12 Best Downtowns In Western Australia

Western Australia covers a lot of ground, and its towns hold a lot of that range. There are white-sand beaches and windsurfing breaks, plus historic ports built on gold and pearls. Some downtowns lean into convict-era stone and colonial streets. Others are about their cafes and wineries, or the wildlife just outside town. These twelve are the best places to park the car and explore Western Australia on foot.

Fremantle

Fremantle is a port city with a strong cultural streak. Its lively markets draw tourists with stalls of fruit, sweets, and oddities. More daring visitors can tour Fremantle Prison for a close look at convict life, while the WA Shipwrecks Museum keeps the remains of large vessels and the nautical history that goes with them. Art lovers should make time for the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre, where rotating exhibits showcase local visual and performing artists. Between its friendly streets, its culture, and its history, Fremantle gives a clear sense of what built the city.

Albany

Albany is a historic port city in Western Australia with deep significance for the country. The National Anzac Centre is a war museum displaying the uniforms and weapons of those who served, with grounds that immerse visitors in the lives of the men and women who lived through the Great War. Albany was also a whaling town, and its Historic Whaling Station lays that out through huge whale skeletons, engraved whale bones, and firsthand accounts of the whalers. Middleton Beach offers a quiet escape ringed by trees and hills, good for seashell hunting and an afternoon in the sun. Between its history and its scenery, Albany makes a strong case for a visit.

Broome

Broome is a multicultural town built on a rich history of pearling. Its Sun Pictures is billed as the world's oldest operating picture gardens, an outdoor cinema with historic projectors and posters that draw any film buff. Pearl Luggers Broome digs into the pearling past with private tours and exhibits on the divers and their work. Gantheaume Point is a conservation area with rock climbing and clear blue water, where people spend afternoons in the sun. Broome's pearling and cinema history pairs with its coastline for a town worth lingering in.

York

York is Western Australia's oldest inland town, built on colonial and Victorian architecture. York Town Hall shows its Edwardian style in massive columns and high peaks, with displays on the town's history inside. The York Bushland Garden holds a wide range of plant species in vivid color, a draw for anyone who likes pollinators and native flora. Avon Park doubles as festival grounds and a natural escape, hosting events like the Readers and Writers Festival. Its architecture and community life give York an inviting, easygoing feel.

Busselton

Busselton is a seaside town known for its aquatic life. Its Underwater Observatory takes you below the surface through large windows for viewing the marine life nearby, while the pier above is open for sightseeing at your own pace. The observatory sits at the end of Busselton Jetty, the town's cultural hub, which also holds a train, an interpretive center, and a museum. The Shelter Brewing Company pours a wide range of beers and serves plates like ribs or squid, with its brewing machinery on display. Busselton's easy seaside pace and its amenities keep visitors comfortable.

Mount Lawley

Mount Lawley is an inner-city suburb of Perth, known as a stylish and lively pocket of the city. Its cafes are the highlight for many visitors. SoHo Lane serves artistic lattes, fried chicken burgers, and egg dishes with a twist, with a range wide enough for picky eaters. Modus Coffee is a modern local shop pouring fresh coffee alongside sandwiches and pastries. Miss Potz is an Asian-fusion spot with unusual desserts like banana fritters and coconut panna cotta, plus full entrees and stylish drinks.

Margaret River

Margaret River balances natural life and leisure, with ancient limestone caves on one side and acclaimed wineries on the other. Founded on its vineyards, the town has many wineries open to the public. Its Wine and Chocolate Odyssey runs private tours with wine and chocolate tastings and the history of the grounds. The Margaret River Canoe Tour gives a close view of the wildlife along the shores, with lunch included partway through. For something underground, Augusta's Jewel Cave runs guided tours through its huge limestone chambers, explaining how the formations grew.

Toodyay

Toodyay is a historic town known for wildlife encounters and scenic walks. The Cola Cafe and Museum is a 1950s-themed diner with a huge Coca-Cola collection and a true-to-era feel. Pelham Lookout and Reserve is a nature preserve with overlooks, flower fields, and information about the land and its history. The Free Range Emu Farm runs tours with live emus on site, with hatchlings visible between July and October and emu products like oil, dyed feathers, and egg shells for sale. Toodyay's take on wildlife and nature gives a fresh angle on the outdoors.

Kalgoorlie

Kalgoorlie grew up around gold, and its downtown still shows it. Hannan Street is the wide main drag, lined with grand turn-of-the-century facades from the boom years, including the ornate Palace Hotel. The WA Museum Kalgoorlie-Boulder, marked by its red mining headframe, lays out the goldfields story and the town's rough early days. Hannans North Tourist Mine lets visitors head underground and try their hand at panning. Just east of the center, a public lookout takes in the Super Pit, one of the largest open-cut gold mines in the country, still working around the clock.

Esperance

Esperance is known for white sand beaches and clear water. Woody Island is a nature reserve with a visitor center for learning about the area and campgrounds for a short stay among the wildlife. Snorkeling is popular, with close encounters with the local sea life. Esperance Stonehenge is a full-size replica of the original in the United Kingdom, close enough to the real thing to offer some insight into how it was built. Lucky Bay is a large inlet for snorkeling, swimming, and boating, its clear water a refreshing escape from the heat.

Geraldton

Geraldton is a lively coastal city with a rich maritime history, long beaches, and strong windsurfing. Ellendale Pool is a large waterhole framed by big rock formations, open at all hours and tied to Aboriginal history. The Houtman Abrolhos Islands are an archipelago of clear blue water and snorkeling, with reef communities and tropical sea life offshore. Windsurfing is popular all over town, and Point Moore stands out as a spot that suits all skill levels. Geraldton's outdoor streak gives a window into Australia's rugged side.

Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is a small island full of friendly native quokkas. These little, perpetually smiling marsupials roam the island and are happy to come near tourists. Parakeet Bay is a secluded beach of white sand and calm water, good for a quiet swim, ringed by brush and walking paths. Bathurst Lighthouse, a limestone tower from 1900, has guided ships to shore for more than a century and overlooks a bay, with safe access for children and older visitors. The Cape Vlamingh Boardwalk is the spot for photos of the rock formations, with sea spray in the air and the shore below.

Exploring Western Australia on Foot

Western Australia's downtowns each carry their own story, whether built on gold, pearls, wine, or the sea. The towns here put history, beaches, caves, and wildlife within an easy walk of where you park. Pick one as a base or string several together, and the state opens up at a pace that rewards slowing down.