Western Australia is not always on people’s Australia bucket trip list and especially for first time visitors they tend to stick to the well trodden East Coast route. However, in not visiting they’re missing out on some absolutely epic locations! WA tends to be quieter than Australia’s East Coast which means even more white sandy beaches to enjoy for yourself and the ocean over here is quite possibly even bluer. If you head south of Perth you can explore the fantastic south western corner of WA which is a beautiful, and in parts remote, area of the state. From friendly local wildlife to impressive rock features these are the top 11 spots to photograph in South Western WA. I ticked all of these off my list through a tour with Untamed Escapes which was so much fun – you can book it through Get Your Guide here. You sleep in swags, do plenty of hiking and it’s a chance to travel with like minded people 😊
1. Wave Rock
Wave Rock was formed over 2,700 million years ago and the granite structure is marked by swathes of colour running down its 10m height and along its 100m length. It’s so called because of its appearance much like a giant surfing wave and so you’ve got to take that iconic surfing pic as well as marvelling at its epic size.
Take a day trip from Perth to Wave Rock (and make a stop in the historic town of York) with a tour through Get Your Guide here.
2. Hamelin Bay
Hamelin Bay is known for its friendly local wildlife and that’s the big draw to this spot. However, the water is a glorious turquoise and the sand dazzlingly white so that also helps 😉 Friendly stingrays come close to the shore here as they drift up and down the bay looking for food. They hang out here because a number of fishing boats use the area and they’re hoping for scraps. While the stingrays are very friendly, don’t harass or annoy them – this is their home!
You can jump on this day trip from Perth to visit both Hamelin Bay & Busselton Jetty here.
3. Lucky Bay
Lucky Bay is one of the best beaches in Australia. The bay sits within the Cape le Grand National Park on Western Australia’s south coast and curves a magnificent crescent of crystalline sand stretching to the clear blue water. One of the biggest draws to Lucky Bay is to see the famous Lucky Bay kangaroos. Realistically you do have to be pretty lucky to actually spotting them hopping across the bay because they tend to come down when it’s cooler at dusk and dawn and are less likely to be found out when there are people around.
Unfortunately I didn’t see any kangaroos hopping around Lucky Bay but there were a few hanging around the campground! Just look at the cute face of the baby kangaroo above 🦘 This beach was voted the best beach in the world for 2023 so it’s an absolute must visit.
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4. Elephant Rocks
South western WA’s coastline is full of wonderful structures and incredible landscapes. When you head towards Denmark you’ll find the unusual spot called Elephant Rocks. So called because the massive rocks here seem to resemble a heard of elephants wading into the water. Unfortunately the tide was too high to be able to get down and see the ‘elephants’ from behind but from above it’s a pretty awesome view!
5. Greens Pool
Get two Instagrammable places in one stop as Greens Pool is right along the coast from Elephant Rocks (I mean seriously it’s only about five minutes to walk between the two and they share a car park). Greens Pool is known for being a sheltered swimming spot where the sandy beach is protected from swells by the coastline and the granite rocks that stand in the bay. Since the water is so calm it means that it’s super clear and incredibly turquoise which makes it a fab photo spot to make your friends and family suitably jealous of your beach day 😉
6. Castle Rock
Castle Rock is an amazing spot in the Porongurup National Park. The walk to the top of Castle Rock is just under 5km return but it is steep in places – especially towards the top. Look out for the Balancing Rock and not long afterwards you’ll meet the start of the Granite Skywalk. This is not for the faint hearted or anyone scared of heights! The views are incredible from up here and you can see so far across the landscape so if you can make it up without jelly legs then go for it…!
7. Injidup Natural Spa
Near Yallingup there’s a hidden away little rock pool that acts as a natural spa as the waters of the Indian Ocean crash over its edge, bubbling into the fresh blue pool. It.might be hidden from view but it’s not much of a hidden Insta spot anymore as plenty of people now know about it and the spa in summer may be quite crowded. On a colder day it’s perhaps a bit too refreshing so you’ll get a clearer shot like this one!
8. Twilight Beach
In WA it really is one absolute stunner of a beach after another as you journey along the coast and Twilight Bay is no exception. What makes this beach so Instagrammable is the rocky islands that lie just off the shore and make you feel as though you’ve stepped onto the set of an action movie! You can totally imagine a James Bond villain disappearing into the hole in the rock with a secret lair beneath. The rocks also mean that this is a bit of a calmer beach to enjoy swimming at.
9. Canal Rocks
Canal Rocks is one of the most epic natural rock formations in south western WA and where you can feel the full force of the ocean crashing amongst the rocky shoreline here. Take a walk along the boardwalk to walk across the canal and be awestruck at the way the coast has been eroded and shaped by the water.
10. Busselton Jetty
The lovely beach city of Busselton is best known for its 1.8km long jetty (the second longest wooden jetty in the world) and calm sheltered beaches. The jetty makes for a beautiful photo either from above or as you’re walking along its length. If you don’t feel like walking the 3.6km round trip to the end then you can pay to ride on board the train instead. At the very end of the jetty you’ll find an Underwater Observatory where you can sneak a peak at the marine world below. The huts on the jetty are a fantastic shade of blue which fits so well with the turquoise water and a cloudless blue sky to make a perfect shot 📷
If you haven’t joined the 6 day epic Perth to Esperance trip with Untamed Escapes then there are a couple of options to reach Busselton Jetty as a day trip from Perth instead:
11. Giant Tingle Tree
Near Walpole there is a fabulously shady forest which is full of Australia’s biggest tree, the Red Tingles. They’re really only found in this area of Australia so you must stop and take the 1km loop through these green giants. The chief of the red tingles is The Giant Tingle Tree which was hollowed out by a fire (you can see the burnt charcoal of the inside of the trunk like thick tar) to leave behind the skeletal shape you can now walk through.
So there you have it! The best 11 Instagrammable spots in south western WA – it’s time to plan your trip!
Cat x
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