10 Great Places to Visit in Western Australia

Western Australia has so much to offer, yet many people don’t think to visit this vast and beautiful state.

It has some of the best beaches, wine and formations in the world. If you plan on heading there, then add to your list these 10 wonderful places to visit in Western Australia.

1. Ngilgi Cave Tour

Located in Yallingup near Margaret River is the Ngilgi Cave. Go down into the bowels of the earth to see this amazing cave system. These caves are located beneath the limestone ridge where you will see amazing crystal formations via candlelight.

There is an aboriginal legend tied to the caves as there was a battle between a good and bad spirit.

2. Fremantle Prison Tour

The dark history of a place sparks the interest of tourists and Fremantle Prison has so much to offer with its inescapable past and horrific history.

The Fremantle Prison was built by its convicts in the 1850s. For 136 years, it was used as a place of incarceration but it has now been decommissioned as an operating maximum security jail starting in 1991.

Now, Fremantle Prison has a range of fascinating tours perfect for adventurers who want to learn about convict and prison life, the daring escapes and the colourful characters at the largest and most intact prison in Australia, which is now considered as a World Heritage Site.

Experienced tour guides can take adventurous visitors 20 metres below the prison to explore a one-kilometre “labyrinth of tunnels by foot and by boat on an underground Tunnels Tour.” Even more adventurous ones can go into the darker side of the prison’s history at night on a spooky Torchlight Tour.

3. Western Australian Maritime Museum, Fremantle

Known as a coastal city and port, Western Australia has a rich maritime past that is now recorded and preserved in the state’s world-class museum, the Western Australian Maritime Museum.

It has different unique galleries that depict WA’s maritime relationship. Displays of leisure boats. handcrafted sailing boats and commercial pearl luggers, among others, the WA Maritime Museum is home to the best of Western Australia’s maritime history.

You can also see winning America’s Cup yacht, Australia II, an Oberon class submarine “” HMAS Ovens*, Jon Sanders’ Parry Endeavour and lots of other iconic vessels in the history of WA’s maritime industry.

4. York Motor Museum

Motoring enthusiasts need not go farther than the York Motor Museum to see jaw-dropping vehicles in the world of motoring.

At York Motor Museum, you can see the best collections of veteran, vintage, classic and racing cars in Australia, such as the Peter Briggs collection of approximately 50 vehicles. You can also see the evolution of motor transport and the quality and workmanship from each era.

Located in the heart of Avon Terrace, the main street of Western Australia’s most historic inland town, the museum also has a collection of historic posters, photographs and other motoring memorabilia for everything about motoring in Australia.

5. Visit Rottnest Island

If you want to go away from the hustle and bustle of city life,  Rottnest Island is a city escape you’ve been dreaming about. It is believed that the island was separated from the mainland 7,000 years ago and it is now the largest on the continental shelf opposite Perth.

History says that Rottnest Island got its name from the Dutch navigator Willem de Vlamingh who landed on the island in 1696 and found small marsupials called quokkas and called it rats, thus naming the island ‘rats’ nest and evolved into becoming Rottnest. Today, the island is still inhabited with quokkas which are only found in Australia.

Some of the main attractions on the island are the Rottnest Museum, the Parker Point Marine Trail and the Vlamingh Lookout. You can also walk trails, go golf, do bowling, cycling and boating on the island.

6. London Court

Offering a feel of London in Perth makes London Court one of the most visited places in Western Australia. It has a unique architectural style with a setting and atmosphere that is similar to that of Tudor England.

At its Hay Street Mall entrance, there is a replica of the Great Clock at Rouen in France. It has four knights, known as the “Tournament of Armoured Knights”, above the clock circling the window when the clock chimes every quarter of an hour.

At the St Georges Terrace entrance, it has a replica of the iconic “Big Ben” in London. Above the clock is a miniature St George doing battle with the dragon.

Visitors will awe at the marvellous and intricate designs of the buildings reminiscent of the Tudor times, but this open-roofed Court is “bathed in the glorious Western Australian sun under a vivid blue sky.”

7. Wave Rock

This mind-blowing prehistoric rock formation has put Western Australia on the map with its magnificent size and shape in the form of a wave that is about to break. The 15-metre high waves took its shape from millions and millions of years of erosion and weather changes.

Adventure seekers can climb to the top and enjoy the view of the “surrounding farmland, shiny salmon gum-forests, and the beautiful salty scrubby bush.”

You can also take a walk to Hippo’s Yawn for its fresh orchids and wildflowers, or go to the Wildlife Park for some sightseeing of Australia’s koalas, wombats, white kangaroos and beautifully coloured birds or explore the Miniature Soldier Museum and the Antique Lace Collection.

Spending time in Hyden will take you to the Humps, the King Rocks, and the Gnamma Hole. You can also see aboriginal paintings at the Bates Cave, north of Hyden.

8. Visit Kings Park

In here, you can see the lovely views of the Swan and Canning Rivers, the city skyline and the Darling Ranges to the east. You can enjoy bushland walk trails, beautiful gardens and parklands and different fun children’s discovery play areas.

Which of these great places to visit in Western Australia do you want to go first?