Never been to Western Australia before?
Let us try and help.
Please note any recommendations are entirely unsolicited.

1. Flying in

- Perth Airport has two terminals. The international wing is on Horrie Miller Drive and approximately 15 min from the Domestic terminal on Great Eastern Hwy.
Great Eastern Hwy has many reasonably priced motel/hotels.
The closest and only motel near the international terminal is www.wattlegrovemotel.com.au which is cheap and excellent value for those early/late hours flights.

2. Rental cars

- Perth has an excellent public transport system, however it is geared to City centred journeys, therefore visitors will need a car if travelling outside the metro area.
The consistently best value local renter is Bayswater Hire Cars www.nobirds.com.au BHC do not have an airport pick-up, however either the Bayswater or City centre depots are easily reached by taxi, just make sure their offices are open.

3. Where to stay in Perth?

If cost is not an issue, we strongly recommend South Perth, try the Peninsula Apartments, excellent location and quality, www.thepeninsula.net
Why not stay in Fremantle, in a very quiet location beside the river. Try www.pier21.com.au waterside apartments.
For cheaper longer stays, try www.budgetapartments.com.au in Como (if you can get in).

4. How long should I stay in Perth?

If you just want to see the sights - a week is quite adequate.
A suggested daily itinery:
Day 1 - Perth city centre, Kings Park, Northbridge and South Perth.
Day 2 - Fremantle (historical centre, fisherman’s wharf etc), including river cruise from Perth,
Day 3 - Historic Guildford, Swan Valley, Kalamunda & the Darling escarp/hills.
Day 4 - Northern suburbs & beaches.

5. Regional Western Australia (WA)

WA can be roughly divided into 3 areas:
i) the South
ii) the Goldfields
iii) the Northwest

The South & Goldfields are easily driveable from Perth. Journeys north beyond Geraldton (approx 5 hours) can be very long ie Port Hedland (24 hours). Consider flying rather than driving north. Australian Domestic airfares are generally very expensive. Domestic airfares booked internationally can be much cheaper. Remember to check if the fares quoted are one way or return.

We will leave you to decide upon journeys north or east.

6. The South

i) The South West Coastal Highway
ii) Albany Highway (the inland route)

i) The SWCH is now heavily built up from the Perth metro area. The previous holiday resort of Mandurah is now a suburb of Perth. Bunbury is a small city with sprawl to Busselton & Dunsborough. This is still a very a scenic area, and still very enjoyable if not a little overdeveloped. Margaret River has boomed in the last 10 years, and is no longer a small village. Nonetheless, many inland towns still retain their old town charm, ie Pemberton, Donnybrook, Bridgetown etc...

ii) The inland road & Great Southern region:
5 hours south of Perth on the Albany Hwy lies the city of Albany. A small but vibrant seaside town and the original european settlement in WA. Nearby is Denmark & Walpole which have some of the best remaining Karri forests in the state.
The Porongurups is recognised as the oldest mountain range in the world (No idle claim). The mountains are now more accurately hills, but still hold the most easterly range of the Karri country.
To the north lies the Stirlings, still genuinely mountains although small by international standards.

7. How long should we stay in the Great Southern/Porongurups?

A suggested programme follows, but the central thread is using the Porongurup’s as a base. We are central to Albany, the Stirlings, Mt Barker, Denmark, with Walpole a little further.
If time is an issue we do not recommend staying in two areas within the Great Southern. A week in this area is adequate to see both the main sights as well as doing some relaxing.

Day 1 - Depart Perth 9am, arrive mid afternoon. Relax, take a walk to the National Park gates and visit Jingalla Winery only 500m up the road.

Day 2 - Visit Porongurup National Park, and walk one of the 3 hour trails. In the afternoon take the scenic drive on your way to Mount Barker and visit Banksia Farm (in season) the world’s only complete Banksia collection. Tour town and St Werburgh’s church or take a tasting at one of the many award winning wineries.

Day 3 - Day visit to Albany. Shop the town or down to historic Stirling Terrace and Dylan’s for a coffee. The Brig Amity and Museum are well worth a visit. Then off to the Natural Gap and the Blow Holes, as well as Whale World on Frenchman’s Bay road.
At the end of the day eat out at one of Albany’s many restuarants or perhaps in winter get in front of the fire at the Earl of Spencer pub and try great ales and pub grub.

Day 4 - Relax around the site, just chilling out or having a barbeque.

Day 5 - Off to the Stirling range and walk Bluff Knoll, alternatively a round trip to Kendernup and lunch at Gilbert’s Winery.

Day 6 - Across to Denmark and Mount Shadforth drive. In the afternoon Walpole and the Tree Top Walk - you will not be disappointed walking 200ft in the air amongst the majestic Karri’s.

Day 7 - Time to walk Castle Rock and enjoy the views on all sides. In the afternoon relax before your departure the following morning, perhaps dining out at Maleeya’s Thai restaurant.

We are confident you will find this information reliable and helpful.
Have a great visit.