|
About
the Western Australia Region
| Area: |
2,529,880
sq kms (976,787 sq miles) |
| State
Population: |
1,918,
800 |
| Capital:
|
Perth |
| Population:
|
1,316,000 |
Arguably
the largest state in the world, Western Australia
covers one-third of Australia; it is larger than Western
Europe but has a population only one-sixth that of
London. WA is renowned for its brilliant blue skies,
warm sunny climate (Perth enjoys more hours of sunshine
than any other capital city in Australia) and white
sandy beaches and relaxed lifestyle. On the west coast
you are nearer to Indonesia than to Sydney, making
Perth a viable stopover destination en route to the
rest of Australia. To the south, the nearest landmass
is Antarctica, 2600kms away.
WA is
rich in mineral wealth with iron, bauxite, nickel,
natural gas, oil, diamonds and gold, as well as boasting
many natural assets including 12,500kms of the world's
most pristine coastline. The Kimberley region in the
far north, is one of the world's oldest geological
areas with deep gorges and impressive mountains, arid
red plains and coastal sandstone rich in fossils.
In the northwest, you'll find the major attraction
of Purnululu (the Bungle Bungles), a 350-million-year-old
ancient sandstone massif covering 3000 square kms.
The Gascoyne region is home to the Ningaloo Marine
Park - WA's equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef where
the world's largest fish, the Whale Shark, comes to
feed every year. Spectacular Karijini National Park
in the Pilbara is regarded as one of the jewels of
Western Australia.
Climate
Western
Australia is so big that it extends into several different
climatic zones simultaneously! It ranges from a Mediterranean
climate in the south through to semi-arid and desert
in the centre and tropical savannah in the north.
| |
Average
Minimum |
Average
Maximum |
Description |
| Mediterranean |
10°C |
30°C |
The
summers are hot and dry and the winters are
mild and wet. |
| Semi-Arid
& Desert |
19°C |
38°C |
The
semi-arid desert area which spreads from Halls
Creek all the way to Broome is very hot and
dry in the summer with usually high temperatures.
In winter temperatures are mild, however, like
most deserts the temperature falls dramatically
at night, so don’t forget to pack some warm
clothes. |
| Tropical
Savannah |
Dry/Winter |
5°C |
32°C |
|
| Wet/Summer |
18°C |
45°C
|
Mediterranean:
The summers are hot and dry and the winters are mild
and wet. Perth is in the centre of this region and
has an average temperature of 30°C (86°F) from Dec
- Mar and 10°C (50°F) in the winter.
Semi-Arid
& Desert: The semi-arid desert area which
spreads from Halls Creek all the way to Broome is
very hot and dry in the summer (Dec - Feb) with temperatures
of 38°C (100°F) and above. In winter (Jun - Aug) temperatures
are mild, ranging from 19°C (66°F), however, like
most deserts the temperature falls dramatically at
night.
Tropical
Savannah: The Kimberley has Dry (from May-Nov)
and Green (from Dec-April) Seasons similar to the
Top End of the Northern Territory. The Dry Season
brings beautiful sunny days and cool, comfortable
nights. The Green Season brings the rain, along with
spectacular electrical storms, high humidity, rivers
and waterfalls in full flow and many flooded roads
meaning access into parts of the Kimberley is restricted.
It can also mean Tropical Cyclones! Though they usually
happen well offshore they can bring severe bursts
of wind and rain.
Required
Clothing: Dress is generally casual throughout
WA and shorts, t-shirts etc are ideal for spring and
summer in Perth and south WA, though warmer clothes
and a waterproof jacket are required in the cooler
months of March to August. North of Perth, spring
and summer are hot so wear cool clothing plus a hat
(preferably with a wide brim) to protect you from
the sun. Bring warmer clothes for the milder temperatures
and cool to cold evenings of autumn and winter.
Places
Of Interest
Lake
Argyle - is a body of water nine times the
volume of Sydney Harbour and was formed by damming
the Ord River in the Carr Boyd Range. Water from Lake
Argyle is released into Lake Kununurra, which supplies
the irrigation channels needed by 80 or so Ord River
farms.
The
Kimberley - this spectacular wilderness area
of ancient gorges covers more than 420,000 square
kilometres, an area three times the size of England,
but is home to only 25,000 people. This means that
there are fewer people per kilometre than almost any
other place on the planet.
Bungle
Bungle National Park - Known as 'Purnululu'
by the local Aborigines, and located 250kms south
of Kununurra, this park offers a remote wilderness
experience. The Bungle Bungle massif is an imposing
sight. The orange and black stripes across the beehive-like
mounds are encased in a skin of silica and lichen
and as such are very fragile.
Gibb
River Road - the rugged country this road
traverses is punctured at regular intervals by inviting
creeks, shady campsites, gorges and waterholes, many
of which we visit on tour.
El
Questro Station - more than 1,000,000 acres
in size this station or ranch was originally a cattle
station but ceased operations in 1991. It now operates
as a tourist attraction offering a truly unique outback
experience.
Tunnel
Creek - flows through a water-worn tunnel
beneath the limestone of the Napier Range forming
part of the oldest cave system in Western Australia.
Located 180kms from Derby, on tour we wade through
the creek for about 1km. You will need a torch/flashlight.
Karijini
National Park - Located 1600kms north of
Perth, Karijini is the second largest National Park
in Western Australia and one of the most spectacular
sights in the Pilbara, with its breathtaking gorges,
crystal clear rock pools and waterfalls.
Kalbarri
- the town is located in one of the state's most beautiful
National Parks and is bounded by ocean to the west
with soaring coastal cliffs and white, sandy beaches.
From July to October, the park's landscape is carpeted
by spectacular wild flowers (seasonal).
Pinnacles
- Nambung National Park is home to thousands of limestone
pillars in a sea of yellow sand, the result of thousand
of years of erosion.
Shark
Bay - this World Heritage area is home to
many, unique and rare species of flora and fauna including
approximately one tenth of the world's dugong population.
Monkey
Mia - famous for it’s friendly dolphins
with the opportunity to hand feed them in a World
Heritage listed area.
Ningaloo
Reef - is a virtually untouched barrier reef,
260km long, that protects a shallow, white sandy lagoon
of clear tropical waters making this one of the few
places where you can walk from the beach straight
onto a coral reef. The reef is made up of more than
500 species of tropical fish and 220 species of coral
and has some of the world’s best snorkel and dive
sites. The waters beyond the reef are part of the
migratory route of Humpback Whales, Dolphin and Dugongs
and the world famous Whalesharks.
Beaches
Coral
Bay - this is where Ningaloo Reef and the
land meet for spectacular fish life and easy snorkelling
and the opportunity for diving. Seasonal whale sharks
and manta ray viewing.
Shell
Beach - is 60kms long and made up of billions
of tiny white 'coquina bivalve' seashells. The deposits
are many metres deep and go right out into the calm
bay - it is easy to walk out to sea through the clear
waters for many, many metres.
Exmouth
- located right on the doorstep of Ningaloo reef,
Exmouth is the ideal place to make the most of the
great diving in the area.
Broome
- is the former pearling capital of the world (meaning
a great shopping opportunity!) and renowned for having
one of the world’s best beaches, Cable Beach. Sunset
there is often breathtaking.
Hikes
Kalbarri
National Park - explore the rugged coastal
gorges and cliffs of banded sand stone including the
spectacular scenery of Murchison River Gorge and the
highlights of Natures Window, the Loop and Z Bend
Gorge.
Karijini
National Park - has fantastic hiking trails,
including the challenging 'Miracle Mile', which lead
you deep into the gorges through waterfalls and beautiful
rock pools.
Kimberley
Gorges - We explore several of these striking
ancient gorges, hiking to beautiful waterfalls and
secluded water holes.
Bungle
Bungles (Purnululu) - We spend a full day
discovering the unique formations of this amazing
place including Echidna Chasm, the Frog Hole and Cathedral
Gorge.
Culture
Convict
History - The first group of convicts were
brought to Fremantle in 1850 and many were set to
work constructing roads and buildings in the colony.
Existing evidence of these public works include the
Fremantle Prison, the road between Perth and Albany,
Government House, the Perth Town Hall and the Meadow
Street precinct, Guildford.
Aboriginal
Rock Art - WA is home to many Aboriginal
communities and their historical influence is widespread.
There are some great examples of ancient rock art
in many areas.
Gold
Rush - The first discovery of gold in Western
Australia was at Halls Creek in the remote Kimberley
in 1885 and more discoveries followed throughout the
state. The major strikes at Coolgardie and nearby
Kalgoorlie in 1892 saw the Goldfields towns' populations
grow to 10,000 over 10 years. It was the Gold Rush
that was responsible for bringing wealth and independence
to Western Australia.
Pearling
- began in Western Australia in the 1850s at Shark
Bay, where natural pearls were found. By 1910, nearly
400 luggers and more than 3500 people were fishing
for shell in waters around Broome, then the biggest
pearling centre in the world. As the divers were mostly
Japanese, pearling virtually stopped during the Second
World War as they discreetly went home or were interned
and Broome was bombed, destroying many of the remaining
luggers.
Wildlife
Western
Australia is home to abundant native wildlife such
as kangaroos, wallabies and emus as well as varied
bird life (including Wedge-tailed Eagles) and fresh
and salt-water crocodiles. The marine paradise of
the Ningaloo Reef has visits at different times of
year from Whalesharks, Manta Rays, Humpback Whales,
Dugongs and Turtles.
Other
Activities
Exmouth
- there are many optional activities available here
including:
-
Snorkelling
Ningaloo Reef and Turquoise Bay
-
Diving
the Navy Pier and Muiron Islands
-
Hiking
in Cape Range National Park
-
Wildlife
viewing including Whale sharks, Manta Rays, Humpback
-
Whales
and Turtles (all seasonal)
-
Glass
Bottom Boat tours
-
Kayaking
on the Blue Lagoon
-
Overnight
Camel Expeditions
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