With this second itinerary, you’ll be focusing on a mix of gastronomical discoveries, relaxation, adventures and hiking. You have less distance to cover, so you can easily make this a round trip. Once again, this itinerary has been tested and approved by our teams, so you’re in safe hands following our route!
Days 1 and 2 – Perth: Visit the capital of Western Australia
Your first two days will be the same as our Perth to Broome itinerary: one day exploring the city of Perth and one day to visit Rottnest Island.
Days 3 and 4 – Margaret River: Sample some of Australia’s best wines
▶ Travel time: 3-hour drive
Margaret River is a wine region, globally renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Other popular varieties in this region include Shiraz, Chardonnay and a Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend.
On your drive down to Margaret River, there are lots of opportunities to stop along the way:
- Mandurah (pick a couple of the Giants of Mandurah to visit)
- Binningup Beach
- Bunbury (lighthouse, beaches and scenic viewpoints)
- Busselton Jetty
We recommend taking a guided tour of Margaret River’s wineries so that nobody has to be designated driver! The tour guides also give great personalised recommendations on which local wineries and restaurants to visit, based on your preferences. As most tours leave in the morning, we suggest staying two days in Margaret River.
When you aren’t touring the wineries, check out some of the other activities in the area:
- Caves (Ngilgi Caves, Mammoth Cave or Lake Cave)
- Beaches (Gnoocardup Beach, Gnarabup Beach or Kilcarnup Beach)
- Cape Naturaliste at Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park (50-minute drive)
- Breweries and distilleries (if you don’t like wine!)
- Injidup Natural Spa in Yallingup
Day 5 – Cape Leeuwin: The most southwest point of mainland Australia
▶ Travel time: 30-minute drive
On your way out of Margaret River, make a quick stop at Boranup Lookout for views of the Karri forest and Hamelin Bay. Next, head to Hamelin Bay Beach, where you might be able to see stingrays swimming in the shallows.
Spend the afternoon at Cape Leeuwin, the most south-westerly point of mainland Australia. Here, you can stretch your legs along the Cape to Cape Track for breathtaking scenery. Obviously, you won’t have time to walk the entire 123 kilometre trail, but you can go as far as the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
At the top of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, you will have exceptional views of where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.
You can stay overnight in Augusta, the nearest town to Cape Leeuwin.
Day 6 – Pemberton and Walpole: Swap the beaches for the forest
▶ Travel time: 1.5-hour drive to Pemberton, then 1.5-hour drive to Walpole
▶ Price: AU$21 per adult for Valley of the Giants
Pemberton is a small town known for its Karri forests. When you arrive in Pemberton, take a quick stroll in the Warren National Park forests, or the easy 300 m trail to Beedelup Falls. If the Pemberton Tramway is operating, you can take a train ride through the forest (AU$30 per adult).
Not far from Pemberton is the town of Walpole. The main reason to come to Walpole is for the treetop walk at the Valley of the Giants. This walk on suspended footbridges offers a unique birds-eye view of the forest.
Day 7 – Denmark: Back to the beaches
▶ Travel time: 50-minute drive
Not to be confused with Denmark in Europe, this quiet coastal town is situated on the banks of the Denmark River, next to Wilson Inlet. It is the gateway to William Bay National Park, where you will spend your time today.
Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks are the best beaches in the national park. Both are renowned for their turquoise waters and impressive rock formations. Elephant Rocks is, of course, named after the rock formation that resembles a herd of elephants.
There are more beaches to be explored: find the full list here.
This is also the perfect chance to stretch your legs on a short hike. Climb Monkey Rock for panoramic views—it takes around 40 minutes to reach the top. Castle Rock Granite Skywalk is another great walk; you will need to be fit to scramble the rocks for the upper lookout, but the lower lookout is suitable for most abilities.
Day 8 – Albany: Whale watching at Torndirrup National Park
▶ Travel time: 40-minute drive
▶ Price: AU$17 per vehicle for Torndirrup National Park
This tourist city has a bit of everything to offer. Albany is well-known for its wine, honey and local products. It’s also home to many beaches, nature reserves and Torndirrup National Park.
You can spend a few hours sampling the food and drink Albany has to offer, as well as learning more about its history (including the city’s expansion during the gold rush and its role in the First World War) at the National Anzac Centre.
Then, it’s time to get back out into nature at Torndirrup National Park. During the migration season, Torndirrup is the perfect place for whale watching. You will have a chance of seeing them from most viewpoints along the shoreline, as long as you have binoculars or a zoom lens!
Don’t miss The Gap and Natural Bridge, an exceptional rock formation formed into (you guessed it) a bridge by the wind and ocean. Torndirrup National Park is full of numerous viewpoints and hiking trails for you to choose from, including:
- The Blowholes
- Sharp Point Walk Trail
- Salmon Holes Beach Walk
- Cable Beach Lighthouse
Make sure you check which trails are open on the day you are visiting.
Another pro tip is to consider purchasing a Western Australia all parks pass, rather than paying each time you visit a national park. This is especially economical if you plan to complete the Perth to Broome road trip, too.
Day 9 – Bremer Bay: Untouched nature at Fitzgerald River National Park
▶ Travel time: 2-hour drive
▶ Price: AU$17 per vehicle for Fitzgerald River National Park
This small region is also a must-see, especially for its beaches. Bremer Bay is close to Fitzgerald River National Park, which remains unspoilt due to its relative remoteness. As well as beaches for snorkelling and swimming, you can go bushwalking on one of the hiking trails. Note that some parts of the park are only accessible by 4WD; check for closures before you plan your trip.
Beyond exploring the national park, Bremer Bay is another location where you can try and spot whales. You can often see them from the beach, or you can take a guided tour to increase the odds of a whale encounter.
Days 10 and 11 – Esperance: The best beaches in Western Australia
▶ Travel time: 4-hour drive
▶ Price: AU$17 per vehicle for Cape Le Grand National Park
Welcome to some of the best beaches in all of Australia. We recommend you spend what’s left of your first day exploring Esperance and its surroundings, and your second day in Cape Le Grand National Park (about an hour’s drive from Esperance).
For your first day, make sure you check out the following:
- Esperance Great Ocean Drive
- Esperance Stonehenge (a replica of the original in England!)
- Lake Hillier (pink lake) scenic flight
- Dabungool Cultural Experiences
Cape Le Grand National Park is home to Lucky Bay, the famous beach where you have a good chance of seeing kangaroos on the beach. As well as Lucky Bay, don’t miss:
- Rossiter Bay (bird watching)
- Hike to Frenchman Peak
- Hellfire Bay
- Thistle Cove
Day 12 – Norseman: Gateway to the Nullarbor
▶ Travel time: 2-hour drive
It’s time to leave the heavenly beaches behind and explore the hinterland of Western Australia. On the way back to Perth, a stopover is a must in Norseman, a town established during Western Australia’s gold rush. It is located at the end of the Nullarbor Plain, which stretches as far as Ceduna, South Australia.
Here are some unique things to do in Norseman:
- Nullarbor Links Golf Course (the world’s longest golf course)
- Woodlands Walk
- Dundas Coach Road Heritage Trail (interpretive sites explaining the history of Norseman)
- Dundas Rocks and Lone Grave (rock formations)
- Beacon Hill Lookout and Walk Trail (panoramic views of Norseman)
Day 13 – Kalgoorlie: A historical gold rush town
▶ Travel time: 2-hour drive
This mining town in Western Australia brings us one step closer to our return to Perth. The once bustling town is now pretty deserted, the gold rush a thing of the past.
Explore this fascinating period of time with a visit to The Super Pit, one of the world’s largest open-pit gold mines. Continue your journey into Australian gold mining history at the Museum of the Goldfields. Then, head to Karlkurla Bushland Park and walk the interpretive trail to learn more about native flora and fauna in the 200 hectares of regrowth bushland.
The Kalgoorlie Tram Taster Tour stops at the main visitor attractions in the area—check with the visitor centre for the operating times during your visit.
Day 14 – Hyden: The Wave Rock
▶ Travel time: 4.5-hour drive
▶ Price: AU$12 per vehicle for the Wave Rock
The must-see attraction in Hyden is the Wave Rock, an unusual wave-shaped rock formation measuring up to 15 metres high. Don’t forget to visit the other rock formation in the area, Hippo’s Yawn.
Many travellers carry on to Perth once they have visited the Wave Rock. However, you might want to stick around overnight and explore more of Hyden:
- Mulka’s Cave and Gnamma Walk Trail
- The Lace Place (largest collection of lace in the southern hemisphere)
- Lake Magic (salt lake)
- The Pioneer Town Museum
- Hyden Art Trail
Day 15 – Return to Perth: The end of your once-in-a-lifetime road trip
▶ Travel time: 3.5-hour drive
Sadly, it’s time to conclude this amazing road trip by returning to Perth. On the way back, you can make a few stops in the historic towns that line the route back, such as Corrigin or York.
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