just realised I need to book flights to WA for the family by midnight tonight to take advantage of a points deal for a family trip over christmas/ new year (wife, 2 kids 11 and 13)

I can stay at my sisters (who has just moved over so no help in planning) in kallamuna and am willing to pay for accomodation in other spots and hire a car etc.
I was originally thinking three weeks - WE would like to see as much as possible and have never set foot in WA.
Or should I make it longer? Obviously perth/rottnest freemantle, possibly margaret river area all from perth? Then several days to see albany area. Then geraldton and coral bay / exmouth/ ningaloo
Am I trying to do too much? I might not be able to return for a long time. It's a long way from North Queensland.
So far the only things I really know about are rottnest and I hear the whaling museum at albany. Any opinions or suggestions welcome

Whoa - that's a heavy travel plan... and will see you pin-balling from place to place with no time to enjoy it.

Do an over-nighter in Rottnest - go over early and come back late and give yourself time to ride around the island and snorkel the different bays... I am heading over there tomorrow and we are doing 3 nights 4 days...

Plenty to see and do in a week down south - Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River, Augusta etc - easy a week to enjoy it without rushing around.

Denmark and Albany are about 5hrs from Perth - or another couple hours on from Margaret River.

Dongara/Denison - Geraldton (4hrs) and then Kalbarri (7hrs from Perth) north is another week.

Exmouth and Coral Bay etc are about 14hrs drive North. With kids you might need to split it over two days - but there is no good halfway spot to stay... Xmas not the best time to go - we are flying up in July to save the 4 days of travel up and back. Have not been for 28yrs...

I would stick to the Perth, Fremantle, Rottnest, down South loop and you should have a good amount of time to see and do plenty. Book accomodation for Rottnest and down South now to avoid missing out.

There's a lot to squeeze in. If I went north I'd focus on Kalbarri and coral bay, they'd be my picks of places to visit. If you can while up there Karijini National Park is amazing.
Whale shark season is a good time to go and an incredible experience. Can be done in coral bay or exmouth (exmouth would be the better). It's a long way but the ningaloo is too good to miss.

Rotto can be done quickly in a day if need be. You get the first ferry, hire a bike and tear around for the day. Obviously more time is better.

Down south is good because everything is pretty close together. The wineries around Margs, the caves are cool, bush walks and the surf.

edit...didn't see the Xmas time part. Out of season for whale sharks. One of my favourite times up the ningaloo though. Although it's hot and loads of flies , it's quiet with barely any people around.

thanks thats exactly the kind of advice im chasing.
Noted the rotto overnight - i guess two nights better or is one night more than enough? will try and organise with sister and her family
might just only head as far north as geraldton in the car then. Is that area worth seeing/ taking the fam in summer or is it mainly windsports only? I was thinking of bringing my harness and hiring a wave board or kite and sailing the lighthouse?
Seems the best way if i wanted to do exmouth region is to fly and hire a car from exmouth. just researching now. thinking this is definatley a possibiity as the car will be free, the accomodation low season and the flights to perth are free. How many nights in that area? If there I'd like to dive the navy jetty.
Have already dived with plenty of whales/ whalesharks etc so not overly fussed I can do that at home. But would be nice to check out coral bay and ningaloo. Is it blown out in summer? Old man reckons need two days to go and see karinji gorge and do the tom price mine tour but might be too hot that time of year? too hot at coral bay and exmouth? We live in NQ so it will probably be similar along the coast as home I guess, but summer is not my favourite time of year to be outdoors here either.

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myusernam said..
thanks thats exactly the kind of advice im chasing.
Noted the rotto overnight - i guess two nights better or is one night more than enough? will try and organise with sister and her family
might just only head as far north as geraldton in the car then. Is that area worth seeing/ taking the fam in summer or is it mainly windsports only? I was thinking of bringing my harness and hiring a wave board or kite and sailing the lighthouse?
Seems the best way if i wanted to do exmouth region is to fly and hire a car from exmouth. just researching now. thinking this is definatley a possibiity as the car will be free, the accomodation low season and the flights to perth are free. How many nights in that area? If there I'd like to dive the navy jetty.
Have already dived with plenty of whales/ whalesharks etc so not overly fussed I can do that at home. But would be nice to check out coral bay and ningaloo. Is it blown out in summer? Old man reckons need two days to go and see karinji gorge and do the tom price mine tour but might be too hot that time of year? too hot at coral bay and exmouth? We live in NQ so it will probably be similar along the coast as home I guess, but summer is not my favourite time of year to be outdoors here either.

That time of year head south, Margs, Walpole, Denmark and Albany. Esperance is well worth a visit if you have time. Will be a nice contrast to NQ. Come in winter and go north. Too much to do the whole coast in 3 weeks.

I've never been to coral bay so won't comment north of Kalbarri, Kal is very nice, I'd recommend 5 days there is u can, trip out to the gorge (nature's window) etc is a day in itself and a Must do. (Lots of flies, take vails if u can) pack lunch.
Down south is my favourite. As mentioned previously, allow a week to spend down there, yallingup, dunsborough, gnarabup, boranup are all highlights amongst many awesome craft brewers and wineries. It's hard to find a meal that isn't good.
Eagle bay brewery is my pick for location, beer and lunch! (In that order =)
Happy travels!

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myusernam said..
thanks thats exactly the kind of advice im chasing.
Noted the rotto overnight - i guess two nights better or is one night more than enough? will try and organise with sister and her family
might just only head as far north as geraldton in the car then. Is that area worth seeing/ taking the fam in summer or is it mainly windsports only? I was thinking of bringing my harness and hiring a wave board or kite and sailing the lighthouse?
Seems the best way if i wanted to do exmouth region is to fly and hire a car from exmouth. just researching now. thinking this is definatley a possibiity as the car will be free, the accomodation low season and the flights to perth are free. How many nights in that area? If there I'd like to dive the navy jetty.
Have already dived with plenty of whales/ whalesharks etc so not overly fussed I can do that at home. But would be nice to check out coral bay and ningaloo. Is it blown out in summer? Old man reckons need two days to go and see karinji gorge and do the tom price mine tour but might be too hot that time of year? too hot at coral bay and exmouth? We live in NQ so it will probably be similar along the coast as home I guess, but summer is not my favourite time of year to be outdoors here either.

Yep Karijini still a little hot this time of year. Two days there would be nowhere near enough time to spend there. Spend 4 days in that place and you'll leave thinking that you hadn't spent enough time there.

Most of the advice is not too bad, but I can't get over the recommendations for Kalbarri.

Are you guys trying to prank him?
Kalbarri is an absolute hole.
The gorges are nice, take a day for that, but unless you are expecting to do a bit of fishing, if the wind stops blowing that time of year, there is nothing in Kalbarri.
The shops and 'restaurants' don't even have fresh fish, it's all shipped up frozen from Perth.

What am I missing about Kalbarri? What is there to do for more than two days stay?

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kiterboy said..
Most of the advice is not too bad, but I can't get over the recommendations for Kalbarri.

Are you guys trying to prank him?
Kalbarri is an absolute hole.
The gorges are nice, take a day for that, but unless you are expecting to do a bit of fishing, if the wind stops blowing that time of year, there is nothing in Kalbarri.
The shops and 'restaurants' don't even have fresh fish, it's all shipped up frozen from Perth.

What am I missing about Kalbarri? What is there to do for more than two days stay?

Kalbarri a hole??? You would just love Wiluna then. I have often found a place will be what you want/make it to be and anywhere on the coast in summer is windy just need to get up early and make the most of it before the sea breeze comes in.

Myusernam as others have said down south margs way in summer would be the go , there is a lot in relatively one area so you can stay one place and daytrip and a variety of accommodation options but depending on the exact location probably more flys from the cow dung than Kalbarri. If you want to head north it really helps to have a 4WD to access some locations.
Perth aint a bad place if you don't have to work there if you like city stuff maybe Elizabeth Quay, Yagan Square otherwise good beaches, nice river, plenty of day tripper stuff to do and Rotto is good even better if you have access to a boat or just buy/bring some snorkeling gear you will get raped on hire gear.

Also don't forget a really good telescope we have a good clear uninterrupted view of Durban from Perth.

I think you are all getting waaaay ahead of yourselves.

Any trip to WA and the first thing you need to plan is how to get out of the airport.

Your choices are :

taxi - but this requires a loan from the IMF slightly bigger than the one given to Greece during the GFC and to be fluent in at least 6 different languages (except English)
walk - best take some sort of defence weapon, like one division of the riot police squad just in case any locals approach you for some smokes
train - Timetable isn't as good as it could be - got to wait until 2022 for the next one due to there being no station
bus - they go from terminal 2 to the long stay car park twice a week (unless it is raining or the bus drivers are on strike)

and before somebody suggests a hire car the above choices are to get from the car hire desks to the hire car parking lot.

Rotto is crazy expensive to see some nice reef action when snorkelling, but not much else- and you will get that at Ningaloo.
The south west is great but I guess you want to get on the water too? It is windy season....... and north of Perth is a bit better

Southwest is where the rich go to that time of year to avoid heat and having to see common folk, so its lovely..... but again, crazy expensive. Albany had a building where they used to slaughter whales, and ummmmm..... hmmm.....ummm.....

Thus I reckon if I had 3 weeks to get plenty of windsurfing/ kiting/SUP / snorkel but still keep the family happy I'd do

Perth couple days, once you have seen Kings Park and Freo you're kinda done
Southwest 3 days- Augusta, Pemberton,Margaret River, forest and caves, a winery at $200 for 2.4 people to eat lunch, done.
Get to Exmouth fast as you can with no sightseeing then work ur way back slowly ....... do Ningaloo / Coral Bay for a few days, Shark Bay couple days, Geraldton for a week, Jurien Bay and Lancelin couple days.

If u can, be flexible enough that if Perth will be anything over 32-35deg for a week that you can go to Esperance. Its kinda like an opposite weather pattern- Perth sh!t and 40deg = Esperance 25deg and magic.
I know flexibility is hard that time of year though as everywhere will be booked.....

Best way to do rottnest is by boating. Accommodation to stay over and food is way overrated and expensive.
A day trip there would be more than enough for me. Spend the dough and time for other further destinations. The joke of going to Lombok or Rotten for the same price still fundamentally correct.

Do you plan to sail while here? Will need to rent a van to fit the gear inside.

Must go to Albany.

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Mark _australia said..
Rotto is crazy expensive.........but the family will need the mandatory quokka selfies

If u can, be flexible enough that if Perth will be anything over 32-35deg for a week that you can go to Esperance. Its kinda like an opposite weather pattern- Perth sh!t and 40deg = Esperance 25deg and magic.

if you are going to Esperance, you better contact Chook, and get the family landsailing on Pink Lake!!
and when you do - happy snaps required as proof!!

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GPA said..
Whoa - that's a heavy travel plan... and will see you pin-balling from place to place with no time to enjoy it.

^This.. We've had mates out from the UK numerous times at different times of the year.
Fiendish plans for one couple in summer was Shark Bay for the Dolphins.
We started them off with a 3 day kite trip to Cervantes... by Cataby they were asking how much further it was and fark me is it any cooler north of here...

Needless to say they opted for the down south trip next...


Also... the local dolphins were quite accommodating...

In 3 weeks you could do a fair bit. I like the sound of Marks itenerary.
If you want pack in a lot then a week up north, a week in the metro area and a week down south, could work with a lot of driving or some charter flights?

Kalbarri, Coral Bay & Exmouth are all nice but my family would be bored with more than two days stay, but I'd be happy diving, fishing & kiting for a week, it's hot and there's a lot of driving between watering holes up that way. There's usually heaps of wind up there and obviously around Gero, Dongara & Pt Gregory.

Metro, plenty of city life stuff to do there, it's not my town and I don't usually enjoy going there unless I've got tickets (I think something to do with an inability to respect other road users or show courtesy usually starts it but now the pubs up there have started serving pints of beer in smaller NSW size glasses at the same overinflated price - end rant) , Rotto would be good to chill for one or maybe two nights, there must be somewhere to kite around the island? Just up the road are a few nice beach side towns, Lancelin, Jurien etc. but probably a one night stop rather than a day trip.

Down south is a good place to chill, if you're based around Margs or Augusta (if you can find accommodation available) then you can day-trip around the coast, Albany is 4 hours drive from Augusta and there's not much else there, Margs area has the obligatory wineries, breweries, visit Bootleg if you can.

Planning our holidays around the state involves an old map and a highlighter! Google maps gives a reasonably good estimate of driving time, even accounting for Perth drivers

Enjoy your trip!
Cheers, j

Thanks all for your help so far. So the points deal thing finshed at midnight tonight so I just smashed my balance.
Ended up booking just over four weeks. sister has two oztents and a new van so we're going camping at some stage. They just got back from albany and asid they'd go back so I guess thats probably where we'll go camping. Looked really nice. She has the two cars and bro in law is FIFO monday to thursday so should be able to use car inbetween etc.
They have only been there since jan and haven't even been to rotto yet but they said it's good to have nice weather there when you go? Now flights are booked by deadline I can google stuff and try and work out what I'd like to do.

I do a lot of boating and snorkelling etc in NQ but am interested in the different marine enviroment. We will probably find the water very cold. I'm absolutely not a lay on the beach kind of person though, nor are the rest of the fam.

I also booked a side trip to exmouth from perth (as I didnt fancy driving all that way and back)
but perhaps I've made it too long? Have got us arriving at 0725 on a friday and flying out at 3pm the following wednesday (at the end of the trip. get back on wed, fly out home on friday)
If this is too long in this area I can possibly change it. (It was a points booking unsure of penalties)

I can't believe how much it is to dive the navy pier. It's the same price here to go 50 nautical miles out. The navy pier you drive there in a car! Plus they have exclusive access. Sounds like a good wicket. I might do a single dive there.

So with my plan of the first week doing day trips around perth, then a big trip south, back for a few days and then north but only driving north as far as geraldton, and then flying north to exmouth and driviing back down to coral bay. I'll miss out on whatever is between coral bay and gero - much? I would have loved to sit on the beach at gnarloo (dreamt about it as a youngster) but I understand its a bit harsh and probably need a 4wd. And it would probably depress me not sailing. Can't see everything but trying to maximise my spend. Don't know if I'll be rushing back - my parents were in their sixties before they went ina caravan. I used all my qantas points because the flights are so expensive. The exmouth flights were a lot also.

Do i need a 4wd at exmouth or will a sedan do? (lot cheaper in points to hire a sedan but if there's any 4wd only musts I will shell out)

thanks everyone excited to see a part of australia that I didn't think I 'd get to untill I retired. I always wanted to go windurfing there as a youngster. Most of my friends have only been there through work - It's a long way!

Most national and international travellers that call into my cafe put the west Australian coastline as the highlight of their trip, especially from Lancelin north, imho we're bloody spoilt, pristine , uncrowded beaches and water, sometimes it's great to go back to basics, spend quality time away from the norm without all the distractions , campers are a great way to enjoy our region, 3 weeks ain't long enough

Shark bay, fly to Dirk hartog island, or jump on the shotover racing yaught for a day cruising across the bay,
abrohlos islands, stunning spot & amazing dives, coronation beach a Mecca for poleys and kiters, my hometown dongara is a cracking spot, Exmouth and coral bay , whale shark , manta dives, stunning snorkelling and dives, I've lived here for ten years and still heaps I want to do, enjoy WA

3 weeks Xmas new year
Exmouth will be windy, no swell, no whale sharks , potentially 43c, eating flies

If you want to windsurf Head to Corros, Geraldton, the rest is just tourist stuff

100 euros can't be wrong

Just saying IMHO

I would split the two areas into 2 separate holidays.
Perth and the south west for summer time

Kalbarri/Coral Bay, Exmouth for winter time

Coral Bay/Exmouth, Karijini expect Cyclones flash flooding and 45 degree days that time of year.

Perth, Margaret River and Albany/Denmark/Walpole best time of year.

Spend a week in each area

why does everyone say go to margs and the south west . go east . so much amazing countryside

Friday to Wednesday in Exmouth could be a little long, depending on what you're into. I would hire a 4wd & explore off road, get out charter fishing, take two dives on the navy pier, I'd try to get one afternoon and one night dive if they do them, it is expensive compared to the Busso jetty dive, and the Swan wreck is close by.

I think the Marg's area is recommended by many because the South West offers alot of variety in short drive distance, tourists get value for time and money, compared with north and east, agreed the country is spectacular but getting there and going somewhere else from there is a long trip. Just my opinion though.

Cheers, enjoy your trip

If you hold off for a year and a half and work 3 hours a day at it , you can use this 4 seater (Bearhawk model B) for under 70K with 260 HP
See anything you want anywhere , All DIY

God's Window

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What am I missing about Kalbarri?

Expect to travel at least 600km per day on some of the days - tell the kids don't bother asking "are we there yet" Make sure they have DVDs, computer games, audio books, puzzle books, stationery etc. There's also good old eye spy you can play etc

Make use of free camping there are some great ones up north. Make sure there is a pool where you stay and you'll need a drill for putting tent pegs into ground at Sharks Bay - caravan parks usually lend you theirs. You'll need fly nets to cover your faces in case flies are bad. It's either windy or flies.

There is bugger all shade at most beaches at Rotto so if it happens to be a 40deg day when you go take plenty of water and cover up. Rotto is magic. The tunnels are amazing under the old war guns. Lighthouse is great. Snorkelling, surfing & fishing all top class. You can watch a movie at the movie house and there's a put put course, trampolines and other games. Beautiful church, museum and old salt house. Lots of history tours. Food at supermarket has markup but hey thats to be expected on an island. There's a bakery thats makes pizzas, Dome cafe, few resturants and a great pub. You can also have spa treatments. There's a super healthy cafe. Clothes shop & pharmacy.
You can camp then you dont have to go into loterry for accommodation. They take all your bags/tents/esky to campsite from the ferry. There's gas bbqs, power points for appliances, hot showers and cute quokkas :-)

Green pools & elephant rocks in Denmark is a must. Go to mead/honey shop.

Tree top walk is another must.

Hamelin Bay to see stingrays.

Bouvard to see Strombolites.

Kings Park, Cottesloe beach, City Beach, Scarborough beach, Hillary Boat Harbour, Burns Beach, Yanchep caves, Two Rocks.

Lancelin sandboarding

Gingin observatory

Kalbarri is a dump. The locals suck. Foods average. Good place to sit around and relax but you can do that on the front porch.

Bloody windy and hot up north that time of year.

Sounds like your sorted enjoy.

This post does make you realise how big WA is. It takes a day to get anywhere.

Kids make their own fun,
give the missus the credit card, f all designer shops so your safe, enjoy

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beastsurf said..
This post does make you realise how big WA is. It takes a day to get anywhere.

pretty much bang on, Perth to Broome = 24 hours [if you push it]