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CS Western Australia Car Hire
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Compare Car Hire in Western Australia
Not only is it the largest state in Australia, occupying over 33% of its total landmass, but it is also the second-largest country division in the world. To give you perspective, that makes it four times the size of Texas and almost as big as India! It is an incredibly diverse region, complete with mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, and deserts. This makes it a popular destination for road trips, especially along the Gibb River road. Whether you're visiting to kick back and bask in the summer glow of the capital, Perth, or to rekindle your spirit of adventure out in the bush, you are sure to have an absolutely wild time with the wine, wombats, and wilderness!
This region is perfect for exploring by car - you can enjoy winery tours, drive to the beach or take a trip to amazing rock formations. When booking your Western Australia car hire in advance with Enjoy Travel, you can take advantage of average prices of just $35.04 AUD per day.
Guide to the Western Australia
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High temperatures & natural scenery
The state is generally quite a sub-arid place, with high temperatures and low rainfall. Most of the agricultural and population centres are in the southern half, in the Greater Perth area. Australia tends to have a relatively pleasant climate on the coast, so you'll want to set up a base in one of the coastal cities before heading out to explore. Suppose you drive down from somewhere like Derby. In that case, you will cross a plethora of geographical marvels, including the King Leopold and Stirling ranges, the Great Sandy Desert, the Fitzroy and Ord rivers, Lake Argyle, and too many other gorgeous beaches to be listed. The Outback is the real Wild West of Australia and is famous for its mind-blowing landscapes.
Western Australia wilderness
You'll find eucalypts, spinifex grass and mulga trees in abundance, and if you're an animal lover, prepare to be excited because you'll be driving past kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koalas and other incredible – and wild – animals. We guarantee that the greatest challenge will be to not stop at every natural wonder on the way! However, a piece of advice before you pause to admire the scenery: many places in Australia are considered sacred by the Aboriginal peoples, so please be respectful. The beauty of the country lies as much in its people as it does in its landscape!
Perth is the main city in Western Australia
Famous for its beaches, skyscrapers and entertainment sectors, Perth is the fourth largest city in Australia and boasts some exhilarating water sports options. Prepare to spend long evenings gazing out at sunset over the bay – and flooding the 'gram with pictures! Suppose you're looking for something other than the glittering bays and beaches of white sand, though. In that case, you can also visit some of the city's many museums – the Art Gallery of Western Australia is an excellent place to start. Additionally, you may want to take an Aboriginal-guided tour: this is a rare opportunity to learn about the continent's first inhabitants' religion, history, and medicine.
Things to do in Western Australia
Discover unique rock formations in the Outback
In the north of Perth is the Nambung National Park, which contains the Pinnacles Desert. In the desert, you'll want to keep an eye out for not only the wildlife but also thousands of limestone pillars called pinnacles. No one is entirely sure how these bizarre rocks were formed. Still, a popular theory goes as follows: what is now the Pinnacles Desert was once the bottom of an ancient sea, and over time, as corals and the shells of molluscs were pressed together, they fused, forming limestone shelves. As the sea receded, parts of the limestone were eroded while others remained – forming the pinnacles of today. Just standing next to them is a reminder of how young we all are, in the greater scheme of things!
Another place to explore beautiful rock structures is Cable Beach. Located quite near the town of Broome, the beach is lined with not only sand but also deep red cliffs that plunge towards a scintillating sea. If you can, do hang around until sunset, because that's when you can hire a camel and enjoy the beach at its best!
Take a helicopter ride over Purnululu National Park
Far to the east of the beach is Purnululu National Park. Here, you will come across a range of hills shaped like – wait for it – beehives! These structures, commonly known as Bungle Bungles, are massive sandstone rocks rising over 800 feet into the air. Like most of Australia's fascinating geography, they were formed by the erosion of sedimentary rocks over millions of years. To really get an idea of how sublime they are, get on a helicopter and fly over the range – we promise it'll be a flight to remember! The area may remind you of the vastness of nature now, but for over 40,000 years, Aboriginal people lived here, using the valleys, chasms and gorges as ceremonial grounds and burial sites. If you are lucky enough to get a tour guide from one of the indigenous tribes, they would be able to introduce you to the human history of the Bungle Bungles, and you will find yourself marvelling at the magic associated with each spectacular formation.
Take a day trip to Rottnest Island
Now, we've looked at some of the beautiful parts of Western Australia on land...but what about the sea?
Off the shore from Perth is Rottnest Island, where you can comfortably spend a few hours. If you thought it had an almost English name, you'd be right! When the Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh discovered it, he noticed that it was swarming with small animals that he assumed was rats. In the spirit of naturalistic observation, he named it Rottnest – rat's nest – Island. Walk around for a short while, though, and you'll find...well, not rats, but small cat-sized marsupials called quokkas. They're friendly – as long as you don't startle them.
Go swimming with whale sharks
Next, swim with whale sharks in the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park and dolphins at Monkey Mia, Shark Bay! Both places have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and boast some stunning seascapes. Ningaloo has not only sharks but also manta rays, turtles and over 300 species of coral. These creatures and the old shipwrecks you can find at Point Cloates make the marine park one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations. At Shark Bay, the dolphins, which generally feed on the rich seagrass beds, have grown accustomed to humans over time – so much so that you can feed them right out of your hands.
Eating out in the Western Australia
Seafood & diverse cuisine
In Western Australia's coastal regions, like the Greater Perth area, you will be treated to some truly scrumptious seafood options. Popular and readily available cuisines include Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai – all with an Australian touch! Perth's waterside restaurants are famous for their fish'n'chips and lobster dishes. However, in the rest of the state, beef, lamb, pork and poultry are more commonly used in meat dishes. The staple food for most vegetarians is wheat, grown in a seven-million-hectare-wide region called the Wheatbelt.
Try local truffles
Western Australia produces over 80% of the country's truffles, so naturally, truffles are present in a number of dishes in the state. Manjimup truffles, in particular, go really well with seafood and soup. Another food item to watch out for is the lupin, a legume that goes really well with lamb chops and the local wagyu beef. Until recently, these were fed exclusively to livestock. (That probably changed when someone realised how delicious they were!)
Enjoy a food trail
A good way to sample a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables is to drop by at the town of Carnarvon during its annual food bowl. You will have access to some quality bananas, melons, grapes and mangoes – and if you want a free taste of anything, all you have to do is go to the Grower's Market! You can try out locally grown fruit and meat at other times of the year by signing up for a food tour. We'd recommend the Gascoyne Food Trail.
Sample the region’s wine
To wash down a good meal in Western Australia, what you need is a wine from one of Australia's leading wineries. Home to brands such as Vasse Felix and Leeuwin, the Margaret River region is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys a drink. Here, you can not only taste different types of wine, but also walk around breweries and vineyards and blend your own wine. That's right: you can mix your very own beveragewith the best of ingredients!
Transport in Western Australia
Western Australia airports
For most visitors, we'd advise taking a flight to Perth and exploring outwards from there. Being a state capital and a major city in its own right, Perth has an international airport with over 34 operating airlines and routes to 50 destinations across the world. Western Australia has an additional 19 airports, though you might prefer to travel by road from one end of the state to another – after all, half of the country's beauty is in the scenery!
Driving in Western Australia
Western Australia has plenty of road trips to set off on. The most popular car to hire here is a Mitsubishi ASX, which is a small SUV. This type of vehicle gives you the versatility to explore both the city and the wild Outback.
When driving in the Outback, be sure to check your car hire agreement as many companies do not allow their cars to be driven on dirt or gravel roads. Drive the iconic Outback Way, which runs through the Aboriginal communities of Warakurna and Warburton and on to Laverton.