Western Australia is a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, located in western Australia. It covers 1/3 of the total area of Australia and is the largest state in Australia, with rich and diverse landscapes from south to north.
Even in Australia, Western Australia is considered a niche destination. Chinese tourists’ impression of Australia is mostly limited to popular areas such as Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, etc. They know very little about Western Australia. However, even compared to other popular areas in Australia, Western Australia’s tourism resources are not inferior at all. As the place with the best natural environment in the whole of Australia, Western Australia has many niche experiences that other places cannot match.
Flight Information
Taking a flight to Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is almost a must for traveling to Western Australia. Currently, only Guangzhou in mainland China has direct flights to Perth. There are flights every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The flight number for the outbound flight is CZ319, with a flight time of 14:20-22:25. There are direct flights from Perth to Guangzhou every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at midnight, with flight number CZ320 and a flight time of 00:25-08:25. Besides Guangzhou, if you are departing from other places in China, you will have to transfer flights (transfer destinations: Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, etc.).
Local Transportation
Except for the Perth metropolitan area, there are very few public transport options between other cities and towns. It is recommended to drive or hire a car in Western Australia. If you are driving yourself, you can rent a car with a Chinese driver’s license and an English translation. But the regulations and procedures for driver’s license notarization are rather unclear. In theory, Chinese driver’s licenses must be translated by someone with NAATI qualifications before they can be used in Australia. But many people have successfully rented cars using their own translations. However, if you encounter a police check, this kind of translation will not work. So it’s better to spend a little more money to get it properly translated.
The driving direction in Australia is right-hand drive, which is the opposite of China. Moreover, due to the excellent ecological environment in Australia, most areas of Western Australia are far away from cities, and wild animals often cross the road (kangaroos, emus, wild rabbits, hedgehogs, etc.), especially when driving at night, it is very easy to have accidents. So when renting a car, be sure to buy full insurance. If you are not an experienced driver, it is best not to drive in Western Australia.
Regarding WIFI, most restaurants and hotels in Western Australia do not offer free WIFI. If you are staying in a homestay, some homestays with better conditions will have free WIFI, but some budget homestays will not have it. So be sure to buy a SIM card that can connect to the internet in Western Australia. You don’t need to buy it locally, you can find many options on Taobao in China.
Mobile communication in Western Australia is not as developed as in eastern Australia. There are often no signals in the depths of national parks and wilderness areas far from towns. Therefore, choosing the right SIM card is very important when traveling in Western Australia. There are three major telecom companies in Australia. Telstra is the largest telecom company in Australia, with wide network coverage and good signal strength, but it is slightly more expensive. It is highly recommended to use it in Western Australia, as its signal is much stronger than other SIM cards in remote areas. Optus is the second largest telecom company in Australia, with very good value for money. Its signal is good in cities and towns, but it is weaker in remote areas. The third one is Vodafone. Please note, if you are planning to travel to Western Australia, especially if you are planning to drive north from Geraldton to more remote areas, do not choose Vodafone, otherwise you may be cut off from the world for a long time.
Australian currency is the Australian dollar. Currently, the exchange rate for the Australian dollar to the Chinese yuan is about 4.9:1. Large banks in China can provide services for exchanging the Chinese yuan to the Australian dollar, but most of them require an appointment in advance. There are also many exchange shops at major airports, railway stations, commercial areas and attractions in Australia, but the exchange rate at exchange shops is not ideal, it is better to withdraw money directly from ATMs. Except for the capital city of Perth, there are very few ATMs that accept UnionPay cards in Western Australia. So it is recommended to bring VISA or MASTER cards. Most places in Western Australia accept credit card payments, so you don’t need to carry too much cash.
The power voltage in Australia is 240V. The three-pin plugs from China can be used directly in Australia, but two-pin plugs cannot be used in Australia because the two pins of Australian two-pin plugs are not parallel like in China. Therefore, you only need to bring a three-pin plug adapter from China to perfectly solve the problem of electricity usage in Australia, or you can bring a universal converter plug.
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are completely opposite to China. Summer is from December to February of the following year, autumn is from March to May, winter is from June to August, and spring is from September to November. The summer in Western Australia can be very hot, with temperatures in the north exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The south is relatively cooler. You need to prepare for sun protection when traveling in summer. The recommended travel time is from September to May of the following year, avoiding the winter.
About some special travel seasons:
Pink Lake: Avoid the rainy season from June to August, other times are fine. In the dry season from January to February, it is recommended to take a plane tour.
Wildflower season: Late August to early October, mainly in September.
Jacaranda: Early November to mid-to-late November.
Sea fishing: All year round.
Crab season: Mid-to-late December to February and March of the following year.
Perth – Kings Park Sunset
Perth is the capital of Western Australia and the fourth largest city in Australia. It is basically a must-visit for traveling to Western Australia. Since Perth is very far away from other major cities in Australia, it is also known as “the most isolated city in the world”. However, because of its excellent natural environment and climate, Perth is also one of the most livable cities in the world.
Kings Park is the favorite daily leisure place for people in Perth. It is located on the west side of Perth’s city center, next to the University of Western Australia, and is also the largest urban park in the Southern Hemisphere. Due to the high terrain of Kings Park, it is also the best viewing spot in Perth’s city center. From the viewing platform of Kings Park, you can overlook the panoramic view of Perth and Swan River. Watching the stunning sunset and the night scene of lights coming on in Western Australia from here is one of the most wonderful travel experiences in Perth.
There are picnic areas and small amusement facilities everywhere in Kings Park. Behind the highest viewing platform is a huge lawn. Every day when the sun shines, many residents and tourists from Perth gather here. Having a picnic and sunbathing on this lawn is a unique experience. Wildflowers are the hallmark of Western Australia. Kings Park during the wildflower season is the most popular place in Perth. Perth’s wildflower season starts from late August and ends at the latest in early October, reaching its peak in September. During the wildflower festival in Perth, the botanical garden in Kings Park will turn into a sea of flowers in various colors.
Hutt Lagoon – Capture the Pink Girl’s Heart
Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake is the biggest gimmick and calling card in Western Australia. It is located about an hour’s drive north of Geraldton, the second largest city in Western Australia. Due to the very high salt content of the lake water, the Dunaliella salina algae in the lake water will produce abundant beta-carotene under the conditions of high salinity and sunlight, which makes the water of Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake pink all year round. There is a salt field next to the Pink Lake, which has opened up many rectangular salt ponds. The color of these salt ponds is deeper than other areas of the Pink Lake. It is very beautiful to take aerial photos of the salt ponds with a drone.
(Image from foreign photographer: Scott McCook)
The beauty of the Pink Lake is closely related to the weather. When the sun is shining brightly, the pink here is very eye-catching. But when the weather is bad and the sky is cloudy, although you can still see the pink, it feels gray overall and the visual effect is greatly reduced. So it is best to avoid the rainy season in Western Australia from June to August. From January to February is the dry season of Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake. During this time, the lake water is still pink, but the water level has decreased a lot, and there will be a white salt layer area on the bank of the lake.
In addition to land tours, there are also small airplane tours from Geraldton to view the Pink Lake from the air, which is a great experience when the weather is good. You can admire the magnificent blue coastline and the Pink Lake on the other side of the coast from high in the sky. But when the weather is bad, not only the Pink Lake looks bad, but also if you encounter strong wind and rain, the bumps during the flight will make your flight experience very unpleasant.
Rottnest Island – Island Cycling & Photo with the Internet Celebrity
Rottnest Island is an offshore island located near Perth. It is also the most popular short-distance holiday destination for local people in Perth. Local people have special feelings for Rottnest Island. In summer, many local families will take a weekend trip to Rottnest Island for a day or two.
Most people choose to take a boat from Northport Wharf or B-shed Wharf in Perth. Once you arrive at the island, you can choose to take a hop-on, hop-off island bus for a tour of the island, or you can rent a mountain bike for an off-road cycling tour of the island. If you are cycling the whole island, it will take about 4-5 hours, and it requires a certain amount of physical strength. Many people choose to cycle to certain destinations instead of actually cycling the whole island.
Beach vacation and snorkeling are the eternal themes of Rottnest Island. Rottnest Island has 63 beaches, which are ideal places for various water sports. The Basin Beach on the northeast corner of Rottnest Island is the most popular beach on the island because it is very close to the wharf, only a 10-minute bike ride away. The water here is very clear, making it especially suitable for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and other water activities. In addition, this is the only beach on the entire island that has shower facilities and public shelters on the shore, which allows travelers to wash off the seawater from their bodies after swimming, preventing it from drying and leaving salt grains on their bodies. Public shelters also provide an excellent resting place for many people who do not bring their own umbrellas.
Another star player on Rottnest Island is the local species – the quokka. Due to its cute appearance and excellent camera sense, the quokka has long been an Instagram celebrity. Many people come to Rottnest Island to see it in person and take a photo with it.
Although many photos of it are circulating on various social media platforms, taking a photo with it is not so easy. To avoid disturbing it, you need to approach it quietly from behind. And although it looks like it is smiling, it is just because it is eating something with its mouth open. From a bird’s-eye view, it looks like it is smiling. The area with the most quokkas on Rottnest Island is near the town by the wharf. There are some restaurants in the town, which is also the quokka’s favorite place to go shopping. But please note that visitors are not allowed to feed the quokkas!
Lancelin Sand Dunes – Be a Cool Sandboarding Teenager
The Lancelin Sand Dunes are located about two hours north of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. If you drive along this road, you can actually see large and small white sand dunes along the way. The Lancelin Sand Dunes are one of the larger sand dunes that are open to the public. There are some desert-themed activities you can choose from at the Lancelin Sand Dunes. After climbing to the top of this sand dune with a slope of nearly 60 degrees, you can find that this area is actually located by the coast, basically half sea and half desert. Sliding down the sand dune from the top on a sandboard is a very exciting and interesting activity. It feels like snowboarding in the tropics. If you want to experience sandboarding, you need to rent a sandboard and wax at the store in Lancelin town before entering the sand dune area. Before sandboarding, you need to apply wax to the bottom of the sandboard to reduce friction, making it smoother to slide down.
Pinnacles Desert – Sunset and Milky Way in the Ancient Maze
The Pinnacles Desert is located in Nambung National Park north of Perth. It is named for the countless limestone rock pillars that stand in the flat desert. The Pinnacles Desert area was originally a primeval forest in ancient times, which then sank into the sea and was buried by sand and gravel. After a long period of time, this area resurfaced and became land. Through the long-term action of sunlight, rain and wind, the sand and gravel in this area gradually weathered and peeled off, forming the geological wonder of countless rock pillars standing in the desert today.
The Pinnacles Desert does not look particularly impressive when the sun is shining directly in the daytime. Moreover, the Pinnacles Desert is very hot during the day, and the sun is very strong, which can easily make people feel tired and think that this attraction is not worth seeing. But in the evening, the setting sun and the Pinnacles Desert will have a wonderful chemical reaction. Countless rock pillars cast long shadows in the slanted sunset, dyeing the entire desert orange-yellow.
If you go during the beginning or end of the lunar month, don’t rush to leave the Pinnacles Desert after admiring the sunset. The vast starry sky here will open your eyes. The Pinnacles Desert has always been a favorite among starry sky photographers in Western Australia. It not only has a wide view, but the countless strange and huge rocks also provide excellent foregrounds for starry sky photography.
(Image from foreign photographer: Michael Goh)
Cervantes – Eat Lobster at the Lobster Shack
Cervantes is a small town located near the Pinnacles Desert. It is famous for its Lobster Shack. The Lobster Shack is located by the coast, with many lobster fishing boats docked by the shore. Because there is a restaurant in the Lobster Shack that specializes in making and serving lobster dishes, it is often used by tourists as a place to stop for lunch and rest.
The lobsters in Western Australia have some unique characteristics. They have no huge claws, and their flesh is very tender. No matter how big the lobster is, its flesh will not be tough. The lobster dishes at the Lobster Shack are relatively simple. The main dish is grilled lobster. The most basic set meal is half a grilled lobster with salad and fries. In recent years, due to the increase in Chinese tourists and group tourists, in order to meet the tastes of some people who are not accustomed to Western cuisine, they have specially launched a set meal of half a grilled lobster with fried rice. They also serve lobster burgers, lobster sandwiches and other seafood. Overall, the options are not rich, but the lobster is worth trying. The price is also cheaper than seafood markets in cities, especially big cities.
In addition to eating lobster, the Lobster Shack also offers paid tours of the lobster factory. Although this tour is a paid item, the staff here are clearly not very enthusiastic about it. After entering the factory, you will first go to a small dark room to watch a 5-minute video about the history of lobster fishing in Western Australia. Then each person will be given a multilingual tour guide, and you will go to a designated location to operate according to the instructions and listen to the explanation on the tour guide.
However, the entire tour takes place on a walkway in mid-air inside the lobster factory. There are no staff to accompany you. You cannot get a close look at the lobster production line, nor can you catch a lobster with your own hands or take a photo with a lobster. It is a rather pointless activity.
Yanchep National Park – Encounter National Treasures Kangaroos and Koalas
Yanchep National Park is located about an hour’s drive north of Perth. As you go further north, the natural scenery in Western Australia becomes closer to the wilderness. In this area of Yanchep National Park, you can still see lush forests. And Yanchep National Park is also a gathering place for kangaroos. Every morning and evening, kangaroos play around the park.
This is also the only place in Western Australia where you can see koalas. Because Western Australia does not have the species of eucalyptus trees that koalas rely on for survival, there were originally no koalas in Western Australia. The koalas in Yanchep National Park are actually only semi-wild. They were transported from eastern Australia and eucalyptus trees that koalas like to eat were planted in the koala enclosure. As super lazy patients, koalas spend their days sleeping and eating. They sleep for 18-20 hours every day, so most of the time we can admire their different soul-stirring sleeping postures.
The dense jungle and large wetland in Yanchep National Park are a paradise for animals. In addition to kangaroos and koalas, there are also many birds, such as the Australian white ibis, the cormorant, and a large flock of black cockatoos, which are all permanent residents here.
Shark Bay – Swim with Dolphins
Shark Bay is located in the northern region of Western Australia. It takes about 5-6 hours to drive there from Geraldton. Due to its remote location, there are very few tourists here on weekdays, but it is a very popular holiday destination for Australians. The entire Shark Bay area has been listed as a World Heritage Site, with an extremely unique natural landscape and wild experiences. Monkey Mia is the most popular star area in Shark Bay, mainly because dolphins come to play on the beach of the Monkey Mia resort every morning. The resort will provide dolphin conservation explanations every morning and select some guests to participate in feeding the dolphins. Usually, families with young children are more likely to be selected. During the activity, visitors will listen to the staff’s explanation on the shore, and during the feeding of the dolphins, everyone can walk into the shallow water where the water reaches their knees and interact with the dolphins.
Shell Beach is also a very worthwhile place to visit in Shark Bay. The long beach is entirely made up of various shells. The seawater here is very clear, and the seawater near the shore is very shallow, so you can walk far into the sea. It is also a place where it is best to go early. The original Shell Beach was full of complete shells. It may be a bit uncomfortable to walk on it barefoot. As more tourists arrive, the shells on Shell Beach have been crushed more and more.
Such a niche Western Australia, known as the most isolated state in Australia, has a wealth of beautiful scenery but is unappreciated. However, with the rise of the domestic tourism industry, it is expected that Western Australia will soon become the next popular destination. Before the tourist army arrives, hurry up and experience a primitive and romantic Western Australia.
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