8 Most Welcoming Towns In Western Australia

What comes to mind at the mention of Western Australia? How about beaches, beaches, and more beaches?! The spectacular city of Perth, Australia's sunniest capital city, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, is only rivaled by its stunning natural surroundings. With an Aboriginal history of over 50,000 years, Western Australia is home to one of the world's oldest living cultures.

Broome is renowned for pearling, with a vibrant blend of Indigenous, Asian, and European influences, lending a variety of cuisines and cultural attractions! Believe it or not, but there's always summer somewhere in Western Australia to escape the cold! From world-class surf to premium wines, seafood, and Aussie cuisine, these Western Australia towns welcome you for an adventure of a lifetime of the so-called barefoot luxury to toast the rugged adventures with locals and all your loved ones!

Broome

Broome, one of Western Australia's best beach towns in the Kimberley, is an inviting blend of natural beauty and rich history. Deeply entrenched in pearling, with Indigenous, Asian, and European influences, its variety of cuisines and cultural attractions align with all interests. A fringe of pristine beaches welcomes you along white sugar sands lapped by the clear, turquoise surf, with stark red ochre rocks mimicking the tangerine sunset! Whether lounging or swimming against the stunning views, the adventurous local spirit in the laidback atmosphere will keep you on your toes, from riding camels at the famous Cable Beach to browsing the local markets.

Also called Rubibi in the local language, you will discover diverse cultural makeup, beautiful architectural styles, and a fascinating legacy at the Pearl Luggers Museum and a working pearl farm! The picturesque town, with its unique landscapes, warm climate, and relaxed feel, is a great base to explore the surrounding Kimberley area. Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim) is one of the planet's most unique waterways, accessible by a boat tour or a scenic flight, while Staircase to the Moon is a once-in-a-lifetime natural phenomenon you can catch between March and October at twilight with the full moon over Roebuck Bay (Yawuru Nadulagun) from the mudflats!

Busselton

Busselton, a bustling small town of around 40,000 friendly locals, nestles along the protected north-facing coastline into the infamous Geographe Bay. Welcoming you with a warm Leeuwin ocean current in your face, "Undalup's" big, vibrant heart is inundated with boutiques, bars, eateries, and a calendar full of events. From the award-winning Origins Market at the center to the beautiful beaches for swimming and water sports, you can venture outward into the Margaret River wine region for tastings paired with gourmet food and more stunning scenery. The thriving town, with its inviting stretch of sand, feels made for sharing timeless memories to tell back home about the crystal-clear waters and sights of frolicking dolphins.

There is the iconic 1.8-kilometer Jetty jutting into Geographe Bay as a remnant of the thriving timber industry. One of the longest timber-piled jetties in the Southern Hemisphere, it is excellent for strolls, fishing, a train ride, and an underwater observatory. The trail from the foreshore into the heart exposes a collection of impressive, restored buildings along the Busselton Cultural Precinct. Just around the corner, Queen Street is the central artery with local shopping, dining, and, at the end, the antiquated Busselton Museum. You can explore this unique restored group settlement, part of the Busselton Heritage Trail, with a 1920s school and the Old Butter Factory, a heritage-listed building.

Cervantes

This coastal town with an enchanting name feels made for lounging in the sun, basking in glorious views, and enjoying local delicacies that nourish your body and soul. Cervantes is jam-packed with pet-friendly water and land-based activities, including various beaches and local attractions. The scenically charged Turquoise Way Trail winds for a 14.2-kilometer trail past the Jurien Bay Jetty and Dobbyn Park Foreshore, with another beach on the way, dog-exercise areas, and rest stops to take in the sweeping ocean views!

Hansen Bay offers a whole 2.6-kilometer off-leash dog area along the soft sands and crystal-blue bay waters! Longtime in the practice of catching lobster, aka crayfish, off-coast, the iconic Lobster Shack delights visitors with a feast along the dedicated dog-friendly picnic table area. For other palettes, the Coal Cervantes Bar & Bistro offers authentic local Aussie fare and an outdoor beer garden, welcoming two- and four-legged groups to mingle and meet local friends. You can enjoy a dreamy camping trip with your pup under the stars on the beach with a choice of coastal campgrounds like Cervantes Holiday Park!

Coral Bay

Far north from Perth along the Coral Coast Highway, this picturesque town with only one main street and a slew of inviting local businesses is a worthy drive for the best seaside escape! Exposing you to beautiful coral gardens just meters off the pristine white sandy beach, Ningaloo Reef welcomes every type of adventurer, accessible from the beach, unforgettable from the air, and via a glass bottom boat tour! The real action comes on a guided snorkeling or diving trip into the depths, with coral gardens of 300 species, like the massive cabbage patch coral, and 500 species of fish among turtles and dolphins.

Coral Bay is all about water, stunning coastal nature, and stingrays, with daily tours from March to June, whale shark interaction from July to October, and humpback whales from November. Land-based activities include 4WD rides along the epic coastline with secluded beaches, while an Aboriginal 4WD tag-along tour is a cool way to discover the area's unique culture and heritage. Some mesmerizing snorkeling spots, like Oyster Bridge and Five Fingers Reef, are only 4WD-accessible, while Ningaloo Coastal Reserves and Station Stays to the north and south offer powered and traditional sites to access Western Australia's off-the-beaten-path, incredible coastal locations.

Denmark

Home to around 2,700 locals, this vibrant little town in WA's far south is a fine mix of art and nature, with welcoming galleries and craft shops along the beautiful Denmark River for inspiration to nurture your own creativity. Ensconced between national parks and stunning beaches—Denmark's best features—the dramatic landscapes attract photographers, artists, and families seeking to escape the daily hustle. Offering easy access to once-in-a-lifetime sights, you can explore the iconic Elephant Rocks and enjoy swimming in the calm water of the Wilson Inlet.

There is also hiking, fishing, and crabbing, while the Greens Pool waterhole is great for snorkeling. After a morning swim or surf lesson at Ocean Beach, why not tackle the scenic section of the Bibbulmun Track towards Walpole and onward to the Valley of the Giants with 400-year-old trees for a treetop canopy walk? You can relax and unwind over Denmark's beautiful seascapes and a passion for producing top-quality cuisine paired with award-winning wines. Local wineries add to the charm, as do sweet spots like Denmark Bakery, with its mouthwatering scent of homemade pies along the town square!

Exmouth

You can bet this tiny coastal town of under 3,000 loves travelers, welcoming them with its own airport and brimming with all-season adventures for any taste! Allegedly housing some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet, Exmouth is a mecca for divers and snorkelers, with its shimmering deep turquoise bay and shallows for family swims. Boasting the spectacular Navy Pier—among the world's top dive sites—you can jump into the ocean, replete with friendly, beautiful aquatic creatures, for a swim with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea. The majestic humpback whales cruise the deep blue waters from August to October, while the nesting turtles take over the beach from November to March.

Exmouth is the official gateway into the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park, the largest fringing reef in the world that rivals the Great Barrier Reef in clarity and animal size! Home to comic turtles and graceful manta rays, you can snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat to watch kaleidoscopic fish darting between the coral! Just a short drive south of town, the stark, rust-red terrain of Cape Range National Park offers spectacular hiking around ancient cliffs, canyons, and local wildlife like emus, red kangaroos, and spiny echidnas. Exmouth welcomes tourists to enjoy the so-called barefoot luxury and toast the day's adventures over a local meal with the region's fabulously fresh produce, a chilled glass of white wine, or craft beer.

Kununurra

This beautiful township on the banks of the Ord River brims with epic opportunities for fishing, paddling, boating, hiking, swimming, and exploring Australia's far north. It is a longtime destination during the dry season from May to August, with cooler weather, open outdoor attractions, and events like the Ord Valley Muster Festival and Kimberley Moon Experiences in May. You can paddle and canoe along tranquil lakes, enjoy whitewater rafting on the famous river and swim in gorges below gorgeous waterfalls. These are spectacular during the humid season after rainfall—when it is the dead of winter back home—and with fewer tourist attractions, you get fewer crowds.

Home to 5,300, you can discover indigenous Miriwoong, Gajirrawoong, and Gija culture through local Aboriginal art galleries. The Kununurra Visitor Centre is your best guide for amenities and charming shops like the Sandalwood Factory, with local aromatherapy products, wooden jewelry, and sandalwood-infused nuts and nougats. Whether you're into cuddling cute rescue animals at the popular Kangaroo Haven just south or camping and hiking with every type of rugged through the national parks, you can unwind against picturesque lookouts and dine on local cuisine. Wind down at the accessible Kimberley Grande Resort right along the lake or the super budget-friendly Hidden Valley Caravan Park with both cabins and powered sites.

Monkey Mia

Home to under 1,000, Monkey Mia offers a real paradisiacal respite from the city crowds in the company of those who matter. The nice and shallow Little Lagoon is perfect for family swims, with a pet-friendly beach and plenty of barbecues for the happy gang to enjoy together. Just half an hour away, the award-winning Ocean Park Aquarium features shark-feeding facilities, fascinating rescued sea turtles, and a picturesque deck for your own bite in the fresh outdoors. There are all-inclusive facilities and activities, like the RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort camping site with its dog-friendly restaurant.

This idyllic town in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area is renowned for its marine inhabitants and attractions, with plenty of action for two- and four-legged visitors! Netta's Beach offers a designated long white sand stretch to play, roam free, and enjoy kitesurfing action nearby. Operated by Perfect Nature Cruises, the 18-meter sailing catamaran Aristocrat 2 paddles through Shark Bay's Exclusion Zone with tail-wagging-worthy wildlife sightings like dolphins, dugongs, and turtles. You can finish the day together on a sunset cruise with exciting close-ups and watch dolphins jumping against the tangerine horizon.

Covering an area of more than 2.5 million square kilometers, Western Australia is one-third of Australia's total landmass or the whole of Western Europe! The state is home to the whitest beach, the largest expanse of outback, and the UNESCO World Heritage Ningaloo Reef. As one of the world's largest states, there's a diverse climate, history, and drama for every taste of adventure throughout the landscape!