Perth Things to Do Tips by carstenj

When you're at it, take a minute to check out the limestone caves in the Margaret River region. It is not only beautiful to traverse the narrow walkways in the caves, but also puts a visit to the Pinnacles into perspective, more on that later.

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Bunbury on the west coast about 130km south of Perth. Apart from being an interesting small seaport, it gives you the opportunity the swim with dolphins, if you're an early riser. The dolphins have a habit of swimming into the harbour around daybreak and I can guarantee it is worth cutting your sleep short.

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You must go north to see the pinnacles; it is only about 200km north of Perth and simply a spectacular sight around sunset. They are so impressive because these pillars were formed as chalk clinging to the roots of trees 30,000 year ago. Since then, the trees have gone and so has the dunes where the trees grew, to reveal this attraction.
You will also feel very small and insignificant as a human as the Nambung National Park is vast and isolated with maybe 35km to the nearest town (Cervantes).

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Last but not least, get on the Great Eastern Highway and head for Kalgoorlie, the gold mining town of 20,000 people. The drive there is about 700km and will take you outback on the way. If you're not in a rush, and why would you be, stop at one of the camel farms on the way and take a ride. Camels were used heavily earlier as transports to the minefields as they were fit ti deal with the desert bushland and the long trek. Interestingly, the most expensive commodity in Kalgoorlie was once water as it had to be brought out from Perth on camel trains.

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And while we're at it, you will notice that the main street of the small towns one the way, makes an LA Freeway envious as they're wide enough to turn a camel train around 180 degrees without reversing. Today it looks kind of weird and makes crossing the road a project in itself.
Picture: Coolgardie

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In Kalgoorlie you must see the huge open pit, where digging out the gold is an industry and not at all romantic or charming. Much more interesting is going down the shaft of the now closed Underground Mine, where tours are available
Picture: Open Pit mining.

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While you are in Kalgoorlie, presuming you haven't been taken by the gold rush, check out the classic Edwardian architecture at places like The Palace and The Exchange.
You will also find that the town is a free spirited place where beer production and consumption is as highranking as partying, gambling and prostitution. Hey it is almost the wild west here.

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On your way to or from Kalgoorlie, you may want to detour to check out Wave Rock. It has been formed like this over thousands of years of wear and tear, wind and rain.
It is sort of cool, but it is also an awfully long drive just for that and the flies are incredibly annoying.

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If you're up for it, check out the city beaches of Cottesloe (my personal favorite) and Scarborough, if not to swell in the green and warm Indian Ocean do it to watch the sun set over the horizon. Simply breathtaking.

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