We may only be three weeks into the new year, but Western Australia is already stealing the spotlight. Covering a whopping 2.6 million square kilometres, this diverse state isn’t just Australia’s biggest – it’s home to the world’s largest fringing coral reef, longest straight railway track and the most isolated capital city on Earth. While these feats are all headline-worthy, this time, Western Australia is gaining global attention for landing a spot on BBC Travel’s inaugural list of the 25 best places to travel in 2025.
This year, the travel gurus at BBC Travel set out to spotlight 25 underrated destinations that often fly under the radar yet welcome tourists with open arms. To finalise the list, they enlisted the help of the world’s leading sustainable travel experts, ensuring each spot champions tourism initiatives that support local communities, protect the environment and preserve their cultural heritage.
Western Australia was the only Aussie destination to feature in the top 25 in 2025. While WA’s capital, Perth, often plays second fiddle to Melbourne and Sydney, it’s actually one of the easiest places for international travellers to visit in Australia. Perth offers the country’s only direct flights to Europe, along with new direct flights to Singapore, Phuket and Bangkok, making it a breeze to reach from all corners of the world.
There’s a whole lot going on outside the world’s most isolated big city too. BBC Travel journalist Ellie Cobb called out the state’s major drawcards, including its “pristine coastline, bubblegum-pink lakes, horizontal waterfalls, towering karri forests, wildflowers, wineries and wildlife encounters, like swimming with whale sharks and snapping selfies with quokkas.”
Western Australia wins bonus points for sustainability, with its new 6,600-kilometre Electric Vehicle (EV) Highway creating an eco-friendly road trip route from Kununurra in the north to Eucla near the South Australian border. Featuring 110 fast-charging points across 49 locations, it holds the title of the world's longest EV charging network and aligns with the state’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This initiative also helped secure Western Australia a spot on The New York Times’ list of the 52 Best Places to Go in 2025.
Home to the world’s oldest living cultures, WA also showcases its rich cultural heritage through the $20 million Jina Aboriginal Tourism Plan. This initiative supports local Indigenous businesses, enabling them to share their stories with travellers from near and far. Visitors can dive into Shark Bay’s rich Indigenous culture on a guided kayak or snorkelling adventure with local Malgana guides, discover the ancient seafaring traditions of the Jawi people on Sunday Island, or learn the Dreaming story of the Ningaloo Reef on a tag-a-long tour.
Western Australia is set to further define travel in 2025 with the upcoming $70 million refurbishment of Ningaloo Reef Resort, a new Camping with Custodians campground at Lombadina, and new disability-friendly infrastructure on the stunning Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
Feeling inspired to plan a Wild West adventure? We’ve put together the ultimate guide on the best places to visit across Western Australia.