Western Australia

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Capital City: Perth

Airports: Perth (international), Exmouth, Paraburdoo, Karratha, Port Headland, Broome, Kununurra, Kalgoorlie

Climate: In the state’s tropical north the dry season (April – September) has long warm, sunny days while the wet season (October – March) is hot and humid with tropical storms. The temperate south where has a warm and sunny climate with four distinct seasons.

* Perth is the sunniest capital city in the world! with an average 8 hours per day sunshine 365 days per year.

* The highest temperature recorded in the state was 50.7 C at Eucla in the east and the lowest, -7 C at Dwellingup.

* Marble Bar in the state's north holds the world record for consecutive days of over 37.8C (100 degrees F) with 160 days.

* Western Australia also boasts the hottest place in Australia, Wyndham with an annual mean temperature of 29.1 degrees C

Western Australia Fun Facts

* Western Australia is the largest state/territory in Australia by area but with a population of 2,296,400 (2010) it is only the 4th largest by population

* Western Australia has the greatest concentration of Aboriginal art in the world at the Burrup Peninsula, Dampier. There are more than 10,000 ancient rock engravings, some dating back 10,000 years.

* Perth has the largest inner city park in the world, Kings Park, which hosts Australia's largest wild flower show and exhibition.

* Stromatolites, the world’s oldest form of living organisms can be found in Hamelin Pool, Western Australia.

* The longest stretch of straight railway line in the world ends / starts in Western Australia. One of the worlds classic rail journeys , the Indian Pacific, starts in Perth.

* Early european exploration saw Dirk Hartog land on the WA coastline in 1616. The earliest European made structure in Australia stands on the Abrolhos Islands off the Batavia Coast of Western Australia.

* The virtually untouched Ningaloo Reef stretching 260 km in length, located in the North West Cape region of Western Australia is one of the rare places on earth where you are able to walk straight from the beach on to a Coral Reef and swim with whale sharks.

* The Argyle Diamond Mine in the far north of West Australia, is the world's largest diamond mine.

Destinations & Experiences

Perth and surrounds

* Cruise the Swan River, visit Kings Park & explore vibrant Fremantle

* Bike ride or kayak around Rottnest Island and see the Quokkas

* Swim, fish and windsurf on pristine beaches such as Cottlesloe or Scarborough

Coral Coast

* Bushwalk in the stunning Kalbarri National Park

* Swim with the whale sharks on Ningaloo reef between April and June

* Feed wild bottlenose dolphins at Monkey Mia

* See Sea Lions, manta rays, dugongs and humpback whales in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area

* Four wheel drive in the Cape Range National Park

* Discover the amazing rock formations the Pinnacles in the Nambung National Park

Golden Outback

* Explore the National parks & white beaches of Esperance and the south coast

* Learn about Aboriginal history of Mount Augustus and the Kennedy Range

* Visit the geological wonder Wave Rock

* Discover unique wildlife and Goldrush history in Kalgoorlie

North West & Kimberley

* Ride a camel on Cable Beach, Broome

* Discover the wealth of ancient Aboriginal rock on the Burrup Peninsula, near Dampier

* Four wheel drive the red-dirt road from Broome along the Dampier Peninsula

* Fly over the Horizontal Waterfalls on the islands of Buccaneer Archipelago

* Explore the beehive Bungle Bungle Range

* Boat down the Ord River and Lake Argyle

* Swim in the emerald swimming holes of Karijini National Park and see spectacular red gorges and waterfalls

South West

* Visit the wineries, canoe through woolands and relax on 75 beaches in the lush Margaret River region

* Dive Southern Hemisphere’s largest accessible dive wreck – the HMAS Swan – from Dunsborough.

* See fossils, underwater lakes and straw stalactites in Mammoth, Lake and Jewel caves

* Drive through the towering Karri tree forests or walk through the treetops of giant Tingle trees (one of the world’s tallest) in the Valley of the Giants walk in Walpole.

* Snorkel with stingrays at Boranup Beach

* Swim with dolphins dolphins in Mandurah and Bunbury

* Spot whales from the towns of Augusta, Albany and Dunsborough from June to October.