Local Information - South West WA

Western Australia's South West region features fine food and wine, world class surfing, towering forests and whale watching.  Forests are a hallmark of the South West, where forestry heritage add personality to the settlements scattered throughout the region. In the Southern Forests area you can even climb to the top of some of these beautiful giants and look out over the towering timbers - an amazing experience.

The coastline from Denmark to Albany is dotted with coves and bays, dramatic cliffs and gentle swell beaches. This is also the region for farmstays, pioneer settlements, and the refreshing experience of trekking through hills and valleys and sweeping views.

In spring, the Stirling Range National Park features wildflowers, while southern wineries are scattered throughout the ranges and farmlands of this southern section.

Margaret River and its surrounds are a famous destination for world-class wineries, top surfing and fun family holidays. A huge draw for scuba divers is the HMAS Swan Dive Wreck also visible to snorkellers from above the ocean surface. The Busselton Jetty and Underwater Observatory provides another amazing view of the colourful world beneath the water.

Albany offers diving experiences including the HMAS Perth Dive Wreck, but this buzzing town is better known for its whaling history, now preserved in an oceanside museum. Whale-watching boat trips are a must along the Southern Ocean and right up to Augusta on the Indian Ocean coast.
Here, the Blackwood River will beckon you further inland for tranquil boating or thrilling canoeing through sun-speckled woodlands.

For water-based nature, head for Walpole and eco-cruising around the stunning Nornalup Inlet. This is also home to the famous Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk suspended 40 metres above the forest floor.

Source: http://www.westernaustralia.com