Ultimate weekend breaks
ROTTNEST ISLAND (WADJEMUP)
A quick trip across the water to Rottnest Island is the quintessential short break from Perth, espousing the kind of timeless appeal that makes worries melt away the moment you step off the ferry for a few days of leisurely cycle rides to bays and beaches, swimming, snorkelling and quokka-spotting. And the recent opening of a squeaky new resort expands the accommodation offering: Samphire Rottnest on Thompson Bay blends the island’s signature relaxed coastal style with a little luxury; rooms are chic, natural and understated and the spoils of lagoonstyle pools, beachfront cocktails and more are just a towel’s flick away. Also, for the first time in November, Gourmet Escape brings its fine foodie events to the island.
BROOME
The beguiling beach resort and pearling town of Broome, which sits pretty where red-rock Kimberley meets the turquoise Indian Ocean, is famous for its unique history and cultural diversity. And it’s perfectly proportioned for exploring in a weekend. For a taste (read: sensory explosion) of what it’s all about, time your visit for Shinju Matsuri. The Festival of the Pearl (22 August – 5 September) marks the end of the pearl harvest season with a series of events including the Floating Lantern Matsuri, Mardi Gras, Chinatown Feast and Sunset Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach.
MARGARET RIVER REGION
Known for having vineyards for days, pale sandy shores and sunshine in spades, the Margaret River is the WA weekend getaway that needs no introduction. This world-class wine region three hours’ drive south of Perth invites you to meander between its cellar doors, many with laid-back cafes or fine diners making good use of regional produce and invariably with views out to farmland, wine country and coast. Not sure where to start? Put this year’s Western Australia Gourmet Escape in your diary (17–21 November) to get a taste of it all at festival favourites such as gourmet beach barbecues.
KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK
With two cantilevered viewing platforms that hang 100 metres mid-air above Murchison River Gorge, Kalbarri Skywalk opened last year to provide jaw-dropping views of Kalbarri National Park and insight into its Aboriginal heritage through interpretive signage and artwork by local Nanda artists. It provides another compelling reason to head to this spectacular region on the Coral Coast that also encompasses a majestic coastline, heavenly beaches, pink lakes and wildflowers that bloom into full colour and fragrance from July each year. Kalbarri has been significantly impacted by Cyclone Seroja and the national park is closed at the time of writing, so plan your trip when the time is right to return.
AVON VALLEY
The picturesque Avon Valley, just an hour’s drive east of Perth and WA’s first inland settlement, is a quintessential weekend away: a patchwork of rolling hills and winding streams made for scenic country drives and ambling around historic towns like Northam, Toodyay, York and New Norcia. Curl up by a cosy pub fireplace in winter, spot colourful murals and public artworks and rise at the crack of dawn in Northam for a hot-air balloon ride to take in the landscape. Here in town you’ll also find the impressive Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge and the newly renovated Farmers’ Home Hotel.
EXMOUTH
For a dose of vitamin D and sea head to Exmouth – blessedly situated at the northern gateway to the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, where the lush and colourful underwater world of Ningaloo Reef contrasts against the rugged terrestrial landscape of Cape Range National Park. Don’t miss the chance to explore Cape Range’s spectacular rocky gorges carved by ancient rivers and cruise, kayak or SUP down the deep canyon of Yardie Creek. But the big-ticket attraction – swimming with whale sharks, the biggest fish in the world – is every bit as thrilling as it promises to be.
SOUTHERN FORESTS AND VALLEYS
Disconnect from the stressors of urban life by spending a few days in the Southern Forests and Valleys of WA. Base yourself at the RAC Karri Valley Resort, set on the banks of Lake Beedelup and flanked by the skyscraping karri trees the region is known for, to immerse yourself in nature. Nourish yourself in other ways too: the region is considered a food bowl of WA where you’ll find farm-fresh epicurean treats like chestnuts, finger limes, cherries, ginseng and black truffles, and cool-climate wines from the Pemberton and Manjimup regions.
PERTH
For a weekend of urban activities mingled with sand in the toes, look no further than Perth – a cosmopolitan capital that stacks up in the cultural stakes while remaining steadfastly laid-back. For a taste of the former, check out hip neighbourhoods like Northbridge and Fremantle as well as brand-new WA Museum Boola Bardip – whose name means ‘many stories’ in Noongar language and which bridges striking contemporary architecture with existing heritage buildings. And for a taste of the latter head straight for sunset cocktails at the Cottesloe Beach Hotel.
SWAN VALLEY
Just 25 minutes from Perth, the Swan Valley is ripe for weekend exploration: packed with wineries (it’s WA’s oldest wine region), breweries and distilleries and artisans producing delicious goods like chocolate, nougat and honey, as well as artist studios and galleries to visit. Take an Aboriginal cultural workshop led by Dale Tilbrook of the Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery; pick a trail to follow, from Fresh Seasonal Produce to Fine Wine to Cider and Ale to Sweet Temptations; or book a masterclass such as cheesemaking, and bed down for a night or two at a cute bed and breakfast, farm stay or boutique hotel.
ALBANY
Head to the port town of Albany, set within the Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound, for a weekend of history served up with some epic scenery. Called Kinjarling (meaning ‘the place of the rain’) by the Menang Noongar people, this was the site of both WA’s first European settlement and the last port of call for troopships departing Australia in the First World War; visit the National Anzac Centre for an immersive experience of Anzac legend and take a Kurrah Mia cultural tour to experience the rich and ancient history of the land. Also check out the old whaling station at Discovery Bay, which serves as a fascinating museum, and encounter migrating humpback and southern right whales between June and August as they chart their course along the dramatic coastline here.