Ocean lovers will find the turquoise coastal waters of Western Australia simply irresistible.
Rich with marine life, visitors can get up close to some of the gentlest and most intriguing creatures of the sea such as dolphins, dugongs and whalesharks.
Dazzling water, amazing marine life and untouched nature - such is the exquisite underwater kingdom at the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Marine Park.
It's one of the few places in the world where you can swim with the world's biggest fish - the whale shark. Those who have taken the plunge with these gentle giants say it's an awesome and humbling experience.
Dancing with Dolphins
Monkey Mia in the State's north is home to playful bottle-nosed dolphins - so enchanting that they attract visitors who come from all corners of the globe.
Located in Western Australia's tranquil Shark Bay World Heritage Area in the Coral Coast region, this experience is a must for families and nature enthusiasts.
The dolphins are famous for their almost daily ritual of swimming to shore to interact with humans, and visitors have the opportunity to feed the dolphins under the guidance of a national park ranger.
Bunbury is dolphin country too, with the Dolphin Discovery Centre providing another opportunity to swim with these intelligent mammals.
Rockingham, only 40 minutes south of Perth, is also a renowned destination for dolphins, rare Australian sea lions and penguins (the smallest species in the world). Local tour operators offer regular cruises to explore the surrounding Shoalwater Islands Marine Park as well as the chance to swim with the dolphins.
A regular ferry service to Penguin Island also operates from Sept-June where visitors can see penguins fed daily.
And there are many other whale watching opportunities too, including the chance to witness southern right whales or humpback whales cavorting in Exmouth Gulf with their calves or on migration along the coast.
For divers and snorkellers, few experiences compare to swimming on the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef - home to one of the largest fringing coral reefs in the world, where dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and turtles are the local heroes.
Into the Southern Seas
Western Australia's Great Southern Coastal area in the South West region is also popular with whale watchers.
Albany, the area's main town, is most famous for its whaling heritage, which remains a major draw today. Its old whaling station has now been transformed into a fascinating museum called Whale World.
It's not uncommon to see whales breaching and playing only a few hundred metres from the station where sadly they once were processed in vast numbers.
Further afield, there are purpose-built lookout platforms strategically located along the coast, to provide excellent vantage points from which to view these gentle giants.
And remember to keep a look out for sea lions and penguins during your trip "down south".