Categories > Guides and Tips
A Perth to Margaret River Road Trip Guide: Penguins and thrombolites are calling you!
- Things to Know
- Where to Stay
- Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges
- Busselton Lazy Days Caravan Park
- Pullman Bunker Bay Resort
- Where to Eat
- Gino's
- Bistro Breton
- The Crooked Carrot
- Things to Do and See
- Learn about history aboard a submarine at the WA Maritime Museum
- Catch a glimpse of penguins and seals at Shoalwater Islands Marine Park
- See one of Earth's oldest organisms at Lake Clifton
- Hang loose with dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery Centre Bunbury
- Take an underwater stroll at the Busselton Jetty
- Scale the historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
- Score sweets at the quirky Candy Cow
- Stroll through towering trees at Boranup Drive
- Chill out with a picnic and dip at Meelup Beach
If anyone tells you road trips are all stress, they’ve clearly never done the Perth to Margaret River coastal run. Lucky for us, we’re not part of that crowd.
The trip for us was no headache or snoozefest. Why? Well, the team kicked back in a charming port town famed for its cappuccino strip, played with cuddly seals, and stopped by a lake full of billion-year-old organisms.
That’s only the start of it, too. Our excursion proved the trip down south has loads more in store—and the guide below will make sure you don’t miss a thing!
Things to Know
Distance: Around 335 km (3 hrs and 33 mins without stops)
Route
Where to Stay
Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges
iswanderlustfoodie
Address: 46-54 Marine Terrace
Contact Details: +61 8 9432 4000
Check-in: 2 pm
Checkout: 12 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Bunking down at the Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges was a ripper! Built in 1850, it keeps that Federation look and charm alive, but the refurbished rooms are so fresh we’d swear they just opened.
The Park View Rooms were our picks, kitted out with Wi-Fi, comfy king beds, and 50-inch TVs. Best of all, the rooms had balconies showing off Esplanade Park and Norfolk Pines panoramas.
Busselton Lazy Days Caravan Park
From summerstartouristparks
Address: 452 Bussell Hwy, Broadwater
Contact Details: +61 8 9752 1780
Check-in: 2 pm
Checkout: 10 am
Pricing: $$
Website
Busselton Lazy Days Caravan Park nailed the basics while keeping it lush. Here, shady trees tuck away the park homes and campsites, with the Indian Ocean just a hop, skip, and jump away.
Being a big crew, most of us opted for the 3-bedroom park home, boasting aircon, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. A few chose the unpowered caravan sites instead, as they were cheaper, pet-friendly, and still roomy enough for six.
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort
From pullmanbunkerbay
Address: 42 Bunker Bay Road Off, Cape Naturaliste Rd, Naturaliste
Contact Details: +61 8 9756 9100
Check-in: 3 pm
Checkout: 11 am
Pricing: $$$
Website
A stay at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort means veering off-course and loosening the purse strings. Is it worth it? Absolutely. You’ll get a posh escape featuring a heated infinity pool, epic ocean views, and lux, Aussie-style villas.
For max chill, the one-bedroom villa is the top pick. It has a spa bath and is right by the calm lake!
Where to Eat
Gino’s
From dbae.29
Address: 1/5 South Terrace, Fremantle
Contact Details: +61 8 9336 1464
Operating Hours: Daily – 6 am to 10 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Gino’s embodies the character of Fremantle’s Cappuccino Strip—laidback streetside dining with no-frills bites and brews. The best grub? It was the eggs Benedict for us, a buttery and smoky masterclass with subtly sweet and yeasty English muffins.
For drinks, we went for the Americano, which had a nice clean taste with smoky nutty notes and a hint of dark cocoa.
Bistro Breton
From bistro_breton
Address: 49 Queen St, Busselton
Contact Details: +61 8 9754 6217
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 am to 2 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Busselton offers a ton of reasons to stop by, and Bistro Breton is one of them. After all, who’s gonna say no to classic French grub in a homely haunt? Not our team.
While savoury buckwheat crepes are their best-sellers, it was the Croque Monsieur that made us true fans, thanks to its gooey cheese and salty ham. Slight nuttiness and zing were also added by the crème fraiche, which tasted like sour cream but less intense.
The Crooked Carrot
From thecrookedcarrotcafe
Address: Forrest Hwy &, Rigg Rd, Myalup
Contact Details: +61 8 9720 1560
Operating Hours: Daily – 6 am to 4 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Crooked Carrot Café turned our stop into a treat with its locally sourced sweets, rich coffee, and countryside scenery. The massive playground also gave our kids a fun zone to let loose, while the vintage tractors tickled our collectors’ fancy.
For the fare, the moist carrot cake with velvety cheese frosting won our taste buds, aside from the no-frills burger and crisps. This crowd-favourite’s touch of cinnamon made it sing, and its natural sweetness was notable as well.
Things to Do and See
Learn about history aboard a submarine at the WA Maritime Museum
From warshipssub
Address: Victoria Quay Road, Fremantle
Contact Details: +61 1300 134 081
Operating Hours: Daily – 9:30 am to 5 pm
Website
Fremantle’s connection to the sea is on full display at the WA Maritime Museum, from shipwrecks to sailboats. Yet, nothing had us as hooked as the HMAS Ovens. This Cold War relic really made the visit extra immersive!
Inside the Oberon-class sub, we got a real taste of submariner life via a guided tour. We explored engine rooms and control areas, all while hearing tales about the vessel, like how it sank the HMAS COLA during a weapon test.
Catch a glimpse of penguins and seals at Shoalwater Islands Marine Park
From ashkarasphotography
Address: 153 Arcadia Dr, Rockingham
Contact Details: +61 8 9591 1333
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 5 pm
Website
Wildlife sanctuaries keep this trip special, and the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is just one of many stunners along the way. The ace moment here? For our crew, it was feeding the little penguins at the interactive centre.
Playing with Australian sea lions was also a blast. We spotted them lounging on the shores and shallows, just moments before we dove into the cavernous reef of sea stars and molluscs.
See one of Earth’s oldest organisms at Lake Clifton
From jesse.chance
Address: Lake Clifton
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
Lake Clifton seemed pretty chill and ‘normal’ from afar, but as we got closer, it all clicked why our friends recommended the spot—thrombolites. Boasting billions of years of age, these round and limestone-coloured organisms were quite the head-turners.
Finding them wasn’t quite an Indiana Jones mission either. Literally, thousands were just in the shallows! The best bit was we didn’t need to dip, thanks to the observation walkway keeping these fragile, rock-like wonders safe.
Hang loose with dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery Centre Bunbury
From dolphindiscoverycentre
Address: Anchorage Cove, off Koombana Dr, Bunbury
Contact Details: +61 8 9791 3088
Operating Hours: Daily – 8 am to 3 pm
Website
Bunbury’s Dolphin Discovery Centre is often claimed to be Australia’s finest wild dolphin experience, so of course, we had to suss it out. Safe to say, the centre and its bay full of over 100 wild bottlenose dolphins didn’t let the team down.
Indoors, we watched dolphin feedings and looked at aquariums with turtles and sharks. But our stopover’s highlight was going in the Interaction Zone, where we interacted with the dolphins in knee-deep waters (swimming with them is a no-no, though).
Take an underwater stroll at the Busselton Jetty
From busseltonjettyinc
Address: 17 Foreshore Parade, Busselton
Contact Details: +61 8 9754 0900
Operating Hours: Daily – 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Website
Yep, you read that right. The 150-year-old Busselton Jetty is made for undersea walks! With SeaTrek helmets on, the brave can stroll through the ocean floor, teeming with over 300 marine species and underwater sculptures like a massive mermaid and seahorse.
Regular scuba diving sessions are offered as well, which our team happily took advantage of. To top it off, there’s an observation deck that gives a perfect view of the marine life without getting spectators cold and wet.
Scale the historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
From supatto
Address: Cape Naturaliste Rd, Dunsborough
Contact Details: +61 8 9752 5555
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
The 1895-built Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, perched at the peninsula where the Southern and Indian Oceans collide, isn’t just a pretty sight. It’s WA’s oldest manned lighthouse and mainland Australia’s tallest one!
Beyond the records, it’s also considered one country’s finest land-based whale-watching locations, especially from May to September. Tours are available too, ideal if you want to learn more about the folks who once called the lighthouse home.
Score sweets at the quirky Candy Cow
From candy_cow_cowaramup
Address: Shop 3/69 Bussell Highway, Cnr Bottrill St, Cowaramup
Contact Details: +61 8 9755 9155
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 4 pm
Website
Our kids didn’t want to leave the barn-inspired, whimsical Candy Cow—and honestly, we couldn’t blame them. Set amid rolling greens, this sweet shop had old-fashioned lollies that even the adults snagged.
Fudge, honey crunch, and sugar-free humbugs were the sweet souvenirs we brought to Perth, and they were all delish bargains. If you don’t have sweet cravings though, this place’s nostalgia-inducing atmosphere and childlike energy are still worth popping by.
Stroll through towering trees at Boranup Drive
From margaretriver
Address: Boranup Drive
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Just a 25-minute drive from the Margaret River town centre, we found Boranup Karri Forest, a slice of greenery and quiet. Sixty-metre karri trees dominated the landscape, with a splash of wildflowers and seasonal fungi, beautifying things even more.
The birdlife here was just as lively, with fairy wrens and golden whistlers flitting about and singing. They seemed to follow us up the Boranup Lookout, where unobstructed panoramas of the forest and Hamelin Bay sprawled.
Chill out with a picnic and dip at Meelup Beach
From ale_mrt
Address: Meelup Beach
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
Picnicking on Meelup Beach’s grassy spots and tree-lined shore got us stoked to the max. The turquoise waters and white-sand beach were totally Insta-worthy, and the serenity wasn’t bothered from early afternoon to the golden hour.
The shallows were also calm, no surprise considering the beach sits along Geographe Bay, which is newbie-friendly. In fact, we spent the entire arvo swimming and snorkelling, even spotting blue swimmer crabs and blue gropers.
