Filming in WA
Filming in WA
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Fast Facts
Arguably the largest State in the world, Western Australia covers one-third of the Australian continent. Spanning over 2.5 million square kilometres (1 million square miles bordered largely by desert to the East), Western Australia is bound to the West by 12,500 kilometres (7,813 miles) of the world's most pristine coastline.
It is a land blessed with some of the world's most precious natural phenomena including the dolphins of Monkey Mia, the 350-million-year-old Bungle Bungle range and the towering Karri forests of the South West. The State of Western Australia has a wealth of natural resources including gold, iron ore, gas and minerals.
Perth, the capital city of the State, enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia and was recently rated the 4th most liveable city in the world. Perth is home to 1.7 million people and the total population of WA is 2.26 million.
From cool temperate zones to spectacular arid desert regions and monsoonal tropics, Western Australia offers a diverse range of climates.
Summer and spring in Perth, Western Australia's capital, provide the most daylight hours in Australia. Winter and autumn are mild with many days of brilliant sunshine. Perth has almost 25% less rain days than Sydney or Melbourne and less than half the amount of cloud cover.
The Kimberley and Pilbara regions located in the north west of the State have a distinct dry season (May - October) and wet season (November - April). During the wet season there is a risk of tropical cyclones.
The Bureau of Meteorology has more detailed weather information and climate averages and statistics for all major towns in WA.
Western Australia - Google maps website
Tourism map with photos - Tourism Western Australia website
Perth metro - Whereis website
Western Australian Aboriginal territories and languages - Department of Indigenous Affairs
Western Australia has world class accommodation, from international five-star luxury to B&B style guest-houses and serviced apartments. Rates are always negotiable for production crews.
The Tourism WA website has more information.
The Western Australian electricity supply is 240v AC (alternating current), 50 hertz using an earthed 3-pin plug.
| City | Flight Time (hrs) |
| Singapore | 5 |
| London | 20 |
| Tokyo | 10 |
| Bangkok | 7 |
| Auckland | 6.5 |
| Adelaide | 2.75 |
| Melbourne | 3.5 |
| Sydney | 4 |
| Brisbane | 4.25 |
If you are intending to bring film equipment into Western Australia for the duration of your shoot please note that goods may be brought into Australia on a temporary basis without the payment of Customs duty or taxes for a period of up to 12 months.
The Australian Customs and Bordern Protection Service is responsible for the importation of commercial goods to Australia for business purposes. Further information and contact details are available on the Australian Customs website.
Western Australian public holiday dates can be found at the Department of Comerce website. Western Australian school term and holiday periods are available on the Department of Education website.
Many areas of Western Australia require permits for filming. Permits are needed for all National Parks, Aboriginal Lands and many towns and cities. For National Parks contact the Department of Environment and Conservation. For further information on filming on Aboriginal lands, please refer to the Fast Fact 'Permits for filming on Aboriginal Lands'. For all other inquiries contact the local government in the area you are filming.
There are protocols for working with Indigenous content and communities. Screen Australia has developed a comprehensive information guide, Pathways and Protocols: A filmmaker's guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts. This guide has been produced to provide advice about the cultural, ethical and legal issues involved in transferring Indigenous cultural material to the screen.
If you are intending to film in Australia, and wish to bring foreign personnel, each person will need to apply for a temporary work visa for the duration of their stay in Australia. Ausfilm, Australia's content attraction organisation, has further information, including an excellent Factsheet titled 'Entertainment Visas: what you need to know'.
Western Australia's Indigenous people are embracing tourism opportunities as a means of economic sustainability for their families and communities. Increasingly they are inviting Western Australians, as well as national and international tourists, onto their lands to experience Indigenous culture and lifestyle and the breathtaking beauty of remote and regional Western Australia.
Permission to visit and/or film these communities is granted through the Aboriginal Lands Trust at the Department of Indigenous Affairs. Transit Permits are designed to protect the privacy of Aboriginal communities, preserve Aboriginal heritage and culture and safeguard the natural environment. Importantly, they assist in ensuring visitor safety.
There is no cost for the permit, which is a legal requirement under the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority (AAPA). People of Aboriginal descent, members of either House of Parliament in both the State and Commonwealth Governments and others authorised by the AAPA are exempt.
Permits are granted for a period of time sufficient to allow travel through the reserve by the most direct route. Permission can also be obtained from the resident Aboriginal communities for applicants who want to travel off the main road.
Permits are not required for travel on public roads.
