10 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In Western Australia

One of the most magical parts of travel is stumbling upon a character-filled main street that reveals the everyday rhythm of a town, and makes you feel like you’ve uncovered a secret. In Western Australia, that might be beer and pizza along Fremantle’s Cappuccino Strip, a sweet little grocer in Narrogin with tantalising treats for a picnic in Dryandra Woodland, or a strand of pearls catching the light in a Broome showroom. And in York, it’s the kind of view that rewards the climb; head up to Wongborel/Mount Brown and watch the landscape spill out across town in the most satisfying way.

Here’s your inside scoop: a closer look at 10 picture-perfect main streets in Western Australia to help make your next road trip one to remember.

Fremantle

The aroma of fresh-brewed coffee and roasting beans drifts along Fremantle’s South Terrace, leading to a little slice of the main street known as Cappuccino Strip. Café culture is alive and well in Freo, where locals have turned “barista-ing” into an art form and traditional coffee making has been passed down for three generations at Gino’s Café. Born out of the search for a quality cup of coffee, Gino’s is now considered the gateway to the strip where you can grab a front-row seat to people-watch on the patio, sip Gino’s custom blend of coffees, or tuck into plates of authentic Italian with a glass of Aussie wine. Coffee is not the only thing brewing on South Terrace. Beerpourium serves up Australian craft beer and wood-fired pizzas with premium seating on the balcony overlooking the action.

Quieter spots along the main street, like the art space for hire at Earlywork Gallery, allow you to take your time considering the works of established and emerging talent exploring different mediums and stylings. Discover the heart of town culture at the Bathers Beach Art Precinct to visit the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where art, music, and film unravel the traditions and culture of the First Australians, catch a live band and have a drink at Kidogo Arthouse, and explore the art studios at The J Shed.

Kalgoorlie

In the heart of the Golden Outback, Kalgoorlie’s main street is anchored by a statue of prospector Paddy Hannan, while more than 60 murals turn the surrounding walls and shop windows into an open-air gallery. Additionally, the town’s gold rush legacy lives on in the historic buildings of the Museum of the Goldfields, where an authentic miner’s cottage contrasts sharply with the opulence of the De Bernales Building’s former offices and boardroom.

Cool off with drinks at the Kalgoorlie Hotel’s Beer Garden or grab a seat on the balcony overlooking the town hall. Get all togged up and try your luck at one of the Kalgoorlie Boulder Racing Club’s race meetings as part of a 130-year tradition where the drinks, fashion, and people are almost as exciting as the races themselves.

Albany

Mountainscapes, seascapes, and streetscapes in Albany collide to create one picturesque spot to shop, eat, and discover heritage landmarks. There is a reason Albany is a popular cruise destination, with the main street a short walk from the town port, where spots like The Sugar Boy on York Street stand out with nostalgic sweets, world-sourced lollies, and multitudes of chocolates that make indulgence hard to resist. Fashionistas can while away the hours trying on the latest collections at boutiques like Yellow Bird for standout pieces to add to their already bursting wardrobes.

York Street competes with the abundance of Victorian and Federation architecture of Stirling Terrace, where elegant hotels from a bygone era still welcome guests, and little spots like The Alkoomi Cellar are ideal for lazy afternoons sampling wine or browsing the shop’s giftware and delights. Your wine experience can also provide courage to walk the same halls and grounds as notorious and not-so-notorious criminals at the Albany Convict Gaol and Museum, where the lives of convicts, prisoners, and warders offer insights into the area’s convict past.

Narrogin

Visitors headed to the expansive beauty of Dryandra Woodland should consider stopping by Narrogin's main crossroads to fill their picnic baskets with gourmet fare at Narrogin Fruit Market. The spectacular open eucalypt woodland trails, graceful white-barked wandoo and paperbark trees, and sweeping views of the surrounding farmland from Contine Hill are filled with spots to sit and enjoy the contents of your basket. The Dryandra arboretum's shady melaleucas, acacias, and sheoaks, stretching towards the sun, are equally welcoming and a popular area for those hoping to spot the elusive numbat.

If nature does not figure into your plans, you can still get plenty of fresh air by exploring the Narrogin Heritage Walk Trail in town. Choose your starting point based on your interest, or cover the entire route to discover aspects of the town’s cultural and built history with interpretive panels telling the story along the way. Rest in the secluded garden patio at Narrogin Nursery, Cafe & Gallery, for some fresh-brewed coffee, sweets, or lunch.

Geraldton

Geraldton's red brick sidewalks, charming Point Moore Lighthouse "lookalikes," and stretches of turquoise blue ocean head toward the late 1878 lighthouse set against a curve on the winding road. Sweet little eateries like Rémi French Café have bistro-style seating shaded by trees, perfect for nibbling authentic French pastries, crêpes, and sandwiches. If you are looking for something stronger to drink and more substantial to feed your appetite, Batavia Brewing is a little harder to find off the main street area, but it offers a well-rounded menu of dishes from pub fare to pizza, seafood, and steaks, along with a selection of craft beers from their tasting room.

Geraldton also has a rich cultural side with galleries and museums to explore. The Aboriginal-owned and operated Yamaji Art showcases the work of Aboriginal artists and offers original works for sale to help support contributors, while the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery is known for its Mid-West Art Prize for Western Australian contemporary artists and curated exhibits reflecting local themes.

York

Lovers of architecture will consider this Avon Valley town a gem, as the state’s oldest inland town. Dating back to 1831, York is considered a heritage Precinct, with its main street, Avon Terrace, housing charming shops like Barclay Books, in enchanting buildings where avid collectors can browse shelves lined with hundreds of titles in its used book, rare, and collectable sections.

Several old hotels line the main street, with inns like The Settler’s House that help take in the town's history, with heritage rooms and balconies overlooking a secluded courtyard with pretty trees and seating for meals and drinks. The downtown hotels are near natural attractions like Wongborel/Mount Brown, excellent for a picnic lunch from Nguyen's Bakery Cafe.

Broome

If you cannot resist the allure of pretty things, Broome’s pearl showrooms, beautiful coastline, and colourful Carnarvon Street offer are sure to satisfy. Lovely palms, trees, and gardens create a canopy of green along the cobblestoned sidewalk, and benches shaded by awnings offer quiet spots to sit. Ample parking on the main street makes it convenient to stop if you see a shop or eatery you fancy, and you can find stylish adornment at elegant jewellers like Kailis on Chinatown’s Street of Pearls. You might also run into unexpected art, such as a sculpture set in a roundabout or the Red­bill Stu­dio Gallery set in a scenic beer garden at Matso’s Brewery, where you can shop for artisan-made original pieces and artwork, visit the studios, and meet the artist in residence.

Sunsets are one of nature’s most spectacular performances, and Broome’s sunsets over Cable Beach, Town Beach, and Gantheaume Point will not disappoint. Grab some authentic Egyptian food from Land of Pharaohs to devour while watching the show from your beach blanket.

Margaret River

Margaret River’s Bussell Highway draws window shoppers with locally inspired wares and pulls food lovers into its dynamic food and wine scene. Coffee aromas drift from cafés, while nearby bars and tasting rooms showcase spirits, beer, and vintages. For a singular coffee experience, head to The Hairy Marron Café, where dogs are equally welcome, you can have an exceptional cup of coffee, sit under shady trees by the Margaret River, and feed the resident ducks. Although the surrounding Margaret River region is known as prime wine country, you can find wonderful wine experiences right in town at Swings & Roundabouts, where flagship wines are on tap, and their menu is made for sharing.

The boho vibe of the main street shops is filled with fun, flirty, fashion-forward collections, and Drapery Co. can dress and accessorise you and your home. Heads up as you wander the main street, as you will want to spot the region’s largest collection of art and murals adorning the walls as part of the Margaret River Street Art Trail.

Katanning

During the Katanning Harmony Festival, the town comes to life as a two-day street party with live performances, music, and dancing throughout the streets, along with a fusion of global cuisine served by a bevy of food trucks and local eateries. The multicultural celebration brings people from diverse backgrounds together to share food and art, with rows of stalls to explore and a steady rhythm of music that shapes the festival atmosphere. This celebration of global flavours does not end with the festivities; the town’s ethnic eateries serve everything from Malaysian dishes at Daily Grind Café to authentic noodle dishes at Vietnamese Café & Pho.

Katanning’s history is also reflected at the 1891 Premier Mill Hotel, offering a different way to experience the town’s past. This significant site was the first major industry in the Great Southern as a flour mill, the first supplier of the town's electricity, and among the earliest to introduce modern machinery during its operation. It reinvented itself time and again, with its artfully salvaged spaces, rustic-chic accommodation, industrial-forward Dôme Café, and basement Cordial Bar. The intentional exposure of mechanical and industrial elements tells the mill's manufacturing story throughout the restored spaces.

Esperance

Esperance’s tall Norfolk Pines tower over businesses along stretches of Dempster Street, having a calming effect that suits this quiet seaside town. A walk along the main stretch leads to Museum Village, a cluster of whimsical historic buildings filled with shops. The micro attraction becomes an open market every fortnight on a Sunday, and the popular Bistro Louis serves exquisite French foods like Croque Madame for breakfast all week long.

When visiting a seaside town, you want easy access to the shore, and the Esperance Foreshore is reachable on foot, just a few minutes from the main street. You can watch the fishing boats come in from Taylor Street Jetty, take a stroll to admire the views, and take a photo or selfie in front of the Whale Tail sculpture. Stop in at The Quarters almost any time of day for coffee and cakes in the morning, afternoon cocktails, or a beautifully presented artisanal meal in a gorgeous light-filled space on the shore.

A Road Trip Through Western Australia’s Main Streets

These 10 picture-perfect main streets in Western Australia make you feel like you have an in with the locals when you spend the weekend at a festival in Katanning or dress up fancy to people-watch at Kalgoorlie's horse races. Alternatively, return to familiar pleasures, like strolling the foreshores in Esperance, sampling wine in Margaret River, or discovering history and art in Albany and Geraldton as part of your Western Australian adventure.