OUR DESTINATIONS
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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Australasia
- Australia
- Western Australia
Western Australia
The state of Western Australia is big, bold and beautiful, and
despite covering one third of Australia has a population of fewer
than two million. It has miles of coastline washed by the Indian
Ocean and a range of climatic zones from tropical through to
temperate. The northern area is raw and harsh; the south is
characterised by rolling green pasture; to the west is the ocean
while to the east lie golden wheat fields.
The true richness of Western Australia lies in its huge mineral
deposits - gold, diamonds, iron ore, bauxite, nickel, natural gas
and oil lie under the ground and provide employment for much of the
population. The goldfields of Kalgoorlie still produce a couple of
thousand of ounces of gold a day. The young and vital state
capital, Perth, was built on the mineral wealth of the state and
offers a leisurely lifestyle centred on its lovely beaches for its
large immigrant population.
Western Australia is big on extremes; it boasts 8,000 species of
wildflower, more than any other region in the world. It has the
smallest church, the largest casino and the narrowest pub in the
Southern Hemisphere. Its rocky coastline has also been responsible
for plenty of tragedy - more than 700 vessels have come to grief
here since the first Dutch sailors arrived on the shores of the
state in the 17th century.
Information & Facts
Climate
Due to its large size, Western Australia has one of the most
diverse climates in the country, divided into three main climatic
zones: tropical, semi-arid and Mediterranean. The north is
tropical, characterised by a sunny dry season (April to September)
and a wet season (October to March) with its humidity, heavy rains
and thunderstorms. The dry season has ideal temperatures, with hot
days and mild evenings. The central part of the state falls within
the semi-arid zone and consists mostly of deserts. A temperate,
Mediterranean climate characterises the south where the summers are
warm and dry and the winters mild and wet. Perth lies within this
zone and the hot summer days are cooled by the strong afternoon sea
breeze. Perth has a very low rate of humidity. Winters (June to
August) are mild, with the wettest month being July.
Language
English is the official language of Australia.
Money
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is divided into 100 cents. Banks and
bureaux de change exchange most foreign currencies. Travellers
cheques are also welcome everywhere, but banks take a small
commission and it is better to take cheques in major currencies
(e.g. US dollars or Euros) to avoid additional charges. Credit
cards are widely accepted and ATMs are freely available throughout
the country. Banking hours are generally 9.30am to 4pm Monday to
Thursday, and 9.30am to 5pm on Friday, but some banks offer
extended hours and some are open on Saturday mornings.
Time
GMT +8 (GMT +9 from last Sunday in October to last Sunday in
March).