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See West's 'garden' for beauty

Great fishing and surfing

THERE is a huge land mass of Western Australia - some of it developing at a rapid rate... other parts being left largely as they are... and even in this day and age, some places still waiting to be discovered!
One of the world's oldest land masses, Western Australia is a place of sunshine, blue skies, gold in the sunsets and in the ground... the 'Golden West' has it all and it's on the move in a big way.
One of the most attractive areas of the State is in the south-west right along the Indian Ocean coast.
Just outside Perth is the Avon Valley, a fertile mixed-farming area within easy reach of the city. The Avon River winds through Northam, the area's main town, with its colony of white swans.
The river is also the starting point of one of the wildest white-water classics in Australia, the Avon Descent, a boat race, which takes place each winter, with craft from surf-skis to powerboats.
Northam has many renovated and restored buildings and churches.
* York, 97km east of Perth, was first settled in 1831 and careful preservation has allowed the town to retain its old-style charm.
The town's many fine, historic buildings can be seen easily on foot as they are in fairly close proximity. The York Motor Museum in the main street, Avon Terrace, houses more than 60 vintage and veteran cars and is a 'must' see.
South of Perth is the 'garden of Western Australia'. Here are coastal resort towns, vineyards, sheep and cattle farms, orchards and magnificent hardwood forests where the karri tree can grow to seven metres round and 90 metres high.
It's here that wildflower enthusiasts comb the bush for rare species in the spring and coach operators conduct wildflower tours featuring main native flora areas and the South West's towns.
The main tourist centres south of Perth are Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Yallingup, Margaret River, Augusta, Pemberton, Denmark, Albany and Esperance.
* Mandurah: Excellent crabbing and fishing, big parks on the shores of the beautiful Peel Inlet, a resort hotel and big tourist developments under way. A growing area with many top class canal developments. A good freeway from Perth.
* Bunbury: Main port of the area. Has a good surfing beach and good fishing offshore. The Leschenault Lady, a restored vintage train, operates from Bunbury and is worked by steam locomotives built in the late 1890's. A fast train service links with Perth.
* Busselton and Yallingup: Sweeping beaches, picturesque bays and excellent surf, scenic drives and limestone caves.
* Margaret River and Augusta: Spectacular limestone caves especially noted for fossil remains and some of the prettiest scenery in Western Australia. Plenty of sports facilities, wine-tasting tours to the wineries. Some of the best windsurfing conditions in the world.
* Pemberton: The base for scenic drives through huge karri forests. Wildflowers in full bloom from August till November.
* Denmark: Rugged coastline, surf beaches and calm family beaches. Excellent fishing and hiking. Set in beautiful countryside.
* Albany: The first settlement in the State, with many lovely old buildings and a magnificent harbour. The base for tours to the Porongorups and Stirling Ranges, with beautiful picnic spots and opportunities for mountain-climbers. Excellent beaches and fishing. right on the south coast. A former whaling town with a huge harbour.
* Esperance: Beautiful coastline and the Archipelago of the Recherche with more than 100 islands. Some of the best diving and snorkelling waters in Australia. Three national parks in the area. Again, right on the south coast.