This WA destination deserves a spot on your bucket list
Just a short flight or scenic drive from Perth, Geraldton has it all – jaw-dropping natural beauty, vibrant culture and a foodie scene that punches well above its weight. Whether you're chasing thrills, sunsets or seafood, Geraldton is proof that some of WA's best destinations are often part of the journey.
Geraldton is serving up flavours as incredible as its ocean views. Dine on fresh crayfish, dhufish and scallops straight from the boat to your plate. Head to Skeetas for a coastal bite or pop into Flow Cafe for healthy bowls and excellent coffee.
If craft spirits are more your vibe, 30 Knots Distillery is shaking things up with small-batch spirits infused with local botanicals and inspired by Geraldton's maritime history. Soak up the distillery's warm atmosphere as you sip with views of Geraldton's stunning coast. 30 Knots Spirits. Credit: Supplied.
And for something heartier, the Burnt Barrel delivers sticky, smoky BBQ goodness. Famous for their Kansas City-style smoked meats, ice-cold craft brews, and family-friendly atmosphere, this local gem is a must-visit for mouthwatering flavours and good vibes. Burnt Barrel. Credit: Supplied.
With the Indian Ocean as its backyard, Geraldton offers up water sports and adventures for all levels of thrill-seeker. It's a mecca for windsurfing and kite-boarding, thanks to consistent wind and clear blue waters—just ask the international pros who flock here every summer.
Prefer your adventures a little more relaxed? Join a Blue Juice Charters luxury adventure tour of the Abrolhos Islands. Opt for a 3,4- or 5-day tour and spend your days fishing, diving and snorkelling, enjoying fresh crayfish and seafood, and relaxing on the sundeck. Blue Juice Charters. Credit: Supplied.
Take to the skies with Geraldton Scenic Flights for jaw-dropping aerial views. Soar above the Abrolhos Islands, where a chain of 122 coral-fringed islands sparkles against the Indian Ocean. Continue north to witness the candy-pink hues of Hutt Lagoon, a surreal salt lake that changes colour with the light, best appreciated from the sky. Round out the journey with a flight over the dramatic Kalbarri River Gorges, showcasing WA's rugged natural beauty in all its glory. Geraldton Scenic Flights. Credit: Supplied.
Geraldton may be small in size, but it's big on culture. The Museum of Geraldton offers a powerful window into the area's Aboriginal heritage and maritime history, including a moving tribute to the ill-fated Batavia.
Art and culture lovers will enjoy the city's ever-growing public art trail, where bold murals, sculptures and hidden treasures give Geraldton a fresh, modern edge.
Time your visit right (late winter to spring) and you'll be treated to one of WA's most dazzling natural wildflower displays. Geraldton is the gateway to wildflower country, where stunning carpets of everlastings, orchids and wreath flowers burst with colour. Take a tour with local experts New Leaf Connect, who'll guide you through secret wildflower spots and off-the-beaten-track trails filled with meaningful connections to people, places and produce in the Mid west region of WA. New Leaf Connect: Irwin River. Credit: Supplied.
Visit the website to learn more about how you can experience Australia's Coral Coast.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
The Lodge Wadjemup opens on Rottnest Island as Indigenous elders launch new cultural place
A new cultural attraction at Rottnest Island is being hailed as an important step in paying respects to the island's dark history for Australia's Indigenous people. But as yet another major resort opens on the island, work is still continuing on the redevelopment of an infamous prison and Indigenous burial ground. Rottnest is recognised as one of WA's premier tourism destinations, but many locals and tourists alike are unaware of the beachside paradise's history of trauma. At least 373 people died on the island, making it the site of Australia's largest number of deaths in custody, with almost 4,000 Aboriginal men and boys were incarcerated between 1838 and 1931. The original prison was later used for hotel accommodation, called the Quod, before it closed in 2018, at a time when a number of Indigenous people were calling for more acknowledgement of what had happened at Rottnest. Aboriginal people have created the Kwoba Wirin-up cultural space on the northern tip of Rottnest to encourage other Indigenous people to visit. "A lot of Aboriginal people won't come to the island because of the dark history and they've been told that that it's a bad place and they shouldn't come," chair of Wadjemup Aboriginal Group Pamela Thorpe said. "So this is about inviting people to come over, and if they are feeling really traumatised by the events of the historical events that they can come here, they can sit, they can reflect, and they can commence healing." Uncle Ben Taylor hopes it's just the start of a movement to better recognise what went on at the island. "We want to see something done about the place, do all the graves up and stop people camping on them," he said. "Tell the true history, the truth telling, it's time." There is also a plan to transform the Quod prison into a museum of remembrance. "The fact that you could stay in the Quod really ignored the significance and the pain that many Indigenous people felt," Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said. "People were gathered up from across Western Australia and brought here and imprisoned — they weren't criminals, they were law men, they were political leaders, they were leaders in their communities from the north right down to the south of WA. "It was a way of colonising this state, and bringing control over the native population. "We need to acknowledge that." In the meantime a three-year, $50 million overhaul of The Lodge Wadjemup is complete. The new resort contains 109 rooms at a range of prices, which the government hoped would help make Rottnest accessible to all West Australians. But amid insatiable demand for the island's limited accommodation options, the cheapest prices in low season for a room at the Lodge is about $250 a night for two people and almost $900 for an interconnected four-person family room. "There used to be a time when Rottnest, let's face it, was a private resort, for certain people, from certain parts of Perth," Mr Whitby said. "There were a whole lot of Perth people and West Australians who never came here, it was a bit of an exclusive getaway. Budget accommodation is still available on the island, with basic facilities at Campground, Kingstown and Caroline Thompson sites under $100 a night. Last week, the island released its holiday unit bookings for the Easter school holiday period, which sold out within an hour after thousands joined a virtual online queue in the hope of securing a spot. Accommodation booking for self-contained, dormitory and campground options is subject to a public waiting list process, while the more upscale accommodation can be booked direct with the hotel.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
A Byron Bay tour that will change the way you see this coastal location
On the way back, Kay points out tasty native bush foods like pandanus, pigface and sea celery. She then leads us to a picnic table with an appetising display of yet more treats - pink lilly pilly fruits, purple dianella berries, plum pine, macadamia nuts, sour ooray plums, cups of lemon myrtle tea. We throw the scraps towards scrub turkeys that are scratching in the leaf litter. Demonstrating how the land, its creatures and the changing seasons speak as one in Aboriginal culture, Kay points out how the scrub turkeys' colours emerge as the weather cools down.
Canberra Times
3 days ago
- Canberra Times
A Byron Bay tour that will change the way you see this coastal location
On the way back, Kay points out tasty native bush foods like pandanus, pigface and sea celery. She then leads us to a picnic table with an appetising display of yet more treats - pink lilly pilly fruits, purple dianella berries, plum pine, macadamia nuts, sour ooray plums, cups of lemon myrtle tea. We throw the scraps towards scrub turkeys that are scratching in the leaf litter. Demonstrating how the land, its creatures and the changing seasons speak as one in Aboriginal culture, Kay points out how the scrub turkeys' colours emerge as the weather cools down.
