Wild weekend getaways in Western Australia, from Exmouth and Hyden to Rottnest Island.
Swim with whale sharks, marvel at ochre clifftops and explore surreal natural creations from outback to coast. It’s choose your own adventure in Australia’s largest state, with attractions on tap and space for days. These are the best weekend getaways in Western Australia.
Quays and quokkas in Perth and Rottnest Island
The resident quokkas of Rottnest Island/Wadjemup are reason enough to make the ferry trip from Perth/Boorloo or Fremantle. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
What? A play-filled getaway taking in Perth/Boorloo’s pristine beaches and the impossibly cute quokkas of Rottnest Island/Wadjemup.
Tell me more: Thanks to their accessibility, Perth and nearby Rottnest Island make for a rewarding weekend escape in WA. For the capital’s ultimate highlights reel, base yourself in Fremantle. From here peruse the bustling markets, whet your appetite for bayside dining, take a swim at beautiful Bathers Beach and swing by the Little Creatures Brewery for a cheeky ale. Wake up for a day trip to Rottnest Island – just a 30-minute ferry ride from Victoria Quay – where you can hire a bike, hike a section of the 45-kilometre Wadjemup Bidi and take an obligatory selfie with the island’s most famous and adorable residents: quokkas.
An awe-filled escape to Hyden
Discover the vibrant Lake Magic near Wave Rock Resort. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)
The famous Wave Rock. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
There's plenty to explore from Wave Rock Resort. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
What? Tucked into WA’s Wheatbelt region, Hyden offers a unique opportunity to discover bush living along with some of nature’s most surreal creations.
Tell me more: Located a 3.5-hour drive inland from Perth, the rural farming town of Hyden is proof that good things come in small packages. Here, visitors can marvel at the gravity-defying Wave Rock and nearby Hippo’s Yawn, the extraterrestrial colours of Lake Magic and wildflower blankets in spring – with Wave Rock Resort serving as a convenient base.
Outdoor adventures in Dwellingup
Mountain bike in Dwellingup. (Credit: Josh Cowling)
What? While it may be classified as a tiny town, Dwellingup is a big hitter when it comes to outdoor adventures.
Tell me more: Tucked in towering Jarrah forests, this pretty ‘trail town’, just a 90-minute drive south of Perth, offers world-class mountain biking and peaceful river paddling – perfect for an unplugged weekend. Explore the Murray Valley Mountain trails on two wheels, canoe or kayak the Murray River’s gentle rapids (you can hire gear from Dwellingup Adventures), then reward your efforts with a meal at the community-owned and loved ‘Dwelly Pub’.
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An indulgent trip to the Margaret River
Pair’d festival blends nature, community, good food and wine. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)
What? Head to Margaret River for Pair’d festival: four days where the region’s wine, food and music collide. Or opt to explore the scenic area on your own terms.
Tell me more: Returning 19–22 November 2026, the Pair’d program unfurls like a picnic blanket across beaches, forests and vineyards, with Pair’d Beach Club back at Meelup and the Grand Tasting at Howard Park Wines. Expect internationally acclaimed chefs cooking alongside local producers and long lunches paired with live music, plus sommelier-led pours best enjoyed under the bountiful peppermint trees.
A deep-sleep reset in a Bridgetown tiny home
Tiny Matilda offers a solar-powered farm stay. (Credit: Chad Gerber)
What? An off-grid antidote to burnout.
Tell me more:Into The Wild Escapes has partnered with Life Unhurried on The Deep Sleep Reset, landing at tiny homes across the country including Tiny Matilda, a solar-powered hideaway on a regenerative farm in Bridgetown. Guests trade iPhone alerts for native wildlife and an outdoor bath, with a restorative sleep pack including a silk eye mask, cacao blend and mindful card prompts.
A short wildlife break in Exmouth
Exmouth’s coast is home to an abundance of whale sharks, along with other marine life. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
The famed Pink Lake in WA. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
What? Whale sharks, humpbacks and turtles, all off one stretch of coast.
Tell me more: It’s whale shark season at Ningaloo Reef from March through winter, with humpbacks arriving from June. From October, turtles haul themselves up moonlit beaches to breed and nest, best watched on a guided walk from the Jurabi Turtle Centre. Then cool off after dark at one of Exmouth’s buzzy breweries or the Friday Night Markets.
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A floating hotel stay in the Kimberley
Sleep on the waters of the Kimberley at Nyawoorn, a unique pontoon hotel. (Credit: Scotty Connell)
What? The only way to sleep on water beside Kununurra.
Tell me more: Looming, rusty-red Kimberley cliffs backdrop the multi-night stays aboard Nyawoorn, a gussied-up houseboat from Kimberley Spirit that guests get the run of – without needing to drive. Anchor points along the Ord River allow you to kayak to Elephant Rock for a dawn hike, swim beside Jump Rock in the lee of ochre walls and fish for barra near a lone beach. Triple bonus: the owners fill the fridge, relocate the vessel and pop by to whisk you on local-secret excursions.
A culturally enriching visit to Albany
Visit Albany for its scenery as well as its culture, history and heritage. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)
What? This year marks 200 years since Europeans began living alongside Aboriginal people in Albany, and a year-long events program is beckoning visitors.
Tell me more: The harbourside city is reframing bicentenaries with meaningful acts of reconciliation with the local Menang Noongar people, as part of a year-long suite of events. For one exhibition, important Aboriginal artefacts and colonial drawings have been returned home for the first time. Menang people helped researchers in the 1840s to collect and paint studies of fish and reptiles, furthering the understanding of Australia’s natural world. Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country runs at the Museum of the Great Southern until February. Meanwhile, a free-entry walk with thousands of recycled lanterns representing the wagyl, or rainbow serpent, will illuminate the night on 7 November 2026.
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Fleur Bainger is a freelance travel writer and journalism mentor who has been contributing to Australian Traveller since 2009! The thrill of discovering new, hidden and surprising things is what ignites her. She gets a buzz from sharing these...
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship...
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With unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).
As the sun slowly rises over the languid waves and fine sand of Broome’s Cable Beach, the morning colours shift from rich apricot to pale gold and frosty pearl. Remnants of life reveal themselves in the subtle shadows – crab claw marks, towel impressions, footprints. Life here is unhurried, but don’t be fooled. This town is continually shifting like the desert dunes that surround it.
And with a $75 million upgrade – offering easier and more inclusive access for people of all abilities – it’s getting even better.
Discover the Cable Beach redevelopment.
The addition of comfortable and welcoming spaces has begun (and will continue). This means visitors will be able to spend longer enjoying this beautiful environment, while knowing that the upgrade will create a more environmentally protected setting that preserves the natural character visitors come for. Come sunset, soak it in all the better thanks to the already improved foreshore areas, made for lingering while the light changes. And for the kids, a new splash park and accessible dry playground will make it easy to while away the hours.
Think you know what a day at this beach is like? Think again.
Morning colours
Cable Beach comes alive after sunrise. (Credit: Tourism WA)
As the sun colours the sky, Cable Beach shows signs of life (and not just the aquatic kind). Locals and visitors alike float in the cool water as it laps the shore, landlubbers explore the coast on foot, runners pace and beachside yoga classes bring quiet movement to the day.
When the sky is blue and the sun is firmly in position, head down to the well-known Cable Beach House for a long, slow breakfast overlooking the ocean. Think fresh tropical fruit, eggs cooked your way and strong coffee in the warm morning breeze.
Afternoon adventures
Join a camel train at sunset. (Credit: C J Maddock)
When you’re ready to explore, carve a path along the Minyirr Park Trail – a gentle 1.5-2km track through coastal bushland with spectacular views of the dunes. Refuel at the nearby Spinifex Brewery for lunch with its low-key, outdoor beer garden. There’s even an outdoor playground if you’re travelling with young humans.
Walk off your lazy lunch by watching (or joining) one of the beach soccer or volleyball games, or even try Silent Beats Broome – a silent walking disco through the dunes. Or book a spot on the famous camel trains, watching the sun drop below the horizon along the way. They’re a constant reminder of the fascinating history, landscape and cultural mix in this part of the country.
Evening degustation
Stop into the Cable Beach Club. (Credit: Tourism WA)
As the day closes, watch the world-famous Cable Beach sunset from the appropriately named Sunset Grill at Cable Beach Club. This open-air terraced dining spot overlooking the beach is the kind of place where the view takes centre stage.
While you sip on a lychee, lime & lemonade mocktail or a local beer, enjoy the bustle of life and nature outside as the day comes to an end.
For dinner, nab a table at the Bali Hai Cafe, where they offer pan-fried crispy barramundi, Abrolhos Island scallops and deep-sea snow crab. When you’re ready for bed, check in to Pinctada Hotel Broome – a lush, tropical resort with palm-dotted gardens and a large, lagoon-style pool to cool off in.
Beyond the beach
Beyond the wide, open beach and never-ending sky of Cable Beach, there are many more reasons to visit North West Australia. These are just a few.
Unmatched experiences
Join Shinju Matsuri Festival’s popular Long Table Dinner. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Engage with the history of the land and its people on an Indigenous cultural tour exploring everything from the local wildlife to the tastes of bush tucker. To understand the importance of pearling to this town, take a tour of Chinatown, or head outside of town to the live pearl harvests at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, one of Australia’s oldest pearl farms.
Learn why Japanese pearlers were central to Broome’s pearling success and visit the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, where 900 Japanese pearlers were buried – a testament to the risks and rewards of this dangerous profession.
And book ahead every spring for when communal tables, freshly cooked local fare and festoon lighting fill the beach for the extremely popular Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach. It’s a highlight of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, along with the Floating Lanterns Matsuri, where you can personalise a lantern and gently release it into the sea to honour those you love.
Dining discoveries
Settle in for Matso’s famous ginger or mango beer. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Further your culinary adventure at the laid-back Sunday Sesh at Matso’s Broome Brewery. Chow down on smoked crocodile or Aussie barramundi while kicking back to a local DJ as the heat of the day fades.
For more tunes, the beautiful outdoor Bay Club at the Mangrove Hotel is a great choice for dinner with live music, DJs or an event that stretches on into the early hours. Still hungry? Pop by Johnny Sausage for Italian-influenced meals paired with impeccable wines.
Natural beauties
Experience the striking colours of Gantheaume Point. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Avoid the crowds and head to Town Beach for a quieter vantage point to see the phenomenal Staircase to the Moon – a natural illusion where the rising full moon is reflected on the tidal flats, creating a shimmering ‘staircase’ stretching up to the sky.
Just south of Cable Beach are the deep red cliffs and dramatic ocean views of Gantheaume Point, where 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen, revealed at low tide. Or head to Roebuck Bay to visit the internationally significant wetlands, where vast tidal flats are home to shorebirds and coastal fauna.
Between October and March, watch turtles nesting and hatchlings emerge from the sand. You’ll be holding your breath as they make their way down to the shoreline, ready to start their life in one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes.
