From ochre outback to outdoor cathedrals, lush forests to azure oceans, Western Australia commands an audience.

Feature by: Julie Hosking

Our stories have been written over millions, even billions, of years and etched into epic landscapes that must be seen to be believed. As part of the Dreamlike Journey series, we lift the curtains on 10 of the State’s most cinematic surroundings. Directed by nature, each place will linger long after the scene ends.

Coral connection

Crimson cliffs plunge toward the turquoise sweep of the Coral Coast, land meeting sea in a blaze of contrasting colour. The rugged beauty of Cape Range National Park demands attention, beckoning you within, watchful wallabies among the wildlife dotting the ridges and creeks carved through sheer gorges. Slip into the serenity of World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef (Nyinggulu), manta rays and turtles gliding past, neon fish darting around coral gardens. Swim with whale sharks in pristine waters, moving to the gentle giant’s languid beat. Toast nature’s gifts as the setting sun paints the range in copper hues.

^{Coral Bay, Coral Coast}

Kimberley queen

Towering escarpments bask in golden light, waterfalls spill from secret corners, and palm-fringed oases invite quiet reflection. Nestled in the untamed beauty of the East Kimberley, El Questro Wilderness Park promises all kinds of adventures, from climbing stunning Emma Gorge to helicopter rides over Wilinggin Country. Yet it is also a setting where doing nothing is really something.  Tucked beneath a canopy of palms, Zebedee Springs is one of those surreal experiences. Slip into the thermal pools and feel those aches (and worries) wash away as you float into dream land.

Ancient beauty

Deep in the heart of the Pilbara, Karijini National Park unfurls in dramatic fashion. Rock walls two billion years in the making form ever-narrowing chasms of rusty-red and iron-blue, drawing you along ancient paths. The traditional home of the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga peoples, Karijini is steeped in meaning. Clamber over rocks glowing like embers in the afternoon sun, wander Weano Gorge as wildflowers bloom, and float through Fern Pool as dappled light dances across the water. Come for the adventure, leave with an overwhelming sense of peace.

Majestic range

Banded domes rise in sweeping curves, wrapped in shades of tangerine and charcoal that shift with the light. Forged over 350 million years, the striped “beehives” of the Bungle Bungle Range, in World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, are a cinematographer’s dream. Captivating from the air, mesmerising standing in their shadows. Camp overnight under the stars to make the most of this majestic creation. Enter the vast amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge, with acoustics to rival the best concert halls, and trace the ridges of Piccaninny Creek as dawn kisses the ancient stone. A natural masterpiece.

^{Bungle Bunge Range, Purnululu National Park}

Lucky location

Pristine white sand glows as if lit from within. Water laps the shore in impossible shades of aquamarine and cobalt. Just when the picture couldn’t get any more perfect, kangaroos hop into focus, basking in the sun. Is this a dream? No, it’s Lucky Bay, where marsupial magic is only part of the Esperance (Kepa Kurl) experience. Explore serene coves and hike along granite headlands, keeping an eye out for seals and dolphins. Watch the sun set over picturesque Twilight Bay or the Recherche Archipelago’s dazzling array of islands. There’s an idyllic location in every direction.

Marvellous Margaret River

Forest canopies filter soft light over winding roads. Sheltered coves make way for pounding surf. Long lunches melt into golden afternoons. A rich tapestry of vineyards, ancient forests and coastal beauty, Margaret River is the place where elegance and nature fall into step as if directed by unseen hands. Sip world-class wines under towering karri and marri trees, watch surfers catch towering waves, dip your toes in emerald waters, and dine like royalty day and night. All choices are sublime.

^{Walking On A Dream, Margaret River Region}

Paradise island

The water on Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) glistens with an almost unbelievable clarity, shifting from pale turquoise to sapphire with the changing light. Only a ferry ride from Perth, car-free Rottnest is a world away from worry. Cycle from bay to bay, each more luminous than the last. Drift gently in secluded coves made for quiet contemplation. Everything on Rottnest feels airy and effortless. Then there are the quokkas – the world’s happiest animals popping up like beams of sunshine as though waiting for their cue. Walking on a dream.

Desert divine

They rise like sentinels out of the sand, jagged silhouettes casting shadows across the desert. Shaped by the forces of water and wind over millions of years, the Pinnacles spread over Nambung National Park in their thousands, creating a surreal spectacle. The limestone spires are at their most striking as the sun rises, the landscape shifting from soft gold to fierce amber, and at sunset, when the spires are cast in shades of burnt orange and violet. The glittering canopy of stars adds to the otherworldly feeling.

^{The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park}

City of lights

The Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan) snakes around Perth (Boorloo) in silvery-blue arcs, reflecting a skyline that shimmers by day and glitters by night. Soak up the cinematic views from stunning Kings Park (Kaarta Koomba), glide up the river by ferry or kayak, cycle toward the sculptural curves of award-winning Optus Stadium and Matagarup Bridge. Wander through Elizabeth Quay (Goomup), grab a cocktail on one of the rooftop bars and soak up the rhythms of a vibrant city enveloped in natural beauty.

Wild at heart

Deep in Balanggarra Country, male and female Wunkurr (rainbow serpents) rise as one over ochre cliffs, crashing 100 metres into the water below. Their stories are as sacred as the breathtaking backdrop in the remote Kimberley.  King George Falls (Oomari), Western Australia’s highest twin waterfalls, can only be reached by air or water. Feel the mist and hear the thundering roar as your boat edges closer, or soar over the cascading beauties in all their glory. Either way, the effect is astonishing.

^{King George Falls, The Kimberley}

Published in February 2026.