Where To Stay & What To Do In Western Australia's Great Outback

STAY

The 161-year-old Castle Hotel – the oldest of its kind in the region – is a throwback to York life during the Gold Rush. The building offers a ravishing view of the town from its veranda, including the landmark Town Hall across the road.

EAT

Penny Farthing Sweets is York’s candy shop answer to Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. It’s stocked to the brim with mostly Australian-made treats. Our favourite is the home-made liquorice ice-cream.

SEE

The 14m-high granite formation called Wave Rock in Hyden. The summit of the 2.7 billion-year-old outcrop is dotted with Dadaist rock formations, and the view of the sunset from there is amazing. Nearby is Wave Rock Wildlife Park, which houses white kangaroos and koalas.

And you don’t have to travel to Jordan’s Dead Sea to experience floating in water: Lakes that are seven times saltier than sea water surround the Wave Rock Resort. A dip in one of them is said to be good for your skin, or just lounge in the sea atop a floating bed with a platter of cheese and wine. Yes, it’s that’s stable.

FLY Go to Hyden and York via Perth on Singapore Airlines. The carrier flies directly to the city 28 times a week.

An adapted version first appeared in Female's July 2014 issue.

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