Search for vacation rental homes in Western Australia

Western Australia is the area less traveled in Australia. This is only one of its many assets. It is an area of vast ecological differences. The northwest is the Outback, where red sand desert meets white sandy beaches. The Southwest's Margaret River region turns out some of Australia's most acclaimed wines. The area is home to the biggest gold strike ever to hit the planet. In spring, the southern portion of the region is covered with a carpet of wild flowers. The area's diverse ecology is ideal as an outdoor playground for visitors. There are enough activities to keep a vacationer busy until the gold runs out! A day in Western Australia can include hiking, swimming, fishing, surfing, horseback riding, sight-seeing, and of course lying out on a beach improving your tan.

The city of Perth is a can't-miss spot during your visit to the region. The state's capital, Perth is the cultural and business center of Western Australia. It hums with all the activity you would expect from a big city. For a glimpse into the past, present, and future of the area, visit the Western Australian Museum. Step back three and a half billion years by viewing micro fossils, found in the Pilbara area, which represent the earliest evidence of life on Earth. The museum also houses an impressive collection relating to Aboriginal culture, as well as displays detailing the flora and fauna of the region. Art lovers will certainly want to check out the Art Gallery of Western Australia. The gallery houses an impressive collection of Australian art, including the finest exhibit of Aboriginal art in Australia. The gallery is brimming with paintings, sculpture, prints, craft, and decorative arts.

The western coast of Australia has been given the apt nickname of "the Sunset Coast." The moniker is due to the beaches, beyond number, that line the pristine shoreline. As this part of Australia is generally off the beaten path, the beaches are far less crowded than the ones in more frequented areas. Perth alone has 19 beaches, all of them inviting to sun bathers. One of the most scenic is Cottesloe Beach. This smallish beach belongs on a post card, and is in the middle of a tony area filled with cafes, shops, and restaurants. Surfers make a beeline for either Scarborough or Trigg Beach. More beach time can be found skirting the coast of scenic little Rockingham, about 30 minutes south of Perth. Rockingham is an aquatic lover's paradise, offering all types of water related activities. One of the most popular is hopping in the bay and swimming with wild dolphin pods as they frolic offshore. Rockingham is also a great place to charter a fishing boat and toss in a line for marlin, sailfish, grouper, or some other bountiful fish!

When you mention great scuba diving, you would be remiss to leave out Australia. But while the Great Barrier Reef gets all the dive publicity, the western portion of Australia is full of enough wall dives, wrecks, canyons, reefs, and caves to make even the pickiest diver giddy. Rottnest Island, just 12 miles off of Perth, has excellent snorkeling and over 100 different dive sites alone! The Ningaloo Reef is a well-kept secret that stretches 161 miles along the northwest cape. Dubbed Australia's "second barrier reef", the Ningaloo can be reached just by walking in the ocean, not traveling for 90 miles like its eastern neighbor. The reef is teeming with sea life. You can see rays, sharks, angel fish, turtles, and many more that call the reef home. One of the most popular endeavors is swimming with the giant whale sharks that reach lengths over 60 feet!

The Margaret River runs through southwestern Australia, leaving in its wake some of the most fertile wine growing country in all of Australia. Forty wineries producing both small and large case amounts grow everything from Margaret River Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon blends. Baldivis Estate, near Rockingham, is a small, intimate winery that also specializes in other gifts to complement its wine production. Hamelin Bay Wines in Karridale produces over 15,000 cases per year, mostly of award winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Devil's Lair Winery in Witchcliffe takes its name from the nearby Devil's Lair cave, known to have been inhabited as long as 40,000 years ago. There is nothing devilish about their Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon!

Western Australia is not to be missed by any vacationer who cherishes Mother Nature in all her glory. Go to the northwest region and tour the world's largest diamond mine. Hit the Big Wave Surfing School in Rockingham and learn to ride the big one. Visit the Aquarium of Western Australia and learn all about the habitat that lives off the 12,000 kilometers of coastline in the region. Western Australia is a feast for the active vacationer. How big is your appetite?