Western Australia is remote. Perth, the capital of WA is the most remote capital city in the world. It is a very clean and urbane city with great nightlife and fine dining. Freemantle is just South of Perth. It is a nifty little seaside town with a 19th century feel. There is an interesting marketplace there as well as an old prison and an Aussie Football Field. The 1980 America's Cup Race was held out of the Freemantle Yatch Club-a place we became familiar with as our hosts-my wife's cousin and her husband- had a very nice 42 foot catamaran moored there. Rottnest Island-named for the Quokka (a small marsupial that looks like a mini kangaroo up close and was mistaken for a large rat by the island's original inhabitants) is a former prison island turned resort is only a short ferry ride (about 17 miles) from Freemantle. You can day trip there or stay overnight in one of the small hotels or cabins for rent there. The beaches and snorkeling were fantastic. I swam with a six foot sting ray! We also saw "okkies" (octopi), many rays, tropical fish and a small shark.
There are many opportunities for wild life encounters in WA. One is Rockingham Dolphins. This company operates tours that allow folks to swim with wild dolphins in Rockingham Bay. Rockingham is about an hour South of Freemantle. About 20 years ago the fellow who started this company decided to devote a year of his life to "getting to know" the dolphins in Rockingham Bay. It took him about 9 months to gain the trust of the dolphins in the bay and he was soon leading tours of people to watch him swim with the dolphins. Now guests can swim with the dolphins themselves. You'll don a wet suit, flotation belt, mask and snorkel. A staff member wearing a flotation belt leads a "chain" of 8-10 guests; everyone holds onto the belt of the person in front of them. Another staff member (the guy with the self-proclaimed "Best Job in Australia") free swims with the dolphins and gets them to interact with the guests. The sight of wild dolphins emerging from the depths to swim with me was an experience I'll never forget. I have done Dolphin Quest in Bermuda and this experience was far superior to that!
Another neat encounter was at Cohunu Park. The park is a research, rescue and breeding facility for koala bears. For a fee, which supports the park's research, you can cuddle with a koala for 10 minutes or so. They are very gentle animals-you'll want to take them home. I took a picture of my wife holding a koala wearing my Red Sox hat! You may also roam in an area where kangaroos and emus wander freely. You can buy food to feed them. This was my (then 8 year old) daughter's favorite part of the trip. The kangaroos come right up to you and eat out of your hand.
You may also want to check out some of the vineyards in WA. The area is world renowned for its wine. A unique way to experience the wine country is to take a 3 night cruise down the Swan River through the vineyards. The boat stops at vineyards where you can take tours and taste the wines. Sumptuous meals are served on board the ship every evening.
Another place to see is Pinnacles Park in Cervantes-about 4-5 hours north of Perth. The park is a desert with strange limestone pinnacles (hence the name) jutting out of the ground. While wandering around you'll feel like you're on another planet. The village of Cervantes has several fishing charters available at the dock and the fishing is first rate. Stop by the local pub for a lunch or dinner of native lobster tail while you're there.
Opportunities for outdoor activities abound in WA. Whether hiking, camping or water sports are your thing, you're sure to find something fun and unique to do there. The ocean is fantastic. We had the good fortune of being able to sail the coast on a 42 foot catamaran. Snorkeling and fishing are world class. We saw whales, dolphins, sharks, whale sharks and a dugong (like a small manatee) from the boat. If you can arrange such accommodations, I'd highly recommend it.
When planning a trip to Australia, consider the west. You won't be disappointed. This website http://www.about-australia.com/western-australia/ is an excellent resource for planning your trip. Consider stopping in Singapore for a few days on your way to Australia. Singapore Air offers a Singapore Stopover special deal-but that's another article.