Department of Environment and Conservation

Visitors and locals are attracted to Western Australia's lands and waters for their unique and unusual plants and animals; Aboriginal culture; bizarre and beautiful landscapes; and vast arid interior - among many, many other features. These attractions are available to visitors through a number of premium, nature-based tourism attractions and experiences.

The lands and waters managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) cover more than 26 million hectares of some of the most ancient landscapes you'll find anywhere in the world, and which receive around 11 million visits each year.

Whether you're travelling the ancient and varied terrain of the Kimberley or exploring the towering forests of the south-west, the unique coral reefs off our coast or the endless red plains and dunes of our arid heartland, rugged gorges, tropical reefs, woodlands, or 13,500 kilometres of coastline, you'll find an amazing array of outdoor experiences and enjoyable holidays.

DEC has made major investments to visitor facilities and developed programs and activities, such as the Healthy Parks, Healthy People and Nearer to Nature programs, to encourage people to get outdoors, to enjoy being in the natural environment and to enrich their experiences when they're there.

But how do you decide where to go first in a State that covers a third of Australia? And what information do you need before you go?

Most of WA's spectacular natural features are managed by DEC, and we've used our local knowledge to put together visitor and recreation information on national parks, marine parks, reserves and State forests, and the programs and attractions you'll find there, to help you plan your trip.

Agenda for Action - Parks and Protected Areas Forum (721.88 kB 2008-05-22 14:53:32)