If you only had 5-7 days to visit Western Australia where would you go?

Question

Western Australia is quite often thought of as being such a large place, perhaps too large to consider it for a short break!

However, there are so many perfect short break getaway locations. If you only have 5-7 days what do you think you would do and where would you go on a 5-7 day holiday to Western Australia?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

It would be a toss-up depending on the season.

Warmer months I would go to the Margaret River Region. Tall trees, vinyards, festivals, caves, beaches, boutique accomodation, resorts - what more could you ask for?

Cooler months I would go either:

Up the coast and stop at Monkey Mia, Kalbarri and as far as Coral Bay. Coastal beauty, dolphins, whales, quad biking, lovely weather, pinnacles, window in the world. Brilliant.

Or Karrijini National Park. 5 days is a nice amount of time to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of the north-west. Inexplicable beauty, walks, swimming in natural pools, beautiful georges, amazing colours and scenery.

But you are right - there is too much to do! Perth is a great short break. Taking in the avon catchment would be a great 5 days, or the goldfields would be wonderful and very memorable too. Then you have broom :) or one of our true hidden treasures - Esperence...lucky bay is magnificent, the national park their is breathtaking, the town itself has much to offer...not sure we want to share the brilliance of that region with the world...

Many options - all stand alone as wonderful experiences - you don't need to see all WA has to offer to have a truely memorable holiday...but I bet you will be back for more after your first trip... ;)

Source(s):

Born and Bred in WA :)

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks. Many fantastic suggestions on how to enjoy Western Australia. Great knowledge on what there is to see and do across a variety of regions in the state. Everyone agrees that 5-7 days isn’t enough time to see all the great things Western Australia has to offer though.

Answer 2

Well funny you should ask, I am taking my boyfriend to Perth and beyond for an 8 day visit over Easter! He’s never been and I am really excited to take him for a day trip to Rottnest Island to hire bikes and ride around the island, do some snorkelling and stop to see the little quokkas (it is the one place in the world where this cute marsupial lives). I am also taking him to see the port city of Fremantle which has a lot of interesting history from the settlement times and a big old prison you can do a tour of. If we get time we’ll hire catamarans and go out on the Swan River – last time I did that I saw dolphins! They swam right up to us! Plus King’s Park… of course… how could you not go for a big wander in there. I think we'll manage to do almost all those things in four days.

We’re going to hire a car for four of the days and head to Margaret River – it’s only about four hours down the coast and as well as wine tasting I can’t wait to take him caving! There are some beautiful caves and the tours are really interesting. There is one cave that not many people know about that you have to abseil down into. He’s a daredevil so no doubt he’ll want to climb the Gloucester Tree in Pemberton – it used to be a fire lookout and is about 80 metres tall! You simply climb up the pegs that wind around it to the top! I’d rather do the treetop walk at Walpole – almost as high and not so scary! Hopefully we’ll have time for that too.

If we had more time I’d actually like to take him to Kalgoorlie to see the goldmines, or even up to Broome – the top end of WA is breathtakingly beautiful – the beaches stretch for miles.

I'll also be taking him to some of the big beautiful pubs in Perth in the evenings – The Left Bank in Fremantle or The Subiaco Hotel or The Queens in Mount Lawley spring to mind. I like the pubs in Perth much better than in the eastern states.

I can't wait! Can you tell how excited I am to show him around!

Answer 3

Broome
Monkey Mia - dolphins
Ningaloo Reef

Answer 4

A lot depends on when you are planning the trip for. I wouldn't be going to Broome from December to March due to the heat, humidity and cyclones. Its only for beach bums to spend much time there, but a useful place to stop off for a rest after a top end tour.

Albany is an interesting place to visit in the summer, as is Esperance. However Albany is around 5 hours and Esperance is nearer 7 or 8 hours drive from Perth.

Answer 5

I think Rottnest island for a day trip one day, Drive down to Margaret River and maybe stay overnight aroud there, see our Beautiful City, Fremantle and maybe the Swan valley, if your here in winter or Spring (go on a Sunny day though). Drive into the Perth Hills. Wander around Kings Park of course too.

Answer 6

Rottnest Island, why, because there is nobody there this time of year,excellent.

Source(s):

Myself.

Answer 7

Go see Rottnest Island, the Quokkas are sooo cute.
Have a stroll around Fremantle (Freo)
Have a meal at Hogsbreath Restaurant, Perth.
For anything further afield, I have no idea where to begin, yes WA is HUGE and beautiful!

Answer 8

As an ex WA girl, I am biased. WA is the most beautiful state. I should know, I have lived in all of the others (hubby is Defence) WA has the bluest sky, the whitest beaches, the friendliest people. This side of the country is mainly designed for tourism. I hope WA doesn't neglect their permanent residents for the almighty tourism Dollar. i can remember swimming at Bunbury before the yanks took over and told me that they bought the Dolphins to Bunbury. Treasure WA.. I know I do

Answer 9

I like Ellie 23's answer but I would adapt it to include a trip up to the Pinnacles (approx. 2.5 hours north of Perth), and also stop in the Swan Valley for a bit. The wineries there offer something a bit different to Margaret River, plus there is a few breweries and a distillery or two, and all in what is technically considered Perth suburbs.

Answer 10

I would save going to the pinnacles (a couple of limestone rocks and well thats it. Definitely Augusta and Margaret River for the wine and the chocolate factory. Get yourself on the Southwest Highway and travel along it from Perth/Serpentine all the way along it going through Bridgetown, Pemberton (climb Gloucester Tree), Walpole (Walk amongst the Giants) until you get to Denmark. Whilst in Denmark I recommend staying at the Denmark Observatory Resort lovely place.
From there along the coast to Albany and out to the Sandalwood Oil Factory about 15 minute drive out of town north on the Albany Highway. You could continue to Esperance, however I would recommend back to Perth and visit Kings Park (Perth beautiful heart).
Have a look around Perth, you could accomplish this in a day visiting London Court and having a bite at one of the many cafes or pubs, particularly in Northbridge. A great little Vietnamese restaurant there is called the Saigon on Aberdeen Street, just across from the Brass monkey Brassery, or down to Fremantle to Little Creatures (Fishing boat harbour) Brewery. A must is the tour of the historic Fremantle Prison, dare you to do the night tour! This will fill a good four or five days. From there you decide where else you want to visit, whether to the hills to Mundaring Weir or out to Serpentine Dam (make sure its sunny or if it's windy take a jumper). Mosty of all enjoy your time and relax.

Source(s):

www.fremantleprison.com.au, www.margaretriver.com, www.pembertontourist.com.au, www.walpole.org.au, www.mtromance.com.au, www.brassmonkey.com.au, www.eatingwa.com.au/tags/northbridge

Answer 11

Start and finish your stay in Perth, the capital. Great beaches, clean city and although it has to be the remotest capital in the world it has everything and the people are pretty layback. Take a day to tour up to the Pinnacles. It's a petrified forest and to be amidst of it,is a feeling unlike any on the planet. Finally, a 2 day or so trek around Margaret River and Albany, the city on the southern tip of the state.

Margaret River has the best wine in the world ! I know it is quite a claim but every year it wins gold at international competitions. Take back a few bottles of that liquid gold and impress your friends.

Answer 12

Hire a car and drive up the coast.

Answer 13

Kimberly region

Answer 14

Perth, of course, including the bell tower. AQWA, the aquarium where you walk under the water. Freo and all the markets, and then a lazy trip down south along the coast - in spring of course - all the way to Albany. Forget the north, too hot, and I don't like crocs...

Answer 15

Cable Beach?

Broome sounds v interesting

I personally have always been interested in the Batavia and would like to go the Geraldton and the Abroholos. Our history is markedly different to ther rest of Aus, it is a shame we don't know more about it

Answer 16

Geraldton and Kalbarri are beautiful, relaxed towns which are good for a week long family vacation.
Couples however should go down south. Pemberton is gorgeous and is fantastic at winter time as it has so many cozy b&b's and wineries!

Answer 17

Of course I will start in Perth and end in Perth with a driving trip along the coast, down to Fremantle and back. Guess that is all the time I will have to drive at a leisure pace!

Answer 18

Perth

Answer 19

After traveling extensively throughout Australia with kids doing distance ed, WA was a favorite and now that I am home in Queensland and have children in high school we can only do short trips and have often talked about the best way to go back and visit and have come to the conclusion that to hire a britz camper ect. we would travel from perth down through to the Margaret River over the period of a week. Freemantle offers a great time with the maritime museum, freemantle prison and quaint shops, then further down the beautiful countryside, Busselton Jetty, breweries, wineries and my favorite spot of Smith's Beach just outside of Dunsborough. There is heaps of parks for overnight stops and at Prevally Caravan Park, which is on the water from Margaret River you can even fires in the allocated fire pits. Hope this helps and have a fabulous trip

Answer 20

Wave rock, Monkey Mia, and Broome.

Answer 21

South west for 3 days, esperance, marg. river, walpole then up north for the remainder besides 1 day in perth

Answer 22

Well i live in WA and i still havent seen it all! i would love to get a 4WD and go bush bashing in the south, visit monkey mia and visit all the wineries, got to broome and karajini national park, and leasurly drive through the open roads!

Answer 23

anywhere north of carnarvon.

Answer 24

start in perth, take 1-2 days to drive down to Margaret River and sample the wineries on the way

Answer 25

Go to rottnest island and then down to rockingham to swim with the dolphins, a nice cruise along the swan river, go for some wine tasting in the swan valley wineries, take a quick trip up to geraldton for a night or two and then take in the sites of perth with a picnic at kings park and a night in the city and take a tour of the old fremantle jail.

Answer 26

i used to live in western australia, if theres any place i would go it would be balcatta.
because the people are nice, the places are beautiful
and i'll never forget the beach! LOL

Answer 27

The west. Just Love it. Spend a day in perth, every city is the same. Margeret River is the best. I don't like the wineries, but so much to see. Visit esperance, mandurah on the way.
You will have an absolute ball. Broome too far away for seven days. Relax and unwind with nature.
Check out all the itineries, it will blow your mind away.
Happy holiday.

Answer 28

geraldton ,kalbarrie shark bay ,the pinnicles

Answer 29

It is easy, King's park then out to the races at Ascot racecourse to start punting on Sydney races at about 11.00 and stay all day.

Answer 30

you should try rotness and monkey mia

Answer 31

I reckon that there are a couple of places that you should visit when in WA.
1: Mandurah (An Hour's drive south of perth..)
2: Margaret River..(A good 5 hours drive south of perth..)
3: Monkey Mia..( A day or so drive north of perth..)
4: Kalgoorlie..(A day or so drive east of perth- if you go there drop into the super pit!)
5: Kunnunurra (A three hour flight from perth.. The best mangoes are grown up there.. Make sure you go to Burra Banana's... Mmmm mmm....)
5: Rottnest Island.. (A short trip be ferry over..)