Geraldton

Located 424 kilometres north of Perth is the bustling coastal town of Geraldton. Blessed with beautiful beaches and warm, sunny weather, Geraldton provides a smorgasbord of water based recreational and sporting activities, with special emphasis on yachting, surfing and diving. The town is also world renowned as a Mecca for windsurfers. It is also a major export centre for far flung pastoral, mining, agricultural, manufacturing, construction and fishing industries. Situated on Champion Bay on a spectacular stretch of coastline known as the Batavia Coast, Geraldton offers cultural, entertainment, shopping and sporting facilities. Geraldton is an ideal base for self drive tours, especially during the famous wildflower season from July to November. Throughout the year there are scenic flights along the Batavia Coast to Monkey Mia (where wild dolphins visit), Kalbarri National Park and the spectacular Murchison River gorges. Tours to the Abrolhos Islands are also available by boat and plane, offering fascinating views of these unique islands. Operators can help you explore the surroundings using small buses or four wheel drives. Visitors can get a deeper insight into the local Yamitji culture or perhaps visit private stations as part of an eco tour. Among Geraldton's many attractions are first class theatres, art galleries, museums, lookouts and parks. Recent additions are the Western Australian Museum, Geraldton, which houses relics of ships wrecked off the rugged coastline, and the magnificent Memorial to the 645 crew members who were lost when HMAS Sydney went down on 19th November, 1941. A marine commercial centre, it is distinguished as the world leader in rock lobster fishing, producing world class quality as a result of the pristine water conditions. An excellent range of restaurants and cafes are available. Geraldton also offers a number of hotels, motels, villas and caravan parks.