Some places you visit. Western Australia? You feel it.
This state doesn’t ease you in with convenience. It doesn’t hand you postcard views from a tour bus window. WA is big. Bold. Unfiltered. And if you want to really see it — feel it — you’ve got to chase it.
Here are 5 of our favourite ways to do just that. Three on the water. Two on solid ground. All of them unforgettable.
1. Horizontal Falls
You’ve never seen anything like this.
Tucked away in the wild north of WA, Horizontal Falls isn’t just a natural wonder; it’s a straight-up adrenaline rush. Imagine tidal currents so fierce they turn narrow gaps in rock into surging, sideways waterfalls. Then imagine launching into that chaos on a fast boat.
It’s remote. It’s unpredictable. It’s WA in full throttle.
If you ever needed a reason to head north, this is it. Just know, once you see the Kimberley like this, the bar for “adventure” gets a lot higher.
2. Ningaloo Reef
The East Coast has the Great Barrier Reef. We’ve got Ningaloo, and it’s just as epic, with a fraction of the crowds.
Slide off the back of a boat into turquoise water, and you’re face to face with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, and schools of fish that flash like lightning. It’s the kind of snorkelling or diving that spoils you for life.
And the best part? You don’t need to be a pro to enjoy it. Ningaloo meets you where you’re at — and then takes you somewhere unforgettable.
3. Kalbarri Gorges
This one’s for the land lovers, and it hits hard.
Kalbarri isn’t just pretty. It’s dramatic. Towering red cliffs, winding gorges, and ancient rock formations that look like something straight out of a movie. You don’t stroll through here. You hike. You climb. You sweat. And when you hit that lookout and see nature’s window frame the river below, you remember why you came.
WA’s inland spots often get overshadowed by the coastline. But Kalbarri? It’s a reminder that our dirt holds just as much magic as our ocean.
4. The Pinnacles Desert
No trees. No towns. Just thousands of ancient limestone pillars jutting out of golden sand like nature went off-script.
The Pinnacles are surreal. Stark. Weird in the best possible way. And when the sun’s low and the shadows stretch, it feels like you’re walking through another world.
Most people roll through in a bus, snap a photo and move on. But hang back. Stay as the sky shifts. Walk between the stones in silence. Let it get strange. That’s where the real magic is.
5. The Swan River
Let’s kick things off right in our backyard.
Everyone talks about the Swan River like it’s a pretty little ribbon winding through Perth. And sure, it can be. But that’s not the version we care about.
We’re talking about the real Swan River. The one that pulses with energy just below the surface. Where dolphins break the water at sunrise. Where the wind picks up and the boat throttles down. Where adventure isn’t something you observe, it’s something you hold onto with both hands.
Whether you’re skimming past Kings Park or cutting across open water heading toward Fremantle, this river shows you Perth from a whole different angle. And with the right skipper, you’ll feel like you’re seeing it for the first time.
Want to See WA the Way It Was Meant to Be Seen?
We’re not here to sell you on glossy brochures or big group tours.
We’re Wild West Charters a small, tight crew who believe adventure should be felt, not narrated. Whether we’re tearing through the Swan or swapping stories about the best WA road trips, we’re all about one thing: showing you the real side of our incredible city.
So if you’re after something safe, soft and forgettable? You might want to try elsewhere.
But if you’re ready to feel the excitement, thrill and wonder of WA, you’re one of us.