Towne Centre Travel
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  • November 4, 2024
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Your Western Australia Bucket List

1. See the 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites - Shark Bay, Ningaloo Coast and Purnululu National Park.

2. Relish the biodiversity, 80% of which can be found nowhere else on the planet. Find animals like the quokka and dugongs.

3. Cruise the Horizontal Falls in Kimberley.

4. Make footprints next to dinosaur footprints.

5. Hug the tallest tree this region has to offer, the ancient Tingle Tree.

6. Star gaze the Southern Hemisphere skies.

7. See the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, the 350 million year old jewel.

8. Visit the largest Rock Art Collection in the world made by one of the world's oldest cultures.

9. Drive on a former cattle route, the Legendary Gibb River Road.

10. Cycle Munda Biddi Trail, National Geographic's top 10 cycle routes.

11. Step inside the 1500 year old Boab Prison Tree.

12. Safari to 1000 Islands Archipelago & Cape Leveue.

13. Visit the Fimiston Open Pit, colloquially known as the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie.

14. Explore ancient fossils at Mammoth Cave.

15. Sunbake with kangaroos on the whitest sandy beach at Lucky Bay.

16. Go truffle hunting in one of the few locations in the world where this fungus grows.

17. Walk the length of one of the world's largest inner city parks in Perth, Kings Park.

18. Visit Argyle Diamond Mine where rare pink diamonds can be found.

19. Trek the world's longest walking trails of Bibbulmun Track.

20. Play the world's longest golf course, the Nullarbor Links Golf Course.

21. Pay a visit to the ancient Pinnacles & Wave Rock in Perth.

22. See 350 million year old fossilized reef at Windjana Gorge.

23. Have a camel trek on the famous Cable Beach.

24. Fish off the longest pier in the Southern Hemisphere.

25. Enjoy a coldie with the sculpture by Sea Cottesloe Beach at sunset and then another at Little Creatures Fremantle.

26. Dive into the Australia's longest fringing coral reef, the Ningaloo Reef which measures 260km.

27. Catch a barracuda while cruising the ancient majestic Kimberley.

28. Witness 35,000 Humpback Whales at play migrating through the Indian Ocean.

29. Swim with the world's largest fish, the Whale Shark.

30. Go pearl diving.

31. Check out Cyclops, the most hyped yet least surfed wave in the world.

32. Kayak or sail the Indian Ocean.

33. Surf the top 10 surf spots here!

Airports

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Traveling to Western Australia is easy, with access via land, sea and air. Western Australia is Australia's western gateway, and a major transport hub for international air services from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and Europe. The State is also a turnaround port for domestic air services.

Fly to WA

The State's capital, Perth, is Australia's western gateway. It is accessible to most Asian gateway cities by air, making Western Australia an ideal destination to combine with Asian holidays.

Perth is well serviced by approximately 18 different international airlines, eight domestic and regional, and four general aviation airlines some of which operate multiple daily services.

As Western Australia's major international gateway, Perth is around 17 flying hours from London, 15 hours from Frankfurt, 10 hours from Dubai and South Africa, 7 hours from Hong Kong and approximately 5 hours from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Broome, in the State's North West, is also a major gateway to the attractions of the northern region, and enjoys good air access from southern capitals. Broome is also serviced with regular air services from the Northern Territory capital, Darwin, which lies approximately 1.5 hours east by air.

Perth Airport is the international and regional gateway to Western Australia located only 12 kilometers from the heart of Perth.

Arriving in Perth

Perth Airport is a modern facility approximately half an hour away from the center of Perth. The international and domestic terminals are easily accessible by car, taxi and bus.

Taxis

Taxis are available from both the domestic and international terminals. A taxi trip from the airport terminals to Perth city center will take 20 to 30 minutes. The journey will cost approximately AUD$20.00 - AUD$30.00.

All taxis are meter operated by time and distance, and operate twenty four hours a day. Taxis indicate they are vacant by illuminating their sign on the roof. At both airport terminals available taxis will wait at the taxi rank.

Buses

An Airport-City Shuttle operates to and from domestic and international airports with convenient pick up points located near accommodation throughout Perth.

Fremantle Airport Shuttle also picks up at the domestic and international airports dropping off customers from Cottesloe to Cockburn.

From Overseas

Perth is serviced by more than 195 international flights each week, carrying more than 585,000 international visitors (non-Australian) into the State each year.

The following international airlines fly to Perth Western Australia:

Air Mauritius
Air Asia
Air Asia X
Air New Zealand
Cathay Pacific Airways
China Southern
Emirates
Garuda Indonesia
Jetstar Airways
Malaysia Airlines
QANTAS
Qatar Airways
Scoot
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
Thai Airways
Tiger Airways
Virgin Australia

Within Australia

Travelling to Western Australia from within Australia is easy. There are regular flights to Perth from all major Australian cities and from many regional locations within the State.

From Australia's east coast capitals, Perth is approximately four hours by air.

Western Australia's capital, Perth is easily accessible by air from around Australia and from many locations within the State.

Flights also operate to the popular town of Broome in Australia's North West from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Domestic airlines operating services to Western Australia:

QANTAS
Virgin Blue
Jetstar
Tiger Airways
Airnorth
Skywest Airlines (WA's regional airline)

Currency

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Australian currency uses the decimal currency system.

Notes are a high quality polymer-based synthetic and come in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

Coin denominations are 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent, 50 cent, as well as $1 and $2.

Prices under 5 cents are rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cent - that is, 3 and 4 cent totals are rounded up to nearest 5 cent, while 1 and 2 cent totals are rounded down to nearest 5 cent denomination.

Banking

Banks are open from 9.30am - 4.00pm Monday to Thursday, and 9.30am to 5.00pm on Fridays.

Automatic Teller Machines are plentiful and readily available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Medical

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Travelling around the state of Western Australia can take you to some remote areas. Here are some important contact numbers to keep in mind.

Emergency Contact Numbers

000 is Australia's primary Emergency Call Service number and should be used to request emergency assistance from all telephones (landline, mobile phones and payphones) in the first instance.

112 is the international standard emergency number which can only be dialed on a digital mobile phone.

106 is the text-based Emergency Call Service number for people who are deaf, or who have a hearing or speech impairment. This service operates using a teletypewriter (TTY) but does not accept voice calls or SMS messages.

Royal Flying Doctors Service: 1800 625 800

Automobile Association of Australia: 13 11 11

Note: 112 and 106 are secondary emergency service numbers because they are for use only in connection with particular technologies.

Non-Emergency Contact Numbers

Police: 131 444

Ambulance: 9334 1234 (non-emergency transport)

Fire Services of WA: 1800 199 084 (general enquiries)

State Emergency Services: 1300 130 039

Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs: 13 18 81

Healthy Travelling

Unfortunately, some travellers have their holiday cut short due to illness or accident. If you take prescribed medication make sure you will have enough for the duration of your visit and remember to also have a script renewal from your doctor.

When travelling in remote areas always carry adequate supplies of water and a comprehensive first aid kit.

Mosquitoes can carry diseases such as encephalitis and Ross River fever so use an appropriate insect repellent and cover arms and legs with loose clothing particularly at dawn and dusk.

Personal Safety Tips

While Australia is considered to be a very safe country, obviously it is still wise to avoid dangerous situations. Information relevant to the risks that may be present in the area you are visiting is usually available from the local visitor information center.

Safety Tips

Avoid dark public spaces when alone
Avoid hitchhiking and never hitchhike alone
Always let someone know where you are and where you are going
Take care when using automated teller machines (ATM's) and secure your cash quickly
Keep valuables out of sight and secure while travelling
Drink alcohol in moderation

Travelling with a Disability

Western Australia offers a wide range of holiday experiences suited to seniors and people with disabilities. Their extensive website search section allows visitors to select accommodation and tours that cater for people with disabilities.

Fire and Cyclone Safety

Western Australia's hot and dry conditions create a risk of bushfires. The cyclone season extends from 1 November to 30 April. When a cyclone approaches, you should listen to your radio for cyclone information.

Sun Protection

Travellers should always wear a wide brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses and at least an SPF 15+ sunscreen when outdoors and drink plenty of water. It is recommended that you drink at least two liters each day.

Be sure to wear sun protective clothing, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses and seek shade to protect your skin from skin cancer and other sun damage. Take extra care when outdoors between 10:00am and 3:00pm when UV radiation is most intense.

Safety at the Beach

Always swim or surf at a beach patrolled by lifesavers
Swim between the red and yellow flags, they mark the safest areas to swim
Always swim under supervision, or with a friend
Read and obey the signs
If you are unsure of conditions, ask a lifesaver
Don't swim directly after a meal
Don't swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Don't run and dive in the water
Conditions change regularly; check before you enter the water
If you get into trouble in the water, don't panic - signal for help, float and wait for assistance
Float with a rip current or undertow, do not swim against it

Tipping

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Tipping is generally not expected within Australia, however it is acceptable to leave a small amount should you feel you have received exceptional service.

Transportation

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Western Australia may be big - but it's very easy to travel within the State.

Travel by Tour

Join a tour and let someone else do the driving for you! A range of tours are available throughout WA so you don't miss a thing.

Travelling by Coach and Rail

Major coach and rail services offer hop-on hop-off packages, allowing visitors to coordinate their flexible itineraries.

Another option is to purchase a range of 'travel passes', which provide flexible travel on coach and rail services within the state, subject to certain conditions. Most passes are based on distance travelled over a designated period of one, two or three months and are popular with international travellers.

Some coach tours will also drop off at designated points along the route, providing the benefits of a guided tour with the option to get off and travel independently.

Fly High in the Sky

Air travel is often the fastest way to go and also offers the chance for an aerial view. Commercial jet services operate between major centers like Albany, Esperance, Exmouth, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha, Broome, and Kununurra.

While most offer regular advertised passenger services, others provide regular charter flights to Bunbury, Margaret River and the northern coastal resorts of Monkey Mia and Kalbarri.

Some operators will fly at lower altitudes for 'flight-seeing', so check with the airline and local visitor centers to determine the best value and experience.

Driving Holidays

Driving holidays are one of the best ways to experience the wide open spaces and unique landscapes of Western Australia. Rental cars and motorhomes are readily available and require a valid driver's license. While international licenses are not required, they are recommended.

Visitors will find a huge range of national and international rental brands and special offers, so shop around for the best deal. Ensure quoted costs include insurance, taxes and other charges before taking delivery.

Visa Info

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Australian Customs and Immigration officers manage and monitor visas at all international entry ports. While Australia is a friendly and welcoming nation; visitors from some countries are required to secure visas, on or before arrival, to ensure smooth entry into the country.

Customs officers are easily identifiable and can assist with a range of issues including customs clearance of goods and luggage, quarantine and travel health concerns.

Weather

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The Western Australia weather and climate is one of the most diverse in Australia - from the tropical north to the temperate south - which means equally diverse holiday experiences.

There are also two distinct seasonal variations. In the southern half of the State they observe four seasons - summer, autumn, winter and spring, while in the north there are just two - the 'wet' and the 'dry'.

Northern Tropics

The northern winter, or 'dry' season (April-September), has long days of sunshine and blue skies. Temperatures range from 24 degrees Celsius overnight to around 34 degrees Celsius during the day, and could be called 'perfect Western Australian weather'.

Coastal temperatures vary little throughout the day, while the interior may top 40 degrees by day and dramatically drop towards zero in the cool of the night.

The northern summer, or 'wet' season (October-March), has temperatures in the mid to high 30s and high humidity. Visitors from cooler climates may find this challenging, however many Europeans love the balmy combination of heat, humidity and long days of sunshine.

A tropical rainstorm is an awesome natural wonder - billowing clouds rise up to 40,000 feet before releasing tons of water in a thundering torrent. It's not unusual for some northern coastal areas to record more than 1.5 meters of rain during this season.

There can also be electrical storms - witness the sky come alive as sheets of lightning flash and illuminate the night for hundreds of kilometers. Locals will often turn off the television and retire to the balcony to watch these spectacular episodes.

Southern Sunshine

South of the Tropic of Capricorn the weather is less dramatic.

The southern coastal areas of the South West region average a maximum of around 32 degrees in summer and 14 degrees in the winter.

Perth boasts more sunny days per year than any other Australian capital city so sunshine is usually the standard order.

The warm sun and temperate Western Australian climate has helped the State cement its reputation as a world-renowned food and wine region, and is also conducive to the relaxed outdoor lifestyle.