Great Southern : Overview
Stretching from the karri and tingle forests of Pemberton and Walpole, through the rugged Porongurup and Stirling Ranges, to the vast scrubland at the beginning of the Nullarbor Plain, the Great Southern region possesses an expansive beauty. The charŽacter of the land and people changes as one follows die South Western Hwy (Hwy 1) east. Albany functions as a sort of urban hub for the sparsely populated southern coast, and by the time you reach Esperance, Perth's cosmopolitan strivings seem a world away.
The largely agricultural Great Southern is home to a number of respected vineŽyards, many of which offer complimentary wine-tastings. Tourism is another key money-maker, peaking in the spring wildflower season and in the summer, when the beaches around Denmark, Albany, and Esperance draw tourists like flies to honey. Winters in the Great Southern can be chilly and wet, so bring a good jacket.