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The west coast of Australia is Australia's largest state, covering approximately one third of the entire continent. And with a population of under 2 million it is also very empty, much of it consisting of beautiful variations of desert. It is a land so vast and so full of amazing wonders, it may take more than one visit to fully experience it.

 

From the far north with the rugged Kimberley Ranges to the Great Southern Region where some of Australia's best wineries lie, diversity is the key word here.

 

The West as it is known to those living in eastern Australia will not disappoint nature-lovers. From the great Ocean to the desert it is known as the Wildflower State and with over 7000 species of plants you can see it has earnt its name. In the Spring these flowers bloom in abundance and delight the many holidaymakers who come to see natural beauty writ large.

 

The Capital city is Perth, a friendly and sunny city seen by many as the remotest city on earth. Until recently this was the place most Australians migrated to in search of the good life at an affordable price. Located on the beautiful Swan River, just inland from the port of Fremantle it is one of the country's most atmospheric, historic towns. It has also recently become increasingly vibrant, full of enterprising businesses and prospering very well indeed.

 

Perth and it's metropolis dominate the coastal plain spreading westwards from the Darling Range, Australia's modest equivalent of the Great Dividing Range. With a Mediterranean climate, an often spectacularly rugged coastline, fine forests and the lion's share of fertile farmland, this is the most densely inhabited part of the state. Inland stretches the Wheat Belt, its yields of grain dependent on a variable rainfall gradually merging into the scrublands that herald the desert itself. Among the gold-rush towns lying defunct along the desert rim are some, like Kalgoorlie-Boulder, still with plenty of kick in them.

 

In the rest of the State people are thinly spread and this is the place for tourists looking for remote Australia. Small towns with wide spaces between them lie dotted along the incredibly long coastline. The old pearling base of Broome is enjoying a revival as a tourist attraction while Port Hedland deals efficiently with the iron ore being extracted in huge quantities from it's Pilbara hinterland.

 

The grandeur of Western Australia's natural landscapes is more attractive to its visitors than the urban amenities. The paving of the highways to the north and the north-west of the state has encouraged visitors to explore areas previously considerd to be well off the beaten track. Even more than the harsh, vast Hamersley Range in the Pilbara, the far-off, tropical Kimberley is attracting tourists to its wealth of natural wonders. As well as the Geikie Gorge and the impressive Bungle Bungle range there are ancient aboriginal paintings on the Mitchell Plateau making it well worth a visit.

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