WA wild awaits with AAT Kings

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From vineyards to forests of giant trees, dolphin-frolicked coastlines to spectacular red gorges, Western Australia defines the great outdoors. There’s nowhere better for wide open spaces, big skies and even bigger landscapes, and you can experience the grandest of natural wonders and unique experiences with AAT Kings.

AAT Kings provides the key to unlocking a Western Australian journey of a lifetime. Travel worry-free, having the logistics all taken care of (as well as the driving). Just sit back, gaze out the window, and soak up Western Australia’s incredible views at every turn.

Kangaroo at Lucky Bay Cape Le Grand National Park, part of the AAT Kings experience in Western Australia
Watch kangaroos shuffle at Lucky Bay.

Head south from Perth on a Western Wonderland or South Western Escape tour, for example, and the Margaret River Region showcases not just premium wine country but magnificently rugged coastlines too. At Cape Leeuwin, Australia’s tallest lighthouse offers windswept panoramas of wild beaches and turquoise waters.

Inland, forests loom like something from a fantasy novel; don’t miss the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, which takes you high into the canopy of the towering tingle trees. Of course, no adventure is complete without tucking into regional flavours, so you’ll also enjoy a winery lunch and tastings, sample handmade chocolates and learn about olive oil.

Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk_Image Credit Tourism Western Australia, part of the AAT Kings experience
Don’t miss the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk.

This is just the start of WA’s south-west corner. Albany sits on an extravagant harbour, is noted for whale watching, and is surrounded by national parks with spectacular rock formations. Further east, Esperance is fronted by peacock-coloured waters studded with islands; even kangaroos shuffle onto the white sand beaches to relax.

 

This is the way to travel: AAT Kings has done all the hard work, leaving you more time to simply soak up the scenery.

 

Everything in WA is big, and not just landscapes: gold rush town Kalgoorlie has its Super Pit, an open cut mine deep enough to fit a skyscraper. But nature always draws you back. Wave Rock, 15 metres high and streaked with black algae and rust-coloured iron deposits, is a must-see Aussie icon. And the drive through the Wheatbelt, studded with granite outcrops, is spectacular during wildflower season when wattles, grevillea and everlastings bloom.

Wildflowers, Western Australia, part of the AAT Kings trip
See the spectacular wildflowers.

The Coral Coast, north of Perth, is an adventurer’s delight along a highway that flirts with red rock and blue ocean. AAT Kings’ Western Wonderland and Untamed Pilbara & West Coast tours take you there. At Yanchep National Park, the landscape comes to life through the stories of Derek Nannup, who explains its significance to the Noongar people.

Further on at The Pinnacles, limestone outcrops rise from orange sand to create a spectacle of desert erosion. Kalbarri National Park flaunts rust-red gorges and sapphire-skirted coastal cliffs, and Shark Bay has gin-clear waters where dugongs, turtles and manta rays wander. At Monkey Mia you can encounter famously friendly bottlenose dolphins.

Aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk Kalbarri National Park_Image Credit Tourism Western Australia, part of the AAT Kings tour
Kalbarri National Park flaunts rust-red gorges.

Further north again, the shallow waters around Exmouth are draped in Australia’s most extensive fringing reefs. Take a cruise in a glass-bottom boat to get insider knowledge about this magnificent environment. For yet another WA experience you won’t soon forget, swim with gentle whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.

Inland lies WA’s remote Pilbara. In Karijini National Park, flamboyant red gorges are twisted through with white and purple minerals, sheltering fern-lined pools and waterfalls. Karijini Eco Resort is one of AAT Kings’ special stays, and its unique outback restaurant features traditional bush tucker ingredients for a true taste of country.

Dolphin Encounter in Western Australia, part of the AAT Kings experience
You can encounter famously friendly bottlenose dolphins.

Broome is the jewel of northern WA. Explore the charms of Chinatown, indulge in a spot of pearl shopping and admire 125-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point. Then unwind on Cable Beach, where the fabled sunset is best enjoyed with a cocktail in hand.

AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour takes you between Broome and Darwin through Australia’s most majestic and remote corner. At Geikie Gorge orange cliffs are banded with white minerals.

The Bungle Bungle Range is an amazing sight, its purple and rust-red sandstone humps rising like giant Gothic cathedrals. A scenic flight over these beehive domes, or a 4WD excursion into them, is an awe-inspiring experience far beyond the ordinary, as bold and spectacular as everything else in Western Australia.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Untamed Pilbara & West Coast

Length:

13 days

Overnights:

Broome, Port Hedland, Karijini National Park, Exmouth, Carnarvon, Monkey Mia, Geraldton and Perth.

Hand-picked destinations:

Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park, Coral Bay, Murchison River, The Pinnacles and Yanchep National Park.

Price:

From $8651 adult twin.

Find out more at AATKings.com
Vineyard Margaret River, Western Australia, part of the AAT Kings experience
Taste the great wines of the region in Margaret River

Western Wonderland

Length:

15 days

Overnights:

Perth, Wave Rock, Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Albany, Margaret River, Fremantle, Geraldton, Monkey Mia and Kalbarri.

Hand-picked destinations:

Boddington, Cape Le Grand National Park, Lucky Bay, Stirling Ranges, Cape Leeuwin, Busselton, Yanchep National Park, The Pinnacles and Shark Bay.

Price:

Was $6570, now from $6270 adult twin (save $600 per couple).

Find out more at AATKings.com
Blue Whale Artwork on Busselton Jetty_Image Credit Tourism Western Australia, part of the AAT Kings experience
Watch the blue whales from Busselton Jetty.

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insider tips, offers, and more.

The Wildflower Wanderer

Length:

7 days

Overnights:

Perth, Kalbarri, Geraldton and Perth.

Hand-picked destinations:

Dongara, Mullewa, Kalbarri National Park, The Pinnacles and Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake).

Price:

Was $3090, now from $2940 adult twin (save $300 per couple).

Find out more at AATKings.com
Aussie Icon, Wave Rock Hyden, part of the AAT Kings experience in Western Australia
The 15-metre high Wave Rock is a must-see Aussie icon.

Wonders of the Kimberley

Length:

11 days

Overnights:

Darwin, Katherine, Kununurra, El Questro, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing and Broome.

Hand-picked destinations:

East Point Military Reserve, Adelaide River War Cemetery, Nitmiluk National Park, Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, Lake Argyle, Ord River, Gibb River Road, Cockburn Ranges, Emma Gorge, Great Sandy Desert, Chamberlain Gorge and Geikie Gorge.

Price:

From $7601 adult twin.

Find out more at AATKings.com
Find out more about all 11 of AAT Kings’ Western Australian tours
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Exploring an icon: inside the massive upgrade to Broome’s famous Cable Beach

(Credit: Tourism WA)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
    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.

    Cable Beach upgrade foreshore redevelopment stage 1
    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

    car on cable beach at sunrise
    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

    camel train on cable beach in broome at sunset
    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

    server at Cable Beach Club
    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

    Shinju Matsuri Festival's popular Long Table Dinner on cable beach
    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

    Matso’s Broome Brewery
    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

    Gantheaume Point cabnle beach broome
    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.

    For more on Cable Beach and Australia’s North West, visit australiasnorthwest.com.