Wild weekend getaways in Western Australia, from Exmouth and Hyden to Rottnest Island.
Swim with whale sharks, marvel at ochre clifftops and explore surreal natural creations from outback to coast. It’s choose your own adventure in Australia’s largest state, with attractions on tap and space for days. These are the best weekend getaways in Western Australia.
Quays and quokkas in Perth and Rottnest Island
The resident quokkas of Rottnest Island/Wadjemup are reason enough to make the ferry trip from Perth/Boorloo or Fremantle. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
What? A play-filled getaway taking in Perth/Boorloo’s pristine beaches and the impossibly cute quokkas of Rottnest Island/Wadjemup.
Tell me more: Thanks to their accessibility, Perth and nearby Rottnest Island make for a rewarding weekend escape in WA. For the capital’s ultimate highlights reel, base yourself in Fremantle. From here peruse the bustling markets, whet your appetite for bayside dining, take a swim at beautiful Bathers Beach and swing by the Little Creatures Brewery for a cheeky ale. Wake up for a day trip to Rottnest Island – just a 30-minute ferry ride from Victoria Quay – where you can hire a bike, hike a section of the 45-kilometre Wadjemup Bidi and take an obligatory selfie with the island’s most famous and adorable residents: quokkas.
An awe-filled escape to Hyden
Discover the vibrant Lake Magic near Wave Rock Resort. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)
The famous Wave Rock. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
There's plenty to explore from Wave Rock Resort. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
What? Tucked into WA’s Wheatbelt region, Hyden offers a unique opportunity to discover bush living along with some of nature’s most surreal creations.
Tell me more: Located a 3.5-hour drive inland from Perth, the rural farming town of Hyden is proof that good things come in small packages. Here, visitors can marvel at the gravity-defying Wave Rock and nearby Hippo’s Yawn, the extraterrestrial colours of Lake Magic and wildflower blankets in spring – with Wave Rock Resort serving as a convenient base.
Outdoor adventures in Dwellingup
Mountain bike in Dwellingup. (Credit: Josh Cowling)
What? While it may be classified as a tiny town, Dwellingup is a big hitter when it comes to outdoor adventures.
Tell me more: Tucked in towering Jarrah forests, this pretty ‘trail town’, just a 90-minute drive south of Perth, offers world-class mountain biking and peaceful river paddling – perfect for an unplugged weekend. Explore the Murray Valley Mountain trails on two wheels, canoe or kayak the Murray River’s gentle rapids (you can hire gear from Dwellingup Adventures), then reward your efforts with a meal at the community-owned and loved ‘Dwelly Pub’.
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An indulgent trip to the Margaret River
Pair’d festival blends nature, community, good food and wine. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)
What? Head to Margaret River for Pair’d festival: four days where the region’s wine, food and music collide. Or opt to explore the scenic area on your own terms.
Tell me more: Returning 19–22 November 2026, the Pair’d program unfurls like a picnic blanket across beaches, forests and vineyards, with Pair’d Beach Club back at Meelup and the Grand Tasting at Howard Park Wines. Expect internationally acclaimed chefs cooking alongside local producers and long lunches paired with live music, plus sommelier-led pours best enjoyed under the bountiful peppermint trees.
A deep-sleep reset in a Bridgetown tiny home
Tiny Matilda offers a solar-powered farm stay. (Credit: Chad Gerber)
What? An off-grid antidote to burnout.
Tell me more:Into The Wild Escapes has partnered with Life Unhurried on The Deep Sleep Reset, landing at tiny homes across the country including Tiny Matilda, a solar-powered hideaway on a regenerative farm in Bridgetown. Guests trade iPhone alerts for native wildlife and an outdoor bath, with a restorative sleep pack including a silk eye mask, cacao blend and mindful card prompts.
A short wildlife break in Exmouth
Exmouth’s coast is home to an abundance of whale sharks, along with other marine life. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
The famed Pink Lake in WA. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
What? Whale sharks, humpbacks and turtles, all off one stretch of coast.
Tell me more: It’s whale shark season at Ningaloo Reef from March through winter, with humpbacks arriving from June. From October, turtles haul themselves up moonlit beaches to breed and nest, best watched on a guided walk from the Jurabi Turtle Centre. Then cool off after dark at one of Exmouth’s buzzy breweries or the Friday Night Markets.
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A floating hotel stay in the Kimberley
Sleep on the waters of the Kimberley at Nyawoorn, a unique pontoon hotel. (Credit: Scotty Connell)
What? The only way to sleep on water beside Kununurra.
Tell me more: Looming, rusty-red Kimberley cliffs backdrop the multi-night stays aboard Nyawoorn, a gussied-up houseboat from Kimberley Spirit that guests get the run of – without needing to drive. Anchor points along the Ord River allow you to kayak to Elephant Rock for a dawn hike, swim beside Jump Rock in the lee of ochre walls and fish for barra near a lone beach. Triple bonus: the owners fill the fridge, relocate the vessel and pop by to whisk you on local-secret excursions.
A culturally enriching visit to Albany
Visit Albany for its scenery as well as its culture, history and heritage. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)
What? This year marks 200 years since Europeans began living alongside Aboriginal people in Albany, and a year-long events program is beckoning visitors.
Tell me more: The harbourside city is reframing bicentenaries with meaningful acts of reconciliation with the local Menang Noongar people, as part of a year-long suite of events. For one exhibition, important Aboriginal artefacts and colonial drawings have been returned home for the first time. Menang people helped researchers in the 1840s to collect and paint studies of fish and reptiles, furthering the understanding of Australia’s natural world. Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country runs at the Museum of the Great Southern until February. Meanwhile, a free-entry walk with thousands of recycled lanterns representing the wagyl, or rainbow serpent, will illuminate the night on 7 November 2026.
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Fleur Bainger is a freelance travel writer and journalism mentor who has been contributing to Australian Traveller since 2009! The thrill of discovering new, hidden and surprising things is what ignites her. She gets a buzz from sharing these...
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship...
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Blend the addictive energy of dance, creative cinematic movies, captivating theatre, and energising music during Perth Festival.
Perth Festival has extraordinary roots. Born as a summer community experiment back in 1953, the brainchild of Professor Fred Alexander, it’s now Australia’s longest-running international art-based festival. From its first event at University of Western Australia, it now spans across Noongar Boodjar country (Perth City) bringing worldclass performances into the hearts of ardent festivalgoers. Hundreds of curtain calls, including numerous free events, are set to linger and leave a lasting impression on those who seek thrills that fill life’s in-between spaces. Featuring unmissable highlights from 6th February to 1st March, we’ve done the legwork for you – here’s what’s on, and where:
1. East Perth Power Station
See East Perth Power Station come alive. (Image: Jessica Wyld Photography)
Abandoned, run-down and shutdown in 1981, East Perth Power Station, located on the banks of the stunning Swan River, was reinvented in 2025 as an entertainment venue for the Perth Festival. Pack a picnic, bring the family and kick back under paperbark trees at Casa Musica – a free event featuring a melting pot of world-class musicians from Australian shores and around the globe. The diversity will have you bopping until the final encore.
A decade after David Bowie’s passing, his powerful music lives on in the electrifying show, Rebel Rebel. Powerhouse vocalists join Perth Symphony Orchestra for one incredible night showcasing the singer-songwriter’s iconic hits. Illuminate your world through the eyes of First Nation Noongar artist, Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo in a free event. His distinctive paintings and Dreamtime stories decorate the Power Station’s walls depicting spiritual beliefs. Or settle in to watch British indie pop singer-songwriter, Nilüfer Yanya.
2. St Mary’s Cathedral
Take in Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth. (Image: Anja Schutz)
Step into the lofty ceilings of Perth’s grandest cathedral, St Mary’s, and soak up choral harmonies. Dating back to 1865, the stained-glass reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper are a talking point, add talented maestros, and the stage is set to enthral.
The international line-up is impressive. Master Irish fiddler, Martin Hayes takes to the stage with exquisite lyrical compositions from his native land. Åkervinda, an award winning Swedish quartet, weave stories of love, loss, and resilience into harmonious Nordic folk songs. The USA Grammy Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth, break all the rules. Hear their voices echo through the arched vaulted ceilings.
3. Lotterywest Films
Discover the Lotterywest Films program. (Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy)
One of the festivals longest-running favourites, Lotterywest Films run a rich tapestry of cinematic features showing until 29th of March. Pack a picnic, cushions, popcorn and pop a cork under a Somerville Pine Tree as the sun sets and screenings begin. Cinema lovers, choose your poison from thrillers, deep-dive documentaries, tearjerkers, raunchy rom-coms and side-splitting comedies. The program is fantastically full, the filmmakers the best in the business, and the outdoor setting, unequalled.
4. The Embassy
Step into the old world glitz of The Embassy. (Image: Franz Bato)
Modelled on Perth’s historic Embassy Ballroom, a devilish dance venue that operated in the 1900s, The Embassy in Perth Town Hall, serves sophistication in its A-list shows. Set your sequins a’sparkle at the, What’s TINA Got to Do With It extravaganza where guest artists play tribute as they belt out the glitzy star’s hits. The returning act, Ali Bodycoat & The Embassy Big Band, will have you jiving as you take to the dance floor reimagining a bygone era. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Black-bearded drag sensation, La Gateau Chocolat puts the raw in cacao. World-renowned for his feisty range of storied songs, he reveals the inner-man come artist through his deliciously sweet and intimate act.
5. Unusual locations
Watch a star-studded cast in The Trial. (Image: Cole Baxter)
We’ve all heard of the hit show, The Office, but a spinetingling operatic thriller acted out in disused office space? Philip Glass’ nail-biter, The Trial, has a star-studded line-up. Together they deliver a dramatic ordeal showcasing Oscar-winner Christopher Hampton’s libretto; the suspense lingers after the final bow.
Sit back under starry skies and soak up dynamic dance at Ballet at the Quarry: Incandescence. Four exclusive classical and contemporary acts illuminate the amphitheatre’s stage as Perth City twinkles at nightfall. Mystery excites the mind. West Australian Opera returns again with another ‘secret opera’. Be led from an undisclosed meeting point and let the music lead to the secret.
6. A View From A Bridge
Share your innermost thoughts at A View From A Bridge.
Free, connecting strangers, and inclusive to everyone, artist, Joe Bloom’s collaborative project, A View From A Bridge has one prop – an old red telephone. Talk into the receiver, share thoughts, innermost feelings, memories, hopes and dreams as Bloom captures you from afar. The freedom to speak through the telephone movement has a worldwide following. A range of clips will be shown online.
What else to do in Perth
Taste the best of Perth at eateries like Shadow Wine Bar.
Endless blue skies crown Perth during February, making it the perfect time to explore Australia’s most western capital city. The city might be compact, but it packs a punch when it comes to what’s on. Perth Cultural Centre houses the city’s art-scene venues: Western Australian Art Gallery, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).
After exploring the city’s alleyways, hidden corners, and main hub, savour worldclass food in Perth’s vibrant eateries. Award-winning restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafes can be found throughout; the leisurely eat-and-drink scene is literally mouthwatering, so book extra nights.
