23 Reasons Australia's West Coast Should Be On Your Bucket List

"The designated dog beach for Perth has whiter sand and water more turquoise than Bondi. A dog beach."

Irishman Allan Dixon first came to Australia in 2013 when he won the role of "Outback Adventurer" through Tourism Australia's "Best Job In The World" campaign.

Allan Dixon

For a year, his job was to showcase why Australia is such an amazing place to travel to. He fell in love with the West Coast and has been there for the past two months after deciding he couldn't hack another freezing UK winter.

His adventures are well-documented on his Instagram page, which currently has almost 12,000 followers.

"I was always taking photos everywhere I went and soon people started taking notice of my photography. Although, it's hard not to take a bad photo of Australia as it's so breathtaking," says Dixon.

1. But why does the West Coast, specifically, have Dixon's heart?

Allan Dixon

"The West Coast has everything the East Coast is missing. Pristine beaches all to yourself, even those close to Perth city. The people are friendlier, it's less crowded, and you'll always find a parking space and arrive on time as there's no traffic."

"Another funny beach fact, the designated dog beach for Perth, Mosman Beach, has whiter sand and water more turquoise than Bondi. A dog beach."

2. Blow holes at Carnarvon.

Allan Dixon

"Just north of Carnarvon the coastline becomes powerful and rugged. Huge swells hit the rocks and blow spray up to tens of meters high in the air. There is nothing but red rock cliffs for miles, with the ocean pounding them at full force. We sat here for hours listening to the crashing waves."

3. Broome coastline.

Allan Dixon

"The majority of my travel has been spent along the coastline. Every evening I always try to position myself somewhere great to watch the sunset. When it's a little cloudy, but with gaps big enough to let the light shine though, the sky explodes with colour. Every photographer hopes for those sunsets, you just have to be there for all of them."

4. Cable Beach, Broome.

Allan Dixon

"Broome is renowned for its camels and Cable Beach. When you combine the two with a perfect sunset it's a magical experience. In the early evening they walk down the beach for sunset. If the tide is out and the sun is shining, the ground turns into a mirror."

5. Cape Le Grand National Park.

Allan Dixon

"We hiked up Mount Le Grand in Cape Le Grand National Park to catch the sunset. It's one of the few places in Western Australia where high mountains look over the ocean. I've never seen a photo from the peak, even Googling it brings up nothing. It's so remote that you'll definitely be the only person walking up. Guaranteed."

6. The Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay.

Allan Dixon

"Few people know this but Western Australia has a reef that rivals if not surpasses the Great Barrier Reef. The Ningaloo Reef extends for hundreds of kilometres, and is abundant with marine life. I love snorkelling and diving, and this place has it all. Between the bottle nose dolphins, turtles, reef sharks, manta rays and unique corals, it's a marine playground with endless fun."

7. West Beach at Fitzgerald River National Park.

Allan Dixon

"I stumbled upon this remote beach and experienced something I've never felt before. It is by far the strangest beach I've ever been on. It's like going back in time to when the earth was being created, apocalyptic if you will. Sharp serrated rocks stick out of the sand, and there's not a soul for miles."

8. Francois Peron National Park, Shark Bay.

Allan Dixon

"Hundreds of yellow crabs still scurry these shores as such few humans have walked here. We drove for hours on dirt tracks to reach the north tip of Francois Peron National Park in Shark Bay. It's beautiful to see parts of nature left untouched by civilisation and tourists."

Allan Dixon

"Have you ever seen red desert sand meet white beach sand? Where the outback meets the beach is where your mind gets confused. The ocean shouldn't be touching a desert. Throughout my travels the coastline always questions the status quo of how nature works."

9. Frenchmans Peak, Cape Le Grand.

Allan Dixon

"I arrived in Cape Le Grand by the town of Esperance and knew the mountains would be a great place to watch the sunrise from. Myself and a friend hiked up to the top in the pitch dark. Without us knowing it, there was a gigantic arched cave on the top looking out over the landscape. It was the icing on the cake. A spectacular location."

10. Kalbarri National Park.

Allan Dixon

"Kalbarri has some stunning coastline that lights up at sunset. We arrived just in time to see the colours bounce off the sea cliffs. I could stay here for hours watching the distant waves crash against the rocks."

Allan Dixon

"Lion King fans would love this place. Sheer vertical rock walls rise from the gorge floor. It feels like it's a set from the movie. Our group went abseiling off the cliffs. Don't leave the gorge without roping up and trying it for yourself."

11. Karijini National Park

Allan Dixon

"Karijini National Park is for me the best place in Western Australia. It doesn't get the attention that it deserves because it takes so much time to get to. Canyon walls rise up hundreds of meters. Echoes repeat into double-digit seconds. It's a truly magical place. We toured for five days and still didn't see everything. I'll definitely be back."

12. Lancelin Dunes.

Allan Dixon

"I've been here multiple times and it's always jaw dropping. Your whole vision is surrounded by towering white sand dunes. An amazing experience. However, the only problem is that sand gets everywhere. In your bag, in your camera and in your hair. Just don't go on a windy day."

13. Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand.

Allan Dixon

"The whitest beach in Australia" is what the Lucky Bay park ranger told me. I have to admit, it's extremely white, soft sand, much like Whitehaven Beach. But, Lucky Bay wins overall in my eyes because of the tranquility and surrounding mountain-top islands."

Allan Dixon

"Every morning kangaroos come down to Lucky Bay to sip a drink from the fresh water springs that bubble up on the beach. We arrived at 6am and they were everywhere. My tip is to get there super early so they're still there hanging out."

14. Monkey Mia, Shark Bay Marine Park.

Allan Dixon

"You can chill with a group of dolphins at Monkey Mia on the shoreline, except it's usually very busy. Stay for all three morning feeds and as the crowds get less and less, you get better and better views of the dolphins. They are beautiful animals to see so close."

15. Pink Lake, Gregory.

Allan Dixon

"I dreamed of seeing this in person. Yes, it was amazing! Western Australia has multiple pink lakes so add them to your bucket list. The only thing I don't advise is getting in the water, as it isn't actually pink, it's clear. You're actually seeing the reflection of the pink algae bloom on the lake floor. If you stand on it, it breaks into a dark sludge. I have learned this lesson first hand to save you from having to clean your muddy feet."

16. The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park.

Allan Dixon

"These strange structures are called The Pinnacles. Thousands of one to three metre rock towers formed millions of years ago, scattered around the desert. I felt like I was a long way from home, on Mars even. We stayed here for sunset to capture the shadows and stunning light."

17. Quokkas, Rottnest Island.

"Quokkas have now taken over the world. They're the happiest animal and can only be found on Rottnest Island. They smile and stick their tongues out. Baby quokkas are called Joeys and are off the richter scale in cuteness. Come September, you'll find all the newborns hopping around. I stayed on the island for a week to document quokkas and it still wasn't enough time hanging out with them."

18. Quokka selfies.

Allan Dixon

"In 2013 I took a selfie with a quokka and it blew up online. The quokka selfie trend started and people started sharing my image everywhere. It was featured across the globe in Japanese game shows, and currently in this months Jetstar Onboard magazine. I owe these quokka's a lot of drinks for their help. Or maybe conservation funds."

"I've snapped quite a series of selfies with animals. From cheeky goats to an albino kangaroo, the pictures are hilarious. You can see the whole series by searching the hashtag #DaxonsAnimalSelfies."

19. Rottnest Island.

Allan Dixon

"There's over sixty beaches on Rottnest Island and they are all mind blowing. I would say they are some of the best beaches in Western Australia. I wanted to keep taking pictures of every beach but had to pull myself away as there wasn't enough time to explore the island. So many beaches."

20. Rottnest Island, from above.

Allan Dixon

"The water is exceptionally clear, so you're able to see everything from the air. Those black patches in the water are sea grass on the seabed, which is the core of the food chain among local marine life. I love capturing landscapes from above, as it shows the earth in a new light."

21. Shark Bay Road.

Allan Dixon

"The roads in Western Australia are long and straight. We stopped to take photos of the road as it melted into the horizon in a straight line. This photo captures just how vast the landscape really is."

22. Turquoise Bay, Exmouth.

Allan Dixon

"Deep blue hues and crystal clear water sums up the coastline of Exmouth. I wanted my friend Sam to show off how excited she was to be there. There's a lot to be happy about when you've got perfect snorkelling weather."

23. Wararooa Station

Allan Dixon

"Man's best friend is always fun. We were playing fetch for an hour with this guy. I love taking photos of animals as they are very unpredictable and it's an awesome feeling if you nail a shot. Over the last 3 years I've been surrounded by a lot of animals, so much so that I've developed a know-how in being able to hangout and get up close - adapt to their feelings, even talk to them."

Allan Dixon

"There is so much land in Western Australia that farms along the coastline have their own private beaches that run for kilometres. I stayed here on Wararooa Station, which has 55km of private coastline. It's all off road tracks to the beach and the only people there are the fellow campers. It's a one of a kind beach experience."

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