Is Western Australia worth adding to a first Australia trip?
Western Australia can be brilliant, but it is rarely a casual add-on. Perth, Rottnest, Margaret River, Ningaloo, Broome and the Kimberley need a trip that admits the west is its own scale.
Answer
The west gives a different Australia: Indian Ocean light, beaches with more space, wine coast, quokkas, reef life, desert edges and huge distances between rewards. Perth and Rottnest can be a manageable introduction. Margaret River needs a slower car-based chapter. Ningaloo, Broome and the Kimberley are serious commitments shaped by season and flights. Add WA when you are willing to let it be the trip, or at least a major section of it. Do not wedge it between eastern-state obligations.