Regions in Western Australia
Esperance
Situated on the southern ocean, the main focus of this area is the beach and sea. The surrounding Recherche Archipelago consists of about 200 coastal islands and has clear water for divers and snorkellers to view the marine life. Pink Lake, which is true to its name, is also in this region.
GascoyneThe Gascoyne is commonly referred to as the 'outback coast' because it is where the red soil meets the Indian Ocean. It includes World Heritage-listed
Shark Bay, famous for the wild dolphins at
Monkey Mia, which seek human company. It is also home to the world's longest fringing reef, the Ningaloo Reef.
GoldfieldsGold mines, ghost towns, deserts, wildflowers (July to September) and the Great Australian Bight with its rugged coastline are the places of interest in the Goldfields.
KimberleyOne of the world's last great wilderness areas, the Kimberley covers 420,000 square km (about three times the size of England) yet is home to only 25,000 people. Its main attraction is the thousands of beehive-shaped mounds of the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park.
HeartlandsThis region contains two of the state's main attractions, the Pinnacles - calcified spires about 30,000 years old in Nambung National Park - and Wave Rock at Hyden.
Mid WestThe Mid West is known as the wildflower region during the flowering season of late July to early September. Kalbarri National Park also has flowering shrubs between June and November in the Eneabba and Arrowsmith River areas. This national park, which is centred on the lower reaches of the Murchison River, is known for its rugged scenery, best viewed from Hawke's Head Lookout.
PeelThis region offers excellent golfing facilities, white-water rafting along the Murray River and jarrah forests.
PilbaraThe Pilbara includes Karijini National Park - Australia's largest - which has spectacular 100m sheer-sided chasms. Off the coast is the Dampier Archipelago - 42 islands popular for fishing, diving and snorkelling. This area also has many Aboriginal rock engravings, mostly on the Burrup Peninsula.
South WestThis area includes three wine regions around the
Margaret River, as well as towering karri and jarrah forests and wildflowers in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and the famous 'Valley of the Giants' in Walpole-Nornalup National Park.
Great SouthernWildflowers, wineries and natural rock formations such as the Natural Bridge and the Tree in the Rock are the main attractions in this area.