The extraordinary state of Western Australia is one of the largest and most diverse states in the world. When it comes to adventure travel however, it has remained somewhat under the radar. With a barrage of new and adventurous experiences now on offer, in addition to its existing world-class walking, wildlife and cycling offerings, it's safe to say this hidden gem of a destination has now firmly established itself on the adventure travel map. 

A boom in walking offerings

Over recent months, Western Australia has seen a boom in new walking tours. Home to two of the country's most iconic treks - the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track and the picturesque Cape to Cape Track - it's no surprise that operators have caught on to its huge potential.

Venturing far off the beaten track, Inspiration Outdoors have launched a new 10 day Karijini and Chichester Ranges walking tour which explores the Pilbara region in Australia's North West. This moderate to challenging graded trek traverses though ancient iron-rich ranges, dramatic gorges, past unique flora and across vivid red earth into the heart of the Pilbara. Costing from £1,528 per person ($2,890), the camping based group trek includes accommodation, a guide and all meals. Tours depart in May 2015 and 2016. www.inspirationoutdoors.com.au

Further down south, Walk into Luxury are offering new all-inclusive luxury treks along the Cape to Cape Track. After a long day of adventure and exertion, customers can unwind in luxury accommodation while enjoying outstanding local food and wine. A four day itinerary costs from £1,030 per person ($1,850) and includes guided walks, accommodation, a private vineyard visit, a massage and gourmet food and wine throughout. www.walkintoluxury.com.au

For those with less time available, Cape to Cape Explorer Tours have just launched anew Sunset Forest and Cave Explorer evening tour, ideal for those looking for a short but exhilarating trek through some of the most stunning vistas on the Cape to Cape Track. After trekking through the forest and watching the sun go down, customers will head underground beneath the Boranup Forest. They will explore the cave via torchlight, while learning about its unique history and geology. The tour costs from £40 per person ($75). www.capetocapetours.com.au

A bumper year for wildlife

2015 is already proving to be a bumper year for wildlife in Western Australia. Not only has the states whale shark season started early*, but there are a host of new offerings available for those looking for a world-class wildlife experience.

Tipped to be the next big eco-offering, Eco Abrolhos have just launched a new five day eco cruise to the Abrolhos Islands. Lying 60km off the Coral Coast, the islands are one of Australia's most unique and undiscovered marine areas, and one of the most important sea bird breeding grounds in the world. The new eco cruise will allow wildlife and nature lovers to observe up-close the 90 plus species of seabirds which call the islands home - in addition to migratory humpback whales, bottle nose dolphins and sea lions. The cruise costs from £877 per person ($1,700) and includes accommodation, meals, tours and on-land activities. www.ecoabrolhos.com.au

This February, the first ever Bremer Canyon Expeditions commenced with Naturaliste Charters. The expeditions, which have so far had a 100% killer whale viewing success rate, journey to the newly discovered Bremer Canyon, located 60km off Australia's South West Coast. This marine hotspot is home to enormous numbers of killer whales - in excess of 100 have been spotted on any given day - giant squid, sperm whales and masses of sea birds. The expeditions have taken place daily throughout February and March, and will be returning in February 2016. Expeditions cost £185 per person ($350). www.whales-australia.com.au 

Thrill seekers step this way

As if being the home of the Munda Biddi - the longest off-road cycle trail in the world, wasn't enough, thanks to a host of new adrenaline fuelled activities, Western Australia is firmly establishing a position on the thrill-seekers map.

While Perth has recently welcomed its first ever jetpack experience**, the world has welcomed its first electric quad bike tour, located in Western Australia's Margaret River Region. EcoAdventures Margaret River offer a unique, environmentally friendly and thrilling way to explore the stunning forests and beaches of Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park by bespoke electric quadbikes. Journeying far off the beaten track, customers will discover places very few locals have ever seen. Tours cost from £50 per person ($90) www.ecoadventuresmargaretriver.com

For those who are setting their sights high, Tiger Moth Adventure Flights are offering adrenaline-fuelled flights over the spectacular Margaret River coastline in vintage Tiger Moth aeroplanes. Passengers can don their leather helmet and goggles, and experience the adventure that RAAF pilots of the 1940s would have encountered during an open-cockpit low level flight. Flights cost from £94 per person ($180). www.tigermothadventureflights.com.au

Something equally as exciting but less fast paced are the new stand up paddle board lessons on offer with West Oz Kiteboarding in Shoalwater Bay, 35 minutes south of Perth. Offering a unique way to get up close to wildlife, including a variety of birds, marine life and dolphins, the one-and-a-half hour lessons are available for all abilities, including beginners. Lessons cost from £53 per person ($100). www.westozkiteboarding.com

For an adventure on two wheels, Two Feet and a Heartbeat Walking Tours have just launched their first bike tour on Rottnest Island. Combining cycling with history, the two-and-a-half hour tours tell tales from the first time Willem De Vlamingh recorded Rottnest's existence in the 1600s, through to its military occupation, and its emergence as the famed “Isle of Girls”. Tours are graded as easy but provide an in-depth introduction to the island and orientation, ideal for those who want to ramp it up later in the day. Tours cost from £20 per person ($40). www.twofeet.com.au

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Notes to editors

*Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef is one of the few places in the world where visitors have the opportunity to swim with whale sharks, which can grow up to 18 metres in length. Whale sharks migrate to Western Australian shores between March and August each year to feed on plankton and krill, however sighting were made as early as mid-February this year.

2014 was a record year for whale shark tours with a total of 1,133 taking place, and a whale shark sighting success rating of 92%.

**A jetpack experience with Jetpack Perth costs from £92 per person. www.jetpack-perth.com.au   

The Bibbulmun Track

The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walking trails, stretching over 1,000km from Kalamunda, in the Perth Hills, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast. The trail passes through the heart of Australia's scenic south west, through towering karri and tingle forests, down mist-shrouded valleys, over giant granite boulders and along breath-taking coastal heath lands.

The Bibbulmun Track offers a wide range of experiences, from an eight-week adventure staying in the 49 campsites along the way, to day walks, staying in comfort in one of the quaint country towns. Auswalk offer a nine day group tour of the Bibbulmun Track. Departing in September 2015, the tour costs from £1,740 per person ($3,295) to include accommodation, a guide and most meals. www.auswalk.com.au

Cape to Cape Track

The Cape to Cape Track runs for 135km along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, between the lighthouse of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in the far south west of Western Australia. The moderate-graded trail features spectacular coastal and forest scenery, a fascinating geology of cliffs, caves, headlands and rock formations and an ever-changing display of vegetation and wildflowers. There are easy sections, which make excellent half-day and day walks, while some of the wider parts are rugged and hard going. To tackle the whole walk is a great challenge (usually five to seven days), but multiple access points along the coast allow the track to be completely easily in smaller segments.

The Munda Biddi

The Munda Biddi Trail is Western Australia's premier long distance off-road cycling experience. The Track extends 1,000km from Mundaring in the Perths hills to Albany in WA's south. Starting in Mundaring, the trail meanders through scenic river valleys and the magnificent forests of the state's south west. Joined by purpose built track, the Munda Biddi uses a network of bush tracks, firebreaks, and disused railway formations. People tackling multiple days can stay in purpose built shelters spaced a day's ride apart or in quaint country towns along the way.

For media or image requests, please contact:

Louise Adlam, PR and Promotions Manager for Tourism Western Australia: ladlam@twa.australia.com / 0207 438 4606