Margaret River is located 3 hours from Perth. It is the perfect place to spend a weekend or a week exploring the beaches, Wineries and Caves. There are lots of things to do in the Margaret River region, but you will need a car to access most of them as the region is quite large.
Hamelin Bay
Hamelin Bay is located 40km from Margaret River. It is home to a large population of friendly stingrays. The rays can be seen swimming and feeding in the bay’s shallow water year-round. Your best chance of seeing them is between the boat ramp and the old Hamelin Bay jetty. We headed there at 7am and there was at least 5 hanging around the shoreline.
Augusta
Augusta is located 30km from Margaret River.
Things to see:
-Cape Leeuwin is the as the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia. There is a $7.50 entrance fee to visit the interpretive center and get up close to the light house. If you would like to climb up the lighthouse is costs $21 which includes your entry fee aswell.
– Black wood River walk via Lion’s Park. 3.1km return
-Jay’s beach Foreshore walk. 4.3km return walk.
Boranup Forest
The forest is an easy 25-minute drive south of Margaret River town along Caves Road. You can camp in Boranup Forest for $11pp. Some of the Karri Trees are 60m in height. It is a great place to explore.
Mammoth Cave
Mammoth cave is located 15km from Margaret River. It is $24 entrance per person and is a self guided Cave tour. You are given headphones upon entry. It is home to the ancient fossil remains of long-extinct Australian Megafauna. Mammoth Cave is a unique window into the past, with over 10,000 fossils having once accumulated inside the cave and is home to 50,000 year old ‘’zygomaturus’ jawbone that is embedded in the cave wall,
Yallingup
Aquarium
In between Smiths Beach and Canal Rocks, the Aquarium is a small lagoon protected by large granite outcrops. You’ll find the Aquarium by following the Canal Rocks Road until you find a small carpark. From the carpark, it’s a 1.3km return walk to get to the Aquarium along the Cape to Cape walking trail.
Injiup Natrual Spa
Injidup Natural Spa is a hidden rock pool right on the edge of the often-turbulent Indian Ocean. Waves crash over the rocks to form a mini natural waterfall and “spa”, with some other tidal pools close by.
Canal Rocks
The timber pathway meanders around and across the rocks, taking in grand seascapes with swirling water to little pools and lagoons where you can look for marine creatures like cheeky crabs to brightly coloured starfish
Margaret River
10 mile Brook trail from Rotary Park
Ten Mile Brook Trail is a beautiful walk or cycle out to Ten Mile Brook Dam, named after the tiny brook that was dammed in the mid-1990s to create a new supply of water for the quickly growing Margaret River. The trail is 15km return trail through the forest. There is a few other shorter trails at Rotary Park.
-Riverslea run is a 4.4km return trail along the Margaret river
– Barret Street Trail a 2.2km return trail via the old settlement precient.
-Minnie Keenan Trail (1.5km one way) and Alfred Bussel Trail(1.4km one way) both link up to the Wadindi trail
Prevelly Beach
Take the walkway trail from Margaret River. The trail is 21km each way to Prevelly Beach which is known for its surf. For a calmer beach head over to Gnarabup Beach. There is a trail that runs right from the surf side to this beach.
Wadandi Trail
Is a 23.5km one way trail from Cowaramup and Witchcliffe. It is 9.1km From Margaret river- Gnarawary Road to Calgardup Road- Witchcliffe and 14.4km from Cowaramup – Carters Road to Margaret River – Gnarawary Road. The trail was Formally known as “Rails to Trails“. The trail passes through natural bushland, Vineyards and farmland which gives you a great diverse landscape.
Dunsborough
The Foreshore Trail Dunsborough
The Trail takes you all the way to Busselton. There is a nice stretch of the path from Dunsborough boat ramp to the Siesta Beach House. There is only a short section about 1km along side Caves road but it is still a nice sealed trail. The trail is 11km one way and is mainly trough the bush and along side the beach. You can walk or cycle the trail.
Naturaliste lighthouse to Sugarloaf Rocks
The Naturaliste lighthouse is $5 entry for an adult Heritage pass or $15 for an adult pass up the lighthouse tower. The trail from the lighthouse to Sugarloaf rocks is 7km return along boardwalks and a sealed path. It takes allow 2 hours to complete the trail.
Sugarloaf Rocks
Bunker Bay
Bunker Bay is sheltered from most of the winds and offers a calm beach for fishing, snorkeling, and beach days. There is cold showers, toilets and a café at the beach. Shelley Cove is about 100m wide of sandy beach but is mostly rocky. It’s not the best swimming beach, but excellent for snorkeling.
Eagle Bay
Eagle Bay had the white sandy beach and calm, clear ocean. Eagle Bay is not only great for swimming but also kayaking, snorkelling, photography and picnicking near Point Piquet.
Meelup Beach
Beautiful white sand, clear turquoise water and shady grassed areas.
Castle Beach and Castle Rock
Take the coastal trail to Castle rock, It is a fairly flat walk with a few steps at the beginning. The walk is 1.4km return and you can also walk an extra 200m to Half Moon Bay.
Busselton
Busselton Jetty
The Busselton Jetty is 1.841km long. It is the longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. During the Interpretive Centre’s opening hours which are 8:30am – 5:15pm everyday. There is a small fee of $4 for a Jetty Day Pass for those 17 years and over. The Jetty Day Pass gives you access to dive, fish, swim or walk the Jetty. There is also the option to Kayak out to the jetty. If you don’t want to walk you can take the train up and back which is $16pp. There is also the option of the Underwater Tour which includes complimentary return train ride, a 40 minute guided tour of the Underwater Observatory and Jetty Day Pass. From $37 per adult.
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