I've been to Western Australia about half a dozen times, sometimes flying and sometimes driving. Flying is a damn sight cheaper than it used to be, thanks to the death of the Qantas/Ansett duopoly, and only takes around four hours. Driving is a damn sight more expensive now that petrol is more expensive than really expensive things, but the trip across the Nullarbor is something that every Australian and visitor to Australia should do. It's a humbling experience.

Things are big in Western Australia. The spaces are big, the houses are big, the cars are big. When we're there we stay in a huge converted factory in Fremantle, owned by Rachel's sister and her family. It's a big free for all, chaotic and active and wonderful. They've got a big dopey spanador called Popcorn, whose only ever called Poppy. We fell in love and wanted to take him home, but Victoria is not so big, the houses are not so big, and our house in particular is not big. So we're on the lookout of a medium sized dog to extend our family to three.

One thing that isn't big is the population density; it's 0.83 people per square kilometre, four-fifths of the state being desert. If it was a country, that would put it second last in the world, in front of Greenland, a desert of a different kind. Perhaps unfairly, it's been called a cultural desert too. In all the times I've been to Western Australia, I've never made it all the way into Perth, the capital, and I'm told I'm not missing a lot, but Fremantle has stuff happening all the time, and if you're in the know you can find good places to see music, art and eat good food. It is pretty small though, and it doesn't take too long before I start to miss Melbourne's diversity.

So many people forget that Australia has a west coast. It's definitely worth visiting.