Did you know that the state of Western Australia is practically 1/3 of the entire country?

It's a big place, and if it's not the size that makes people apprehensive to get there, it's the distance.  If you go by land, it will take you several days of driving through the Outback to arrive. If you go by train, it's three days from Sydney to Perth! And flying... well, it isn't always cheap.

But for those that do make it, the state rewards visitors with some of the world's best beaches (shh, don't tell the east coast), a beautiful reef, gorgeous outback and just an overall laid-back attitude. Here are four must-visit destinations in the state of Western Australia to fill your itinerary with.

Perth (in photo):  Perth is a given. Being the biggest, and the capital, city in Western Australia, it's a great place to get a vibe for how the state differs from the rest of the country. Perth is clean, relaxed and spread out – and the sunshine, let's not forget that! Bring some sunnies and some sun cream as Perth has on average 300 days of sunshine every year!

I find Perth's suburbs to be easily accessible, and just fun to stroll. Cottesloe is the place to hit the beach (and catch one spectacular sunset), Fremantle is the place to chill out at a cafe or book into a Victorian style B&B, and Subiaco is the stylish and trendy neighborhood for going out.

Broome:  Broome grew as a pearling town located in the far northwestern region of Australia. Known for its striking surrounds and beautiful beaches – namely Cable Beach and its 22 km of coast – Broome is the ultimate destination for relaxation, about a million miles away from everywhere else (ok, so that's an exaggeration).

To get to Broome, one must take a 2.5 hour flight from Perth north. Once there, you can relax on the beach, check out pearl shops and farms, or ride camels at dusk.

Exmouth: If you've ever wanted to swim with sharks, Exmouth is the destination to check out. And by sharks, I really mean whale sharks, so you don't have to worry about getting attacked in the water by these plankton-eating fish.

The main draw to Exmouth would be the fantastic Ningaloo Reef that some would argue is just as beautiful as the Great Barrier Reef on the other side of the country. Another big ticket attraction is the Cape Range National Park.

Esperance:  Esperance is located on the southern part of the state, technically a little off the Outback area, and it is considered one of Western Australia's most beautiful places. From white sand beaches to wonderful wineries, Esperance might be small, but it packs a travel punch. Because of the nearby Archipelago of Recherche, which contains over 100 islands, Esperance is also known as the “Bay of Isles.”

In Esperance, you can laze on beaches, visit nearby wineries, follow a coastal drive known as the Great Ocean Drive, and bask in the beauty of the Esperance Pink Lake (it actually sometimes looks pink!).

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photo: stusev