7 profound experiences unique to Western Australia

Travel deep into Western Australia and discover the lesser-known stories that have provided the foundation of this country.

It’s easy to get caught up in the visual delights of Australia — stunning natural landmarks, red and orange-tinged skylines, bodies of transparent water with a shimmery blue hue and deceptively adorable fauna. However, dig deeper than the surface and you’ll inch closer to appreciating the breadth of Australia’s history, making the pretty sights that much richer. That’s where AAT Kings Western Australia tours step in.

Explore Australia’s stunning western state, including Kalbarri National Park. (Image: aeroture_au)

About AAT Kings

For an eye-opening and immersive visit to Western Australia, hitch your wagon to AAT Kings. With over 100 years of experience offering well-rounded and thoughtful travel experiences led by travel experts, its goal is to help guests understand the culture behind Australia’s well-known and little-travelled destinations, so tourists can broaden their horizons while chasing the sights. Adventure to remote corners of this state with ease and comfort – everything is taken care of for you.

Here are a few highlights hand-picked from the tour itineraries.

1. Learn the lay of the land at Yanchep National Park

Yanchep National Park is one of many AAT Kings Make Travel Matter Experiences, where Noongar man and tour leader, Derek Nannup, gives culture seekers a first-hand account of the land’s origins. Listen to Derek’s retelling of Dreamtime stories before prepping and tasting traditional bush tucker sourced from your surroundings.

After learning about the significance of the didgeridoo, there will be ample time to traipse through Yanchep National Park’s extensive bushland, exploring caves and winding trails that guide you through the park. Ensuring you appreciate their beauty from afar, keep an eye peeled for the western grey kangaroos who call Yanchep home.

Learn from Derek at Yanchep National Park. (Image: Tourism WA)

2. Sample rum in the sun at Hoochery Distillery

It doesn’t get more authentically outback than visiting a rum factory near the border of WA and the NT, so pop your head behind the curtains and see how the delectable drop is made at the Hoochery Distillery.

Learn the lore of the Dessert family and their persistence to use locally-grown ingredients all these decades later. No distillery visit is complete without partaking in a taste test, so work your way through an array of unique spirits while marvelling at the sprawling surroundings.

Join a tour at the Hoochery Distillery. (Image: Tourism WA)

3. Enjoy some ‘me time’ at El Questro Wilderness Park

Every holiday should include some much-deserved rest and relaxation, so let that place be El Questro Wilderness Park. Open annually from April to October, this 700-hectare sanctuary has it all: natural springs to wash off the day’s travels; flowing waterfalls for picture-perfect moments; and impressive gorges that might sing back to you in particularly cavernous areas.

Join one of the many tours throughout El Questro, or hole up at Emma Gorge Resort after a day of adventures to lay by its on-site pool. After enough time poolside, prepare for a night of dinner and wine before retiring to kitted-out tented cabins for a sound night’s sleep.

Go off grid at El Questro. (Image: Tourism WA)

4. See wildflowers at Kalbarri National Park

Life won’t be complete until you’ve witnessed thousands upon thousands of wildflowers sprouting across WA. From September, journey to Kalbarri National Park and stop to smell the wildflowers as they fully bloom, forming a natural bouquet of 12,000 flower species across hectares of land.

For flower aficionados, you’ll be interested to know that many of those species are unique to WA, so take plenty of photos as you’re unlikely to encounter this natural phenomenon anywhere else in the world.

See wildflowers come to life at Kalbarri National Park. (Image: Greg Snell)

5. Reflect on a time that once was at Argyle Diamond Mine

Led by a Traditional Owner Ted Hall, venture through the now-defunct Argyle Diamond Mine and learn about the sacred site in which the mine was built on and the Jaliwang (Barramundi) Dreaming Story it’s a part of.

Enjoy lunch in the miner’s mess hall while Ted shares the story of the rare pink mineral this mine produced. Pink diamonds sourced from Argyle made up over 90 per cent of the world’s supply, so add that to the list of things you can only find Down Under. The sheer size of the mine is gobsmacking, so make sure to take it all in with your eyes as your tour guide fills your ears with the mine’s rocky backstory.

6. View turtles from above on a Ningaloo Reef cruise

Sail across the World Heritage-listed Coral Bay and stare intently through the glass-bottom boat as sea creatures go about their business, completely unperturbed. The onboard naturalist will be able to avert your gaze to the hidden corners of the bay, explaining the sights at length to grow your fundamental knowledge of marine life.

Expect to see adorable turtles, thousands of sparkling fish and, if you’re lucky, majestic whale sharks and humpbacks.

See the creatures of Ningaloo from above. (Image: Tourism WA)

7. Stargaze at Karijini National Park

For a truly indescribable experience, hop on a tour through Karijini National Park and let the guide take you on a journey to the past. Featuring geological wonders that took billions of years to sculpt, your time spent at Karijini will be nothing short of inspiring.

Rock pools and waterfalls can be found in abundance, making for a great reprieve from the short hikes. Prepare to feel somewhat insignificant as you stargaze at night from your Karijini Eco Retreat safari tent, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town.

Stargaze at night from your Karijini Eco Retreat safari tent. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find more adventures at aatkings.com