Top things to do in Regional Western Australia

Things to do in regional Western Australia cover a lot of ground, from Kalbarri and Geraldton on the coast to Bunbury, Dunsborough and Augusta in the south-west, and up to Dampier and Kununurra. This page sorts them by what you want to do on the day, with the cruises, whale watching, attractions and food and drink pages linked as you go.

Cruises and boat trips across regional WA

At Kalbarri, the Murchison River cruises run as a morning trip from April to October and a sunset river cruise from November to May, with ospreys, pelicans and black swans along the channel. Up north, an Ord River sunset cruise from Kununurra heads through gorge country past the base of the Ord Top Dam, with freshwater crocodiles to look for from the boat.

Salt water is covered too, from dolphin cruises on Koombana Bay at Bunbury to island trips in the Dampier Archipelago. The full lineup sits on the regional WA cruises page.

Whale watching and dolphin encounters

Whale watching in regional WA follows the calendar, and each port has its own window. Augusta cruises run from mid May to late August, Dunsborough from late August to late November, and killer whale trips leave Bremer Bay from December to April. The killer whale expedition from Bremer Bay is a full-day trip out to the Bremer Canyon, with a marine biologist and professional photographers on board. Kalbarri has humpback tours of its own, and each port is lined up by season on the regional WA whale watching page.

Bunbury's Koombana Bay is home to wild bottlenose dolphins, and the Dolphin Discovery Eco Cruise is a 90-minute loop to see them.

Zoos, aquariums and wildlife centres

Wildlife stops that stay on dry land are gathered on the regional WA zoos and aquariums page. The Dolphin Discovery Centre at Bunbury is one example, with an indoor marine exhibition and a beach zone where wild dolphins visit, mostly on warmer mornings, though visits can't be guaranteed.

Caves, lighthouses and Aboriginal cultural tours

The south-west corner packs plenty into short tours. The guided Lake Cave tour walks down a staircase through an ancient sinkhole into a sunken forest and a chamber with a still, reflective lake. Mammoth Cave is a self-guided audio walk, and the Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses both run tower tours. The rest are on the regional WA attractions page.

Up in the East Kimberley, the Mirima National Park and Miriwoong culture tour pairs a walk through Mirima National Park with a visit to the Waringarri Arts Centre, the first wholly Aboriginal-owned art centre in Western Australia. More cultural tours sit under Aboriginal experiences in regional WA.

Winery lunches, picnics and wine blending

The regional WA food and drinks page covers Margaret River winery experiences, from private vineyard picnics to hands-on wine blending. A good example is a three-course winery lunch, with the entree and main each matched to an estate wine.

Flights, jet skis and 4WD adventures

Kalbarri's scenic flight Grand Tour flies over the Murchison River gorges and coastal cliffs and out to the Abrolhos Islands. A separate Abrolhos day trip lands on East Wallabi Island for a swim and snorkel at Turtle Bay.

On the water, the Dunsborough guided jet ski tour explores the bays of Meelup Regional Park with no licence needed, and Geraldton has jet ski hire and a guided reef tour from November to April. Esperance has a 4-hour 4WD beach adventure through Cape Le Grand National Park.

How regional WA fits together

Kalbarri works as a base for river and coastal cruises, a rock lobster catch and keep tour and scenic flights. Geraldton adds jet ski tours over the Champion Bay reef and a seafood harvest tour. In the south-west, Bunbury, Dunsborough and Augusta cover dolphins, whales and jet skis, and the Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin lighthouse tours sit in the same corner as Margaret River. For more around the wine region, see things to do in Margaret River.

Dampier, in the Pilbara, has island cruises through the Dampier Archipelago, Kununurra has the Ord River and Lake Argyle, and Esperance is the base for the Cape Le Grand 4WD tour.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in regional Western Australia?

Regional WA has river and ocean cruises at Kalbarri, Kununurra and Dampier, whale and dolphin watching from Augusta, Dunsborough, Bremer Bay and Bunbury, caves and lighthouses around Margaret River, scenic flights from Kalbarri and a 4WD beach tour at Esperance.

When is whale watching season in regional WA?

It depends on the port. Augusta cruises run from mid May to late August, Dunsborough cruises from late August to late November, and Bremer Bay killer whale expeditions from December to April.

Can you swim with dolphins in regional WA?

Yes. The Bunbury wild dolphin swim in Koombana Bay is a seasonal half-day experience with wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins provided. The dolphins are wild, and none are held in captivity.

Can you visit the Abrolhos Islands from Kalbarri?

Yes. Kalbarri Scenic Flights fly to the Abrolhos Islands, roughly 65 kilometres off the west coast, and the Abrolhos Island Discovery Tour lands on East Wallabi Island for a swim and snorkel at Turtle Bay.

Are there Aboriginal cultural tours in regional WA?

Yes. In Kununurra, the Miriwoong culture tour of Mirima National Park includes a traditional welcome, bush tucker and a tour of the Waringarri Arts Centre. Near Yallingup, a twilight didgeridoo tour at Ngilgi Cave is led by a cultural custodian.

Pick the area first and the season second, and the rest falls into place. Start with boat trips, whale watching or caves and lighthouses, and book online.