9 Best Towns In Western Australia For A Two-Day Recharge
Western Australia stretches across the country's entire western edge, a vast, sunlit, and wildly diverse region. Here, a two-day recharge can mean very different things depending on what you're escaping or seeking. For some, it's coastal quiet and morning swims in turquoise bays. For others, it's red earth drives, rugged trails, or the comfort of a good meal where the desert meets the sea. These towns capture that range, each a small pocket of calm or adventure shaped by the Australian landscape, reminding you that "recharging" can look like just about anything.
Jurien Bay
Jurien Bay sits along Western Australia's Turquoise Coast, about two and a half hours north of Perth. The water here lives up to its name, especially off Jurien Bay Jetty, where locals fish at sunset or wander out to enjoy the view. A two-day recharge in town revolves around slow mornings on Jurien Bay Beach or watching the endangered Australian sea lions at Essex Rocks with Turquoise Safaris.
If you'd rather stay on land, the Turquoise Way Trail offers a leisurely ride or walk beside the Indian Ocean, linking beaches to bushland in one gentle sweep. For a base close to everything, Jurien Bay Motel Apartments puts you within walking distance of the foreshore, the marina, and those endlessly blue waters.
Albany
Despite being on the larger side, Albany is still a relatively small town that is perfect for a two-day recharge. Firstly, it is the gateway to Torndirrup National Park. While it's about 20 minutes away from the downtown core, it is a must if you're visiting. The Natural Bridge and The Gap are the park's anchors, offering views that reset perspective more than any wellness retreat could... at least if you go there with the right mindset.
You'll find a similar calm within Albany, particularly at the Hilton Garden Inn, which sits near the Albany Town Jetty. A few blocks behind is the Albany Heritage Park, a vast stretch that brings you to Apex Lookout and the National Anzac Centre. On the other side is the magnificent Middleton Beach, where you can get lost in white sand.
Broome
Broome feels like nowhere else in Western Australia, where red pindan earth slides into a vibrant, blue sea and the scent of frangipani hangs in the air. The town's rhythm has always been unhurried, dating back to its early days in the 1880s, when divers from Japan, China, and Malaysia helped shape the multicultural mix that still defines it. Most people start at Cable Beach, and who can blame them? Twenty-two kilometers of white sand, warm water, and sunset camel rides with Red Sun Camels make it the easiest place to let time slow down during your two-day recharge.
A few minutes away, Chinatown tells Broome's story in detail with pearl rooms and cafes. Staying at the Mangrove Hotel is among the best choices, especially between March and October. This is because, at that time, it gives you an incredible vantage point of Roebuck Bay's Staircase to the Moon, a natural phenomenon that creates a stunning illusion, making the ocean appear to glow from within.
Denmark
Greens Pool, a cove framed by smooth granite boulders, is one of Denmark, Western Australia's best attractions. It sits in William Bay National Park, past the magnificent Tower Hill and beside the Elephant Rocks, which define this beach's unique landscape. This is the perfect place to swim or spend hours lying in the sun.
About twenty minutes back in town, the Mokare Heritage Trail follows the Denmark River into Wilson Inlet. Along the way, various caravan parks house roadtrippers who want to be close to the walking trail and some great swimming spots. Fancier accommodations, like The Lodge at the Denmark Hotel, exist within the hubbub of the small town. Due to its location inland and proximity to the inlet, river, and ocean, you really get your pick of the litter when it comes to experiences during your two-day recharge.
Esperance
The Esperance Esplanade hugs the waterfront, leading straight to West Beach, a place to stroll or float without hurry, while Twilight Beach sits just west, a calm and perfect place for a leisurely swim. Undoubtedly, beaches like these make this town in Western Australia one of the best places to book two days if you want to recharge your batteries.
Esperance is also one of the closest towns to the Wylie Bay Sand Dunes and Cape Le Grand National Park, where kangaroos nap on squeaky sand at Lucky Bay. However, these notable attractions are a distance from town so that they will take up a chunk of your day. Staying at The Jetty Resort keeps you in town and close enough to the Tanker Jetty, its adjoining park, and the cafes and restaurants along the Esplanade.
Dunsborough
Turquoise water laps gently at Dunsborough's white sands, and the pace here seems to slow the moment you hit Meelup, Eagle Bay, or Bunker Bay. Each beach invites barefoot mornings, swimming, kayaking, or just soaking in the sunlight during your two-day recharge. The Coastal Trail from Meelup to Eagle Bay threads wildflowers and bushland, bringing you past the occasional kangaroo.
Thirteen kilometers out of town, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse perches atop rocky headlands, where walking trails meet sweeping ocean views. The whale-watching platform offers glimpses at humpbacks and southern right whales between September and December. Whalers Cove Villas keeps you close to both Dunsborough Beach and the Dunsborough Lakes Golf Club, a must-visit for anyone who thinks unwinding means playing 18 holes in the hot sun.
Margaret River
The Margaret River Region is known as one of the best wine destinations in Australia, making the town of Margaret River the ideal hub if you want to venture out into the region and visit wineries like Vasse Felix, Victory Point, or Olive Hill. However, within the town limits (give or take), you'll also find some exquisite wineries such as Cape Mentelle, Xanadu, and Stella Bella. The town itself hugs the mouth of the Margaret River, where paddlers drift and local wildlife ambles along the banks.
Just outside town, Wooditjup National Park winds through karri, marri, and jarrah forests, offering walking and biking trails perfect for a meditative experience during your two-day recharge. Various resorts and guesthouses, such as Grape Juice Retreat, Grande Escape Resort, and Chambre Estate, are sprinkled throughout town. But if you want something more traditional, check out the Margaret River Motel.
Green Head
Green Head, a tiny Coral Coast town about three hours north of Perth, is built for two-day recharges. Dynamite Bay forms an almost perfect circle, its calm waters ideal for swimming, snorkeling, or just floating while the limestone cliffs soften any swell. South Bay, a quieter stretch of white sand, links to the 2.8-kilometer Three Bays Walkaway, where coastal paths pass Anchorage Bay and a series of lookouts.
Birdwatchers and flora fans will want to spend time in Lesueur National Park, just east of town; it's home to over 820 native wildflowers, the occasional kangaroo, and more than 100 bird species. Offshore, Australian sea lions laze on Fisherman Island, and licensed tours from Green Head let you watch them safely. Then there's the Green Head Golf Club, tucked into bushland, which offers 18 relaxed holes for the golfing-inclined. There are self-contained holiday homes and the Green Head Caravan Park for accommodations.
Kalbarri
Kalbarri sits where the Murchison River spills into the Indian Ocean, a town framed by red gorges inland and calm, family-friendly beaches on the coast. Chinaman's Beach runs through the heart of the city, its gentle waters perfect for floating around for two days while you recharge. The beach opens to grassy spots where pelicans gather for their daily morning feed, a quirky ritual by the local fishermen. Chinaman's Beach is also close to Pelican's Nest, which has self-contained rooms to rest up after a day in the sun. Blue Holes protects a thriving reef a few minutes south, making it a snorkeling haven.
Just east of town, Kalbarri National Park stretches across 400-million-year-old gorges. The Z Bend walk threads along the Murchson River, and Nature's Window frames the cliffs in a natural gateway. The Skywalk platforms extend over the gorge, letting you linger above the rock walls and take in the scope of the park.
From Dunsborough's laid-back sands to Kalbarri's gorges, Western Australia offers small towns made for slowing down and recharging for a couple of days. Sip local wines in Margaret River, wander quiet beaches at Green Head, or watch sea lions in Jurien Bay. It doesn't matter what 'recharging' means to you, as Western Australia has something for everyone. You have to go and see for yourself.
