia. Ningaloo whale sharks, Murujuga UNESCO 2025, the Kimberley, Margaret River, Karijini — the complete WA experience, planned around the seasons.