The Mid West region of Western Australia is a region of great contrasts, covering 500,000 square kilometres. The area includes beautiful coastal stretches, paddocks of native wildflowers and rugged open spaces.

Geraldton, 500km north of Perth, is the port and administrative centre for the mid-west region. On the Champion Bay, the city also offers sandy white beaches and good fishing. The surrounding area is rich agricultural land, and the district is noted for its beautiful spring wildflowers and picturesque countryside. The Houtman Abrolhos Islands lie 64km off the coast and are surrounded by treacherous reefs and shipwrecks. The islands are a bird-watchers paradise and are also the centre of the area's lobster-fishing industry.

Kalbarri is a popular holiday resort situated on the coast at the mouth of the Murchison River. The area is picturesque with spectacular gorges of the river running through the Kalbarri National Park.

Geraldton and Kalbarri form part of the coastal area of the Mid West region also known as the Batavia Coast. The Mid West region also includes the Wheatbelt area with its pastoral country and bushland. The centre of the outback mid west is made up of pastoral and goldmining towns. This area depicts real outback life, complete with rugged hills, sheep and cattle stations plus wide open spaces. Go on bush treks, fossick for gold, hunt for gemstones, watch for birds and animals, and enjoy the spring wildflower spectacular.

Also in this area is one of Western Australia's biggest natural attractions - The Pinnacles. Nambung National Park is known best for its bizarre limestone formations known as The Pinnacles. The rocks jut from the desert sand and vary in size from slivers to gigantic columns.

Denham is the main population centre of Shark Bay and is Australia's most westerly town. The Shark Bay World Heritage Area and Marine Park is home to Monkey Mia with its world famous dolphins. Here wild dolphins visit the shore daily to be fed and to interact with the human visitors. Shell beach is a beautiful attraction, as is Hamelin Pool - see the world's best known colony of stromatolites (fossilised micro-organisms).

Carnarvon is the commercial centre of the highly productive Gascoyne region. On the mouth of the Gascoyne River, and 983km north of Perth, Carnarvon enjoys worm winters, hot summers and a tropical appearance with bougainvilleas and hisbuscus blooms.

The Ningaloo Reef between Coral Bay and Exmouth is 260 kilometres of coral reef sheltering a shallow lagoon. The reef provides excellent diving, snorkelling and coral viewing opportunities. On this reef, the longest coastal reef in the world, see fish, whales, dugons and turtles. From March through June each year the area is visited by migrating whale sharks and humpback whales. Coral Bay and Exmouth are the major base points for visiting the Ningaloo Reef. Exmouth is also close to the Cape Range National Park.

The world's largest monocline, Mt Augustus, is situated in the outback of the Gascoyne region. Twice the size of Ayres Rock, Mt Augustus is surrounded by other fascinating geological formations, Aboriginal rock art and engravings plus a wealth of animal and bird life.

The Hamersley Range, reach into the Pilbara region. In the south the mountains slope gently up to flat-topped outcrops and in the north they rise majestically from golden spinifex plains. The main activity in the area is mining, centred at towns like Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Newman.

Fact Summary

The worlds largest rock is actually at Mount Augusta, not Ayers Rock, 450 kilometres inland from Carnarvon.

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