Geraldton is a port city on the coast of the sparkling Indian Ocean, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It’s a beloved getaway forWA’s locals, with water sports galore, pristine beaches, a laid-back atmosphere and plenty to keep visitors entertained. Whether your idea of a dream holiday is relaxing on the beach, communing with nature, visit a museum, gallery-hopping, or diving into shipwrecks, you’ll find your visit to this charming city to be a wonderful experience.
As a coastal port, the ocean plays a major part in life in Geraldton: it’s a popular surfing spot, and the warm Mediterranean climate makes it a great spot for beach lovers. A cruise from the Batavia Coast Marina is a lovely way to enjoy the splendid beauty of the coast, and for a particularly unique experience, you can even sail from the WA Museum in a replica of the 17th-century Batavia Longboat.
If you’re feeling peckish, you’ll find many excellent eateries near the corner of Marine Terrace and Forrest Street. From here, it’s a quick walk to the excellent WA Museum of Geraldton, giving you a fascinating insight into the past of the city, which was founded back in 1850 and has also been inhabited for at least 40,000 years. For more of a taste of history, visit the beautiful and humbling HMAS Sydney II Memorial, the St Francis Xavier Cathedral, the Oakabella Homestead and the Point Moore Lighthouse.
Nature and animal lovers will find many delightful sites in and around town, such as the Waminda Wildlife Sanctuary, the Chapman River, the idyllic 3-day Monsignor Hawes Heritage Trail from Geraldton to Perth. There’s also a 122-island archipelago, the Abrolhos Islands.
About an hour out of town, the Pink Lake (Hutt Lagoon) is an absolute must-see: a short distance from the quaint little fishing village of Port Gregory, the lake is breathtakingly beautiful and makes a perfect backdrop for those holiday snaps.
Geraldton is a lovely town with so much of what makes Australia special on offer: with gorgeous beaches, sparkling ocean and so much natural beauty, it’s one of the state’s best-kept secrets and definitely deserves to be on any WA travel itinerary.
