Ways East and West Australia are Different

Fly five hours west of Moscow and you’re in Lisbon; these two vastly different cities are separated by 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles) and umpteen European countries. Fly about five hours west of Sydney and you’re in Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Although the differences between these spots aren’t quite as drastic as those between Portugal and Russia, there are still some important distinctions.
Time zone
People from the eastern states occasionally joke that Western Australia is a little behind — banter that’s at least on point when describing their clocks. Perth and the rest of the state trails Sydney and Melbourne by two hours during winter, then three hours during summer because Western Australia does not observe daylight savings time.

Isolation
That huge time difference is only one of the things that makes Western Australia feel a little detached from the rest of the country. Perth is often described as the most isolated city on Earth, 2,100 kilometres (1,304 miles) from its nearest state capital Adelaide, and a four- or five-hour flight from Australia’s two biggest cities: Sydney and Melbourne. It’s difficult to overstate just how vast Western Australia is; the state covers 2.6 million square kilometres (976,790 square miles), so it’s roughly the size of France, Turkey, Kenya and Spain put together.
Population
And there aren’t many people to populate all that terrain, with Western Australia‘s state population a mere 2.6 million, including three quarters of those people in Perth. Intrepid travellers who venture into the outback regularly go hours without encountering human life, let alone a petrol station; the Nullarbor is home to the longest stretch of straight road in Australia and on Earth (the 146 kilometres, or 90 miles, between Balladonia and Caiguna), as well as the world’s longest golf course, the 1365-kilometre (848-mile) Nullarbor Links.
Landscapes
All that unspoiled space provides fertile soil for some seriously impressive scenery. The otherworldly limestone pillars that form the Pinnacles, the world’s largest colony of stromatolites in Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, the martian Wave Rock in the Hyden Wildlife Park and the beehive-like sandstone domes that are the Bungle Bungles are just a few of the astonishing landscapes you can find within Western Australia.
Sunshine
This point comes as no surprise for anyone who’s hopped off the plane in Perth from a different part of the world: Western Australia is seriously sunny. In fact, Perth proudly enjoys more days of sunshine (265) than any other Australian capital city (Melbourne and Sydney receive 185 and 236, respectively), so don’t forget your sunglasses!
Sunsets
Another great thing about the sun in Western Australia is that it sets over the sea, supplying a string of scenic spots to watch the sun slink into the Indian Ocean: Try Perth city beaches like Cottesloe and Scarborough, or the gorgeous strips of sand in the southwest around Margaret River and on the long road trip north of the capital to Broome. Seaside sunsets are something that the eastern states are deprived of, for obvious reasons.

Footy
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane all house both AFL and NRL teams, and the different codes of football are shared across a lot of regional Australia. Not in Western Australia. In the Wild West, ‘footy’ only means one thing: Australian rules football, something the state is obsessed with, especially since local AFL clubs West Coast and Fremantle cut the ribbon on a brand new 65,000-seat stadium at the start of the 2018 season.
Food
Every corner of the country boasts its own mouth-watering produce, but Western Australia enjoys especially fresh food to sink your teeth into. Seafood is a particular speciality — the Geraldton rock lobster, South West marron and Mandurah crab are to die for — and the gourmet foodie scene in Perth, as well as around tourist hotspots like Margaret River and Broome, stacks up against anywhere else in Australia.
Drink
Wine is another thing that’s done well all over Australia, but Margaret River is arguably the country’s best grape-growing region, producing world-class bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sémillion and Sauvignon blanc that every thirsty traveller needs to try for themselves. The craft beer culture in Perth — spearheaded by Fremantle institution Little Creatures, a must-visit attraction in the historic port city — also comes straight out of the top drawer.
Quokkas
It would be remiss of us to finish an article about Western Australia without mentioning the humble quokka, the cat-sized marsupial that carries the title of ‘world’s happiest animal’. Catch the ferry to Rottnest Island to see what all the fuss is about. Western Australia is crawling with wonderful animal experiences, including the chance to swim with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef and ride camels at sunset along Cable Beach in Broome.
Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.