Bubblegum lakes: Aussie state named among world's best 25 places for 2025
Tourism is going gangbusters in the western state.
If you're an Aussie, you already know Western Australia is incredibly beautiful, but now the state has been recognised as one of the top 25 places in the world to travel to in 2025.
The 25 best places to travel in 2025, a new list from the BBC, recognises places where tourism is used to support local communities, and protect the environment or preserve their unique cultural heritage.
In a world where over-tourism is rife, the BBC list attempts to highlight places where the opposite is occurring.
Western Australia is included because of its prime position offering Australia's only direct flights to Europe, and the $5 billion redevelopment of Perth Airport.
The publication calls Perth "newly cool", and its Swan Valley Wine Region "gorgeous", and points out its unique bubblegum-pink lakes, such as Lake Hillier off the coast of Esperance, and horizontal waterfalls near Broome.
Other decision-making factors were the new 6,600-kilometre Electric Vehicle Highway - the word's longest EV charging network - as well as the "happiest animal on Earth", the quokka, along with a raft of other visitor experiences including along its pristine coastline.
The publication noted the state's $20m Jina Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan, which supports authentic Indigenous-led experiences for travellers and Indigenous business development.
Murujuga National Park, near Karratha in the Pilbara region, has been nominated for a World Heritage-listing, with a decision expected to be made mid-2025.
WA hosted the World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Summit in 2024, bringing together tourism operators and thought-leaders from around the globe to experience the state's cultural heritage and natural wonders, including Ningaloo Coast, a World Heritage Site where visitors have the chance to spot whale sharks.
According to Tourism Research Australia, 11 million visitors flocked to WA from September 2023 to 2024.
TRA's Tourism forecasts for Australia 2024 to 2029 report showed the number of visitor nights in the state is expected to grow 3.1 per cent over each of the next five years - which is stronger than the expectations for other states and territories in 2025.
"The WA economy is currently leading the nation, and its strong performance is expected to support domestic travel in the state given the high share of intrastate travel," the report states.
Other entries on the BBC list included The Dolomites in Italy, Greenland and Wales.
WA was also named among the New York Times' 52 Places to Go in 2025.
My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me.
Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life.
My top travel tip is … Don’t plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what’s within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
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