Visit Western Australia this holiday season
Where would you like to go if jolly old Saint Nicholas grants your fervent wish to spend Christmas in Western Australia? If you are a foreign tourist, you must remember that it is summer in WA at Christmas. Would you like to laze around the beach and get a beautiful tan? Or travel by car and capture Instagram-worthy places in your mind's eye as you sing a Christmas song or two?
Western Australia has remarkable places to spend Christmas. You may bask in the glorious sun at Perth, home to beaches, wildlife, Kings Park, delectable food and exquisite wine. Or experience the wonders of Broome, an Australian resort town famous for south sea pearls, camel rides and water sports. And your accommodation at Cornwall House will be as amazing as the travel destinations you are about to see.
The six destinations at a glance
Every claim in this table comes from the destination sections below, so you can compare first and read deeper on the ones that fit your Christmas.
| Destination | Best for | The Christmas draw |
|---|---|---|
| Perth | Families who want everything in one city | Kings Park, beaches, wildlife islands, food and wine |
| Cable Beach, Broome | A resort-style tropical Christmas | Sunset camel rides, water sports, south sea pearls |
| Kalbarri | A relaxed coastal town stay | Pelican feeding, beaches and the gorges of Kalbarri National Park |
| Margaret River | Wine country within an easy drive | Wineries, artisan shops, about 3 hours south of Perth by car |
| Coral Bay | Snorkellers and marine-life lovers | Gateway to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef |
| Esperance | Beach perfection and national parks | Cape Le Grand, Stokes National Park and the pink Lake Hillier flight |
Most of these sit north or west of Perth. If your Christmas plans point the other way, down the Albany Highway into the southern half of the state, our companion guide to Christmas in the Great Southern region of WA covers Margaret River, Albany, Bridgetown, Busselton and Pemberton, plus how to break the drive south overnight.
6 Amazing Travel Destinations at Christmas
1. Perth
The sun is always shining at Perth, the dynamic capital of WA. Perth is famous for its homogenous blend of culture, marine life, wildlife, food and entertainment. Here are 5 reasons you should visit Perth if you want to experience a magical Christmas with family and loved ones.
- The famous Kings Park and Botanic Garden: The massive Kings Park is a popular destination for tourists who want a magnificent view of urban and wildlife settings, sitting on the western edge of Perth's Central Business District. The 1,003-acre park is a haven of botanical gardens, natural bushland and parkland, where you will find hundreds of native plant varieties, indigenous fungi species and bird species. One of the city's iconic landmarks, the State War Memorial Cenotaph, sits on a monumental spot in the park. Marvel at the stunning sights around Kings Park at the DNA Tower and enjoy the panoramic expanse of Perth City, the Swan River and the Darling Range. You can stroll along the trails for miles without feeling exhausted. The park offers picture-perfect picnic and barbeque areas to enjoy Christmas with the family. The kids will have a heyday watching movies at the outdoor cinema too!
- Pristine waters at the beach: The sunniest city in Western Australia boasts spectacular beaches with white sand and clear blue waters. You can swim, surf and snorkel all day at Cottesloe Beach, a popular swimming destination with picnic spots on a grassy hillside. The picturesque pavilion offers a splendid view of the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Sip a glass of Margaret River's finest as you catch up with family and friends at the restaurant. Celebrate Christmas with a touch of romance as you watch the stunning sunset at Scarborough Beach with your beau. The lovely, clean beach with a pool is a favourite surfing spot among locals and travellers. If you are a lover of marine life, don't miss the platform reef near Mettams Pool: a haven for fish, starfish, octopuses and sea fans.
- Exciting wildlife: What better way to celebrate Christmas than to experience wildlife on the islands surrounding Perth? A colony of about 250 little penguins lives on Penguin Island near Perth, and dolphins and stingrays also abound there. The kids would love to feed the kangaroos that roam freely on Heirisson Island in the Swan River. However, if you want to see the cutest animal in the world, go to Rottnest Island: a population of quokkas is best seen on the island at sunset. The resident koalas at Cohunu Koala Park at Byford near Perth are a sight to behold! You may feed, cuddle and get photographed worthy of an Instagram post. Other animals like deer, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, quokkas, echidnas, donkeys, ponies, water birds and freshwater crocodiles also live in the park.
- Delectable food and drink: Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with glorious food and drink. The food scene in Perth is vibrant, with a bunch of restaurants, bars and cafes. The yummy lobster, oysters and prawns from Albany, Exmouth and Rottnest Island will fill your palate to the brim. Then, wash it down with an exquisite Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River. The city is not without beer, either: check out the Old Brewery perched beside the Swan River, or the Little Creatures Brewhouse overlooking the harbour in Fremantle.
- Indigenous culture and history: You will learn about the rich culture of the Noongar people, the traditional owners of Perth, from your local guide. The Kings Park Indigenous Heritage Tour at Christmas will take you on a two-hour experience along the Swan River, a sacred place for the Noongar people.
2. Cable Beach
If you dream about riding a camel with the glorious sunset as a backdrop along the beach, Cable Beach in Broome will wake you from your reverie. The camel ride at sunrise and sunset is as mystical as the three wise men who followed a star from the East to Bethlehem in search of a newborn king.
The pristine waters of Cable Beach are inviting for people who love water sports. Kayaking, surfing and jet skiing are popular activities you cannot afford to miss. You can rent kayaks and jet skis from the shops, or you can bring your own surfboard. If water sports are not your thing, you can be sun-kissed while sunbathing on the equally pristine white sand.
Where can you find the finest south sea pearls in the world? Broome has been world-renowned for cultivating the finest south sea pearls since the 1800s. You may join a pearl farm tour that starts at a jetty on the beach, or you may buy from a myriad of shops to bring home as souvenirs.
3. Kalbarri
Have you experienced feeding pelicans at Christmas? Kalbarri is a coastal town in WA known for pelicans, beaches and the gorges of Kalbarri National Park. It features a climate conducive to fishing, swimming and other coastal activities at any time of the year.
4. Margaret River
If you like breathtaking scenery with a wisp of fresh country air, take a 3-hour road trip down south from Perth and discover Margaret River. Christmas is an excellent time to travel to this quaint town famous for award-winning wines and wineries. Your afternoons will not be boring when you visit the Margaret River wineries and local artisan shops. Don't forget to bring home souvenir items from your Christmas holiday trip.
5. Coral Bay
If you would like to commune with nature and experience heaven on earth, Coral Bay is worth a drop in your holiday bucket list. It is the gateway to the enchanting beauty of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. Gentle giants like whale sharks may not be visible at Christmas, but there are other marine creatures like turtles, dugongs and spotted manta rays all year round. Coral Bay offers a mesmerising aquatic adventure and relaxed beach holiday vibes at Christmas.
6. Esperance
Relax and bathe in the beauty of Esperance this Christmas. This charming town is the gateway to two of the country's best national parks: Cape Le Grand and Stokes National Park. The turquoise waters and unique landscape make Esperance a great place to spend Christmas. What could be more exceptional than viewing a bubblegum-pink lake on the popular Lake Hillier and Middle Island scenic flight?
Heading south instead? Christmas in the Great Southern
Plenty of WA Christmas trips point south rather than north: to Albany's coastline, the karri forests around Pemberton, or Esperance at the end of the long road east. If that is your December, two of our own guides do the planning for you.
Our Christmas in the Great Southern guide compares Margaret River, Albany, Bridgetown, Busselton and Pemberton for the summer holidays, and the Perth to Albany drive guide covers the highway itself leg by leg.
Kojonup sits at the natural halfway mark of that drive south: 250 km from Perth, about 3 hours in, with 160 km left to Albany. Breaking the trip here turns a long hot December push into two easy legs. Arrive in the afternoon, have dinner in town, sleep well, and finish the run to the coast fresh the next morning. If you have an hour to spare, Kojonup's own heritage attractions and the Kodja Place rose maze are worth the stop in their own right.
Book your holiday accommodation for Christmas now!
Christmas is a time to relax and get cosy with family and loved ones. The friendly team at Cornwall House Accommodation will ensure a pleasant stay in well-appointed rooms with great facilities.
Cornwall House Accommodation has a distinctive country charm in the town of Kojonup, WA. The property has 12 air-conditioned rooms across queen, twin and family configurations, all with ensuite, free WiFi, smart TV, microwave, refrigerator and tea and coffee making facilities, plus a shared Camp Kitchen and free onsite parking. Contactless check-in is available from 2pm if your Christmas travel day runs long.
Make the holiday trip memorable with your family and loved ones. Call us on (08) 9831 0214 or email your enquiries to stay@cornwallhouseaccommodation.com.au.
Check availability and book Call us (08) 9831 0214
Frequently asked questions
Is it really summer in WA at Christmas?
Yes. Christmas in Western Australia lands in the middle of summer, and the school holidays run from mid-December to the first days of February. That is why the classic WA Christmas looks like beaches, road trips and long warm evenings rather than a winter wonderland, and why the coastal destinations on this list are at their best in December.
Which of these destinations can we drive to from Perth over the break?
Margaret River is the easiest: about a 3-hour road trip down south from Perth, small enough to fit inside a week off. The northern destinations, Kalbarri, Coral Bay and Broome, and Esperance in the south-east are much longer drives, so plan them with overnight stops rather than one long push. For the southern routes, our Perth to Albany drive guide shows how to split a highway day sensibly.
Where does Kojonup fit into a Christmas road trip?
Kojonup sits on the Albany Highway at almost exactly the halfway point of the Perth to Albany run: 250 km from Perth, roughly 3 hours in, with 160 km to go. That makes it the natural overnight stop for anyone heading to Albany, Denmark or the south coast for Christmas, and Cornwall House is right on the highway in town.
Can we check in late on a holiday travel day?
Yes. Contactless check-in is available from 2pm, so if Christmas traffic or a long lunch slows you down, your room is still waiting. If you have questions before you travel, call (08) 9831 0214 or use the contact page.
Do we need to book Christmas accommodation in advance?
Yes, plan ahead. The summer school holidays are when WA families travel, and rooms in the popular coastal towns, and at the sensible stopover points between them, go first. Booking your rooms when you plan your route rather than on the road makes the whole trip less stressful, especially for family groups who need specific room configurations.
