West Oz is a playground for any experience seeker.  If you are looking to get up close and personal with some Australian native creatures, this is the place for you.

Yanchep National Park

Discover one of WA’s most fascinating attractions. This park abounds with unique fauna and flora and boasts rich Aboriginal and European heritage.  Take a bushwalk and be prepared to meet some of the parks local residents such as the western grey kangaroo, tiny honey possums, bandicoots, reptiles, emus, wallabies and of course Mr Koala!  Just 50 kms from Perth, this park can be enjoyed throughout the whole year.

Shoalwater Islands Marine Park

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to fish, swim and sunbake all year round?  Well the Australian sea lion gets to do just that. They are one of our most attractive and interesting sea creatures as well as one of the rarest species in the world.    Make sure you don’t catch them on a bad day though, if aggravated they have a tendency to bite.   The marine park, 50km south of Perth, is home to about sixteen different types of seabirds including little penguins.   There are ferry tours around the island at Shoalwater Bay with an opportunity to view the sea lions lazing on Seal Island, or a stroll around Penguin Island.

Kalgoolrie Arboretum

Located in the city of Kalgoorlie/Boulder, Kalgoorlie Arboretum is a high profile park set on 26.5 hectares of land.  Its aim was to establish a living museum representing living tree species of the semi arid zone and adjacent desert areas.  It boasts a variety of indigenous flora, including more than 60 species of planted trees species, a remnant woodland area, 65 observed bird species, interpretive walk trails, recreational areas under the shade of river gums and a small dam.

Mirima National Park, Kununurra

Also known as the ‘Hidden Valley’, the park is alive with wallabies, dingoes, echidnas, frogs, tortoises, geckos, goannas and snakes.  There is also an abundance of native birds including the black kites - ‘seagulls of the Kimberleys’.   The park is a day area only, very popular for sightseeing, walking, photography and nature observation and is only a 2km walk from the hostel.  The best time to visit the Kimberleys is the dry season, May through to October.

Broome Crocodile Park

Saltwater crocs

Ever wanted to stare down the mouth of a giant reptile? Here’s your chance!  This park is home to over fifteen thousand dangerous salt-water crocs, Aussie fresh water crocs, exotic New Guinea freshwater crocs, South American crocs and American alligators. Phew, that’s a load of crocs! You get to check out their true nature during crocodile feeding tours, an experience not to be missed.  You can catch the town bus outside the hostel, which is only a 15 minute ride to the park.

Walpole – Nornalup National Park

This unique national park bears little evidence of human activity and boasts pristine forests and wilderness area.   The park is best known for its red tingle trees, which are unique to the Walpole area.  If you arrive in the winter and spring you will bear witness to the antics of the whales.  Seabirds and other marine life are found here all year long.  Or take a hike along the many walking trails in the surrounding forest including the well-known Bibbulmun track – well worth a visit!

Two Peoples Bay, Albany

Although the quokkas live closer to human activity at Rottnest Island, they live closer to their natural habitat on Mount Gardner just 35kms east of Albany.  The bay is also a haven for a number of rare and uncommon mammals.  Quendas are often seen during the day as well as the western ringtail possum.  Two Peoples Bay is better known for our feathered friends, with over 188 species recorded including seabirds, great winged petrals, little penguins and of course the most endangered species, the noisy scrub bird.