Fly & Drive Best of the west | Australië

About the destination: Perth is a suburb in Western Australia that includes both the central business district of the Perth metropolitan area, and a suburban area spreading north to the northern side of Hyde Park. Perth is split between the City of Perth and the City of Vincent local authorities. There is plenty to see in the city centre within wandering distance or on a free CAT bus. Hidden among the sprawl of the surrounding and metropolitan area are a few worthwhile attractions usually less than an hour away by car, or a bit longer on public transport. Outside of the metropolitan area are some unspoilt national parks, unpopulated coastline and other interesting locations. There is a designated area in the zoo for kangaroos where they can wander on visitors' paths and the animals are used to people so you can see them very close. To see semi-wild kangaroos visit the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park (a cemetery, but not European style) it’s a walking distance from Whitfords Transperth Train/Metro.

About the destination: Geraldton is a coastal city in the Mid West region of Western Australia, located 424 kilometres (263 mi) north of Perth. At June 2015 Geraldton had an estimated urban population of 39,825. Geraldton is the seat of government for the City of Greater Geraldton, which also incorporates the town of Mullewa and large rural areas previously forming the shires of Greenough and Mullewa. The Port of Geraldton is a major west coast seaport. Geraldton is an important service and logistics centre for regional mining, fishing, wheat, sheep and tourism industries.

About the destination: Kalbarri is a coastal town in the Mid West region located 592 km north of Perth, Western Australia. The town is found at the mouth of the Murchison River and has an elevation of 6 metres. The town is geared towards tourism and fishing, with attractions including the daily pelican feeding, the Kalbarri National Park, Murchison River Gorge and the Murchison River. The Kalbarri National Park is home to a phenomenon of geography and geology known as the Z Bend, a walking track, and "Nature's Window", a rock formation overlooking hundreds of kilometres of Murchison River. The Rainbow Jungle located a few kilometres south of the town centre, features hundreds of exotic species of birds in their native habitat plus a walk-in cage allowing humans to interact with the birds. Red Bluff and other coastal cliffs and formations are located south of the town.

About the destination: Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef and the popular tourist town of Exmouth lie to the north.

About the destination: Coral Bay is a small town on the coast of Western Australia. The main industries are tourism and fishing. The Ningaloo Reef is a popular diving and snorkelling site with a large variety of coral and fish life and is one of the best places to see whale sharks and manta rays. The migration of the humpback whales is also viewable from June to October.

About the destination: Karratha is a city in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, adjoining the port of Dampier. It was established in 1968 to accommodate the processing and exportation workforce of the Hamersley Iron mining company and, in the 1980s, the petroleum and liquefied natural gas operations of the North West Shelf Venture. At June 2015, Karratha had an estimated urban population of 19,235. The city's name comes from the cattle station of the same name, which derives from a word in a local Aboriginal language meaning "good country" or "soft earth". The city is the seat of government of the City of Karratha, a local government area covering the surrounding region.

About the destination: Broome is a coastal, pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS - The beaches - Pearl Luggers - Two reconditioned luggers and an enthralling presentation on pearl diving by "Salty Dog" Baillieu. -Willie Creek Pearl Farm. A working pearl farm with demonstrations on pearl seeding. - The Wharf. - Gantheaume Point. Red cliffs and turquoise blue water. - Malcolm Douglas Broome Crocodile Farm. - Sun Pictures. An unusual open air cinema with deck chairs.

About the destination: Halls Creek is a town situated in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is located between the towns of Fitzroy Crossing and Turkey Creek (Warmun) on the Great Northern Highway. It is the only sizeable town for 600 km on the Highway. Halls Creek is also the northern end of the Canning Stock Route, which runs 1,850 km through the Great Sandy Desert until the southern end of the route at Wiluna. The town functions as a major hub for the local indigenous population and as a support centre for cattle stations in the area. Halls Creek is the administration centre for Halls Creek Shire Council.

About the destination: Kununurra is a town in far northern Western Australia located at the eastern extremity of the Kimberley Region approximately 37 kilometres (23 mi) from the border with the Northern Territory. Kununurra was initiated to service the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Kununurra is the largest town in Western Australia north of Broome, with the closest town being Wyndham, 100 kilometres (62 mi) away. Kununurra is 3,040 kilometres (1,889 mi) from Perth via the Great Northern Highway. The town is situated in among the scenic hills and ranges of the far north-east Kimberley Region, having an abundance of fresh water, conserved by the Ord River Diversion dam and the main Ord River Dam. The tropical agriculture crops grown in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) have changed over the years. Tourism and mining have also become important to the local economy.

About the destination: Katherine and its surroundings are the ideal place to take a holiday in the hinterland of Australia and enjoy indigenous experiences. The Katherine region of the Northern Territory extends from Dunmarra in the south to the Daly River region in the north. In total, it covers an incredible area of 480 000 square kilometers. From east to west, it touches the borders of Queensland and Western Australia. Katherine and its surroundings are the ideal place to take a holiday in the hinterland of Australia and enjoy indigenous experiences. The town of Katherine is the center of the region and offers museums, art galleries and historical sites. It is a good place to buy authentic Aboriginal artefacts and art or to create your own original dots painting to take home. The Katherine Museum offers wonderful samples of photographs of the history of the region. Just out of town is Springvale Homestead, the oldest original hacienda in the Northern Territory. The fascinating Cutta Cutta caves, located nearby, are a series of gleaming caves and crystalline limestone pillars dating back 500 million years.

About the destination: Jabiru is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It was originally built in 1982 as a closed town to house the community living at Jabiru East near the Ranger Uranium Mine eight kilometres away. Both the mine and the town are completely surrounded by Kakadu National Park. Apart from the Ranger mine, Jabiru's most notable industries are tourism (it is the commercial and accommodation hub of Kakadu National Park), and Aboriginal arts and culture. .

About the destination: Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin is the largest city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory. It is the smallest and most northerly of the Australian capital cities, and acts as the Top End's regional centre. Darwin's proximity to South East Asia makes it an important Australian gateway to countries such as Indonesia and East Timor. The Stuart Highway begins in Darwin, ending at Port Augusta in South Australia. The city itself is built on a low bluff overlooking the harbour. Past Berrimah, the Stuart Highway goes on to Darwin's satellite city, Palmerston, and its suburbs. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Darwin Wharf Precinct. • Fannie Bay Gaol. The building’s grim and oppressive history can be felt as you walk through • Burnett House at Myilly Point. Burnett designed homes adapted to the climatic conditions of the Top End, which included the use of lightweight materials and natural ventilation. • Browns Mart is a stone building that was opened in 1885 as the store ‘Solomon’s Emporium’. • Bicentennial Park. This scenic stretch of parkland along The Esplanade overlooks Darwin Harbour. • George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. A stone’s throw from the city centre are 42 hectares of gardens that showcase local flora and that of other tropical habitats around the world. • Lake Alexander. An ideal spot for swimming all year round, is popular for picnics and barbecues. • Casuarina Coastal Reserve. The Reserve encompasses 1500 hectares, including 8 km of sandy beaches bordered by dramatic cliffs. • Charles Darwin National Park.