9 Of The Quietest Western Australia Towns
As Australia’s largest state, stretching for 2,527,013 square kilometers (or about 975,685 square miles), it’s easy to see Western Australia as a vast land full of wide-open spaces. At the same time, this also means Western Australia is the perfect place to find an oasis of peace and quiet.
With a wide array of oceanfront towns, this state has plenty of beaches to kick back and ponder the meaning of life. At the same time, Western Australia also has a mix of colorful mining towns in the Outback and rich Indigenous culture in the Kimberley. The state also has its own well-regarded wine country region. If you prefer to enjoy some quiet time, these nine quiet Western Australia towns will let you do so in a uniquely wonderful way.
Green Head
Drive about 265 kilometers (or 165 miles) north of Perth along the Indian Ocean Drive, and you reach the small coastal village of Green Head. Despite the name suggesting otherwise, Dynamite Bay tends to be a calm white sand beach thanks to the oceanfront cliffs sheltering it from the rough ocean currents, and that makes it a good spot for easy swimming and snorkeling. A little way north of Dynamite Bay, Anchorage Bay anchors the local fishing industry, and it’s another beach to enjoy some warm and sunny tranquility.
Beyond the beaches, there’s more to see and do. A short drive southeast of town is Lesueur National Park, a vast natural preserve home to over 900 plant species, 122 native bird species, 52 reptile species, and highland trails to Mount Lesueur and Mount Michaud that make for great hikes. For more exploration of local nature, go to Stockyard Gully Reserve north of town and take the Stockyard Gully Cave Trail into a cool limestone cave. After spending the day exploring all over town, settle in for the evening at Centrebreak Beach Stay near Dynamite Bay.
Horrocks
Located on the Indian Ocean coast of Western Australia’s balmy Mid-West region, the town of Horrocks is a quiet beach town. With this in mind, it’s rarely a bad idea to head down to Horrocks Beach for an ocean swim or a surf session. There’s also a jetty that makes for good ocean fishing. And for more beach time, keep going north to walk the shores of Three Mile Beach and its reef-enclosed lagoon.
Though Horrocks feels pretty isolated from the rest of the world, you can still find pretty much all you need at Horrocks Beach General Store, including a cafe and restaurant, a liquor shop featuring Western Australia wines, and plenty of souvenirs and beach essentials. Once it’s time to call it a day, spend the night at Horrocks Beachside Cottages.
Menzies
Once a gold rush hotspot, the town of Menzies still holds onto its 19th-century bones. In 1894, prospectors Leslie Robert Menzies and John McDonald discovered gold here and kickstarted the growth of a mining town that would go on to carry one of their names. The grand town hall built in 1896 continues to stand, a reminder of Menzies’ rich mining heritage. But like other mining towns, Menzies’ fortunes took a turn for the worse when the gold started to run out around 1905. To see more of what life was like during the region’s mining heyday, drive northeast to Kookynie to walk around this well-preserved 1895 ghost town.
About a century later, in 2003, British artist Antony Gormley designed 51 metal sculptures and installed them across the white salt plain of Lake Ballard, an installation titled Inside Australia that turned the ephemeral salt lake into one of the world’s biggest outdoor art installations. For a more natural escape, head south to Goongarrie National Park to enjoy some pleasant bushwalking, birdwatching, and Wangkathaa Aboriginal historic sites. Back in town, the Menzies Caravan Park is a fully accessible RV park that also has tent campsites.
Kambalda
When travelers think of the Australian Outback, they probably first dream of Uluru in the Northern Territory, but then they envision the kind of rugged desert landscapes that Kambalda has in abundance. Start at the “shores” of Lake Lefroy, a massive white salt lake that’s one of the world’s best locations for land sailing. Just a little way inland, the Red Hill Lookout gives panoramic views of Lake Lefroy and the larger Goldfields region.
For a quiet green space, walk the manicured grounds of Kambalda Memorial Garden and look at the reminders of Kambalda’s past as a turn of the 20th-century gold mining town. Also, check out the Kambalda Herbarium for the Goldfields’ largest collection of native flora. For simple yet comfortable and convenient accommodations near town, check into Bluebush Village for up-to-date rooms and recreational facilities.
Beverley
In Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region, about 133 kilometers (or 83 miles) southeast of Perth, Beverley began as a farming village in 1838, and it grew into a larger settlement with the arrival of the railroad nearly a half-century later. In the 20th century, Beverley settled into small-town life, and that’s now this town’s biggest draw. In town, you can stroll the main street and find galleries like the Art Garden Gallery, where local artist Mandy Evans operates as an indoor-outdoor art studio, and Beverley Station Arts, which occupies the town’s former train station.
When you can use some quiet time outside, book a tee time at the Beverley Golf Club by the Avon River. For a pleasant bushwalk, head out to County Peak and look at its array of wildflowers. Back in town, the Brooking Street Reserve is another spot to walk through wildflowers. And for cozy accommodations, try Beverley Bed and Breakfast near the golf course.
Halls Creek
Though the Kimberley covers a massive expanse of Western Australia at its northernmost reaches, it’s hard to think of a better base camp for exploring this region than the town of Halls Creek. For one, Halls Creek places you within an easy drive of Purnululu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the 350 million-year-old striped sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungle Range. While at the park, you might also want to make time for the palm tree groves at Echidna Chasm and the Bloodwoods walk, as well as the short Stonehenge trail, where signage interprets traditional Gija and Jaru Aboriginal uses of the area’s plants for food, medicine, and tools.
Aboriginal culture and traditions remain strong in and around Halls Creek, and you can experience more contemporary Aboriginal culture at Yarliyil Art Centre, a community co-op gallery that’s operated since 1998 and features works by over 100 local and regional artists. When it’s time to simply chill out and enjoy the scenery, take the drive southeast to Sawpit Gorge for a swimming hole in the desert, and once you feel like calling it a day, spend the night at the cozy and comfy Halls Creek Motel.
Broome
The town of Broome, also known as Rubibi by the Yawuru people, is essentially where the Kimberley reaches the Indian Ocean. At the Broome Museum in the town’s Heritage Precinct, you can learn more about Broome’s backstory, including its Aboriginal roots, its emergence as a pearling town that drew in migrants from all around the world in the 1880s, and life in the Kimberley during World War II. For a better sense of Broome’s multicultural fabric today, head a few blocks north to Chinatown to try some Thai food at Ginreab Thai, sip bubble tea at Bubble Cat, and see the works of Kimberley Indigenous artists at Short Street Gallery.
If you want a deeper dive into Broome’s culture, book a tour of the Willie Creek Pearl Farm to see firsthand how Broome continues to operate in the global pearl industry. When you can use some quiet time at the shore, take in the colors at Gantheaume Point, where the red rock cliffs drop to the white sand beach that touches the azure ocean water, then walk some of the 22 kilometers (or about 14 miles) of white sands at Cable Beach. For more beach time, book a stay at the Billi Resort, which has a collection of rooms, suites, and eco-tents with the creature comforts you need for a beach vacation.
Esperance
With over 500 kilometers (or 311 miles) of coastline and many of Australia’s well-known white sand beaches, Esperance has long served as a beach resort town. Near the central village, an easy walking path leads to Lovers Cove, which is good for birdwatching and simple beachcombing. If you’re up for more of a field trip, drive east to Cape Le Grand National Park for a grand expanse of rocky coastline, white sand beaches with great water for surfing and swimming, and opportunities to spot native wildlife like pygmy possums and western grey kangaroos. Or, drive west along the Great Ocean Drive and find Blue Haven Beach, with its golden bluffs and turquoise ocean water.
For more adventures and natural beauty, book an excursion to Woody Island and try some snorkeling in the water and bushwalks on dry land, or do a helicopter tour where you can fly over the area’s pink lakes and ocean coastlines. Once you’re back in town, spend the night at the easy-breezy Jetty Resort, which sports good ocean views and convenient beach access.
Margaret River
Around 277 kilometers (or 172 miles) south of Perth, Margaret River is the one place that combines a Mediterranean-like climate, one of Australia’s top wine country regions, top-tier surf breaks, and forested countryside. To understand why one of the world’s youngest wine regions quickly became known for its Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons, go with a designated driver to tour local wineries like the eco-conscious Cullen Wines, the family-run Voyager Estate, and the small-batch and biodynamic-focused Walsh and Sons.
Back in town, the year-round Margaret River Farmers’ Market every Saturday handles the seasonal produce and local artisan goods. Head up to Wooditjup National Park for a stretch of forest with walking and mountain biking trails. A short drive west, find the big breaks at Surfers Point, where professional surfers often test their skills, as well as the more kid-friendly surf breaks and a long stretch of white sand at Kilcarnup Beach (which many locals call Joey’s Nose). To round out the Margaret River getaway, try a stay at the Margaret River Guest House for a quiet bed-and-breakfast near the heart of the central village.
Western Australia May Have Quiet Towns, But They’re Never Boring
With such a large land mass occupying the western side of the Australian mainland, it’s no surprise that Western Australia has a long list of small towns offering peace and quiet. However, quiet doesn’t have to mean boring or dull, especially in Western Australia.
For maximum seclusion, try the towns of Green Head and Horrocks on the Coral Coast for unspoiled beaches and simple coastal charm. When you want colorful desert landscapes, go to Halls Creek and explore the scenery of Purnululu National Park. And when you crave fine wines and big surf breaks, it’s hard to beat Margaret River. However you want to enjoy some quiet time, you can make it special in these quietest Western Australia towns.
