Holiday apartments in Western Australia

For families, Western Australia is above all a matter of travel pace: around Perth, the city, beaches, and short excursions stay close together; the southwest combines coast, forest, and food and wine; and in the more remote parts of the state, travel becomes much bigger and more road trip-oriented. For context within Australia, see Accommodation in Australia.

Quick facts about Western Australia

• Western Australia is large and diverse, with coastline, outback, wine regions, wildlife experiences, and classic road trip scenery.
• Perth is a relaxed capital city and a practical base for the region.
• Perth and Peel combine city life with nature, beaches, and easy day trips.
• The southwest blends coast, wine country, and forest into a route that works well together.
• Some parts are very remote and are better suited to longer drives; these include outback settings and historic mining towns.

Which subregion is right for your family trip?

The groups below organize Western Australia by travel pace and landscape feel: well connected, scenically varied, geared toward long-distance travel, or quiet and close to the land.

City-based bases around Perth

If you want short distances, easy access to the city, and a simple starting point for outings with children, this area is the obvious choice. For a cultural stop, Fremantle adds heritage streets, markets, cafés, and a waterfront feel that complements the Perth area well.

City-based bases around Perth include Bayswater, Bellevue, Bibra Lake, Brigadoon, Bullsbrook, Burswood, Cannington, Chidlow, City of Belmont, City of Joondalup, City of Melville, City of Stirling, City of Wanneroo, City of Wanneroo, Cockburn Central and Darlington.

Other places in the Perth area are Forrestfield, Glen Forrest, Harrisdale, Hazelmere, Herne Hill, Inglewood, Jandakot, Kalamunda, Kelmscott, Kings Park, Kinross, Leeming, Middle Swan, Mount Helena, Mullaloo, and Nedlands.

Also included are North Beach, North Fremantle, Osborne Park, Perth, Roleystone, South Guildford, Stirling City, Swanbourne, Town of East Fremantle, Town of Mosman Park, Trigg, Wanneroo City, Wembley, West Perth, Wilson, Woodbridge, and Woodvale.

Southwest coast, wine, and nature destinations

If you want to combine coast, forest, and food and wine in one itinerary, this group is especially suitable. It helps families who want more scenery per day without immediately having to drive very far.

In the southwest, this includes Balingup, Bickley, Binningup, Bow Bridge, Boyup Brook, Bramley, Bremer Bay, Capel, Carbunup River, Chapman Hill, City of Bunbury, City of Busselton, City of Rockingham, Collie, Cuballing, and Dardanup.

Other southwest places are Denbarker, Donnybrook, Eastbrook, Forest Grove, Gelorup, Gracetown, Harvey, Herron, Jurien Bay, Karridale, Kendenup, Kojonup, Kordabup, Kronkup, Leeman, Lowlands, Manjimup, and Margaret River.

Also adding to the selection are Marybrook, Metricup, Nannup, Narrikup, Nornalup, North Boyanup, Parryville, Pemberton, Pickering Brook, Porongurup, Prevelly, Quinninup, Redmond, Ringbark, Rocky Gully, Rosa Brook, Rosa Glen, Schroeder, Scotsdale, Shadforth, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Shire of Dardanup, Shire of Gnowangerup, Shire of Katanning, Shire of Williams, Siesta Park, Torbay, Walpole, and Wellington Mill.

Coast, north, and far-flung long-distance destinations

If your trip can be bigger and more wide-ranging, this group becomes relevant. It is about stages with more distance and travel moods that feel more like a long journey and the outback.

Wide-ranging coastal and long-distance destinations include Cable Beach, Carnamah, Cervantes, City of Greater Geraldton, Collins, Dampier, Denham, Derby, Dongara, Drummond Cove, Gingin, Green Head, Greenough, Kalbarri, Kalgan, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Karijini, and Karratha.

Other places for longer distances are King River, Kununurra, Lancelin, Laverton, Lower Chittering, Mandurah, Meekatharra, Middle Island, Mindarie, Monkey Mia, Mount Barker, Muchea, Mumballup, Murdoch, Neerabup, Newman, Norseman, North Yunderup, Northam, Northampton, and Northcliffe.

Also included are Oombulgurri, Pelican Point, Point Samson, Port Denison, Port Hedland, Port Kennedy, Preston Beach, Shire of Ashburton, Shire of Broome, Shire of Carnarvon, Shire of Esperance, Shire of Harvey, Shire of Murray, Shire of Northam, Shire of Northampton, Shire of Roebourne, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Shire of Toodyay, South Yunderup, Spalding, Thornlie, Tom Price, Toodyay, Waggrakine, Wandering, Warmun, Wellard, Wyndham, Yanchep, and York.

Inland, river, and quieter country places

If you want to keep the pace and density deliberately smaller, you will find quieter country and nature bases here. This group is well suited to families looking for a more relaxed base with less bustle.

Quieter, more rural bases include Baskerville, Beermullah, Benger, Bindoon, Broadwater, Broomehill Village, Carabooda, Chittering, City of Albany, City of Mandurah, Clackline, Eagle Bay, Frankland River, Halls Creek, Halls Head, Hillarys, Karnup, Kingston, Kukerin, Marangaroo, and Meadow Springs.

Other quiet country places are Pinjarra, Shire of Boddington, Stirling Estate, Stratham, Treeton, Wickepin, Wonnerup, Woodanilling, Yallingup, Yallingup Siding, Yanmah, and Yeagarup.

For further comparison in Western Australia, you can also look at Shire of Dalwallinu, Shire of Denmark, Shire of Exmouth, and Shire of Gingin.

Frequently asked questions about Western Australia

Which region in Western Australia is best for a family trip with little driving?

Perth and Peel are the easiest choice for that. There, the city, beaches, and short excursions stay close together, so the day’s travel is easy to plan.

What is the southwest of Western Australia best for?

The southwest is ideal if you want to combine coast, forest, and food and wine in one route. It offers plenty of variety without requiring you to drive very far right away.

Is Perth a good base for a holiday in Western Australia?

Yes, because Perth is a relaxed capital city and a practical base, and Perth and Peel combine city life, nature, beaches, and easy day trips.

Which parts of Western Australia are better suited to long road trips?

Especially the north and the inland areas. There, travel becomes much bigger, with long stretches, outback scenery, and places that are better suited to longer drives.