Travel & Touring | WA Things To Do
By: Monique Ceccato
From the occult to the ‘out of this world’, there are plenty of unique ways to see this great state.
Snorkelling the weedy reef of Busselton, watching knight fish and sand rays seek refuge among it, is a beautiful experience. But seeing the same from inside a high-tech dive helmet as you walk beneath one of WA’s most iconic ocean structures makes for something truly memorable; it’s the unique ‘can’t do it anywhere else’ details that make all the difference on a tour.
WA tour operators are doing an exceptional job at standing out from the crowd, curating a whole host of quirky experiences you’ll remember for years to come. These 12 are just some of them.
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1. Astro tours
In the state’s north, you can take your touring to the skies without ever having to leave the ground.
Head out towards the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park in Broome, and you’ll find one of the region’s best dark sky spots. It’s where Greg Quicke runs his two-and-a-half-hour astro tours, teaching you everything from star and constellation names to how and where to find the planets.
A little closer to the capital and just outside Geraldton, Ken Lawson of Astro Star Tours leads 90-minute stargazing sessions. Lawson doesn’t just show you the stars, though. He also runs iPhone astrophotography tours, nightscape photography tours, and even tours dedicated to photographing extreme close-ups of the stars and planets through his many telescopes.
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2. Dinosaur adventure
Some people head to Broome for the balmy tropical weather, others to connect with the Aboriginal culture. And then there are some who want to be part of the cohort that can say they’ve seen real-life dinosaur footprints in situ.
Join Broome Dinosaur Adventures for a 6-hour boat tour through the North West’s peacock blue creeks and mangroves, and you’ll be a part of that cohort. The highlight of the day is landing on shore to see the perfectly preserved 120-million-year-old footprints. But living creatures feature heavily on the cruise, too, with the waters around Broome brimming with sea turtles, sharks, and snubfin dolphins. Take it all in with a glass of sparkling in hand, or save the indulgence for the gourmet tapas and cocktails back on shore.
3. Fremantle Prison tunnel tour
A ‘Convict Prison Tour’ of Fremantle Prison is a great way to learn the history of the state’s only World Heritage-listed building. But, the quirkier tour option takes you beyond the cells and prison yard to explore the convict-built tunnel system 20m below ground.
You’ll be handed a hard hat and overalls before setting off on foot behind your guide. Then, as the tunnels get deeper, you’ll board replica punts to paddle your way through the remainder of the flooded labyrinth. The presence of the water is no coincidence, with the tunnels an integral part of the system that provided fresh water to the Fremantle township for more than 30 years.
Post-tour, spend some time in the on-site museum to learn more about the site’s history and visit the art gallery to see the skilled creative works of the currently incarcerated.
4. Karijini canyoning
On its own, canyoning through Karijini National Park is a thrilling, high-octane activity. Couple it with daily painting or yoga sessions, and you’ve got a perfectly balanced experience.
Spots on Spacechameleon Adventure Co.’s week-long ‘yoga and canyoning’ or ‘painting and canyoning’ expeditions are extremely limited, with just two running of each tour per year. Sign up for the experience, and you can expect to spend your days climbing and abseiling through all the major sites at Karijini—think Dales Gorge and Circular Pool—followed by a calm afternoon of artistry and mindfulness. You don’t have to be an expert at any of the scheduled activities to take part, just willing to take on new challenges. They also offer other packages and run day trips.
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5. Sidecar rides
There are umpteen ways you can go sightseeing around Esperance, but no option is more fun than when motorbikes and sidecars are involved. The best part? You don’t even have to do the driving.
Feel the briny ocean air on your face as someone from 4U We Do Sidecar Tours escorts you around the 40km-looped Great Ocean Drive, stopping to take in the impressive seascapes and wildflower-covered brush along the way. There’s even a cheeky stop at Lucky Bay Brewery for a pint on the way back to town.
It’s a completely safe way to feel the thrill of riding in the open air, with helmets, goggles, and ample safety gear provided before slipping into the comfort of your little sidecar.
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6. E-bike winery tour
Cycling through Margaret River’s magical Boranup Forest en route to canapes, a wine tasting, and a two-course lunch at Leeuwin Estate epitomises guilt-free indulgence. It’s also one of the most unique ways to see the best natural landscapes and wineries in the region.
Margaret River Mountain Bike Tours’ two-hour experience begins with a leisurely ride through the karris, the e-bikes providing as much assistance as you need on any slopes you might face. Then, it’s time for a private showing of five of the winery’s ‘Art Serie’ wines—served with complementing canapes—and a hearty meal to fuel you up before the return ride.
Like a fine wine, this tour truly is perfectly balanced.
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7. Rock lobster pot pull
It’s not every day you get to dine on lobster, let alone pull your lobster from the ocean floor before doing so. You get to do it all when you head out on a 90-minute rock lobster pot-pulling tour with Eco Abrolhos.
Learn all about Geraldton and the Houtman Abrolhos’ sustainable rock lobster industry as you power out towards the cray pots. Then, get ready to get your hands dirty as you jump on the lines to assist in pulling them in. You’ll sort and size the lobsters—just like the career fishermen—and you’ll even get to take your catch home for a seafood dinner feast.
8. True crime tours
It’s one of the Perth CBD’s most beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings, but behind Government House’s red brick facade lies a sinister truth. In 1925, the ballroom was the scene of a murder.
The story of Cyril Gridley’s fatal shooting at the hands of his ex-fiancé is just one of the stories Two Feet and a Heartbeat details on its two-hour ‘true crime’ walking tour of the city. There are stories of corruption and hidden opium dens, murders and executions, all delivered with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity by your guide.
They also run true crime tours in Fremantle, where stories of mutinies and riots are rife over the financial crimes of the CBD.
9. Pawesome wine tours
Touring the South West’s finest wineries is most fun when done with your best friend by your side. It’s just as well Pawesome Wine Tours exists, then, because they’ll happily chauffeur you and your furry, four-legged friends around the Margaret River wine region.
All dogs, great and small, are welcome, and up to six humans can come along for the ride, too. Of course, each stop on the itinerary is entirely dog-friendly—Xanadu Wines and Brown Hill, for example. But, if you fancy a particular stop, all you have to do is ask, and the friendly tour guide will be more than happy to accommodate.
10. Ghost walks
Lovers of the occult can get their kicks on a moonlit ghost walk through historic Gosnells. The tour takes you from the Wilkinson Homestead—built on the banks of the Canning River in 1912—to the Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery, where the spirits of timber mill workers and early settlers are said to still live on. It’s an immersive experience, so as well as seeing and feeling the presence of residents and workers past, you’ll see plenty of story-telling ghost performers along the lantern-lit path, too.
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11. Grape stomping
Delve deeper—knee-deep, even—into the world of wine by booking a grape stomping experience in the Swan Valley. The traditional wine-making process has roots in ancient Rome, dating back to the third century. Though a rarely used wine-making technique nowadays, getting a feel for how far the art has come by getting your feet dirty makes for a fun day out.
12. Jetty undersea walk
Walking weightlessly between the Busselton Jetty’s coral-covered pylons is about as close to feeling like an astronaut and a diver as you could ever get without having official qualifications to be either. You don’t even need to have had snorkelling experience to head out on one of the Dive Busselton Jetty undersea walks. Just pop one of the provided wetsuits on, fit your high-tech dive helmet, and wander in behind your fully certified dive instructor guide.
Exploring the ocean floor as effortlessly as taking an afternoon stroll is a surreal experience. Bring an underwater camera to snap memories of the coral-camouflaged octopi and silvery schools of herring, or leave the professionals to it and purchase the results after the tour.
Tours will not be operational in the 2023/24 summer season, and will resume the following year.
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Last updated: October 2023
