Best Weekend Breaks in WA | Australian Traveller

WA boasts more than 20,000 kilometres of coastline, so where else would you want to end the week than relaxing on some of its sandy shores? Here, the best weekends away in WA for your hit list.

Rottnest Island (Wadjemup)

A quick trip across the water to Rottnest Island is the quintessential short break from Perth, espousing the kind of timeless appeal that makes worries melt away the moment you step off the ferry for a few days of leisurely cycle rides to bays and beaches, swimming, snorkelling and quokka-spotting.

And the recent opening of a squeaky new resort expands the accommodation offering: Samphire Rottnest on Thompson Bay blends the island’s signature relaxed coastal style with a little luxury; rooms are chic, natural and understated and the spoils of lagoon-style pools, beachfront cocktails and more are just a towel’s flick away.

Also, for the first time in November, Gourmet Escape brings its fine foodie events to the island.

The new Samphire Rottnest resort on Thompson Bay.

Broome

The beguiling beach resort and pearling town of Broome, which sits pretty where red-rock Kimberley meets the turquoise Indian Ocean, is famous for its unique history and cultural diversity. And it’s perfectly proportioned for exploring in a weekend.

For a taste (read: sensory explosion) of what it’s all about, time your visit for Shinju Matsuri. The Festival of the Pearl (22 August – 5 September) marks the end of the pearl harvest season with a series of events including the Floating Lantern Matsuri, Mardi Gras, Chinatown Feast and Sunset Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach.

The Sunset Long Table Dinner at Cable Beach. (Image: Julia Rau Photography)

Margaret River Region

Known for having vineyards for days, pale sandy shores and sunshine in spades, the Margaret River is the WA weekend getaway that needs no introduction. This world-class wine region three hours’ drive south of Perth invites you to meander between its cellar doors, many with laid-back cafes or fine diners making good use of regional produce and invariably with views out to farmland, wine country and coast. Not sure where to start? Put this year’s Western Australia Gourmet Escape in your diary (17–21 November) to get a taste of it all at festival favourites such as gourmet beach barbecues.

In the vines at Vasse Felix, Margaret River. (Image: Tourism WA)

Kalbarri National Park

With two cantilevered viewing platforms that hang 100 metres mid-air above Murchison River Gorge, Kalbarri Skywalk opened in 2020 to provide jaw-dropping views of Kalbarri National Park and insight into its Aboriginal heritage through interpretive signage and artwork by local Nanda artists.

It provides another compelling reason to head to this spectacular region on the Coral Coast that also encompasses a majestic coastline, heavenly beaches, pink lakes and wildflowers that bloom into full colour and fragrance from July each year.

Kalbarri has been significantly impacted by Cyclone Seroja and the national park is closed at the time of writing, so plan your trip when the time is right to return.

Avon Valley

The picturesque Avon Valley, just an hour’s drive east of Perth and WA’s first inland settlement, is a quintessential weekend away: a patchwork of rolling hills and winding streams made for scenic country drives and ambling around historic towns like Northam, Toodyay, York and New Norcia.

Curl up by a cosy pub fireplace in winter, spot colourful murals and public artworks and rise at the crack of dawn in Northam for a hot-air balloon ride to take in the landscape.

Here in town you’ll also find the impressive Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge and the newly renovated Farmers’ Home Hotel.

hot-air balloon ride Avon Valley — Rise at the crack of dawn in Northam for a hot-air balloon ride.

Exmouth

For a dose of vitamin D and sea head to Exmouth – blessedly situated at the northern gateway to the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, where the lush and colourful underwater world of Ningaloo Reef contrasts against the rugged terrestrial landscape of Cape Range National Park.

Don’t miss the chance to explore Cape Range’s spectacular rocky gorges carved by ancient rivers and cruise, kayak or SUP down the deep canyon of Yardie Creek.

But the big-ticket attraction – swimming with whale sharks, the biggest fish in the world – is every bit as thrilling as it promises to be.

Southern Forests And Valleys

Disconnect from the stressors of urban life by spending a few days in the Southern Forests and Valleys of WA.

Base yourself at the RAC Karri Valley Resort, set on the banks of Lake Beedelup and flanked by the sky scraping karri trees the region is known for, to immerse yourself in nature.

Nourish yourself in other ways too: the region is considered a food bowl of WA where you’ll find farm-fresh epicurean treats like chestnuts, finger limes, cherries, ginseng and black truffles, and cool-climate Wines from the Pemberton and Manjimup Regions.

Perth

For a weekend of urban activities mingled with sand in the toes, look no further than Perth – a cosmopolitan capital that stacks up in the cultural stakes while remaining steadfastly laid-back.

For a taste of the former, check out hip neighbourhoods like Northbridge and Fremantle as well as brand-new WA Museum Boola Bardip – whose name means ‘many stories’ in Noongar language and which bridges striking contemporary architecture with existing heritage buildings.

And for a taste of the latter head straight for sunset cocktails at the Cottesloe Beach Hotel.

Swan Valley

Just 25 minutes from Perth, the Swan Valley is ripe for weekend exploration: packed with wineries (it’s WA’s oldest wine region), breweries and distilleries and artisans producing delicious goods like chocolate, nougat and honey, as well as artist studios and galleries to visit.

Take an Aboriginal cultural workshop led by Dale Tilbrook of the Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery; pick a trail to follow, from Fresh Seasonal Produce to Fine Wine to Cider and Ale to Sweet Temptations; or book a masterclass such as cheesemaking, and bed down for a night or two at a cute bed and breakfast, farm stay or boutique hotel.

Albany

Head to the port town of Albany, set within the Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound, for a weekend of history served up with some epic scenery.

Called Kinjarling (meaning ‘the place of the rain’) by the Menang Noongar people, this was the site of both WA’s first European settlement and the last port of call for troopships departing Australia in the First World War; visit the National Anzac Centre for an immersive experience of Anzac legend and take a Kurrah Mia cultural tour to experience the rich and ancient history of the land.

National Anzac Centre Albany — Visit the National Anzac Centre for an immersive experience of Anzac legend. (Image: National Anzac Centre).

Also check out the old whaling station at Discovery Bay, which serves as a fascinating museum, and encounter migrating humpback and southern right whales between June and August as they chart their course along the dramatic coastline here.

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .

Ultimate weekends away in WA