50 Reasons To Love Western Australia This WA Day
We’re celebrating WA Day this year the only way we know how – making a huge LIST! Read on below for 50 of the places and people we reckon make our State pretty darn great, and head to the Celebrate WA Website to start planning for WA Day Festival, happening at Burswood Park and various locations around WA on Monday 6 June, in Newman on Friday 3 June and in Port Hedland on Saturday 11 June.
1. Feeling The State Pride At WA Day Festival
The WA Day Festival has quickly become a much-anticipated date on Western Australia’s social calendar, taking place on the June long weekend and the perfect mid-year celebration of all things WA! This year, it returns to Burswood Park on June 6 featuring a drone light show, WA’s biggest bands live, free carnival rides, a giant silent disco, over 60 food trucks, and free family fun. The showstopper will be WA’s biggest ever Drone Light Show, featuring 500 drones showcasing iconic WA imagery in the sky!
Not in Perth? That’s okay! There will be another drone light show across the skies of Port Hedland on June 11. There’ll also be satellite events across the State in Albany, Carnarvon, Fremantle, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Newman – check the website for soon-to-be-announced event deets.
2. Sunset Swims At South Beach
We don’t pretend that this is news to anyone – but boy oh boy, are our beaches spectacular! While a tranquil early morning swim is just as delightful and rejuvenating, making the most of the sun setting over the Indian Ocean really is something special – particularly when it’s at South Beach, one of our favourites for its calm waters (and proximity to the pub).
3. Accessible Art And Markets By The Beach
Speaking of those glorious beaches, postcard-perfect Cottesloe is taken to a new level with our annual coastal celebration of art, Sculptures By The Sea. Not only does the exhibition showcase groundbreaking local and international artists, but it’s one of the world’s most accessible art experiences, freely available at one of our most popular destinations. Meanwhile a little further north, the Scarborough Beach Sunset Markets have become a year-round institution, offering sunset applauses, dozens of artisanal markets, a mouthwatering array of food trucks, live entertainment and much more.
4. Our Wealth Of World-Beating Music Artists (And The Strong Local Scene)
Western Australia has a proud musical history featuring some of Australia’s – if not the world’s – most popular bands. From Jebediah, Eskimo Joe, The Waifs and John Butler, to contemporary world beaters like Birds Of Tokyo, San Cisco, Spacey Jane and of course, Tame Impala. What this also means is that on any given weekend, you can pop down to one of many fantastic live music venues around town and catch the potential next big thing. And you’ll be catching some excellent bands as part of the free live music lineup at WA Day Festival.
5. Inner-City Parks
This list may span just about every corner of our state, but if you’re a city slicker, you don’t have to travel far to get a dose of nature. Bold Park is one of the largest remaining bushland havens in the metro area, and a huge conservation area. A favourite for runners, you can also take a more leisurely pace through the park’s various trails and enjoy the varied vistas that take in both the city and the sea. King’s Park may feel like an obvious choice to locals, but it’s not through chance that this park has become our inner-city jewel: it’s huge, it’s got ridiculously great views, it’s got pristine bushland, it’s got great play areas. It’s a winner on just about all fronts. Plus, we can’t leave Hyde Park (below) out, with its dappled light, proximity to delicious coffee and pastries, and smorgasbord of both families and hip sharehouse dwellers soaking up the sunshine and good vibes.
6. Magical Soaks In Zebedee Springs, Along The Gibb River Road
Among the Kimberley’s dramatic, sheer red cliff faces and pockets of prehistoric palms, Zebedee Springs are a (pretty magical) tiered series of hot springs and waterfalls, fed from deep underground reservoirs and brought to the surface via ancient fault lines. The spring water is warmed by the hot rock deep within the earth’s crust, meaning that the pools stay a toasty 28 to 32 degrees celsius year-round. As an added bonus, you know you’ll be soaking in the same waters as Nicole Kidman and countless other celebrities have!
7. Swimming With Majestic Whale Sharks And Snorkelling Ningaloo Reef
A World Heritage listed site since 2011, Ningaloo plays an integral role in our marine biodiversity. The world’s largest fringing reef, it’s where you’ll find an impressive assortment of marine wildlife – not just dugongs, turtles, reef fish, sharks and amazing technicolour coral, but where you can swim with the gentle giants of the sea, whale sharks. Whale sharks usually arrive shortly after the March/April full moon and stay until June, during the annual (and spectacular) coral spawning.
8. We’re Home To The World’s Best Beach (Misery Beach)
At the start of the year, Misery Beach was officially crowned Australia’s best – and we’re inclined to agree. Squeaky white sand and stunningly clear water is framed by dramatic granite outcrops that make it an unmistakably Albany destination.
9. Picnics By The Swan River At The Beautiful Burswood Parklands
As far as city rivers around Australia, we feel pretty comfortable suggesting the mighty Swan River is the best of the lot (and maybe we’re biased, but hey you’ve gotten this far). There are ample spots to enjoy it from, and Burswood Parklands is one of the best. Filled with landscaped gardens, floral displays, sculptures, workout equipment, playgrounds and sprawling open spaces, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy city views and the Swan.
10. Tuning In And Donating To Telethon Each Year – Supporting WA Kids
When it comes to things that make us #PerthProud, it’s hard to go past Telethon as the absolute top of the wozza. Led by its Chairman and Western Australian of the Year 2021, Richard Goyder, Telethon was established in 1968 – created by West Aussies to ensure better lives for the most important community of all, our children. In 2021, during the pandemic and despite massive disruptions, Goyder’s leadership of Telethon delivered a record $62 million in donations, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Over the past 55 years, Telethon has raised more than $457 million to help provide equipment for children in hospital, offering critical services for children with disabilities and life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged children.
11. Soaking Up The Sun And The Salt At Wadjemup/Rotto
Wadjemup really rivals our state’s most beautiful destinations, and just about everyone who’s grown up in WA has fond childhood memories of summer holidays cruising around the island. While we still love visiting the island and relishing its turquoise water, hidden coves and laid-back vibe, we’re now also starting to face the island’s bloody history with a more honest lens. For a more in-depth look at Wadjemup’s history and our tips for your next visit, click here.
12. Taking Selfies With Quokkas, Obviously
And you can’t visit Rotto without saying hello to its adorable resident marsupials – the now-famous quokkas! Even after years of visiting, we’re still besotted by their smiling faces and audacious confidence.
13. Our Crazy Underwater Canyons
Just off the WA coast lies not one, but two astonishing natural wonders – mammoth canyons deep beneath the water that are home to some remarkable marine life. Less than 20 kilometres west of Wadjemup (Rottnest), the Perth Canyon reaches depths of four kilometres, and encompasses over 2900 square kilometres – around the same size as the Grand Canyon! This monumental depth means that during March and May it’s where you’ll find the largest concentration of blue whales in Australia – you can also hope to spot humpbacks, orcas, minkes, sunfish and many more marine megafauna.
Off our southern coast, Bremer Bay is home to another immensely deep canyon at the edge of the Australian continental shelf. Even deeper than the Perth Canyon, the deep waters contain a high concentration of bio-carbons, with the nutrient-rich water brought to the surface each summer with the cold Antarctic current. This also brings an absolutely bonkers array of marine life – from orcas (which you might know as killer whales), sperm, pilot and beaked whales, sharks, dolphins, and – wait for it – giant squid! Every time we learn a new fact about this southern wonder, our minds are blown.
14. Starting Grassroots Global Movements Around Mental Health
With a strong community always willing to do the right thing, Western Australia is the perfect place to start a grassroots global movement. Such is the case with Western Australian of the Year BHP Youth Award winner, Kendall Whyte, who launched a powerful movement building awareness around mental health in young men via the Blue Tree Project. Following the loss of her brother Jayden to suicide in 2018, Whyte worked with her brother’s friend Simon to build the project, which now sees over 600 striking blue trees listed as far and wide as Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the US and the UK – a truly global movement sparking important conversations, born out of Perth.
15. Rockin’ Rock Formations
Ok, hear us out! Rock formations may not, at first, seem all that exciting. But then you start to learn about some of WA’s most intriguing, and… Well, you can now consider us rock fans. From Albany’s spectacular granite boulders or the spine-like limestone vein of Conspicuous Cliff, to the otherworldly sight of Black Point’s ancient basalt formations – created 135 million years ago as lava flowed down the Darling Scarp and cooled in the ocean. If the hexagonal basalt columns look familiar, they’re similar to the iconic Giant’s Causeway, which is a mere 50 to 60 million years old.
16. Shark Bay’s Gigantic Seagrass Field
Seagrass? To the casual observer, you may not get all that jazzed hearing about seagrass fields, but we reckon this one will convince any sceptics. Shark Bay’s seagrass fields are the largest in the world – roughly the same size as the Perth metro area, they span a whopping 4000km² and provide a vital habitat to the colony of dugongs that live there. One of the only stable populations in the world of the vulnerable mammal, the waters are also ideal habitats for bottlenose dolphins, with Monkey Mia’s famous dolphins found on the eastern side of the Peron Peninsula. The bay itself is the largest bay in Australia, with the Shark Bay World Heritage Area taking up a vast 2.2 million hectares – of huge ecological significance, it was the first place in WA to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Area. As if that wasn’t enough, Hamelin Pool’s stromatolites are one of only a few in the world – known as living fossils, they are the oldest known living organism in the world!
17. Wondrous Wildflowers
Watch out, we’re bragging again! Did you know that WA has the world’s largest wildflower collection? We boast a massive 12,000 species, 60% of which are unique to us – which, if you ask us, is pretty impressive. The season kicks off up north during winter, and by the time we get to spring, the southern half of the state has also exploded in colour. September also sees Australia’s largest annual display of wildflowers at the Kings Park Festival, so you can catch them all in one spot if you aren’t able to venture north!
18. Crystal Caves And Underwater Lakes
The South West is absolutely littered with breathtaking caves – so many that we can barely keep up! Ngilgi Cave, near Yallingup (which also, fittingly, translates to “place of caves”!), was the first cave in WA ever opened up to tourists. Explore the cave’s connection with Noongar culture with an immersive tour from Koomal Dreaming – which includes a breathtaking didgeridoo performance from within the cave. Jewel Cave is the largest cave in all of WA, and boasts one of the longest stalactites in the world! One of the most popular caves for visitors, the shimmering crystal walls deep underground are a pretty magical sight.
In between the two, Mammoth Cave is a staggering 500 metres long, making it mammoth both by name and by nature. One of the most accessible caves in the region, it’s also one of the few caves in the state that contains fossils.
19. Gorgeous Gorges
Our northwest possesses some of the world’s most singular landscapes – including some truly gorgeous gorges. Karijini’s deep iron-rich red gorges and picturesque waterfalls are some of WA’s more well-known – over two billion years old, the gorges are some of the most ancient rock formations in the world! In the Pilbara, Millstream-Chichester is a little less well-known than Karijini, but is also home to breathtaking gorges and waterfalls.
20. Walking Amongst Giants In Our Old Growth Forests
While the north is known for its ancient rock formations, the Great Southern’s gigantic, old-growth trees are something to behold. These giants are hundreds of years old, with Manjimup’s Stewart Karri reaching 85 metres tall – making it one of the tallest trees in the world. To get a true sense of their size, you can attempt the Bicentennial or Gloucester Tree climbs – at 65 and 53 metres high respectively, you can look out over the spectacular surrounding karri forest. If that’s a bit too high-adrenaline for you, Walpole’s Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants will also give you a unique view into our precious old-growth forests.
21. Our Awe-Inspiring, Wonderfull Waterfalls
West Aussies LOVE to bang about our world class beaches, but in the past couple of years we’ve started turning our attention inland to a wonderful array of waterfalls all over the State. From Lesmurdie Falls, Bells Rapids and Ellis Brook Valley closer to the city to Quinninup and Beedelup Falls in the south, and of course the spectacular waterfalls of Karijini and the Kimberley – WA is a place we definitely do go chasing waterfalls.
22. Hiking Through The Brilliant Bungle Bungle And Cathedral Gorge
The best way to see the world-renowned Bungle Bungle Ranges in Purnululu National Park is by small plane. The scenic flight – featuring in-depth pilot commentary – takes you over the Bungle Bungle Range, Lake Argyle, the Argyle Diamond Mine and Ord River Irrigation Area.
Landing near the ranges, you’ll embark on a walk that gets you right amongst the Bungle’s famed dome outcrops and into spectacular Cathedral Gorge – a mesmerising and world famous spot.
23. The Humpback Highway
Just about the entire coast of WA is lucky enough to be host to the migration route of approximately 40000 humpback whales, as they journey from the cold waters of Antarctica up to the warm waters of the Kimberley. Feeding and breeding in the southern ocean, it’s normally around April that they begin their journey north, ending up in the protected waters of the Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park, where they stay for winter as they raise their calves.
24. Glide Through The Magnificent Rowley Shoals
Rowley Shoals is a group of three coral reef atolls a few hundred kilometres off the coast of Broome, featuring shallow lagoons filled with diverse coral reef systems and an abundance of marine life. Each atoll covers around 85km, rising up out of the depths almost vertically, to the point where it creates a waterfall effect over the edges at low tide. It’s also home to some of the most spectacular snorkelling and diving you’ll find in the world.
25. Visit The Ancient Limestone Pinnacles
It’s pretty awesome how many weird and wonderful experiences and landmarks we have that only exist in WA, and one of, if not the most visited among them – The Pinnacles. These weird, natural limestone structures jutting out of the sand are only a couple of hours north of Perth and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. They make for a great jump off point to the rest of the spectacular Coral Coast region.
These amazing natural limestone structures, some standing as high as 4m, were formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago, after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.
26. Breathtakingly Mammoth Tides At Horizontal Waterfalls
Also known as Garaanngaddim, Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s many spectacular natural attractions – noted by Sir David Attenborough himself as one of the world’s greatest natural wonders! The phenomenon is caused by the Kimberley’s colossal tidal movements of up to 13 metres in height, rushing between two narrow gorges within the coastal McLarty Ranges. The gorges are each only 10 and 20 metres wide and 300 metres apart, resulting in a waterfall-like torrent of water as the tide rushes in – and even a huge four metre height difference on each side. This effect is exacerbated by the suction-like effect of the Montgomery Reef – 20 km offshore, it’s the largest inshore reef in the world and also host to dramatic tidal phenomena.
27. Amazing, Ancient Indigenous Rock Art At Walga Rock
Western Australia is a land steeped in Aboriginal history and culture (First Nation Australian were here first, after all), and there is no bigger monument to this than Walga Rock – a massive monolith and the largest gallery of Aboriginal rock paintings in WA. Located almost 50km west of Cue, eight hours northeast of Perth, it’s a humbling experience containing an array of paintings including potential pictures of the ships arriving to the WA coast centuries ago.
28. Searching For Snow On Bluff Knoll
Bluff Knoll or Pualaar Miial (great many-faced hill) is one of many peaks in the Stirling Range National Park that you can visit. Rising 1095m above sea level, it is a formidable presence in the area and according to the Noongar people, is home to spirits that travel in the mists that envelop the mountain almost daily. From the top of the peak on a clear day you can see far and wide. Look for the Porongurups to the south, the coastline and Mount Manypeaks to the south east and extending west are the other big peaks of the Stirling Range. It’s also the only place in WA where you’ll have a good chance of seeing snow if you go at the right time of year.
29. Experiencing Classical Music – With A Twist
The Perth Symphony Orchestra has reimagined and revolutionised classical music in recent years, and now rocks around 100,000 patrons across the world each year! Who can forget its iconic take on popular The Perth Symphony Orchestra has reimagined and revolutionised classical music in recent years, and now rocks around 100,000 patrons across the world each year! Who can forget its iconic take on popular music from Bjork to Beethoven or Mozart to Metallica? Under the leadership of the 2019 Western Australian of the Year Woodside Arts & Culture winner Bourby Webster, the Orchestra has made orchestral music available to everyone. As the founder of Perth Symphony Orchestra, Webster’s commitment to supporting WA artists and giving talented musicians a platform to shine has also seen her establish the Perth Arts Leaders Collective, aimed at mentoring arts leaders creating their own start-ups.
30. Taking An Iconic Photo Of The Cable Beach Camels / Staircase To The Moon
There’s no better way to end the day than watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean, and there’s no better place in Broome to do so than Cable Beach. With 22 kilometres of pristine white sand and turquoise water, it’s perfect for swimming and spending the afternoon on the beach, and gets even better if you’re doing it on the back of a camel. Plus if you’re there at the right time of year, you’ll be witness to the breathtaking Staircase To The Moon phenomenon, when the full moon rises over the exposed tidal mud flats of Roebuck Bay, creating the rippled impression of stairs leading towards the moon.
31. Or Walking With Dinosaurs At Gantheaume Point
Gantheaume Point is located at the southern end of Cable Beach and is only about 10 minutes from Broome’s town centre. Here the red cliffs meet the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Not only is it a great spot to explore, but Gantheaume Point is also home to dinosaur footprints. The preserved prints, which are over 130 million years old, are visible at low tide at the base of the cliffs – the same ones in the cover photo of this article!
32. Catching A Breeze In Safety Bay
We may give ol’ Rocko a hard time, but we can’t deny that the south side’s beaches are some of the world’s best. Safety Bay’s flat waters and reliably robust seabreeze also happens to make it one of the best spots in the world for wind and kitesurfing. If you’re keen to feel the breeze where the sun don’t shine… Well, neighbouring Port Kennedy’s nude beach is extremely popular for the clothing-optional crowd. (If you want to check out some more beaches to get nudey rudey, click here 😉 )
33. …And You Can Pop Across To Say Hi To The Penguins
If you like the sound of meeting some awesome little critters, going snorkelling, chilling on nice white sandy beaches and swimming in clear blue waters: we know just the place. Penguin Island is a small island just 700m off the coast of Rockingham, part of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. What it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in wildlife wonders, as home to a colony of over 1000 Little Penguins, along with dolphins, sea lions and heap of other aquatic life.
34. The Spectacular Sight Of Red Cliffs Meeting Blue Water, Cape Leveque
“Where the red dirt meets the sea” – Cape Leveque lies on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula to Broome’s north, making it one of the most remote corners of the world. Stunning red cliffs, brilliant turquoise blue waters, the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community’s historic church… It’s an explorer’s paradise – book a 4WD drive tour from Broome and take it all in.
35. Marvelling At Murujuga National Park’s Massive Outdoor Art Gallery
Estimated to be over 40000 years old, the petroglyphs of Murujuga National Park are a true national treasure. With an estimated one million plus rock art engravings in the region, it’s been described as “the largest outdoor art gallery on the planet” – the engravings depict both humans and animals and efforts are being made to have this site UNESCO world heritage listed (as it should be!).
36. Our Amazing Designers – From Disco Dresses To Adventure-Ready Wares
Like much of our artists and musicians, our design community has a uniquely West Australian perspective – while maintaining a truly global appeal. Whether it’s disco- (and Insta) ready glittered goodies from Dyspnea, celeb-favourite sunnies from powerhouse Poppy Lissiman, ultra-luxe resort wear and accessories from Kirrikin, minimalist, practical everyday wear and homegoods from Man-tle, or adventure-ready outdoors goods from the cool cats at Ghost Outdoors, our designers have you covered no matter your style.
37. Tasting A Glass Or Two At One Of Margaret Rivers’ World-Class Wineries Or Throwing A Shaka While Surfing One Of The South West’s World-Class Waves
Margaret River is of course home to one of the world’s most heralded winery regions and there’s HEAPS of ‘em. Dozens in fact. So many, that perhaps it can feel a little daunting when it comes to picking places. If you’re looking for a full list of wineries follow this link, otherwise you can check out 15 of our favourites here.
And while you should never drink and enter the ocean, perhaps you could work up an appetite for a drop or two after you’ve surfed one of the region’s world class surfing waves. It’s home to countless breaks that are suitable for all levels of riders, and is even home to one of the stops on the World Championship Tour of surfing – the just completed Margaret River Pro.
38. Enjoying Our State’s Official Sandwich At An Iconic, Family-Run Institution
If there’s one thing that can get a Sandgroper heated, it’s sandwiches! Our official state sandwich is, of course, the conti roll – and while there’s some pretty strong competition out there, you’ve got to go to the source to get your fix. The Re Store has a rich history dating back to their arrival in Australia in 1885, their first deli opening in Freo in 1904, and the third generation of the family still owning and running the store to this day. You can’t get better than this classic.
39. Learning About Our State’s Stories At WA Museum Boola Bardip
We can’t stop banging on about WA Museum Boola Bardip, but we reckon it’s well worth it! The museum’s name translates to “Many Stories” in Whadjuk Noongar, and its vast collections explore everything about WA – from the stories, history and culture of First Nations peoples of Western Australia, to celebrations of our most ingenious and innovative artists and inventors. All within that speccy building that deftly joins old and new! If you’re keen on more of our nautical history, head to the iconic WA Maritime Museum in Freo for a taste of the salty, seafaring air.
40. Home of The Fathering Project – Improving The Lives Of Over 50,000 Kids (And Counting!)
The award-winning Fathering Project was established here in Perth. This initiative came about after statistics revealed the most powerful yet missing factor in reducing youth substance abuse/crime was a sThe award-winning Fathering Project was established right here in Perth in response to statistics that revealed the most powerful yet missing factor in reducing youth substance abuse/crime was a strong father figure. Professor Bruce Robinson was declared Western Australian of the Year winner in 2013, acknowledging his work to co-establish this fantastic program, which has since benefited over 30,000 father figures and 50,000 children (and counting).
41. Our Love Of Lining Up At Cult Bakeries
This may not be entirely unique to us, but we practically turn it into an art form. Whether it’s the queue that snakes down Lincoln Street each weekend as people wait to get their hands on Chu’s delicate pastries and loaded toast, or the winding line into North Street Store (and waiting crowd next to the coffee window), eager for their legendary cinny scrolls and sangas, or the hustle and bustle for doughnuts, coffee and bread at one of Mary Street’s ever increasing locations. That’s not to mention all of our other favourite bakeries around Perth!
42. Sipping Natty At One Of Our Wildly Good Wine Bars
In our books, there’s no such thing as too many great wine bars – which is lucky, because Perth has plenty. While the CBD and Northbridge have the lion’s share of bars, the ‘burbs can more than hold their own: from chef’s haunt Mummucc, Swanbourne newby Vinotto, or fast favourite in Doubleview, the Corner Dairy.
43. Drinking A Long Mac (Topped Up) At One Of Our Killer Cafés
Another benefit to our city’s continentally-leaning heritage is our thriving coffee culture – we’d like to say it’s world-class, but we reckon we actually set the standard in the espresso department. From intensive tasting experiences to grabbing a flatty on the run, we’re blessed with oodles of amazing cafés (and roasters!) to keep us fuelled.
44. Feasting At One Of Our Amazing Restaurants
We don’t mean to brag (actually that’s a lie, we very much intend to brag) but our eateries are positively off the chain these days. Northbridge has everything from fine dining to fantastic food courts, the CBD is chock-a-block with wheeling and dealing, big business lunch energy, Vic Park’s a who’s who of international dining destinations, plus Freo’s bringing a good dose of seaside charm – this is barely scratching the surface though, you can also check out a list of our favourites if you’re feeling like a deep dive.
45. Watching World Class Theatre And Performance Shows At Crown Perth Theatre
There was a time when Perth found it difficult to attract high level theatre/performance productions to town, however our stocks have risen over the years thanks to a raft of excellent venues to host them in. Crown Theatre is one of the best, and their upcoming lineup of shows is testament to that. We’re talking Tony Award-winning musicals, beloved comedians, legacy music artists and the much-anticipated Australian debut of Frozen: The Musical, to name but a few.
46. Getting Cosy In A Winter Wonderland (Bridgetown/Balingup/Dwellingup)
The self-proclaimed Winter Capital of WA, Bridgetown (or, as they rather cutely call themselves, “Fridgetown”, pictured below) really comes alive in the cooler months – as does the whole charming, forest-filled region. Charming cafes, antique stores, flower festivals and cosy cabins… What’s not to love?
47. Walk The Ocean Floor At Busselton Jetty
Probably the most iconic thing in Busselton, this 154-year-old jetty stretches out an impressive 1,941 metres has become an institution in this southwest town. You can walk or catch a solar-powered train, go on snorkel tours or drop a line in, check out the whale murals, brush up on history in the museum or even take a yoga class. If that’s not enough, you can go to the Underwater Observatory – it’s eight metres below the ocean’s surface and you can view coral, fish and invertebrates in their natural habitat.
48. Catching A Game At Optus Stadium (The World’s Most Beautiful Sporting Facility!)
Our sporting pride-and-joy, Optus Stadium, is a world-class spot to take in a game, no matter the season. Awarded in 2019 as Most Beautiful Sports Facility in the World, the stadium itself is worth the price of admission (if it’s not already sold out before the game). If you want to get a next-level view of the venue, you can even watch a quarter of footy from the best seat in the house – the roof! For another perspective, make sure to book in for an Aboriginal Cultural Tour with Warrang-Bridil, where you’ll walk the shores of the Derbal Yerrigan and learn about life pre-colonisation.
49. And Just Our General Love Affair (Obsession?) With Sport In General
If you canvassed every West Aussie right now about their favourite pastimes, we reckon sport (either playing or spectating) would be high on the list for a whole lot of us. Fortunately we’re also pretty spoilt for choice when it comes to successful sporting teams, including our two AFL sides, our cricket teams (who won ALL FOUR possible championships last season), Perth Wildcats, West Coast Fever, Western Force, Perth Glory, Perth Heat… The list goes on – with all teams experiencing at least some kind of success over the years.
50. Getting Highbrow In The Cultural Centre (And Popping In For A Cheeky Beer Or Two At Picabar)
As well as WA Museum Boola Bardip, the Cultural Centre is jam-packed with opportunities to expand your mind. The Art Gallery of WA is home to some impressive state collection, including over 3000 First Nations artists’ works. Across the way, PICA’s program is always boundary-pushing, and you can check out some of the state’s most exciting theatre productions at the Blue Room Theatre and State Theatre Centre. Quite handily, Picabar is also in the cultural centre – one of our favourite haunts to bend the elbow.
Start planning your WA Day celebrations via the Celebrate WA Website.
All images: Shutterstock / Apertunity
–
This article is sponsored by Celebrate WA and very happily endorsed by us. Please see our Editorial Policy for more info.