Fremantle, ranked #7 by Lonely Planet, is shaking off Perth's shadow. Just 20 km away, it has reinvented itself since the 1987 America's Cup: over A$1.3 billion has gone into arts, business, and waterfront renewal, creating live music venues, bars, boutique hotels, bookshops, breweries, and seafood shacks. It also has a darker past: Fremantle Prison housed nearly 10,000 convicts and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Houtman Abrolhos is famed for both human drama and rich nature. In 1629 the Dutch ship Batavia wrecked here, and survivors on Beacon Island endured mutiny, betrayal, rape and murder; a stone stockade built there is Australia's first European structure. A century later, Zeewijk survivors also struggled here for months. The islands mix tropical and temperate life: coral reefs, 400 fish species, sea-lions, rock lobsters, seabirds, quails, dwarf dragons and tammar wallabies.

The Houtman Abrolhos is famed for both human drama and rich nature. In 1629 the Dutch ship Batavia wrecked here, and survivors on Beacon Island endured mutiny, betrayal, rape and murder; a stone stockade built there is Australia's first European structure. A century later, Zeewijk survivors also struggled here for months. The islands mix tropical and temperate life: coral reefs, 400 fish species, sea-lions, rock lobsters, seabirds, quails, dwarf dragons and tammar wallabies.

On the wild, windswept shores of Shark Bay, Cape Peron offers a striking taste of remote Western Australia, where red dunes, white sand and turquoise waters meet in dramatic contrast. This remarkable coastal landscape is famed for its abundant marine life, pristine beaches and wide open horizons, with opportunities to discover the natural beauty and rugged isolation that make this corner of Australia so memorable.

A remote jewel off Western Australia's coast, North Muiron Island offers a pristine escape of white sands, clear turquoise waters and abundant marine life. Favoured by nature lovers, it's a place to enjoy idyllic snorkelling, seabirds and a true sense of seclusion, with the wild beauty of the Indian Ocean all around.

Dampier Archipelago, with 42 islands around Burrup Peninsula, has rust rocks, spinifex, white beaches and aquamarine seas. Named for William Dampier, first European visitor in 1699, it is also Murujuga, with the world's greatest concentration of rock engravings, some 20,000 years old. Dampier Marine Park protects reefs, sponge gardens and seagrass; its tidal flats and shores support rich corals, fish, molluscs, turtles, wallabies and seabirds.

Dampier Archipelago, with 42 islands around Burrup Peninsula, has rust rocks, spinifex, white beaches and aquamarine seas. Named for William Dampier, first European visitor in 1699, it is also Murujuga, with the world's greatest concentration of rock engravings, some 20,000 years old. Dampier Marine Park protects reefs, sponge gardens and seagrass; its tidal flats and shores support rich corals, fish, molluscs, turtles, wallabies and seabirds.

Broome is the gateway to the Kimberley, one of Australia's oldest, most remote regions. The Kimberley is three times England's size, with just 35,000 people, 65,000+ years of history, and 2,000 km of coastline. Broome has long been an Aboriginal trading route; the Yawuru remain native title holders. The town grew from pearling in the late 1800s, and by 1914 Broome produced 80% of the world's pearl trade.

Off Western Australia, the Buccaneer Archipelago is one of the Kimberley's secrets: about 800 islands over 50 km², shielding the mainland from 12 m tides and the fast Yampi Sound. The tides create the reversible waterfall in Talbot Bay but also dangerous channels; sailors' graves testify to the risk. Sighted by Dampier in 1688 and named by Captain Phillip Parker King in 1821, it later drew pearling and iron ore mining, still active on Koolan Island.

Off Western Australia, the Buccaneer Archipelago is one of the Kimberley's secrets: about 800 islands over 50 km², shielding the mainland from 12 m tides and the fast Yampi Sound. The tides create the reversible waterfall in Talbot Bay but also dangerous channels; sailors' graves testify to the risk. Sighted by Dampier in 1688 and named by Captain Phillip Parker King in 1821, it later drew pearling and iron ore mining, still active on Koolan Island.

The Hunter River features a vast mangrove system framed by red sandstone cliffs. Its narrow channels shelter birds, mudskippers, fiddler crabs, and saltwater crocodiles. At the river mouth, Naturalist Island has a sandy beach suitable for small helicopters picking up visitors for the Kimberley interior. Inland, Mitchell Falls is the highlight: four tiers of waterfalls plunge into deep pools, with cool freshwater offering relief from the heat.

Ashmore Reef Marine Park, 630 km from Broome in the Indian Ocean, is an Australian external territory of 583 sq km. Its three tiny islands and surrounding waters protect rich wildlife: over 40 bird species, about 100,000 seabirds breeding yearly, migratory shorebirds, around 500 fish species, turtles, dugongs and dolphins. Because it is fragile, most of the reef is a Sanctuary Zone; only scientific research is allowed, though visitors can access a small Recreational Use Zone on West Island.

Australia's Kimberley region holds some of the oldest rock art, a vivid testament to Aboriginal culture and traditions. At tranquil Swift Bay, a short zodiac ride and 250-meter walk lead to ancient caves and Wandjina art galleries. Here you can see two styles: Gwion Gwion, with long, slender human-like figures, and the rounder Wandjina style. One striking painting is on the ceiling, visible only lying down; the low roof may test claustrophobics, but the scale is unforgettable.

Where the Outback meets the ocean, the King George River offers one of the Kimberley's most striking experiences. Depart from historic Koolama Bay, named for the vessel that sheltered here during a WWII air raid, and board a Zodiac for a journey through winding channels framed by towering red cliffs and ancient formations. Watch for saltwater crocodiles and Brahminy Kites as you explore this remote, untamed corner of Australia.

Darwin, Australia's tropical north capital, is a uniquely isolated outpost near the equator, about 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne. Named for Charles Darwin, it's known for nearby islands, Pacific flavours, and access to the Top End. Explore crocodile-filled waterways and Kakadu by airboat, relax in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens or on Mindil Beach, and browse the sunset market for food and crafts. Its resilience is shaped by WWII bombing in 1942 and Cyclone Tracy in 1973.

Darwin, Australia's tropical north capital, is a uniquely isolated outpost near the equator, about 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne. Named for Charles Darwin, it's known for nearby islands, Pacific flavours, and access to the Top End. Explore crocodile-filled waterways and Kakadu by airboat, relax in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens or on Mindil Beach, and browse the sunset market for food and crafts. Its resilience is shaped by WWII bombing in 1942 and Cyclone Tracy in 1973.