Western Australia is the largest state in Australia and occupies just under a third of the land mass. It is bound by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, and the Southern Ocean to the south. Bordering the Northern Territory and South Australia, Western Australia is close to the outback and the Margaret River wine region.

Perth is WA’s capital city and is home to 2.1 million people and sits alongside the Swan River, which is a tourist destination in itself. The Swan River starts flowing in at the Avon River before flowing into the Indian Ocean at Fremantle.

Western Australia Cruises

Captain Cook Cruises offers the most picturesque cruises along the Swan River. The Swan River Dinner Cruise begins at 7:30pm and runs for two and a half hours.

You will also enjoy complimentary drinks over the duration of the cruise, alongside live entertainment; and indoor or outdoor dining on board the upper deck. It’s a great way to see the Perth City skyline at night time.

There are also plenty of safe swimming spots along the Swan River. A favourite for the whole family is the Bicton Baths, which is ideal for swimming or a picnic.

There’s swimming opportunities, a playground for warm summer’s days, a BBQ and you can even go kayaking or stand-up paddle-boarding. It’s a great alternative to the beach.

Matilda Bay

Matilda Bay is another popular spot for swimming, kayaking, standup paddle-boarding or simply chilling out on an inflatable. Kids love to jump off the pontoon and there’s tea rooms nearby so you can get some refreshments if you don’t want to have a picnic or BBQ.

If you’ve got little kids then head to Lucky Bay, with its shallow and sandy foreshore it’s ideal for swimming, kayaking or stand up paddle-boarding. There is also a playground with a couple of slides and plenty of trees to provide shade on hot days.

The Bell Tower is located just where the Swan River meets Barrack Square. It is a hotspot for Australian and international tourists. The Bell Tower was custom built to house the significant bells of Saint Martin in the Fields Church, London.

The bells date back to the 14th century. Aside from the wonderful bell ringing, you’ll be in awe of the beautiful views of the Swan River from the open air observation deck on the sixth floor.

The Bell Tower is the only place in the world where you can watch the bell ringing in action, or ring the bell yourself in one of their Bell Tower Chiming Experience tours.
History lovers will want to stop by Kings Park to see the State War Memorial, which commemorates Western Australians who died in service in all wars and conflicts that Australians have been involved in.

The 18 metre tall obelisk is situated at the top of Kings Park and the Botanic Gardens, with the War Memorial overlooking the city of Perth; and the Swan and Canning Rivers, as well as the Darling Ranges.

You can pay tribute to those who lost their lives by taking a look at the bronze plaques on the outside wall of the crypt entrance. Almost 4,000 names are listed.

A small town situated, just 19 kilometres South West of Perth’s CBD, Fremantle is a harbour city that hosted the 1987 America’s Cup. Today, however Fremantle is more well-known for it’s Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes and its arts and culinary scene.

The former Fremantle Prison

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could go into a prison without actually having to serve time? The former Fremantle Prison runs tours where you can visit the Convict Prison and learn all about the criminal history of Western Australia.

You can combine the tour with the Behind Bars or True Crime tours. The Behind Bars tour will take you through the main cell block where you’ll be able to go behind bars and see what it was like for prisoners in the early days of Fremantle’s settlement.

Meanwhile the True Crime tour will take you behind the mind of criminals. There is also a Tunnels Tour where you can walk through tunnels built by prisoners or the Torchlight Tour. The Torchlight Tour is not for the fainthearted and is on offer twice a week.

After you’ve spent your time traipsing through an old prison you’ll probably need a drink or two so it’s the ideal time to visit the Margaret River region. There are loads of different wine tours available and you’ll learn all about how the wine is made, and get to sample some wine along the way.

Castle Rock Beach

Castle Rock Beach is in Busselton, which is approximately 220 kilometres south west of Perth and has beautiful turquoise waters that are great for swimming or scuba snorkelling and diving.

It’s protected from the elements so if you want to go hiking or have a nice picnic at the beach, it’s the perfect location to do so. It also has a great swell, which appeals to surfers.