Recently updated on August 30th, 2022 at 04:31 pm
Swap your ugly Christmas sweater for a swimsuit when exploring Australia’s West Coast at Christmas. The festive season falls in summer, making it the perfect time to combine an adventurous holiday with laid-back Aussie Christmas cheer.
The best way to experience Western Australia is definitely with a road trip or tour. Crank the air conditioning and a killer playlist as you cruise from the tip to the toes of the giant western coast. Here are 6 reasons why you should spend a Christmas in Australia exploring the West Coast.
1. Spend Christmas Day on the beach
With more than 12,000 kilometres of coastline to explore, Australia’s West Coast has no shortage of golden sandy beaches to park your umbrella on. December in Australia is both summer and Christmas time so do as the locals do and head to the beach on Christmas Day. Given the warm climate at this time of year, locals prefer fresh seafood to roast meats. Plan ahead if you want to feast on prawns and oysters!
2. Take a selfie with a quokka
Known as the happiest or friendliest creatures on earth, you might have seen photos or selfies with these extremely cute little smiling marsupials. The native Australian animal is almost exclusively found on Rottnest Island off the coast near Perth. About 10,000 tiny, fluffy quokkas call the island home. Wear a Santa hat when you snap your selfie for the ultimate Christmas card photo to tease friends and family! Once you meet and greet the locals, spend the rest of your day exploring the island’s 63 beaches and 20 bays before taking the ferry back to the mainland.
EXPERIENCE THIS ON: A Journey to the West
3. White sand, white wine and presents for all
If you head to the south-west, embrace the food culture of the Margaret River wine region. Drop into cellar doors for tastings then long lunch at award-winning restaurants, stay on farms to meet the locals, then head to the farmers’ markets to learn more about local produce. Margaret River is the spot to stock up on gifts for your family such as local olive oil, wine and beauty products made with native Australian oils and fragrances.
4. Meet the locals at Esperance
Keep heading south and you’ll meet the locals at Esperance. Here it’s common to see kangaroos hanging out on the pure white sandy beaches in front of turquoise blue water. The sand is often so pure it actually squeaks when you walk! Esperance town also have an annual Christmas parade and carols event in mid December.
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5. Gift a swim with manta rays
You’ve surely heard of the Great Barrier Reef on Australia’s east coast, so let us introduce the world’s largest fringing reef. The 260-kilometre (162 mile) long Ningaloo Reef is home to turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, humpback whales and the world’s largest fish, the whale shark. Sadly he only pops by in winter but it’s possible to swim with manta rays year-round. We would be happy to receive the experience of snorkelling, diving, sea kayaking and sailing around the UNESCO Heritage site as a Christmas gift! Stay overnight at the luxury campsite nearby just metres from the beach.
6. Explore the red and green of the Kimberley
Australia’s West Coast is mammoth. It takes nearly 30 hours to drive from Perth to The Kimberley and you’re still in the same state on the same coastline. If you can squeeze in a trip to the north-west coast you’ll come face-to-face with the world’s oldest surviving culture. For more than 60,000 years Aboriginal Australians have been sharing dreamtime stories and culture from generation to generation. In the Kimberley region soak in the iconic outback Australian landscapes, ancient Aboriginal rock art and waterfalls contrasting a dry red landscape.
Dreaming of a warm Christmas in Australia in 2021? Let us know in the comments what’s on your Australia bucket list!….