 Western Australia is big in every way you look at it. It covers one third of Australia - a massive 2.5 million square kilometres - and it is big when it comes to natural beauty and diversity of attractions. In one part you can go four-wheel driving on rich red dirt in the Kimberley, while in another, you can ride some of the best surf in the country on idyllic beaches. You can visit Australia's hottest town, Marble Bar, or stroll along a tree-top walk in the cool shade of towering trees.
In Perth, Australia's sunniest capital city, there are many fantastic family experiences to enjoy. Visit Adventure World, Western Australia's biggest water-based fun park. It incorporates lakes, gardens, an island castle and around 30 different rides and attractions for young and old. Spend a day at the amazing Whiteman Park, which is perhaps Australia's best park with beautiful bushland, vintage tram and train rides, camel rides, sheep shearing, a motor museum and extensive cycleways or walking tracks.
Not far away in Fremantle the whole family will love the Western Australian Maritime Museum, which is home to Australia 2, some of our earliest shipwrecks and a real submarine, with kids welcome on the guided tours! 'Freo', as the locals call it, is also the departure point for the ferries to Rottnest Island. It's a sensational day trip, with the kids sure to love searching for the cute little quokkas. The thing to do here is hire a bike (there are all sorts - some with child seats) and ride around the island.
Perhaps WA's best-known attraction is Monkey Mia, situated in the beautiful Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Visitors still come here from all over the world to hand-feed the local wild dolphins. That would certainly be something special for 'Show and Tell'! Make sure you visit Shell Beach and show the kids the oldest and largest living fossils in the world, the Hamelin Bay stromatolites.
Further north is the Pilbara, an ancient land over 2.5 billion years old. There are two absolutely beautiful national parks that will knock your socks off: the Karijini National Park which its deep gorges, waterfalls and welcoming pools, and Millstream Chichester National Park, as well as more than 10,000 Aboriginal rock carvings along the Burrup Peninsula near Dampier.
The Kimberley is remote and rugged, and although it's three times bigger than England, has a population of only 25,000. That's a lot of space for the kids to play in! The must-dos are to head into Purnululu National Park where you will be awestruck by the Bungle Bungles, visit the Broome Crocodile Park, go for a cruise on the Fitzroy River, watch a movie under the stars at Sun Pictures, or swim at magnificent Cable Beach and look for pearls!
 How do I get there?
Western Australia is accessible by road, rail, sea and air. Perth is Australia's most isolated city, so many visitors prefer to travel to Western Australia by plane. There are regular flights to Perth from all major Australian cities and from many regional locations within the State. Flights also operate to the popular town of Broome in Australia's North West from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
One of the most exciting ways to get to Western Australia is by rail. Perth is the western terminus for the legendary Indian Pacific rail service operated by Great Southern Rail. The three-day journey spans the entire continent from sea to sea, originating in Sydney and stopping at Melbourne and Adelaide along the way.
| From |
Hours |
| Melbourne |
3:25 |
| Sydney |
4:05 |
| Brisbane |
4:25 |
| Adelaide |
2:00 |
When to go, Weather
Western Australia is divided into two regions with differing climates. In the southern half of the state there are four seasons - summer, autumn, winter and spring, while in the north there are just two - the 'wet' and the 'dry'.
The northern dry season (April-September) has long days of sunshine and blue skies and is the ideal time to visit the northern tropics. Temperatures range from 24°C overnight to around 34°C during the day. The wet season (October-March) has temperatures in the mid to high 30s, high humidity and the occasional tropical storm.
The southern coastal areas of the South West region average a maximum of around 32 degrees in Summer, and 14 degrees in Winter.
Perth boasts more sunny days per year than any other Australian capital city so sunshine is usually the standard order.
| Perth |
| Average Temperature |
|
| Summer |
17 - 30°C |
| Autumn |
13 - 25°C |
| Winter |
9 – 18°C |
| Spring |
11 –25°C |
| Broome |
| Average Temperature |
|
| Wet Season (October to March) |
26 - 34°C |
| Dry Season (April to September) |
15 - 30°C |
 Where to stay
Western Australia's main tourist areas offer a wide variety of accommodation styles, from international hotels and resorts to B&Bs and family holiday parks. Regional areas will have less choice of accommodation - generally camp and caravan sites, motels and pub-style accommodation are available around the state.
A unique option for families is a farm or station stay in the farming regions of WA, where visitors can choose to relax in a rustic country retreat or get into the true outback spirit, helping out around the property and interacting with the animals.
Click here for places to stay in Western Australia.
Food and Drink
Western Australia is a gourmet paradise with a myriad of dining choices and locally-produced food and wine of the highest calibre. Sunny Perth is a wonderful location for al fresco dining and drinking, with more cafes per head than any other city in the world. There are restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, so head to the bustling centres of Perth city, Northbridge, Fremantle and Subiaco for a rich blend of cultural flavours. Local produce ranges from wonderful seafood like the famous WA rock lobsters to deliciously sweet tropical fruit from the state's north. The Swan Valley area and the South West are among Australia's top wine-making regions. In between tasting some of the country's best reds and whites you can sample locally made beers, breads, cheese and chocolates.
Shopping
Shopaholics should find that Western Australia has plenty to offer them with its range of bustling shopping centres, major retail chains, eclectic and colourful markets and exquisite arts and craft stores.
Shopping precincts around Perth are located in King Street in the city, Hay Terrace and Rokeby Road at Subiaco, Bay View Terrace and St Quentins Avenue in Claremont and Napolean Street in Cottesloe. Subiaco is host to popular indoor and outdoor markets, located either side of the railway line. The markets are open Thursday to Sunday and on public holidays and offer a variety of arts, crafts, homewares and souvenirs.
Airport
Commercial airports in Western Australia are located in Perth, Albany, Esperance, Exmouth, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha, Broome and Kununurra.
Perth International Airport is the major tourist gateway into Western Australia and Australia's fourth busiest airport. Facilities at Perth Airport include a restaurant, bar and coffee shop, gift shop, ATMs, car rental, children's playground, baby change rooms and internet and post services.
Transfers from Airport
Perth Airport is about a half an hour's drive from the centre of Perth. Taxis are available outside the domestic and international terminals 24 hours a day. All taxis are metered and a trip into the city should cost between $20 and $30. An Airport-City shuttle operates with convenient pick up points located near accommodation throughout Perth. A shuttle bus also runs between the airport and Fremantle.
 Getting around for families
Driving is the best way to get around Western Australia if you want to visit the state's more remote regions. However, there are usually long distances involved in getting between major towns and attractions so good preparation and a roadworthy, reliable vehicle are vital.
Because Western Australia is such a vast state, flying is usually the least time-consuming way of getting between major cities and also offers the chance to enjoy aerial views over the landscape. Commercial jet services operate between major centres like Albany, Esperance, Exmouth, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha, Broome, and Kununurra.
Coach and rail services are also offered between major destinations in the state.
Perth and Fremantle share a reliable and efficient public transport system and getting around is easy and convenient. The Perth metro area has a free shuttle service known as the Central Area Transit (CAT). There are also four train lines covering much of the Perth metropolitan area and around 1000 taxis operating in and around Perth.
Ferry services traverse some sections of the Swan River, and regular high-speed ferries travel from Perth, Fremantle and Hillarys to Rottnest Island.
In Broome, the Pearl Town Bus Service goes to all the city's hot spots - plus kids ride free.
What to wear
Casual, lightweight clothing is fine for much of the year in Western Australia. Hats and sunscreen are absolutely essential for any season. Bring an umbrella. You'll definitely need good raingear if you're visiting the north during the wet season.
In the south of the state, a lightweight overcoat or jacket may be needed for winter. Remember that in the desert there may be blistering heat during the day, but night-time temperatures can drop to below zero. Warm, comfortable, layered clothing is a must when visiting outback Western Australia.
HWK Travel Tips
When driving on stretches of highway in outback Australia, be aware of the huge Road Trains which transport livestock and other goods to remote areas of Australia. The general advice to motorists if you see a road train coming is to pull of the road at a distance and wait for the road train to pass. Depending on the wind direction, the cloud of dust will prevent vision and hide rocks and other debris bouncing along in the truck's wake.
Road trains can be longer than 10 cars and take longer to stop completely if you cut in front of one, so allow plenty of room before you attempt to overtake one.
 | 
