10 must-see experiences on Australia's west coast

In Australia it is possible to have the most varied experiences, from snorkeling to trekking, from visiting an animal sanctuary to whale watching. Here are the 10 experiences I tried and which I consider unmissable!

1. First and foremost is a visit to Perth, a vibrant and colorful city, the largest on the west coast. What not to miss in Perth: - Panoramic terrace at Kings Park - Swan bridge - Fremantle (a cute neighborhood) Just outside the city I recommend spending a day at Cohunu Koala Park (yes, you can have close encounters with koalas)

Sunrise in Perth

Koalas and kangaroos in the sanctuary

2. Rottnest Island

The famous island where the Quokka live, the so-called happiest animals on the planet. The reason? they almost seem to smile

Useful tips:

- Take the ferry from the port of Fremantle early in the morning

- Rent a bike for the whole day (AUD $ 10)

- Bring your own packed lunch (there are bars on the island, but they are very expensive)

- In summer make sure to bring your wetsuit and diving mask (Rottnest Island is perfect for diving and snorkeling). Unfortunately, I went there in winter and I couldn't swim in the ocean.

3- Augusta and Australia's tallest lighthouse Augusta is a beautiful town in the far southwest of Australia. In Augusta there is the Cape Leeuwing Lighthouse, which is the tallest lighthouse in the whole country. It is possible to climb to the top for AUD $ 8. It is easily accessible by car, complete with free parking. The gusts of wind once you get to the lighthouse are impressive, but the ocean view is wonderful.

4- Visit to the Jewels Cave (cave of jewels) This cave is part of a cave complex located near Augusta and it is something not to be missed! It feels like stepping into a science fiction movie. The entry fee is AUD $ 22.50.

5- Visit to the pretty town of Dunsborough. Dunsborough (unpronounceable name) is a small seaside village that offers a lot of activities to do. Not to be missed: - Visit to Eagle Bay, a perfect bay for surfing. - Sunset view at Canal Rocks (by far my favorite place). Rocks plunging into water and ocean as far as the eye can see .. what more could you want? - Try surfing (the cost is quite prohibitive, about AUD $ 80 for an hour, but I wanted to try it anyway) - See the whales with a private tour (the company I went with is allseacharters.it) I paid AUD $ 120 for the tour, but I assure it was the best money spent. - Eat at the Caves House (excellent prices and family atmosphere, as if it were a tavern) - Visit to Yallingup beach

Canal Rocks Dunsborough

6- Boranup Forest Easily accessible from Dunsborough with a car. The show is guaranteed! the forest is home to truly immense trees! If you want to feel like a fairy tale character for a day, this experience is a must!

7- Busselton Jetty Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden pier in the Southern Hemisphere and it measures 1,841km. It is possible to travel it with a small train for the modest sum of AUD $ 10. The train arrives at the end of the pier, where you can visit one of the largest underwater observatories in the world! Absolutely amazing. Useful tip: It is preferable to visit the underwater observatory on a sunny day, when the water is clear enough to allow you to see better fish and plants. (I unfortunately caught a cloudy day)

The end of the pier, in the middle of the ocean

Underwater observatory

8. Leeuwin Park - Naturaliste It is a park, where the main activity is trekking and it connects the Leeuwin Lighthouse to the Naturaliste Lighthouse. I have not covered the entire route, but only small pieces and I assure you that the view is breathtaking (I do not imagine how beautiful it must be in summer).

9. Relax at Sugar Loaf Sugar Loaf is a large natural granite island located near the coast. It is one of those places where you leave your heart. The secret is to watch the ocean, the waves crash on this huge rock and let yourself be lulled by the terpor of the sun.

10. Cape Lavender Theahouse in Yallingup A small tea house, which envelops you with its lavender scent as soon as you enter. Absolutely to try the Scones (typical English sweets served with cream cheese and strawberry jam) with a delicious cup of tea flavored with lavender.

#Australia #experiences #westcoast