Megan Gale shares her top WA travel tips

The model, actress, brand ambassador, businesswoman and philanthropist on her secret spots to swim, shop, eat and stay and her favourite place in Perth to take her family while on holiday.

As a child, our family holidays were always to…

The south-west, mainly Bunbury. We stayed at the Bunbury Village caravan park, which was a heap of fun and also Lighthouse Beach Resort (now the Quality Lighthouse Hotel), which was on the beach. Busselton was also a popular spot to visit. One of my earliest holiday memories is visiting Busselton Jetty, which happens to be the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere.

Have a relaxing beach day at Cottesloe Beach. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Now, if I have time for a short break back in WA, I head straight to…

See my family. If I am only in town for a short spell, my priority is to spend as much time as possible with family and loved ones. As recent times have taught us, with the way the world is, we don’t know when we will ever be prevented from seeing our loved ones, so taking the time while you can has never been more important.

My local’s tip for visitors to my birthplace of Perth is…

To have a swim at Cottesloe Beach, a picnic in Kings Park and Botanic Garden, a stroll around Fremantle Markets and a trip over to Rottnest Island.

Fremantle Markets, WA — Strolling in Fremantle Markets is a must!

My favourite place to dine in WA is…

Bib & Tucker. The setting, the food, the service are all fantastic. My favourite dishes are the fish tacos, and the pumpkin gnocchi. The banoffee bombe Alaska for dessert is a must!

My favourite place to stay in WA is…

Crown Perth is exceptional. There are three hotels to choose from for your accommodation and an array of dining options and pools for the kids to play in. Also, it’s within close proximity to the city.

Crown Perth Aerial shot — Crown Perth is Megan Gale’s favourite place to stay in Perth.

I try to travel more consciously by…

Supporting local businesses, eating local produce and packing light. I make time to be with loved ones, while ensuring I take little moments for myself and try to be mindful of my health, wellbeing and fitness.

When I’m on the road, I’m listening to…

Such a variety of music, it’s crazy. I’ve always had mixed tastes when it comes to music – I love everything from rock to R’n’B, hip-hop music to 1970s’ funk, and chill-out tunes. I’ve created some pretty cool playlists over the years.

My last holiday read was…

Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road by Kyle Buchanan. A while back, I contributed several short passages in the book, as did most of the cast and crew of Fury Road, and I acquired a copy of the book just before my last trip away. It was good to see different perspectives of the individuals involved in this epic production.

Blood Sweat and Chrome: Mad Max Fury Road Book Cover — “It was good to see different perspectives of the individuals involved in this epic production."

My travel wardrobe always consists of…

Lots of layers. The weather can be so unpredictable these days, so I take different items that I can mix and match. As I get older I tend to travel with less clothes as the kids like to take a lot of stuff!

My carry-on is usually filled with…

Apple AirPods, my phone, a book, my wallet, snacks if I’m with the kids, and a few key beauty essentials to freshen up before landing.

My souvenir of choice is…

On my last trip I bought some beautiful hand-crafted sandalwood beads made from sustainably farmed wood sourced from Kununurra. They were from Heartwood Natural Harmony in Cottesloe.

Busselton Jetty, WA — Busselton Jetty which happens to be the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere.

My ultimate ‘best mum in the world’ tip is…

Taking the kids to Adventure World. I used to love going there as a kid and on our last visit we took them there and they had a ball.

The one place in WA that I want to visit is…

The Ningaloo Coast; I’d love to swim with the whale sharks and manta rays and see the humpback whales. I think it would be an incredible experience and it’s definitely on my bucket list.

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 .

Megan Gale shares her top WA travel tips

The model, actress, brand ambassador, businesswoman and philanthropist on her secret spots to swim, shop, eat and stay and her favourite place in Perth to take her family while on holiday.

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