Western Australia (WA) is Australia's largest state, occupying the western third of the mainland, with Capital City Perth.and is bordered by the Timor Sea in the North, the Indian Ocean in the West and the Southern Ocean in the South, and South Australia and the Northern Territory in the East. It has a population of over 2 million, of whom over 1.5m live in the capital city Perth. It is a great place to go caravanning or camping, in a Caravan, Campervan, Motorhome or Winnebago.
 
IMAGE: Perth Skyline from Kings Park, Perth Region, Western Australia
PHOTO: Courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
 

Perth has grown to enclose the port of Fremantle and the town of Rockingham. Other centres include Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Carnarvon, Dampier, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Kununurra, Mandurah and Port Hedland. All of these are small cities or towns.

The first people of Western Australia were Indigenous Australians, who have significant numbers in locations throughout the state. In some regions such as the Kimberley they form the majority of the low local population.
 
IMAGE: Wildflowers, Golden Outback Region, Western Australia
PHOTO: Courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
 
Western Australia, with only about 10% of Australia's population, has typically accounted for around 30% of Australia's exports and current commodities boom means it now exceeds 40%. Much of this is from mining and export of alumina, gold, iron, natural gas, nickel and petroleum. Coal is mined at Collie for power production. Diamonds are mined at Argyle in the North West.
 

Agricultural exports are important. Barley, sheep meat, wheat, and wool are big contributors. Tourism has increasing importance. Refining and manufacturing industries including Liquefied natural gas production, petrochemicals and fertilizer production in the North West Shelf region are expanding. A heavy industrial area is centred at Kwinana south of Perth. Oil Refining is also done there. WA has major wine producing regions in the South West. Wineries in the Margaret River area and Swan River Valley produce wine for local use and export. Western Australia has a large fishing industry producing crabs, prawns, shark, tuna and Western Rock lobsters and other fish for local use and export. Perth is the centre of banking and finance and the site of head offices and major offices for many large companies. 
 
IMAGE: Amberley Estate Winery, South West Region , Western Australia
PHOTO: Courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
 

The land of WA is extremely old and eroded. Much of the state forms low plateaus with average elevations of around 400m. The highest point is Mount Meharry (1,253m) in the Hamersley Range, Pilbara region. The extreme age of the lands means the soils are very infertile and low quality.

The infertile and fragile soils have been damaged by clearing and fertilising, damaging habitats for native flora and fauna, so there are many threatened or endangered species in areas that include top biodiversity locations. 
 
IMAGE: Dolphins at Monkia Mia, Coral Coast Region, Western Australia
PHOTO: Courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
 
The southwest coastal region has a temperate climate and originally had large karri forests, one of the tallest trees in the world. The offshore Leeuwin Current helps increase marine biodiversity, resulting in the most southerly coral reefs in the world. Rainfall from 300mm P.A. to 1,400mm is offset by in November to March it is very dry as evaporation exceeds rainfall. Snow only regularly occurs on the Stirling Range near Albany.
 

The central 80%  of Western Australia is semi-arid to desert, with few inhabitants. Rainfall is erratic and only 200mm to 250mm, mostly from torrential falls caused by cyclones in summer. 

In the northern tropical regions, the Kimberley has a very hot monsoonal climate with average annual rainfall from 500mm to 1,500mm. A very long dry season from April to November is a complete contrast. The Ord River region uses the stored water from vast Lake Argyle to grow may kinds of crops.

Temperatures have varied from -6.7 °C  to 50.5 °C.
 
IMAGE: Carlton Gorge & The Ord River, North Western Region, Western Australia
PHOTO: Courtesy of Tourism Western Australia
 

Tourist Activities include:

• Drive the Golden Way where pioneer gold fossickers once trudged
• Eat Western Australian crayfish at Monkey Mia
• Enjoy spectacular wildflower shows the Golden Heartland
• Enjoy the  spectacular white water race:- The Avon Descent in August on the Avon River
• Experience Perth with all its attractions.
• Explore Dryandra State Forest
• Explore Fremantle’s maritime history
• Explore the Serpentine National Park
• Feed dolphins at Monkey Mia
• Feed the dolphins of Monkey Mia.
• Fossick for gold in the Kalgoorlie goldfields
• Go 4 Wheel Driving in Far North Western Australia
• Laze on the stunning beaches of Broome
• Marvel at the natural wonders of Wave Rock
• Relax on white sandy beaches of the South
• See Albany’s  spectacular coastal scenery
• See dugongs, manta rays, large sharks, turtles and whales at Shark Bay
• See inspiring views of the coastal cliffs of the Eucla National Park
• See the  Pinnacles at the Nambung National Park.
• See the Quokkas of Rottnest Island
• Snorkel, fish and surf the coastline North of Perth
• Surf the Margaret River area
• Swim in clear fresh water of the gorges of the Karijini National Park swimming holes.
• Take a family holiday on white sandy beaches South of Perth
• Tate wines at many wineries in the Margaret River area
• Travel the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor Plain
• View the water fowl of the Avon Valley
• Visit Northwest Cape to see coral formations, dolphins, dugongs, giant hump-backed whales, starfish and whale sharks.
• Visit the gorges and National Parks of the tropics
• Visit the Kalgoorlie "Golden Mile", the richest square mile of gold bearing earth in the world.
• Visit the Karri forests and Warren National Park around Pemberton
• Visit the limestone caves of Yanchep National Park
• Visit the renowned Pink Lake near Esperance
• Windsurf the coastline North of Perth

It really is a great place to go caravanning or camping, in a Caravan, Campervan, Motorhome or Winnebago.