Category: Itineraries

Explore the best that Perth has to offer

Perth is the capital city of Western Australia and offers countless of experiences. Perth is also well known for its perfect Summer weather and its beautiful beaches. From eating or drinking, getting up close to the local wildlife, visiting art galleries or seeking some action and adventure, Perth has something for everyone!

1. Perth CBD

Perth is trendy and there’s a lot to do in the CBD! With our perfect weather, there are also many available outdoors activities such as kayaking or paddle boarding on the Swan River.

• The Bell Tower
• Elizabeth Quay
• London Court
• A guided walk or a tour on the Perth Explorer
• Visit some of the beautiful gardens

2. Kings Park

It is the most popular visitor destination in Western Australia with unique native bushland and unique views over the CBD and the Swan river. The park features many walk trails, a botanic garden and many events throughout the year.

3. Fremantle

Fremantle is full of charm with its 19th century port streetscape. Again, a lot to do and see when out for the day. There are also many tours available such as whale watching (the new Perth Canyon Blue Whale Expedition), walk tours and Indigenous Heritage tours.

• Fremantle Prison
• Western Australian Maritime Museum
• Fremantle Markets
• Fremantle Roundhouse
• Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour

4. Cottesloe

Cottesloe is well known in Perth with over 1 km of white sandy beach. It’s the most popular spot for swimming, snorkeling and surfing.

5. Rottnest Island

Take the ferry from Fremantle, Hillary’s Boat Harbour or Perth City and head to Rottnest Island for the day or a weekend. Meet the local residents, the Quokkas and tour the island on a bicycle. Rottnest Island is the favourite destination for tourists as well as locals. There are many walk trails and beautiful beaches were you can go swimming.

6. Penguin Island

If you enjoyed Rottnest Island, you will probably enjoy Penguin Island as well. Although it is further away from Perth CBD it is well worth a detour. After a quick ferry ride of 10 mins from Rockingham, you will have the possibility to see penguins and sea lions. Rockingham Wild Encounters also offer the opportunity to go on a dolphin cruise and to swim with dolphins. If you need more adrenaline, you can also book a skydive over Rockingham Beach.

7. The Swan Valley

Just 25 mins away, it’s the place not to miss if you love food! Visit a chocolate factory, explore the food and wine trail, visit art galleries and much more.

9. Caversham Wildlife Park

While in the Swan Valley, don’t forget to visit Caversham Wildlife Park and get up close to kangaroos and koalas!

8. The Bickley Valley & Carmel Wine Route

Beautiful forests, extraordinary wildflowers, tranquil bush walking trails…The Perth Hills are alive! The wine Route is only half an hour from the Perth CBD, and presents a cluster of boutique wineries situated within a few kilometres of each other make for a fantastic day out.

10. Yanchep

Yanchep is a popular National Park located about an hour away from Perth CBD. There is a koala viewing area and a few caves to explore. It’s a great place to stop for lunch if you are on your way up North.

Image courtesy: Tourism WA

The Northern Territory offers countless of experiences for travelers. Recently, it has become the starting point for many overseas travelers hoping to travel along the Gibb River Road as it offers the opportunity to fly direct from and to Asia, notably Singapore. But there’s not only attractions to see in Western Australia! The Northern Territory is rich in culture and history. As a matter of fact, being sparsely populated, it also offers travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the real outback and learn more about the Aboriginal culture.

Darwin and surrounds

From wildlife parks (and crocodiles parks) to the museum and botanical park, Darwin has a lot to offer. It will keep you occupied for a day or two.

Main attractions include:

• Crocosaurus Cove
• Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
• Darwin Aviation Museum
• Mindil Beach Market
• George Brown Botanic Gardens
• Territory Wildlife Park

Litchfield National Park

It is one of the most popular national park close to Darwin (about 1.5 hours). Visitors can enjoy walk trails, waterfalls and swimming holes.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu is the largest park in Australia and can occupy you for days. It has walk trails, waterfalls, wetlands and much more such as Aboriginal rock art.

Arnhem Land

Arnhem Land is located at the top end of Northern Territory and only accessible with a permit. This isolated reserve boasts beautiful scenery, rugged coastlines and rain forests. Today Arnhem Land remains one of the largest Aboriginal owned reserves in Australia.

Katherine

Nitmiluk National Park is a beautiful place not to be missed with the two main waterfalls being Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls.

Other places to visit include:

• Katherine Outback Experiences
• Elsey National Park (thermal pool)
• Cutta Cutta Caves
• Katherine hot springs
• Katherine museum
• Aboriginal art shops and galleries
• Dine under the starts with Marksies Camp Tucker

Tennant Creek

Tennant Creek is full of history and a great spot to stretch your legs if you are on your way to Alice Springs.

Main attractions include:

• Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles
• The Old Police Station Waterhole
• Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve
• Visitor centre

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is famous for its outback spirit and is the closest main town to Ayers Rock. The town offers many activities which include:

• Olive Pink Botanic Garden
• East and West McDonnell Ranges
• Alice Springs Desert Park
• Alice Springs Telegraph Station
• Hot air balloon ride
• Hermannsburg Historic Precinct
• Camel ride at sunset
• Rainbow Valley

Uluru-Katja Tjuta National Park

This national park is mainly known for Uluru (or Ayers Rock), a sandstone formation standing 348m above ground. The national park also features other spectacular rock formations such as the domed rock formations of Katja Tjuta, also known as Olgas.

Image courtesy: Northern Territory Tourism

Hire a 4WD and experience the magnificient South West Region

Red Dirt 4WD Rentals love helping customers experiencing the best that WA has to offer. This is our Top 10 Destinations in the South West. The South West has some incredible 4WD tracks, so don’t wait any longer and get a quote to hire one of our 200 Series Landcruisers!

1. Bunbury

Bunbury has a great array of activities to choose from. From bird watching to swimming with dolphins, it’s all there. Over 150 Bottlenose dolphins live in the bay and some of them can regularly be seen in front of the Dolphin Discovery Centre. The centre offers swimming experiences with the dolphins throughout the day. It’s a perfect little break before continuing your journey down south! Not far from Bunbury is the Tuart Forest. This forest is one of the rarest in the world and can be seen while on your way to Busselton.

2. Busselton

This is the place to visit if you love jetties! Take a walk or catch the train to explore this 1.8 kilometre long jetty. There is also an Underwater Observatory where you can see amazing marine life.

3. Yallingup

This town is nestled on a ridge and surrounded by the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park with amazing views over Yallingup Beach and the Indian Ocean. There are many attractions to see in the area including the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Sugarloaf Rock, Ngilgi Cave and many splendid beaches with white sand such as Injidup, Three Bears and Smiths Beach.

4. Margaret River

Just three hours’ drive south of Perth will bring you to one of the most popular destination in the South West: Margaret River. There is so much to do and see that your biggest challenge will be to fit it all in! This is the place to be if you are a food lover, a nature lover or a sport lover! Just a short drive away is the towering Boranup Karri Forest, which is home to the largest tree species in the world. Don’t miss the numerous caves on the way such as Lake and Mammoth Caves. There are also many walking and cycle trails close to town. If you love surfing, then head to the beach. Margaret River is well-known for its spectacular surf.

5. Augusta

Augusta is fast becoming a mecca for adventure. Augusta’s attractions include the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Jewel Cave, Hamelin Bay and various water sports such as windsurfing, paddling and snorkelling. Augusta’s whale watching in Flinders Bay is fantastic from June to August. It is the first stopping point for many southern right and humpback whales.

6. Manjimup/ Pemberton

The region features the famous Gloucester, Bicentennial and Diamond fire lookout trees located in beautiful National Parks. All these trees can be climbed during your visit. The best way to experience Pemberton’s natural attractions is to drive the Karri Forest Explorer Drive, which is mostly on unsealed roads.

7. Walpole

Walpole is home to the last giant tingle trees. The best way to experience this forest is to walk the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. You can also wander into the hollowed trunk of a tingle tree by walking the Ancient Empire Walk. Walpole is also home to splendid beaches including Mandalay and Conspicuous Beach. There are also many nature based adventure activities such as kayaking and four wheel driving in the National Parks.

8. Denmark

There is a lot to see in Denmark including the very popular Elephant Rocks and Elephant Cove. To entertain the children, Denmark has its own dinosaur world with a world-class exhibition as well as an animal farm. For the food lovers, try the chocolate and toffee factories.

9. Albany

Torndirrup National Park is well-known for its spectacular wave-carved rock formations including Natural Bridge, the Gap and the Blowholes. For the adventure lovers, head to Mount Frankland National Parks, Stirling Range National Park and Porongurup National Parks. All of them offer a great variety of walks. Porongurup is also home to the Granite Skywalk, a suspended walkway which spirals around a huge granite outcrop.

10. Esperance

Esperance with its white sandy beaches never disappoints. The most popular beach is Lucky Bay with kangaroos often seen lazing nearby. Further east is Cape Arid National Park which presents a more rugged experience for those wanting to get in touch with remote nature. A 4WD is necessary for this national park.

Image courtesy: Tourism Western Australia

Swim with whale sharks in the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef!

Travelling North will take you along the Coral Coast. The Coral Coast extends over 1100 kilometres of white beaches and offers the opportunity to swim with whale sharks, dolphins, humpback whales and manta rays. For the water sport lovers, there are countless opportunities including windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving and snorkeling. If you visit the Coral Coast in Spring, the coast is alive with colourful displays of wildflowers. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your adventure with your Red Dirt 4WD! Those are the top places that Red Dirt 4WD recommends not to miss during your trip along the coast of Western Australia, whether it is a small trip or whether is it part of a bigger adventures for our customers who will return their 4WD to Broome or Darwin!

Cervantes

Cervantes is well-known for its Pinnacles Desert. You can learn all about those strange structures at the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre.  Just a kilometre from the town centre lies Lake Thetis, where you can observe stromatolites, most commonly known as “living fossils”. Those have been dated to about 3370 years old! Further North of Cervantes, you will find Sandy Cape, a nice little spot where you swim and watch the sunset.

Kalbarri

Kalbarri is a popular stop over for people on their way to Shark Bay or Monkey Mia. There are many natural attractions to visit such as Natures Window and the Z-Bend Lookout located in Kalbarri National Park. You can also go whale watching as the humpback whale migration happens between May and August.

Dirk Hartog

This island is available to 4WD’s only. 2WD’s are not permitted. Guests can access the island by either barge, charter boat or light aircraft. A landing barge is available to transfer 4WD vehicles from Steep Point to Dirk Hartog Island and this takes about 15 minutes for the crossing. Dirk Hartog island is a secluded paradise for nature loves. From Rose Lake to blow holes, walks and rock pools, there is plenty to keep you busy for a couple of days.

Monkey Mia

Monkey Mia is world-famous for its dolphins. A group of wild bottlenose dolphins come to the shore nearly everyday to be fed by humans.  South of Monkey Mia, you will find Denham and Francois Peron National Park.  This National Park offers diverse experiences, including four-wheel-driving. 50 minutes away from Monkey Mia, you will arrive at Shell Beach, where shells replace the beach sand and stretches over 100 kilometres!

Coral Bay

In contrast to other locations, the coral reef starts right at the water’s edge. Coral Bay is a very popular holiday destination for Western Australians. It is recommended to book well in advance when travelling during school holidays. This place is a marine paradise where visitors have plenty of activities to choose from: snorkeling, fishing, swimming with whale sharks…You can even visit the reef shark nursery  between October and March, which is only a 20 minutes walk from Main Beach.

Ningaloo

This long coral reef swarms with turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, humpback whales and even whale sharks. No wonder that Ningaloo Reef is listed as a World Heritage Place! Whether you like snorkeling, diving or swimming, you will not be disappointed!

Exmouth

Cape Range National Park supports a range of unique wildlife habitats from existing ocean reef to ancient reef, rugged limestone, gorges and cave systems. Throughout the park, there are ample opportunities to view wildlife: from emus to turtles and seabirds, corals and whale sharks for instance.

It is recommended to visit those places in a 4WD as some areas on the Coral Coast cannot be accessed with a 2WD rental vehicle.

Get a Red Dirt 4WD quote now or call us on  08 6364 0000.

Images: courtesy of Tourism Western Australia