WA

Fresh country air, sprawling hillsides, bloody good wine and 14 of your closest friends. Here, unique country houses perfect for group getaways. By Alissa Jenkins and Megan Arkinstall Stonebarn, Quinninup, WA Where: 170 kilometres south-east of Margaret River. What we like: Although this luxury estate has been designed with groups in mind, it functions like a private retreat for couples as well, as every guest suite features a private balcony, kitchenette and en-suite, each with a claw-foot bath and double vanity. (And check out the four-poster king-sized beds!) The shared areas also include a full kitchen, well-stocked wine cellar and...

The next Broome Point Samson, WA Located in the Pilbara region, Point Sampson is an historical town offering sandy beaches that are protected by coral reefs and ideal for snorkelling. Brown, who scored it 8, admits it can be “quite stark yet it goes off into these coral reefs... it’s just a very dramatic place.”

The unknown Uluru at sea Depuch Island, WA Scott insists this place is “out of this world, almost literally.” Giving it a perfect 10, he says the sight of this Uluru-like rock that rises out of the sea is amazing, as are the Aboriginal engravings, deep turquoise sea and white beaches surrounding it.

 Lee Atkinson is bowled over by the beautiful beaches of Esperance My first visit to Esperance was a quick one, a desperate detour on a trans-continental road trip across the Nullarbor when we couldn’t face yet another deep-fried roadhouse disaster masquerading as food or muddy cup of instant coffee. A 400km return trip for a decent feed seemed a small price to pay. The lunch was great (I remember it still: home-made gnocchi in a rich tomato sauce for me, towering chicken focaccia for my friend, greedily devoured whilst overlooking the sea at Taylor Street Jetty Tea Rooms) but we...

  You see some strange things beside the road in country Australia. A big fibreglass banana (Coffs Harbour), a giant concrete sheep (Goulburn), monster golden guitars (Tamworth) and even big boxing crocodiles (Humpty Doo). But if quantity counts for more than size, the Tin Horse Highway wins.   Deep in the southern wheatfields of WA, Kulin’s local farmers have spent the past decade and a half trying to outdo each other by decorating a 20km stretch of roadside with more than 60 tin horses. The last time I drove this stretch of road, there was a tin horse flying a...

Where is it?  The Cocos (Keeling) Islands lie 2750km north-west of Perth in the Indian Ocean How to see it for yourself? Virgin Australia flies to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands from Perth via Christmas Island. Comprising the South Keeling Islands (which ring a central lagoon) and the separate North Keeling Island, only two of the 27 islands are inhabited. These coral atolls were visited by Charles Darwin in 1836 and his studies here contributed to his theory on how coral reefs form. The islands were settled for copra production in 1826 and the small population is descended from the original, mostly Malay Muslim workers. They voted to become part of Australia in 1984. A quintessential...

Where is it? In The Fitzgerald River National Park, 550km south-east of Perth between Albany and Esperance How to see it for yourself? Fitzgerald River National Park contains more than 1800 plant species, 62 unique to the park, and more animal species than any other park in Australia. There are entry points on both sides: from the western side via Bremer Bay, or the eastern side via Hopetoun. The central area of the park, however, is only accessible by 4WD or on foot. Why I love it “Fitzgerald River National Park has incredibly diverse scenery. The Hamersley Dunes are just like a white-sand Sahara. There’s 4WD access and great fishing here, but...

Where is it? Murchison River gorge, Kalbarri National Park, 585km north of Perth How to see it for yourself? From the Kalbarri National Park car park, the lookout can be reached via a 500m walking track. Gazing down, the gorge walls plunge 150m to the river below, where river red gums create a  striking contrast against the earthy Tumblagooda sandstone. Kalbarri Tours offers tailor-made group charters to the gorge, as well as canoeing tours for more adventurous types. Why I love it “Named after the enormous Z bend created over time by the Murchison River, the lookout offers views that will spellbind visitors. There are these  dramatic sandstone...

Where is it?   60km east of Esperance, in Cape Le Grande National Park How to see it for yourself? Hellfire Bay Beach is the easternmost beach on the 15km-long Coastal Track and takes 2.5 hours of hard walking. The easiest option is taking the Merrivale Road out of Esperance. Turn right onto Cape Le Grande Road and left onto Lucky Bay Road. Hellfire Bay is the first beach you come to, opposite Frenchman’s Peak. There’s also a 4WD trail from Esperance to Le Grande Beach. Why I love it? “Hellfire Bay has the most beautiful aquamarine water edged with white, fine squeaky sand. It’s my favourite beach in Australia.” –...

Where is it? 1600km north of Perth, in Karijini National Park How to see it for yourself? Access to the National Park is via sealed Karijini Drive. Most roads inside the park are gravel, but 2WD accessible. Follow the signs to Fortescue Falls. From there, take the walking track into Dales Gorge and past Fortescue Falls then turn right to Fern Pool. Why I love it “Of all the beautiful places in WA, my favourite is walking through the Gorges of Karijini. Fern Pool has a very spiritual feel to it. It’s so peaceful to sit and listen to the water falling, and to see the wildlife that makes this...

Where is it? About 590km south-east of Perth, on Esplanade Road How to see it for yourself? Front Beach borders Fitzgerald River National Park. It’ll take about 7.5 hours to drive here from Perth or 45 minutes from Ravensthorpe, along the helpfully named Hopetoun-Ravensthorpe Rd. Why I love it “This image was captured after sunset, on the evening of an eclipse. It’s rare to capture such an occasion. I will always remember this moment.” – Dene Bingham, photographer Image by Dene Bingham...

Building a luxury resort in one of the world’s most remote locations could have been a nightmare, but after two years of hard work, a dream destination on the Berkeley River in the Kimberley, WA, is becoming a reality. Text and images by Fleur Bainger It’s 4am when I hear the first quad bike start up. The Kimberley sun is beginning its daily climb into the sky, preparing to throw searing rays across the sand dunes, and already blue-shirted workmen are rolling up their sleeves. As the blond and ochre grains of earth absorb the northern heat, architectural drawings are unfurled,...

Each issue Australian Traveller captures a stunning Aussie location. This time, we look at Misery Beach on WA's far south coast. Photo by Andrew Gregory How could somewhere this stunning be named Misery Beach? Pink granite cliffs plunge into translucent turquoise waters just off Western Australia’s Far South Coast, 20 kilometres south of Albany, within King George Sound. Photographer Andrew Gregory captured this shot while researching Australia’s best kayaking locations for his book Kayaking Around Australia. “The water here is quite deep and protected, which is ideal for kayakers, so you can get really close to the cliffs,” says Andrew. “White sand surrounds...