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WESTERN AUSTRALIA – At the end of the world, where only the wild landscape and the sky reside, nature of the Wild West of Down Under, is in charge. Golden sand, fine as flour, powders damp feet, red rocks, weathered into mighty boulders and deep gorges, glow in the evening light. Blades of grass whisper, waves crash, wine glasses clink at sundown, and oysters, hand-picked from rugged cliffs, are served as a snack.
“Go wild in style” was the motto of the “True North Adventure Cruises,” when we boarded this boutique cruise ship. We were desperately eager to discover what is arguably Australia’s most spectacular coastline – on foot, by boat, and even by helicopter.
Western Australia Location
Western Australia covers the entire western portion of the Australian continent, totaling approximately 2.5 million square kilometers. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the west and north, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Timor Sea to the northwest, and South Australia to its east.
1.3 million of the state’s 1.8 million inhabitants live in the city. The rest of its people are scattered across a vast expanse of 2.5 million square kilometers, roughly the size of Western Europe. Along its 12,000 kilometers of coastline, every surfer can find their perfect wave rolling in. From the vast Indian Ocean, and exactly 99 national parks, nature lovers can find their secluded spot at any time of the year.
Perth
We didn’t start this tour in the trendy metropolises of Sydney or Melbourne, nor in Brisbane with its Great Barrier Reef, nor in Adelaide with its European-style wine regions. This tour was designed to explore a different side of Australia, one less frequently visited by overseas tourists. Instead, we began in Perth, the cosmopolitan capital of Western Australia, the Wild West of Down Under.
Perth itself, a livable but pleasantly laid-back city, claims to receive more sunshine than any other Australian metropolis. Even the winters here are mild rather than cold, and in summer, a Mediterranean climate ensures scorching days and nights, during which the street cafes buzz with activity like a beehive even at midnight.
Nothing against Perth, nothing against the charming neighboring town of Fremantle, where Western Australian wines are best enjoyed with a view of the harbor. But we didn’t set out to explore cities, for this tour. Instead, we longed for vast open spaces and the ultimate emptiness.
Places of solitude have become rare in an increasingly crowded world. When vacationing in Western Australia, many seek refuge in the waterless desert or in the solitude of the mountains, or in the apparent emptiness of the Ocean, where nature can nevertheless be enjoyed on a vast scale.
Kimberley Region
For a rendezvous with solitude, travel to the north of Western Australia and the Kimberley region. For local standards it is vast and sparsely populated, a mere 40,000 people live in an area larger than all of Germany. To this day, this region in the northwest of the continent, nestled between the Indian Ocean, the Timor Sea, and the red expanse of the Outback, remains largely inaccessible.
Only the Gibb River Road traverses it. A gravel track that is an adventure in itself, with rocky grassland dotted with baobab trees stretching their leafless branches towards the steel-blue sky on either side. And the wild coastline, reached by virtually no road, can only be explored by boat.
So, off we go north. With the Indian Ocean always in sight, we pass the limestone pillars of the Pinnacles Desert, seemingly erected by an invisible hand, and the dolphins of Monkey Mia, who come ashore to observe humans we reached our first extended stop.
After 1,200 kilometers on Highway 1, where kangaroos hop along with pleasing regularity we start exploring the Ningaloo marine Park. As for the kangaroos it is said to be twice as many kangaroos as people in Australia, around 40 million.
The Ningaloo Marine Park
The Cape Range National Park (on land) and the Ningaloo Marine Park (in the water), UNESCO declared this area as a World Heritage Site. Previously known only to insiders outside of Australia, this reef is one of the largest in the world and incredibly biodiverse.
” We’ve counted 500 species of fish, know of 300 species of coral, and 600 different mollusks,” – says the representative of the visitor services at the Ningaloo Marine Park.
Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, which can only be explored by boat, this reef lies directly off the coast. Sometimes it’s 100 meters away, sometimes only 50. You simply swim from the beach and you’re right in the middle of it.
The Cape Range National Park
In the nature reserve, there are only a few campsites for campers and a single accommodation, but it’s truly something special. In Africa, visitors on safari want to get as close to nature as possible. Amidst the dunes, far removed from the rest of the world, he has erected nine large tents on wooden platforms. There’s no telephone or television, water is rationed, and electricity is supplied by solar panels. But luxury can also mean eating, drinking, and sleeping well, and having nothing around you but nature.
In the morning, you might hear a kangaroo nibbling on a blade of grass next to the canvas tent,the sea is just a few steps away, and in the evening, a starry sky stretches above the camp, untouched by light pollution, like a galactic diamond collection.
Activities in the National Park
You can hike through the gorges of the national park with nature guides from Sal Salis, go birdwatching, or simply search for relics of the Aboriginal people. Aborigines found shelter in the hollows here as far back as 30,000 years ago. Most visitors, however, come to snorkel and dive in the year-round warm waters or to see the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, up close.
Between May and July, these animals, which can reach up to 18 meters in length, stop off the coast of Western Australia. During their migration through the oceans they find these placese rich with plankton. The regulations are strict to ensure the animals aren’t disturbed by boats and that they return the following year again.
Slipping into the water with a mask and snorkel is the perfect way to spot endemic saltwater species. At a distance of just three meters, you can then accompany giants on their journey, until you eventually run out of breath. Whale sharks, with their characteristic grey-blue patches on their white backs, are by far the better swimmers.
Kimberly region
The journey continues north to Broome, gateway to the Kimberley region and formerly the pearl diving capital. Fortune seekers from all over the world came here 130 years ago. Reason why? To make a fortune (or at least hope to) with Neptune’s pearls and silvery mother-of-pearl. Those days are long gone, even though pearl farms now give Mother Nature a helping hand.
Today, visitors succumb to the town’s charm, initially intending to stay just one night, but ending up spending a whole week. Here, they are all drawn by the pleasant relaxation offered by the red sand and turquoise sea. On weekends, half the town gathers on the 22-kilometer-long Cable Beach, unpacking grills and steaks from their SUVs for a BBQ.
And because camels from distant Afghanistan once helped build railways and roads in the arid hinterland, their great-great-great-grandchildren are still here. Strolling along the sea at sunset, camels are swaying gently, with tourists snapping photos on their backs.
From Broome to Wyndham
Beyond Broome, you can’t really go much further by car, and even horses struggled with the rocky terrain. The coast is wild and rugged, and so remote that few discover its beauty. After the first night on board, the passengers are usually completely blown away. On the journey from Broome to Wyndham, the True North takes its explorers to impressive cascades. Exploring turbulent rivers, the True North sails into towering red gorges, and stops at sandbanks and coral reefs over six days or two weeks.
Because the motto “Go wild in style” is truly taken seriously on these remote destinations further inland are reached with a helicopter kept on board for the entire trip.
One morning, the whole crew flies to a waterfall accessible only by air for a picnic. Activities are numerous, from feeding sharks to fishing for wild barramundi from the tender (which is then served in the evening) and catching crabs in the mangroves. Not to forget bathing in the cool waterhole, watching humpback whales breach, and searching for thousands of years old rock paintings by the Aborigines who once hunted here.
What a day? Cruising and safari, two in one. And, even today in the 21st century, you can still feel like a pioneer by exploring the “Wild West” of Australia.
Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth) – 6-Day Tou
Monica, Dec 2025
,,Very interesting and varied! Our guide Liebert was very knowledgeable and friendly and told us lots of interesting stories about the west coast. Although there were a lot of kilometers to cover, it was very entertaining. I can only recommend the trip and would do it again at any time,,
Great location – Friendly staff – Excellent stay – Booking hotel in Perth by Trivago
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