Western Australia (WA) & Perth
WA is the country's largest state, comprising one-third of its land mass. Interesting variations in landscape include the Kimberley, in the extreme north of the state, which is a wild and rugged area with a convoluted coastline and stunning inland gorges. The Pilbara, in the northwest of the region, is magnificent ancient-rock and gorge country. Away from the coast most of WA is a huge empty stretch of outback: along with the Nullarbor Plain and the Great Sandy Desert, the Gibson and Great Victoria Deserts cover much of the state. The southwestern corner of the state is a fertile area of forest and vineyards, and is only small in comparison to the rest of WA.
WA is tropical in the north, where the dry and wet seasons replace winter and summer. Port Hedland experiences a cyclone at least every two years. In the interior the climate is semi-arid and arid. The southwest of WA is temperate: it's often above 25°C while the average temperature along the Kimberley Coast is 28°C. Up in the Pilbara temperatures can soar to 48°C. Perth has a long and hot summer where little rain falls and the temperature can stay around 30°C, especially in January and February. Winds off the sea, known as the 'Fremantle Doctor' help cool the city. Winter brings coolish weather and rain, with an average temperature of 18°C.
For more information about Perth and surrounding area, view the WA - Fact sheet (pdf 47.4kb or rtf 268.83kb) and/or visit the Western Australian government website.