Western Australia's 9 Most Laid-Back Towns
Beyond the bustle of its major cities, Western Australia’s laid-back towns offer quiet main streets, uncrowded beaches, riverside trails, and easy access to the outdoors. Bridgetown is in the heart of Western Australia’s wine country, but its quiet setting makes it ideal for wine tasting. Carnarvon is a small beach town that’s an angler’s dream, with several uncrowded fishing spots along the shores. These laid-back towns make it easy to leave the rush behind and settle into a slower pace.
Margaret River
Margaret River, Western Australia.
Near the southwest coast is the town of Margaret River, right in the heart of one of Australia’s best wine regions. The town makes for a perfect weekend recharge for those who enjoy wine tasting. The Leeuwin Estate is one of the most popular in the region, thanks to its extensive collection of high-quality wines and a restaurant serving up modern fine-dining classics. For a different perspective on wine tasting, Xanadu Wines always has new wines on sale as their flagships for the year.
Aside from wine tastings, Margaret River has plenty laid-back activities. Get outdoors and do some bird watching at the Capes Raptor Centre. The wildlife refuge has plenty of birds of prey flying around, and you can even get a private owl encounter to meet one up close and personal.
Cowaramup
Cow statue in Cowaramup, Australia.
Not far from Margaret River is Cowaramup, a tiny town that locals call “Cowtown.” Despite the name actually having nothing to do with cows, the town has embraced them as its symbol. The town celebrates its name and cows during the annual Deja Moo Country Fair in September. The event sees many of the locals dress up in cow costumes. There is live music, food trucks, and local vendors. The local candy store, The Candy Cow, also embraces the cow imagery with lighthearted decorations themed around bovines and an extensive selection of candy.
Apart from the out-of-the-ordinary name, Cowaramup represents one of Western Australia’s best wine towns. Vasse Felix is the town’s premier winery, with tastings, a restaurant, and an art gallery that make it a cultural hub for the town.
Bridgetown
The Bridge on Blackwood River, Bridgetown, Western Australia.
Inland from Cowaramup is Bridgetown, another wine town but with an even quieter reputation than Margaret River. The Sunnyhurst Winery in town is one of the more popular places, with a scenic atmosphere and affordable prices. Visitors can even meet the owners who grow the grapes and make the wines to get recommendations and insights into what’s best. Bridgetown is also the home of Ooh La Lollipop. The store has a nearly endless selection of candy from across the world.
Nature lovers also flock to Bridgetown to spend some time at Blackwood River Park. The park follows along the shores of the Blackwood River, where you can trek across the river walk to get excellent views of the water and spot local birds and fish.
Esperance
Hellfire Bay in Esperance, Western Australia.
Esperance lies in the Great Australian Bight and has several bodies of water near it, including Esperance Bay, Pink Lake, and Lake Warden. Esperance Beach has beautiful views of the bay, and it is an easy walk from town. If you’d rather just take a tour of the coast, pack a lunch and take a drive on the Esperance Great Ocean Drive. The drive goes around the area, highlighting some of the sights and attractions. And drivers get to experience it all from their vehicle for a laid-back trip at their own pace.
Just outside of town is Esperance Stonehenge, one of the area’s most popular attractions. The structure is a recreation of the real Stonehenge in the United Kingdom, recreated to look like what we think it did around 1950 BCE.
Kambalda
Kambalda was once a Gold Rush town, but it now occupies a place as a quiet town split into Kambalda East and Kambalda West. Nature lovers should head to the Red Hill Lookout, as the area offers a beautiful view of the landscape and town. For a little more green outside, book a tee time at the Kambalda Country Club to play their course just outside of town. The course offers 18 holes, and the general public is welcome.
Visit the town in January for its annual Australia Day celebration. The festival includes a community breakfast and a celebration of the things that make Australia such a great place.
Pemberton
Lake near Pemberton, Western Australia.
It doesn't get much more laid back than a trip through a forest, and Pemberton delivers on that front. Gloucester National Park offers plenty of trails to bushwalk through while marveling at the native Karri trees. They are the tallest trees in the state and reach upwards of 95 meters. Alternatively, the park offers a scenic drive to see the beautiful trees from the comfort of your vehicle. Or for a different way to see the Karri forests, grab a ticket with the Pemberton Tramway Company to ride the tram through the forest.
Back in town, the Peter Kovascsy Studio & Art Gallery contains the work of one of Pemberton's best artists, and visitors can marvel at his glass creations. Australian favorites, like fillet steak and Guinness pie, as well as delicious cocktails, are served at Jaspers Pemberton.
Green Head
View of Dynamite Bay, Green Head, Western Australia.
Green Head is a quiet coastal town with a little more than 250 permanent residents. Its quiet beaches offer a calmer alternative to Western Australia’s busier tourist centers. Visitors find a laid-back vibe and welcoming community that will make them feel right at home.
The Green Head Gallery Cafe is home to artwork by Deborah O’Brien, so you can admire her creations while sipping coffee before heading off to the beach. The beach at Dynamite Bay features nice, white sand, and amazing views of the Indian Ocean from the shore. Anchorage Bay Jetty, just north of town, allows you to try your hand at fishing.
Carnarvon
The Carnavon Fascine in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
Carnarvon keeps outdoor days full, from river fishing to coastal exploring. Anglers especially have made it a point to visit, thanks to some of the best fishing in all of Western Australia. Dwyer’s Leap, on the Gascoyne River has mangrove jack, bream, flathead, and more. If, on the off chance, the fish aren’t biting there, Town Beach has ample fishing with flathead, bream, and whiting.
Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum highlights the contributions to manned space flight that Carnarvon provided over the years. Once the sun goes down, Saturday night dirt racing at Carnarvon Speedway sets the stage. The best racers from the area descend on the track to put on a great show for fans and some of the best racing in all of Australia.
Broome
The largest town in the Kimberley region, Broome is a cultural hotbed of the area. In September, that multiculturalism is on full display during the Shinju Matsuri Festival. The festival celebrates the pearling industry that put Broome on the map while drawing influence from the Japanese, European, Aboriginal, Malay, and Chinese cultures that shaped the town. Broome Historical Museum traces the town’s pearling history through photographs, artifacts, and personal stories.
To see a different side of Broome culture, come in August for the Broome Cup. It’s one of the biggest horse races of the year for Western Australia, and the town comes alive as everyone prepares to cheer on their favorite horses and jockeys.
Peace and Quiet in Western Australia Towns
Western Australia’s laid-back towns prove that a slower pace can still leave a lasting impression. Wine tastings, river walks, quiet fishing spots, open beaches, and wide landscapes give visitors room to enjoy each place without rushing. Together, these towns reveal a calmer side of the state shaped by simple pleasures and unhurried days.
