Top attractions in Perth and West Coast Australia

Our nation's largest state, Western Australia, possesses a wide variety of attractions. Brett Atkinson and Steve Waters have selected the top 12.

A train of camels carries tourists on Cable Beach. Picture: Supplied.

THE open road, beaches, gorges, brilliant surfing, caves full of fascinating limestone formations and world-class wine and beer - it's all here in Western Australia.

Despite being very familiar with Australia's eastern states, I always find the country's far west a compellingly different destination. Perth's pride at being the world's most-remote capital is reflected in the verve and independence of the locals, and I love exploring the state's emerging culinary scene.

Fremantle's historic townscape - and excellent pubs serving great craft beer - is worth multiple leisurely explorations, and the state's combination of the Outback's red-dirt expanses and cliff-studded coastline is truly like nowhere else I've been.

PERTH AND WEST COAST AUSTRALIA'S TOP 12

1. Ningaloo Marine Park

Swim alongside whale sharks, snorkel among pristine coral, surf off seldom-visited reefs and dive at one of the world's premier locations at this World Heritage-listed marine park, which sits off the North West Cape on the Coral Coast. Rivalling the Great Barrier Reef for beauty, Ningaloo has more easily accessible wonders: Shallow, turquoise lagoons are entered straight from the beach for excellent snorkelling. Development is very low-key, so be prepared to camp, or take day trips from the access towns of Exmouth and Coral Bay.

Snorkelling in Turquoise Bay, near Exmouth. Picture: Supplied.

2. Margaret River wine region

The joy of drifting from winery to winery along country roads shaded by gum trees is just one of the delights of Australia's beautiful wine region. Right on its doorstep are the white sands of Geographe Bay, and even closer to the vines are the world-famous surf breaks of Yallingup and Margaret River Mouth. And then there are the caves, subterranean palaces of limestone, scattered along the main wine-tasting route. Sup, swim, surf, descend, the only difficulty is picking the order.

3. Shark Bay, Monkey Mia

The aquamarine waters of World Heritage-listed Shark Bay teem with an incredible diversity of marine life, from Monkey Mia's world-famous dolphins to Hamelin Pool's ancient stromatolites. Enjoy simple coastal camping, while indigenous cultural tours explain how to care for and understand the country. Explore remote Edel Land, with its towering limestone cliffs, cross over to historically rich Dirk Hartog Island or relax, lie back and sail after the elusive, sea-grass-munching dugong.

4. Pinnacles Desert

Scattered among Nambung National Park's dunes, thousands of ghostly limestone pillars rise like a petrified alien army. One of the West's most bizarre landscapes, The Pinnacles attract thousands of visitors. It's an easy day trip from Perth, but an overnight stay in nearby Cervantes allows for multiple visits to the site.

5. Perth and Fremantle

Perth has sophisticated restaurants showcasing modern Australian cuisine, while chic cocktail bars bubble away in unlikely laneways and restored heritage buildings. In contrast to the flashy face that Perth presents to the river, charmingly grungy inner suburbs echo with the hum of guitars and turntables, and the sizzle of woks. Downstream, the port of Fremantle has a pub on just about every corner.

6. Karijini National Park

Hidden deep in the heart of the Pilbara, the shady pools and plunging waterfalls of Karijini offer cool respite from the oppressive heat of the surrounding ironstone country. Explore the open gorges or book an adventure trip where you can abseil, swim, dive, and paddle through waterworn passages. Up top, witness the spring transformation as wildflowers carpet the plains, and get some altitude on the state's highest peaks, including Mt Bruce (1235m).

7. Broome

When that crimson sun sinks slowly behind a conga-line of camels into the Indian Ocean at Cable Beach, you'll realise there's no other place like it in the world. Broome is a melting pot of travellers, and you'll find everything you need in the backstreets, bars and markets.

A train of camels carries tourists on Cable Beach. Picture: Supplied.

8. Water Adventures

If you can't catch a wave on WA's 12,000km of coastline, mate, you're doing it wrong. In which case, head straight to one of Perth's surf schools and leave Margaret River and Gnaraloo to the pros, where breaks with nicknames such as "suicides" and "tombstones" beckon the fearless. Diving and snorkelling are excellent in many spots.

9. Bushwalking

WA has 96 national parks, not counting dozens of other nature reserves and regional parks. These special places offer many waymarked trails, and camp in isolated spots. The Bibbulmun Track (bibbulmuntrack.org.au) starts on the outskirts of Perth and heads nearly 1000km to Albany on the south coast. At Valley of the Giants take a walk on the 40m-high Tree Top Walk.

One of Western Australia's coastal boardwalks. Picture: Supplied.

10. Gibb River Road

Launch yourself into Australia's last frontier on a wild drive down this old cattle road into the heart of the Kimberley. This is not for the faint-hearted; you'll need a serious 4WD, good planning and plenty of fuel, spares, food and water. Bring big doses of self-reliance and humour. The rewards are fantastic gorges, hidden waterholes, incredible rock art and amazing wildlife.

11. Wildlife

Welcome to a menagerie of species: woylies, endangered numbats, bilbies and boodies in the Dryandra Woodland, quokkas on Rottnest Island, crocodiles in Windjana Gorge National Park, migratory birds at Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, red-tailed tropical birds of the southwest coast, dolphins at Monkey Mia and whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef.

12. Indigenous Art

The culture and spirit of indigenous WA infuses this land. In Perth and Fremantle, visit Indigenart and Japingka galleries; in the Kimberley, visit Short Street Gallery, before looking back across the eons at Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock-art sites. Near Wave Rock to the south, visit the 450 stencils and hand prints of the nearby Mulkas Cave.

This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet Perth &West Coast Australia (7th Edition) by Brett Atkinson &Steve Waters © Lonely Planet 2013. Published this month, RRP: $34.99.