Western Australia

How do you sum up anything about a State the size of Western Australia? At 12 times the size of Britain, anything you say about WA, the opposite is also probably true. But a blank page is utterly unhelpful, so here goes…

Those with a penchant for multi-day walks gravitate to the south-west. While there are fascinating areas north of Perth, access often involves a long and difficult journey and the high temperatures make walking excursions less appealing.

Down in the south-west, the climate is quite temperate. However, it does get very hot in summer, so January and February are not the best times to plan a multi-day walk (unless you’re prepared to start very early and keep the days short). The south-west is well-forested and fertile. Stands of Karri and Tingle trees are a highlight. There are also several well-known wine grape regions, including the famous Margaret River region.

The walks in the south-west also make the most of the area’s wonderful coastline. White sand beaches, colourful coastal heathland, dramatic capes and headlands and unusual geological features keep interest levels high.

Western Australia hasn’t chased walking holiday tourism like the eastern States but the multi-day walks that exist have flourished on their own, which is probably a good measure of their appeal.

Some of the best walking regions in Western Australia are set out below

Margaret River Region

Renowned for its regional food and wineries, the Margaret River region is also home to spectacular and diverse walks. Walking here is a tremendous combination of rugged coastline, lush countryside and towering inland forests. Highlights abound including the stunning offshore rock formations and pristine white sand beaches.