WESTERN AUSTRALIA


PLAY IN WA STAY AND


Western Australia’s up-and-coming cities and untouched beaches are just the start of the adventure


W


estern Australia has a well-deserved reputation for its growing cities, secluded beaches


and rugged, red-rock landscapes. From Perth’s heritage architecture and lesser-known wineries on its fringes, to white-sand beaches with aquamarine water and wildlife that is literally on the doorstep, it’s hard not to fall in love with Australia’s largest state.


Big hitters With direct flights from London to Perth with Qantas, this thriving city is the perfect starting point. “Perth is a beautiful, walkable city, mixing new and old. They’ve got the city vibes and the seaside, it’s an adventure playground.” says Isobel McCardie from Rock My World. A walking tour with Oh Hey WA visits iconic locations including Elizabeth Quay and the Tudor-style buildings in London Court. Just outside the city in Fremantle,


“PERTH MIXES CITY VIBES AND SEASIDE. IT’S AN ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND”


visitors can explore Fremantle Markets, which has been running since 1897, or go on a tour of Fremantle Prison, Western Australia’s only Unesco-listed building. And the locally loved Cottesloe Beach (pictured) is just a 15-minute drive from the city, promising swimming, snorkelling and dining on the beachside boulevard.


Local flavours


SWAN VALLEY WINERY CRUISE A half or full-day wine cruise with Captain Cook Cruises takes visitors on a scenic sailing to the Swan Valley, with the chance to try delicious local produce and enjoy a wine tasting at Mandoon Estate.


BUSH TUCKER TASTING Aboriginal-owned Dale Tilbrook Experiences offers visitors the chance to try local spices, herbs and nuts in a bush tucker tasting experience, sharing how they’re used by Aboriginal people in food and medicine.


AUSTRALIA 2025 7 GOLDMEDAL.CO.UK


The wild side Beyond Perth, Western Australia is bursting with memorable experiences. In the Swan Valley, the Vines Resort is home to both elegant accommodation and hundreds of kangaroos, which guests can spot on a safari around the grounds. In Rockingham, Perth Wildlife Encounters takes guests on an unforgettable wild dolphin adventure. “Swimming with dolphins was my highlight – we all got to swim with them and it was heaps of fun,” says AH Escapes’ Andy Holbrook. Wearing a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, guests will have up-close encounters as dozens of dolphins swim, splash and play in the water around them. And off the coast on Rottnest Island (also known as Wadjemup), visitors can zip around with Segway Tours WA, passing deserted beaches and historic military sites while taking photos of the island’s cute and smiley quokkas.


PICTURES: Jesse Lindemann; Manuel Freudenmann; Gold Medal; Tourism Western Australia/Base Imagery


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