Hostels in Western Australia

Western Australia, often the forgotten Australian state, which is usually missed by tourists and backpackers, due to the 4-5 hours flight to the state's capital, Perth. However, Western Australia has a lot to offer! If you are looking for long stretches of sandy white beaches, without the crowds, or if you want to experience some of the best wind surfing in the world, or if quality wines are more your thing, or you just want to get out on the road, for a typical Australian road trip, then Western Australia is definitely for you. It has it all - the only downside is it can take a long time to get from 'a' to 'b', but then it's all about the journey, not the destination.

Perth is by far the biggest (and arguably the only city) in the state, as well as being the most isolated city in the world. In recent years Perth has become more and more touristy. There are loads of restaurants, pubs/ bars, markets, museums and of course beaches to check out. There are a wide selection of hostel in the city centre for tourists and travellers to take their pick. Fremantle (about 30 minutes south of the city centre) is Perth's historic area, and another popular place for backpackers and tourists to stay. There are many hostels located in Fremantle, not far from the harbour and Fremantle prison and markets.

Broome is located in the north of the state, about an hour flight from Perth. Broome has some beautiful beaches and is a bit of an oasis. It’s most famous for the camels on the sandy beaches. Broome also has only two seasons, a wet season and a dry season. The best time to visit Broome is from June to September.

Rottnest Island is located only about a 30 minute ferry ride from Perth. It's a great place to visit for the day, or overnight, but if visiting in the summer months (Dec to Feb), be sure to book in advance, as accommodation and camping books up fast.

Margaret River is best known for all the wineries, distilleries and breweries. It also has great surfing and has some well known surfing competitions. The town is quite touristy, but still has a lot of character. Definitely check out the fudge shop is you pay a visit to the region.

Denmark is on the southern coast, so tends to be a bit cooler than many of the other towns in Western Australia. The beaches are still beautiful, however there is also a stretch of rugged coast. Definitely check out the Elephant Rocks and the beach rock pools on the coast near Denmark, they are stunning.

The Stirling Ranges and the Porongurups, are only an hours drive from Denmark, and is a great place for hiking and camping. Most of the interior of Western Australia is relatively flat, with lots of farmland and sandy red desert. The Stirling ranges is a small mountain range, surrounded by flat farmland. Bluffs Knoll is a highly recommended hike in the Stirling Ranges.

Hostels can be found in the touristy areas in Western Australia, however are very rarely found in smaller rural towns. Camping is definitely the best way to go if exploring the rural areas of Western Australia. If only visiting the touristy towns, then hostels are definitely a good and cheaper option than staying in hotels, motels or guesthouses.

Handwritten by local expert for Western Australia hostels Kelly Sheldrick