Australia. It’s big, it’s remote and we reckon it should be on anyone’s travel destination bucket list.
We’ve been twice and yet we’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to see and do. Most international visitors head for the famed beaches and water-borne activities along the east coast. That and the big city attractions of Sydney. And there’s no doubt that if you had one chance to visit the country, the east coast would be the perfect place to go.
But there’s so much more to be discovered elsewhere. Especially wild, rugged and much less-visited Western Australia, with its miles-upon-miles of empty roads, dramatic coastline and a pure Outback experience.
And we can’t wait to go back.
BLOG POSTS
IMAGES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Western Australia – it’s big, it’s remote and we loved it
A SWAG, A DINGO & THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK
Four nights under canvas in the extraordinary Karijini National Park
SWIMMING IN A WHALE SHARK WONDERLAND
Time to check off the number one item on our bucket list
THE DAY I SWAM WITH A HUMPBACK WHALE
A moment that will be etched on my memory forever
GLAMPING ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
How to spend three nights camping on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
MEMORIES OF OUR ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN HONEYMOON
Beach, reef, rainforest, mountains and city-life in an unforgettable 25-day trip
WHERE WE’VE STAYED
MEEKATHARA
Commercial Hotel
Commercial Hotel
Nights
1
Cost
$140 per night
What that included
Room only
Rating ***
What we thought
Clean and comfortable enough as an overnight stop on the Great Northern Highway. Over-priced for what it is but adequate enough for a decent night’s sleep.
KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK
Dales Camp
Dales Camp
Nights
2
Cost
$20 per night
What that included
Unpowered camp site
Rating ***1/2
What we thought
Basic facilities (no hot showers) but a fantastic location close to Dales Gorge. Enjoy the howls of the dingoes during the night and the gazing at the stunning Milky Way.
KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK
Karijini Eco Retreat (Savannah Campground)
Savannah Campground
Nights
2
Cost
$40 per night
What that included
Unpowered camp site
Rating ****
What we thought
A step up from Dales Camp in terms of facilities (hot showers!) and price! We were lucky enough to have a pitch which looked out on to open bush, too. With a bar, restaurant and star gazing available in the on-site Eco Retreat, we could happily have spent a while longer here, particularly as there is good access to many of Karijini’s gorges from here.
YANNARIE
Emu Creek Station
Emu Creek Station
Nights
2
Cost
$25 per night
What that included
Unpowered camp site
Rating ****1/2
What we thought
We spent two glorious days here and could quite easily have spent another two. A working cattle station, it’s accessed via a 22km dirt track off the North West Coastal Highway. Our tent was pitched beside a river, surrounded by hundreds of birds, including a barking owl. That’s right, an owl which barks like a dog.
Our time there was spent just chilling beside our campfire, kayaking along the beautiful river and having dinner with the owners, Darryl and Joyce. For 25 Aussie Dollars per night, it was a steal.
EXMOUTH
Yardie Creek Homestead & Caravan Park
Yardie Creek Homestead
Nights
8
Cost
$38 per night
What that included
Powered camp site
Rating ***
What we thought
Located between Exmouth and the Cape Range National Park the site is fairly remote but still retains the feel of a traditional caravan/camping park. We would have preferred to have camped next to the beach in one of the national park sites but they were fully booked each day due to the school holidays.
HAMELIN POOL
Hamelin Station Stay
Hamelin Station Stay
Nights
3
Cost
$24 per night
What that included
Unpowered camp site
Rating *****
What we thought
Originally a sheep shearing station from the nineteenth century this wonderful place is now owned by Bush Heritage, an Australian conservation organisation, and managed by the uber-friendly husband and wife team of Jason and Shane (not two blokes as we originally thought – Shane’s the wife by the way). Immaculately maintained, with great camp kitchen facilities, this is a truly five-star campsite.
We stayed here for three nights while we visited Shark Bay National Park, but it’s also a great place to meet and talk to other travellers.
KALBARRI
Anchorage Caravan Park
Nights
2
Cost
$34 per night
What that included
Powered camp site
Rating **
What we thought
Our poorest experience of camping in WA was here – probably because we’d been spoilt elsewhere. And because the site was chock full because of the school holidays. Noisy.
IMAGES OF AUSTRALIA
GREAT NORTHERN HIGHWAY
There isn’t much to see on the 1400 km / 17-hour road journey between Perth and Karijini National Park. Except, that is, to admire the raw beauty of Australia’s iconic landscape.
KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK
Just as iconic are the huge ant hills that dot the landscape. Such as this one in Karijini National Park.
DALES GORGE
One of many memorable sights in Karijini National Park, Fortescue Fall is an easy walk from Dales Campground.
Read more at A swag, a dingo and the Australian Outback.
JOFFRE GORGE
Reaching this waterfall at Joffre Gorge involves a much tougher walk altogether – including scaling the edges of the gorge itself.
EMU CREEK STATION
With just a few pitches next to a water pool at the back of a working cattle station, and surrounded by up to 70 species of birds, this little gem is one of our favourite campsites in WA.
TURQUOISE BAY
Famed for its wild, untouched beaches there are also some in Western Australia that are firmly on the tourist map. Albeit without any of the mass development found elsewhere. Turquoise Bay is considered one of the country’s finest.
NINGALOO REEF
We were privileged to be able to swim alongside two of these magnificent creatures at Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef. It’s an expensive day out but one that’s right up there with the best experiences we’ve ever had.
Read more at Swimming in a whale shark wonderland.
KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK
The penultimate stop on our three-week round trip between Perth and Karijini National Park took us to Kalbarri and another national park full of stunning scenery. And our final evening was spent sinking a couple of beers while watching the sun go down in the company of some friendly pelicans!
MORE ON AUSTRALIA
The official site of Tourism Australia
The official tourism site for WA
Australian bloggers on their home country
The indispensable guide for budget travellers