6 Most Breathtaking Towns In Western Australia
Western Australia is dotted with numerous small communities providing easy access to many unique geographical wonders of Australia. For example, Exmouth is the gateway to the country's largest fringing reef, Ningaloo, a Guinness World Record holder. It is also an excellent place to watch whale sharks gather to feed on plankton and swim with these giants in the ocean. Margaret River is another beautiful community that is part of one of the world's 36 global biodiversity hotspots and offers tours of its numerous cave clusters, karri forests, sprawling vineyards, and even beaches. Each of these six breathtaking towns in Western Australia showcases the state's natural beauty and deserves a spot on your must-visit list.
Esperance
Situated on the southern coast of Western Australia, about 460 miles southeast of Perth, the state’s capital, Esperance’s compelling combination of beach scenery and national park access attracts visitors from across the country. The main draw here is Cape Le Grand National Park. Located about 28 miles east of town, here you’ll find beautiful Lucky Bay, home to one of the whitest, softest sand beaches in Australia with turquoise water clear enough to easily see the seafloor, no matter how far you wade out. It’s also home to a resident population of kangaroos. Hiking trails in the park connect multiple beaches, including Le Grand Beach and Hellfire Bay.
Be sure to make the climb up Frenchman's Peak for its breathtaking views over the Recherche Archipelago, a group of more than 100 uninhabited islands offshore. If you feel like splurging, opt for a scenic flight over the archipelago and Lake Hillier, a naturally pink lake on Middle Island about 75 miles to the east. These can be arranged through groups like Fly Esperance at Esperance Airport.
The Great Ocean Drive, a 25-mile self-drive loop, is another great way to see what this wonderful destination has to offer. Highlights include Twilight Beach, West Beach, and Blue Haven Beach, as well as a chance to stop at the Rotary Lookout for spectacular views over the town and the archipelago. Once back in town, head to Lucky Bay Brewing to hoist a pint or two in celebration of a day well spent.
Broome
Broome is in the Kimberley region on Western Australia’s northwest coast and has a strong pearling history dating to the 1880s when Japanese and Malay divers worked the seas offshore. This period is well represented around town, especially in pearl shops (known as showrooms) along Dampier Terrace, like Willie Creek Pearls and Regent Pearls.
You can learn more about this fascinating (and ongoing) chapter of the region’s history at the Broome Historical Museum. Exhibits deal with the pearling era in detail, with plenty of artifacts, photographs, and records from the Japanese, Malay, and Aboriginal communities who built the industry.
The town’s main attraction, though, is Cable Beach. Stretching for 14 miles north of town, its pure white sand and warm, shallow water are popular with tourists. So, too, is its remarkable tidal range. One of the largest in the world, it reaches up to 33 feet, resulting in a low tide beach that’s over 300 feet wide. Top it all off with a sunset camel ride with Red Sun Camels, and you’ll be glad you visited.
Margaret River
Around 170 miles south of Perth, Margaret River is located within one of only 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots, a designation that recognizes its unique mix of vineyards, karri forest, limestone caves, and open-ocean surf beaches. The town’s wine region is known for some of Australia's most respected Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays, produced by wineries like Vasse Felix and Leeuwin Estate. Tours, tastings, and special events like art exhibits and concerts are frequent occurrences.
Caves are a big draw here, too. The Margaret River Caves network includes more than 100 limestone caves, four of which are open for guided tours, while Lake Cave is considered the most striking for its large underground lake. Mammoth Cave, part of a self-guided tour, contains fossil remains estimated to be more than 35,000 years old.
If riding the waves is your thing, head to Surfers Point at nearby Prevelly. It’s here that the Margaret River meets the Indian Ocean, with a reef break that’s well suited to experienced surfers. Hiking’s also popular, especially through Boranup Karri Forest, with many trees exceeding 200 feet in height.
Denmark
Denmark is situated on Western Australia's southern coast, about 260 miles southeast of Perth and just 30 miles west of Albany. Set facing the Southern Ocean to the south, visitors come here in search of its wild coastal scenery and to explore one of the country’s cutest small towns.
Highlights include the Denmark Markets, which run most Sundays and feature fresh local produce from across the Great Southern region, including fruit and veggies, artisanal cheeses, and local wines. Speaking of wine, West Cape Howe Wines is one of the most awarded growers in the region and offers tours and tastings. And for eats, the Pepper and Salt Restaurant at Forest Hill Vineyard is one of the better dining options in the region.
The standout natural feature in Denmark is William Bay National Park. Just a few miles west of town, check out Greens Pool with its massive granite boulders just offshore; they serve as a natural breakwater that produces a calm inner pool that’s ideal for swimming and snorkeling. A short walk leads to Elephant Rocks, where rounded granite formations rise from shallow turquoise water with a similarly pleasant swimming area.
Kalbarri
Kalbarri is located on the coast of the Mid West region, about 360 miles north of Perth, where the Murchison River reaches the Indian Ocean after carving through miles of sandstone gorges inland. Kalbarri National Park is the big draw, with gorges reaching depths of up to 330 feet where the river has cut through the red and white banded sandstone. Look for the Nature's Window, a natural arch in the rock through which the river below is perfectly framed, which makes for an incredible photo opportunity.
The Kalbarri Skywalk is a must-do. Consisting of two cantilevered platforms that extend 328 feet (100 m) over the gorge edge, the incredible, near-vertical views down into the gorge aren’t for the faint of heart.
Over on the coastal side, Red Bluff, Eagle Gorge, and Natural Bridge are all accessible by road from town. The coastline here is exposed and dramatic, with constantly breaking waves hammering the sandstone cliffs in a mesmerizing display of the ocean’s power. Visiting the Kalbarri Visitor Centre is a must-do for details of park happenings and conditions, as well as for details of kid-friendly activities like pelican feeding.
Exmouth
Exmouth’s location at the tip of the North West Cape peninsula guarantees it a spot on any list of breathtaking towns in Western Australia. The main access point for the spectacular Ningaloo Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Area, the town is small and built largely around tourist access to one of the most significant marine environments in the world. Ningaloo Reef is the largest fringing reef in Australia, stretching for more than 160 miles along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines.
Unlike the better-known Great Barrier Reef, which sits offshore, Ningaloo begins just a few hundred feet from the beach at Turquoise Bay in Cape Range National Park. This makes it easy for visitors to walk directly from the sand to the reef, a totally unique experience that reveals countless species of tropical fish, all without a boat.
Visit between March and July, and you’ll see whale sharks gathering in the waters off Exmouth. Tour operators like Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks and Ningaloo Discovery Whale Shark Tours offer fun excursions and snorkeling tours in one of the few places on the planet where the encounters are consistently reliable. Manta rays are present year-round and can also be encountered while snorkeling, too.
Western Australia’s Most Breathtaking Towns
As you can see, Western Australia's best small towns provide easy access to some of this vast state’s most beautiful scenery. Whether it’s the chance to easily access the reefs around Exmouth or explore the deep gorges surrounding Kalbarri, these six towns are some of the best small towns to visit on the Australian continent.
