Perth and surrounds: gateway to year-round encounters

Best time to visit: September to April for Mediterranean weather and wildlife

Perth City / Boorloo blends city living with easy access to nature. Between September to April, you’ll enjoy warm days, colourful parks, and sparkling beaches. See western grey kangaroos grazing on Heirisson Island and dolphins leaping in the waters off Rockingham. Fremantle / Walyalup, affectionately known as ‘Freo’, is a lively port city rich with heritage, offering bustling markets and a thriving arts scene. Venture to the Swan Valley, Western Australia’s oldest wine region, for cellar-door tastings and gourmet dining just a short drive from the city centre. Swan River / Derbarl Yerrigan remains a symbol of Perth life, with black swans gliding on its calm waters and plenty of riverside spots to relax, late spring also brings Kings Park and Botanic Garden / Kaarta Koomba alive with wildflowers. For a dose of nature’s wonder, a day trip north to the Pinnacles Desert reveals striking limestone formations in an otherworldly landscape. 

Rottnest Island: the world’s happiest face and rare coastal wildlife

Best time to visit: September to April for idyllic encounters

If you love wildlife, Rottnest Island / Wadjemup is renowned as the home of the quokka, affectionately called the ‘world’s happiest animal’ and found nowhere else but Western Australia. Visitors flock here for the rare delight of spotting these curious marsupials, whose adorable nature makes them a favourite for wildlife lovers and photographers.

The island’s wildlife offering doesn’t end with quokkas. Dolphins are a common sight in the island’s sheltered bays, while sea lions and fur seals bask on the sun-warmed rocks.

The South West: cool forests, rugged coasts, and nature’s grand stage

Best time to visit: September to April for mild weather and standout wildlife moments

While the South West is known for its towering forests and world-class wineries, it’s the wildlife encounters that truly set this region apart. Offshore at Bremer Bay, the Southern Ocean comes alive from January to March as orca pods gather just beyond the coastline, offering one of Australia’s most thrilling marine experiences. Later in the year, from August to October, southern right whales arrive to calve in the region’s sheltered bays, while November and December see the gentle giants of the sea again as blue whales pass through on their annual migration. On land, Esperance / Kepa Kurl delivers one of Western Australia’s most iconic scenes at Lucky Bay, where kangaroos are often found lounging on the white sands.