8 Best Western Australia Towns For A Weekend Trip
Western Australia is vast—greater than most countries—and full of surprises. You've got sun-baked outback, pristine beaches, ancient forests, and laid-back wine country, all contained in a state that's wild but never hostile. The coast is a dream if you love blue water and seafood just off the boat, and interior towns surprise with quirky personalities, historic architecture, and natural wonders. Whatever it is, the forests of Denmark or the red cliffs of Kalbarri, these eight towns are the perfect weekend retreat.
Denmark
Denmark is a vision of peace. On the south coast, towering Karri Forests yield to cool-climate wine country. Start your weekend at Greens Pool, a blue pool of giant granite boulders and clear water—yes, even in winter, it's breathtaking. Go to the Denmark Animal Farm to get up close and personal with camels and alpacas (yes, camels). You'll find mellow vineyards like Singlefile and Castelli offering tastings in peaceful leafy settings. Take a hike on the trails at the nearby Valley of the Giants Top Tree Walk, where the treetop canopy walk gives you a bird's eye view of centuries-old forest. Denmark's a pleasant mix of earthy, artsy, and outdoorsy—easy to slip into and hard to get out of.
Kalbarri
Kalbarri blends stunning red gorges and sparkling blue sea—and still has a small-town atmosphere to boot. Start with Kalbarri National Park. The Z Bend walk is all the rage for good reasons, and Nature's Window accents the Murchison River in a way that puts you completely at ease, ready for the next adventure. A little closer, check out the new Kalbarri Skywalk platforms jutting over the gorge—it's not for the faint-hearted. Kalbarri’s coast is just as impressive. Blue Holes is a family-friendly snorkel spot, and Red Bluff Lookout is where people go for sunset and stay quiet to watch it. Add a meal at Finlay’s Kalbarri—a seafood shack turned brewery—and you’ve got the kind of weekend that sticks with you.
Margaret River
Margaret River’s not a secret, but it still feels like a treat every time. Wineyards, yes—but cliffs, caves, surf, and good tucker that doesn't get too big for its boots. Start your day with a flat white at Sidekick Café and head to Prevelly to watch surfers riding waves as big as houses. Or if surfing is not your bag, the Cape to Cape Track offers ocean views and spring wildflower trails. Stop by some of the wineries—Voyager Estate, Leeuwin Estate, and Vasse Felix are good bets—and make time for Mammoth Cave, where boardwalks take you through the limestone formations. Weekends out there are all about tempo: slow when you want it to be, and hectic when you don't.
Albany
Albany wears its history on its face, but also boasts a lot of nature around. It was Western Australia's initial European settlement, and you can still feel it at places such as the Albany Convict Gaol Museum or the National Anzac Centre, one of Australia's most moving war museums. And then there is the coastline. The Gap and Natural Bridge rock stacks are dramatic at any time, but visit when the swells are running high, and it is spectacular. You'll probably see whales if you visit mid-year. Take a walk around Middleton Beach or grab a casual lunch at Emu Point Café. Albany feels real. No flash. Just good food, honest views, and friendly locals who’ll recommend a trail or a bakery without being asked.
Pemberton
If towering trees, crisp air, and forest stillness sound like your thing, Pemberton is your spot. This tiny town sits in the middle of Karri Country—some of the tallest trees in the world. Start with the Gloucester Tree climb if you’re brave (53 meters up with metal pegs and no harness). Not for you? No worries. The Cascades walk is mellow and lined with wildflowers in spring. You can also take a ride on the Pemberton Tramway, an open-sided train that steams along thick forest and across rickety old trestle bridges. Have lunch at Treehouse Tapas and Wine Bar—it's cozy and inviting. Weekends in Pemberton are like a breath of pure, eucalyptus-scented air.
Dunsborough
Dunsborough is that relaxed beach town where it's fine to spend the day barefoot. The beaches—Meelup, Eagle Bay, and Bunker Bay—are some of the calmest and clearest in WA. Hire a kayak or paddleboard, or just swim in water that looks filtered. The coastal trail from Meelup to Eagle Bay offers ocean views, wildflowers, and the occasional kangaroo if you’re lucky. Stop in at Wise Wine for lunch with a view—grapevines on one side, ocean on the other. In town, shop at indie shops and listen to live music at Occy's. Dunsborough knows it: laid-back, postcard-pretty, and always sunny with good coffee.
Esperance
Esperance is a postcard come true. If you've ever googled "Australia's whitest beach," chances are you got an image of Lucky Bay. And yes, the kangaroos do sun themselves on the beach. But there's more than beaches. There are surreal rock spires and turquoise sea in the Cape Le Grand National Park, and you can ascend Frenchman Peak to witness a sunrise that will leave you. In town, go to Cindy Poole Glass Gallery, where the artist is quite likely to be on hand to walk you through. Ocean Blues café serves freshly caught fish and bay vistas. Esperance is distant, but that's the idea—it repays the journey with peace, room, and world-class shoreline.
York
York is Western Australia's oldest inland town, and it's rich in personality without pretence. The main street appears plucked from a Western movie, with iron-grilled balconies and heritage shopfronts. Begin at the York Motor Museum, where old cars speak volumes without the need for captions. Call in to the Residency Museum if you like the town's history in bite-sized pieces. Nature lovers can soak up the views with the Mount Brown lookout and indulge in a perfect picnic spot. You'll probably end up chatting with someone at Bellissimo York café—they do a good Eggs benny. If you visit during the York Festival in springtime, you can expect music, poetry, and market stalls, all with that warm small-town hospitality.
Western Australia is not designed to flick over on a map—it's to be indulged in on long weekends and leisurely mornings. For forest walks around Pemberton, sea swims off Dunsborough, or limestone caves off Margaret River, these eight towns lay out the best of what Western Australia has to share: space, beauty, and real connection. No need for a frenzied itinerary—good shoes, a chilled outlook, and maybe a cooler full of local wine or fresh seafood will suffice. Chances are, you’ll want to stay longer than just the weekend.
