There are so many unique and extraordinary experiences waiting to be discovered in Western Australia - and many you won't find anywhere else. Local travel writer Jessica Zoiti gives the lowdown on where to find them.
Imagine sitting beneath a vast sky drenched in billions of stars; coming face to face with Kangaroos on the beach, swimming over immaculate coral reef; and soaking in your own private natural plunge pool amidst prehistoric canyons.
Sound too good to be true? Not in Western Australia where experiences like these happen every day.
Perth and Rottnest Island
For most, the journey starts in Perth, where the weather is perfect almost year-round and world-class dining and entertainment sit side-by-side with clear turquoise beaches just 15 minutes from the CBD and sprawling urban parkland.
Throughout the metropolis, you'll find booming rooftop bars, fashionable fine dining restaurants and hidden laneways spattered with street art that lead to basement bars and hipster cafes.
But Perth is also a place where natural and urban landscapes collide. Take the brand new Elizabeth Quay for example, a bustling network of boardwalks, restaurants, bars and public spaces, which seamlessly intertwines the city with the sparkling Swan River.
Then there's Rottnest Island. Located a short 30-minute ferry ride from the city, it's possibly Australia's best-kept secret island, full of turquoise bays (more than 60 in total) so clear, calm and deserted they feel like your own private paradise.
Margaret River Wine Region
Continue your nature-based and epicurean adventure in the Margaret River Wine Region. Situated a three-hour drive south of Perth, this gourmet heaven is home to more than 90 cellar doors, many with highly acclaimed restaurants. The quality of the area's food and wine is matched only by the beauty of its forests and ocean. Here, towering karri trees sprawl to the edge of dramatic limestone cliffs that fall to isolated beaches.
Esperance and Surrounds
You'll find Australia's most dazzling coastline in Esperance, an eight-hour drive south from Perth. The town boasts Australia's whitest beach - Lucky Bay - and is also the ideal base for discovering the area's vast coastal national parks and surrounding outback hinterland, full of fascinating Goldrush history and heritage.
Ningaloo Reef
In Western Australia, encounters with wildlife in its natural habitat happens every day. The towns of Coral Bay and Exmouth, a 12-hour dive north of Perth (or a 1.5-hour flight), sit on the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef and are the perfect places where you can swim with whale sharks (April to July), as well as Humpback Whales (June to November). Rather stay dry? No problem. You'll likely encounter these gentle giants while nibbling canapes and sipping champagne on an eco-cruise too.
Broome and the Kimberley
Head further north to Broome and the colourful Kimberley region and witness dirt so red, oceans so turquoise and skies so blue they're blinding. This is the true Australian outback where Aboriginal rock art sits adjacent to thunderous waterfalls and dramatic gorges where prehistoric crocodiles bask on the banks.
An unbeatable way to witness this awe-inspiring wilderness is on a coastal cruise where luxury comes in the form of fresh chef-prepared seafood, small-group tours, attentive on-board service and exclusive access to remote locations.
Get more local insights to help you plan your holiday at justanotherdayinwa.com