12 Western Australian locations that blew us away

Our top 12 Western Australian locations, from reef-fringed beaches to red dirt gorges — the places that made us fall hard for WA.

Ever heard the saying “West is best”? We totally stand by it!

From Tassie’s rugged west coast, to Western Adelaide (our pre-nomad home base), to the adventure-stacked state of Western Australia—we’re wild about the west. And for good reason.

Over 12 incredible months – and two epic laps of Australia, we chased down WA’s most spectacular places – the jaw-droppingly beautiful, rugged and remote…with a bit of randomness thrown in for good measure.

Here are our top 12 Western Australian destinations (in no particular order) to throw on your bucket list and enjoy.

1. Mitchell Falls

A four-tiered cascade that’s next-level beautiful and reached via the iconic Gibb River Road. This place leaves a mark long after the journey is done, with ancient landscapes, powerful energy, and a deep sense of culture.

Known as Punamii-Uunpuu to the Wunambal people, getting here’s an adventure in itself. Think the notoriously rough Kalumburu Road and unforgettable stops at the Munurru rock art sites near King Edward River.

Our top tips:

  • Many people fly over the falls — we’re stoked we walked it instead (8.6km, ~5 hrs return). Little Mertens Falls (rock art) and Mertens Gorge make the journey just as epic as the destination. If you fly, do it one way so you don’t miss the magic.
  • Spend a night or two at Munurru (King Edward River) Campground to explore the rock art sites (last 3 pics). The ‘Aboriginal Paintings at Munurru’ book is well worth grabbing to deepen your experience.
  • Mitchell Falls Campground is a great base after visiting the falls (allow 2–3 hrs slow driving from Munurru).
    If you’re towing — do yourself a favour and leave the van at Drysdale River Station (little to no cost). We swapped to our rooftop tent and skipped towing for this side mission.
  • Drop your tyre pressure, tighten your fittings, and enjoy the ride. A puncture repair kit + spares are a must.

2. Mt Toolbrunup (Stirling Range)

A hidden gem in Western Australia’s Stirling Range, and its second-highest peak! At 1,052m—just 42m shy of its famous sister Bluff Knoll—Mt Toolbrunup’s jagged summit offers uninterrupted 360-degree views.  The 4.2km return climb is steep, rocky, and exposed, with some serious scrambling, but trust us, the views are worth every step.

If you’re after all the mountain vibes without the crowds, Mt Toolbrunup is where it’s at. We’ve hiked Bluff Knoll too, but the rugged beauty, wild flowers and isolation of Toolbrunup totally won us over.

Our top tips:

  • This Grade 5 hike is best tackled in dry weather when the peak isn’t covered in cloud.
  • The steep upper scree section gets slippery when wet—avoid rainy days.
  • The climb took us around 4 hours, with a relaxed break at the summit. Bring lunch and soak in the incredible views.
  • Time your hike for spring to experience the wildflower explosion.

3. Cape Peron

No, this is not Mars. Cape Peron blew us away with its intense red earth, rugged cliffs, rolling dunes, turquoise sea and epic 4WD adventure.

The roads are rough (sports bra energy recommended) and flies are relentless, but the views are absolutely worth it.

It’s just 40km each way (from the park entry), but allow a couple of hours. At Francois Peron, the drive is half the fun – and well worth a few loose bolts.

Our top tips:

  • Fly net = essential
  • Air down at the tyre station (entry area), pack recovery gear, and keep momentum
  • 4WD only—don’t risk it in an AWD (we saw a few bogged Subarus)
  • Stop at the Artesian Hot Tub at Peron Homestead for a soak
  • Big Lagoon campground = perfect for sunset vibes and swimming
  • Towing? Don’t go past Big Lagoon turn-off (we did, accidentally, and it got hectic)
  • Monkey Mia’s nearby, so why not tie in some dolphin spotting

4. Purnululu National Park

This place is seriously epic and definitely one of WA’s top destinations. We’re stoked we braved the formidable road in to experience this World Heritage site and the iconic Bungle Bungle Range.

Best known for its towering beehive-like domes with orange and black stripes that glow in the afternoon sun, Purnululu is a must-see. We clocked up 30 km on foot exploring this incredible 360-million-year-old landscape over 2 days.

Our favourite spots (don’t miss):

  • Cathedral Gorge – Stand in awe as sunlight streams through dramatic sandstone walls.
  • Echidna Chasm – A narrow, towering slot gorge perfect for epic photos.
  • Whip Snake Gorge – Rugged, remote, and quietly spectacular — feel like you’ve discovered a secret.
  • Mini Palms Gorge – Tiny oasis of greenery tucked between rock walls, perfect for a shady break.
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Our top tips:

  • We left our van for 2 nights at Spring Creek Rest Area (500 m from the park entrance) and camped in our rooftop tent.
  • Air down your tyres and take it easy on the road in (expect ruts, rocks, and water crossings—it took us two hours each way).
  • The park is split into two parts: north and south (you’ll want a day for each).
  • We spent a night at both the southern (Walardi) and northern (Kurrajong) camps to get cracking early and beat the heat.
  • Kurrajong has a more peaceful vibe than Walardi, which tends to get busier due to proximity to The Domes.
  • Keen for a serious multi-day hike? The Grade 5 Piccaninny Gorge Trail (up to 30 km return) is calling your name.
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Explore our full three-day Purnululu National Park itinerary. 

5. Kennedy Range

If you love red dirt, vast skies and big adventure, you’ll love this hidden gem!

Kennedy Range National Park serves up an epic detour off the Coral Coast (and main touring route). We spent four days exploring and loved every minute.

Our favourite spots (don’t miss):

  • Escarpment Trail – climbs to the top of the range for magic views
  • Temple Gorge – past a pyramid-like rock formation and deep into a red gorge
  • Drapers Gorge – winds into the heart of the range to a seasonal pool
  • Honeycomb Gorge – a fascinating cliff face carved with deep rock pockets
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We also tackled the gnarly 250km Kennedy Range 4WD Loop Track — a remote circuit across ridge-tops, sandy dunes and a knee-deep crossing of the Gascoyne River. Fair to say, we were a bit nervous about tackling this one… but if you don’t go, you’ll never know… and we did, and loved it!

Our top tips:

  • Stock up on fuel, food and water at Carnarvon, or Gascoyne Junction (your last chance)
  • Don’t skip the top of the range – the best views are from the Escarpment Trail
  • Our van had a well deserved rest in Carnarvon while we explored in our RTT
  • Check road conditions before you go – the Gascoyne region can shut off quickly after rain
  • Combine with a visit to Mount Augustus (like we did) – the world’s largest monolith (two-and-a-half times the size of Uluru)

6. Wave Rock

This Wheatbelt attraction has some serious quirk factor. Standing 15m high and 100m long, this granite wall curls like a giant breaking wave in the middle of the bush. On its own, it’s impressive. But throw in a salt bath next door that makes you float like you’re in the Dead Sea… and suddenly it’s a full-blown random (and very fun) day out.

The Wave Rock Salt Bath is a 20m-wide, 6m-deep gypsum pool with wild buoyancy and claimed therapeutic perks. Think floating day beds, aqua-blue water and outback-meets-spa vibe. We visited Hyden’s iconic Wave Rock on a one-week adventure through WA’s Wheatbelt. This region punches well above its weight for delightfully random attractions.

Other Wheatbelt highlights:

  • The Corrigin Dog Cemetery – A sweet (and slightly unexpected) tribute to beloved pups, with heartfelt plaques dating back decades
  • Kulin’s Tin Horse Highway – Farm sculptures with big personality lining the road into town
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WA, you’re wonderfully weird in the best way.

7. D'Entrecasteaux National Park

This windswept place has total edge-of-the-world vibes. Soaring ancient limestone cliffs rise above a raging turquoise sea.

It’s wild, exposed and cinematic (think Lord of the Rings), with barely another footprint in sight.

Salmon Beach sits at the heart of D’Entrecasteaux, and is a wildly beautiful stretch of coastline with barely another footprint in sight.

Other D’Entrecasteaux highlights:

  • Cliff Top Walk — Explore Windy Harbour from Salmon Beach (Grade 3, 2.6 km, 2 hr return)
  • ‘The Window’ lookout — A natural limestone rock formation framing the mighty Southern Ocean
  • Coastal Survivors Walk — A trail that winds through the rugged dunes and cliffs of D’Entrecasteaux (Grade 3, 5 km return, 1–2 hr)
  • Mount Chudalup — Walk to the 187 m granite dome summit, with sweeping 360° views across forest and coastline (Grade 3, 2 km, 1 hr return)
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If you’re chasing wildly beautiful coastline, D’Entrecasteaux at Windy Harbour delivers in spades.

8. Karijini National Park

We absolutely loved this remote and rugged outback gem. Deep red gorges slice through the earth, and crystal-clear swimming holes sparkle in one of Australia’s most iconic road trip destinations.

We visited Karijini — 1,500 km north of Perth in WA’s Pilbara — on our first lap of Oz back in 2019 (note the fresh faces). And yep, we tackled it in a 2WD campervan… let’s just say there were a few hairy moments. But this place is seriously unreal.

Our favourite spots (don’t miss):

  • Joffre Gorge – Climb down ladders and rocky ledges into an amphitheatre carved by a seasonal waterfall, or keep it chill and soak up sweeping views from the lookout.
  • Oxer Lookout – Jaw-dropping views over the junction of four mighty gorges.
  • Hamersley Gorge – Famous for swirling rock formations and spa-like pools.
  • Dales Gorge – Take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of Fortescue Falls and Circular Pool.
  • Weano Gorge – Home to the iconic Handrail Pool (expect some scrambling and adrenaline).
  • Hancock Gorge – A full-blown adventure hike featuring the Spider Walk and finishing at Kermit’s Pool.
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Raw. Rugged. Absolutely unforgettable.

9. Cape Range National Park

A place where rugged red rock gorges meet sparkling turquoise waters. Cape Range National Park is home to spectacular limestone ranges and deep canyons, while nearby Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s most pristine fringing reefs.

We’ve spent almost two months exploring the reef and the range — and still can’t get enough of this place. It’s firmly in our top five destinations Australia-wide.

Our favourite spots (don’t miss):

  • Charles Knife Canyon – Follow the road to the top for next-level gorge views.
  • Osprey Bay – Swim with turtles (head out to the seagrass beds where they feed).
  • Yardie Creek Gorge – Kayak the waterway (keep your eyes peeled for rock wallabies) and hike the 2km Yardie Gorge Trail.
  • Mandu Mandu Gorge – Experience this spectacular gorge on the 3km Mandu Mandu Loop Walk.
  • Turquoise Bay – Spend the arvo soaking up its beauty and snorkelling the famous Drift Loop.
  • Lakeside Sanctuary – Escape the crowds and explore vibrant coral bommies.
  • Ningaloo Reef – Head offshore to swim with the majestic whale sharks.

10. Kalbarri National Park

Epic trails, gorges and coastline We’ve explored Kalbarri’s incredible coastline, riverways and gorges on both our laps of Oz.

It’s one of our absolute favourite places on the west coast and definitely worth a repeat visit! The lookouts are stunning — especially the Skywalk — but venture into the gorges and get some dirt on your boots and adventure under your skin.

Our favourite spots (don’t miss):

  • Skywalk – Catch sunrise from the park’s new lookout jutting over the river gorge — magical.
  • Nature’s Window – An iconic rock formation framing the Murchison River Gorge; a must for a photo.
  • Z-Bend & Ross Graham Lookouts – For breathtaking views over the cavernous gorges.
  • Four Ways Trail (6 km) – Ends at a section of the Murchison River Gorge where four gorge arms meet at a large pool teeming with wildlife.
  • Loop Walk (9 km) – A longer gorge adventure taking in multiple viewpoints along the Murchison River.
  • Coastal Section – Explore on foot, bike or by car, crumbling cliffs, rugged beaches, and rock formations like Red Bluff, Pot Alley and Eagle Gorge.
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Kalbarri itself is a ripper town with plenty on offer. Don’t miss:

  • Murchison House Station – 350,000-acre pastoral property on the Murchison River; an awesome spot to camp (book early!).
  • Local flavours – Enjoy an Indonesian feed on the foreshore from a popular local food truck, then wash it down with an ale at Finaly’s Brewing Co.

11. Millstream Chichester National Park

Millstream Chichester National Park is an absolute Pilbara gem, and the lesser-known sister of Karijini.

It’s a spectacular land of contrasts — rolling spinifex hills, towering granite escarpments and an oasis of lush waterways.

We spent three days exploring and loved its ruggedness and vastness.

Camping along the George River and tackling the Camel Trail gave us epic views and the kind of solitude you rarely find anywhere else. If you’re after raw Pilbara adventure without the crowds, Millstream Chichester is a must.

Our favourite spots (don’t miss):

  • Python Pool — Cooling off beneath this spectacular ochre cliff.
  • Jirndawurrunha Pool — Feeling zen on the banks of this sacred, lily filled waterway. Pure magic.
  • George River — Some of the best remote camping we’ve ever experienced.
  • Camel Trail — A hike with sweeping views from peaks like Mount Herbert.
  • Deep Reach Pool — Taking a dip in Deep Reach along the Fortescue River as birds flow overhead.
  • Snappy Gum — Exploring this rugged 4WD trail, which served up epic vistas and water crossings.
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Our tips if you’re heading to Millstream Chichester:

  • The park is split into two areas — one centred around the Millstream waterway and station, and the other 50km north in the rugged Chichester Range. If you can, spend a day or two in both.
  • Cruising through the range feels truly epic, so hit the rugged 4×4 track out to George River… you won’t regret it.

12. The Granites

Sunrise magic and ancient stories in WA’s heartland. Just 7 km north of Mount Magnet, The Granites is a striking escarpment rising 15 m high and stretching over several hectares. It’s home to ancient Aboriginal rock art of deep significance to the Badimia people.

We rose early to watch the soft morning light spill over its vast rock formations and breakaways, illuminating the white and orange rugged crevices. It was absolutely breathtaking — and we had the place entirely to ourselves.

A ridgeline walk atop the breakaways brought us metres from a family of wild goats and allowed us to look over the vast rugged landscape.

We visited as part of a seven-day, 1,500 km adventure through WA’s Murchison GeoRegion, an area packed with giant rock formations, breakaways, red dusty backroads, goldfields history, ghost towns, Aboriginal art, and brilliant starry skies.

Our top tips:

  • Take Mt Magnet’s dusty 37 km self-drive Tourist Trail from The Granites — See the Amphitheatre, old mining settlements, former open cut mines, and the poignant grave of an unknown mother and son.
  • Stop at Mount Magnet Museum — Three buildings of pastoral and mining memorabilia; we spent 1.5 hrs exploring.
  • Stay at the town caravan park — Green lawns underfoot (a rare sight in central WA) and a well-equipped camp kitchen.
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Other Murchison GeoRegion highlights:

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