Two hours from Perth, Williams is a great spot for a break on the . Theres a visitor centre in Kojonup with a caf and museum, and a rose maze for kiddos needing some backseat respite. 6330.1. Given the amount of driving on this south west Australia road trip itinerary, we figured it was only fair that we both get a day off from being designated driver and let someone else show us around! . Make sure you set off early for this one. Option: Stop off at Kojonup and visit The Kodja Place a fascinating While you can certainly drive to the various sites around Freo, we decide to leave the car behind for another day and instead take the free CAT bus service. Back at the forest floor, a separate boardwalk meanders through a fantastical, Game of Thrones-esque grove of tingle trees called The Ancient Empire. Even if it is some of the nicest looking sand weve seen. Table . Weve opted to stay a short walk from Fremantles historic and port area, so after checking in, we make for the towns most popular gathering joint the vast Little Creatures Brewery for a sunset beer followed by dinner and an early night. View The Gap and Natural Bridge rock . Were Danielle and John: a couple of incurable travellers on a journey together to seek out the very best travel experiences on our beautiful planet. This historic little town on the Blackwood River harks back to the early 1900s and was built on industries of timber milling and agriculture. West Perth, Western Australia, 6005. Most towns have a petrol station and general store. $181 - $402. Other popular stops include Rockingham Beach, Denmark Animal Farm & Pentland Alpaca Stud, and Bluff Knoll. And if youve done some swimming and snorkelling at Cosy Corner, youll have worked up an appetite for their freshly cooked woodfired pizzas - so grab a table on the grass and enjoy. Perth to Albany road trip itinerary via the Albany Highway. Theres also a music festival here each March. Its an impressive sight in and of itself (and you can join a guided tour if youre keen to climb its narrow interior*). Member rate varies according to season. Perth to Esperance Via Albany. We were expecting a coastal cave with random whooshes of air followed by drenching explosions of sea water. As you approach Walpole, take a quick stop and swing by Walpole-Nornalup National Park and enjoy the Valley of Giants Treetop Walk. Any difference driving clockwise from Perth to Albany and back via Pemberton-Augusta-MR-Dunsborough-Yallingup-Busselton-Mandurah-Fremantle route. We plan overnight. Garys family history in this area goes back generations, and his passion for the nature and wildlife of the delicate Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is absolutely contagious. In Australia, you can search and book accommodation via all the usual booking engine suspects. Its renowned as a spectacular spot for sunset and weve worked todays itinerary so that well be here for that. How you roll is entirely up to you you can go hard like we did, or slow the pace and pick a couple of places from each days highlights that interest you most. You'll find listed Perth Events, shows, free events in Perth, local community events, fairs, farmers markets, City of Perth events, even events at your local library. As the other must-see on our Torndirrup list, we make a beeline for The Blowholes as the sun is dropping. 125 km (78 miles)Total driving time appx. 6 hours of driving. If Esperance is a non-negotiable though, swap out some earlier days/stops or add a couple more days to this itinerary. Theres a museum and tearooms here, and guided tours including a climb up the 59 steps of the lighthouse to its balcony. Perth to Esperance Itinerary at a Glance. We plan overnight. Depending on the weather, you can either visit the next couple of sites as they roll out along the coast, or do a bit of backtracking in order to be at Sugarloaf Rock for sunset, which is our plan of attack. Child: AUD $2190. Once your bellies are full, make tracks to Albany. Your included flights advised via email with 24 hours to select alternative flights, routing or airline (alternatives may be at a higher price). Departs from Perth. From beautiful beaches and hiking trails to sandalwood shopping and shipwreck diving. The most direct route between Perth and Albany is the Albany Highway. The track leads to the beautiful Warren Beach (Yeagarup Beach). 165 km (100 miles)Total driving time appx. V Limousines. The storm front gathering angst over the sea ahead intensifies the last light of the day, delivering a stellar sunset. Withso many things to do in Albany, it's well worth scheduling a day to stay put and explore everything this city has to offer. Total driving distance appx. In fact, the wild bottlenose dolphins of Koombana Bay have become such a drawcard that the dedicated Dolphin Discovery Centre was created to ensure interactions with these magical creatures are safe and eco-friendly. While the demographic of the tour was decidedly older than us, the 2.5 hour slow boat tour out of Walpole is easily one of the most memorable and educational tours weve been on, all thanks to Garys charisma and encyclopaedic knowledge. What's on in Perth Events for Seniors and Over 55's in Perth. If you're planning a road trip to Perth, you can research locations to stop along the way. The only reason to take the 100-minute trip on route 102 is if you plan on . From there it's only 45 minutes to Donnybrook, the apple capital of WA. Tomorrow is another big day, but were taking a break from the car and catching an early morning ferry to Rottnest Island. Its about a two hour drive from Pemberton to Margaret River, so we suggest breaking it up by going via truffle country otherwise known asManjimup. The WOW Wilderness EcoCruise takes otherwise unsuspecting passengers like me and John and thrusts them into the compelling orbit of one-of-a-kind guide Gary Muir. One of the most unique experiences in the South West, the Granite Skywalk! From Pemberton, it's just over an hour to Walpole, where you'll find even more enormous trees in the . Around 10 minutes north of Canal Rocks is famous Yallingup Beach, a stunning stretch of white sand and a great spot for swimming, snorkelling and surfing. Depending on what time you depart Perth today, you could explore a bit more of the town, or head to Cottesloe Beach or back to Fremantle for a final brekkie or lunch. Should be buzzy and close to dining options and coastal feel. What?! But its the location of the lighthouse, on a dramatic rocky point at the confluence of the Indian and Southern Oceans, which is truly breathtaking (and by all accounts an excellent spot for whale watching between May and November each year). To be fair, we should have done more research. If youd rather self-tour though, your options are many check out this site for some tips and suggested wine trails. Apparently the best time to see them is during summer on clear, calm mornings. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and . The cantilevered walkway here takes you from ground level up to 40 metres and into the canopy of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park tingle forest. The 100 metre high falls themselves are said to be at their best in the wetter months of winter and spring. Many places have cellar doors where you can pop in and sample the wares, or settle in for a gorgeous lunch surrounded by vineyards. Our goal today is to be in the pretty bayside town of Busselton by early afternoon, so we can max our time exploring the famous Busselton Jetty and surrounds. Were definitely putting Denmark on our list for a longer future visit. We break up the journey between Margie River and the Karri Forest Explorer Drive with a coffee stop and wander in the charming village of Nannup. If you don't have much time, you could skip the Margaret River region, and take a more direct route from Perth to Denmark via Bridgetown, Manjimup, Pemberton, and Walpole to Denmark. Approx. Answer 1 of 22: Friends, Family and I will be in WA in late Nov into D The Karri forests of south west Australia are extraordinary. Our plan is just to be in Albany. Answer 1 of 31: We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. When putting together this south west Australian road trip planner, we plotted to visit the sites below roughly in the order they appeared on the map heading south from Margaret River. If the extra drive north or desert flies dont appeal, then we suggest taking this day and adding it to any other part of our Perth to Albany road trip where youd like to spend more time. This isnt the world famous, camel-trekking Cable Beach of Broome (a mere 2,400 km away in the north of WA), but its pretty damn speccy in its own right, and theres not a soul on it when we stop at the lookout (its a serious hike down to the beach itself). ): 7hr 30min Suggested time: 4-6 days There are also a network of walking trails around the cape, and you could definitely lose yourself here for a few hours. Our first stop on this tourist route is Beedelup Falls, in the Greater Beedelup National Park. Make your first stop the epic Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, located between Denmark and Walpole in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.The Tree Top Walk is a suspended walkway that weaves its way through the forest of giant tingle trees, 40 metres above the ground. Virgin Australia also flies up to three times a day from Perth to Albany Airport. 230 km (140 miles)Total driving time appx. After a quick dip, head to lunch at the nearby Montys Leap, a local vineyard offering stunning views and delicious grazing boards. Its around 45 minutes from Bunbury to Busselton, and we arrive early afternoon. So we manage to squeeze in a late morning wine tasting at Forest Hill Winery on our return from Elephant Cove and Greens Pool. As a major city, you can fly directly to Perth from various cities around the world and from a bunch of places within Australia (ironically, theres not much time difference in a flight from Singapore to Perth and a flight from Sydney to Perth!). Then we turn right and follow it to the end, where theres a small carpark. Next is a tight climb up a six metre, enclosed metal ladder to the Skywalk, a narrow suspended platform crowning the peak of Castle Rock. Torndirrups Blowholes are a bit morewell, subtle. Across the rocky foreshore to the right is Greens Pool and its every bit as beautiful as weve heard, even under a sky of brewing storm clouds. In Margie River, having a car means you can stay further out of town if you want (theres no uber and taxis are few and far between). Australian Train Travel. Add world class wineries, a burgeoning craft brewery scene and excellent foodie options and you have what is, quite possibly, one of the best road trips in Australia. I agree the detour to Balingup is well worth doing and the road between Nannup and Balingup is among the nicest drives in the state. We head to the left first, to catch a last light glimpse of the coves famous herd of huddling granite elephants theyre not so obvious at first, but once you see them, well, they really cant be unseen. While the Albany Wind Farm wasnt originally on our itinerary, we spot a sign en route to the national park and make a spontaneous decision to head down that road instead. And as all Aussies know, its not an Aussie road trip until youve had a pie (or a sausage roll) in a country town. Once you leave Pemberton, you will head south either via the main highway or the village of Northcliffe. In season though, this tidy little town apparently comes alive with beachgoers and water lovers, and we hear theres a buzzing eating and drinking scene at night. You know youve reached the lower lookout when you arrive at the extraordinary Balancing Rock, a huge boulder eroded over millennia to perch precariously on its granite base. We Aussies are spoiled for choice when it comes to road tripping the epic outdoors, but one of our greatest regions for exploring is the wedge of country between Perth and Albany in south west Australia. 170 km (105 miles)Total driving time appx. We plan overnight. Meaning that you can get home . Dramatic nature is a theme of this journey, so in keeping with that, for the second last day of our road trip in Western Australia we head around 2.5 hours north of Perth for a visit to one of the states most famous natural attractions the Pinnacles Desert of Nambung National Park. Experience Albany's National ANZAC Centre, the dramatic coastline, drive through the stunning Karri forests near Pemberton, visit the longest wooden . Our fave was Whisper on Essex Street, a cozy little wine bar in an historic mill converted into a charming French townhouse. And that's ok. 1,150km return trip weve allowed eight days. Total driving distance appx. With a day or more here, you could explore the town and surrounds in more depth this is said to be a wonderful place for wandering, with lots of trails to explore. Cervantes, gateway to the Pinnacles, is named for an American whaling ship that wrecked offshore in 1844. Answer 11 of 31: We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. . You can get to Albany in about an hour by flying with Regional Express. Regardless, its a good idea to book your accommodation well ahead of your visit if you can, particularly if youre travelling in peak season and over weekends. Fortified by a plate of tasty tacos and a paddle of local craft beer, were ready to call it a night as weve got a huge day of exploring tomorrow. I park myself atop a high rock overlooking the dazzling water and boulders of Elephant Cove below, while John climbs down into the inlet to explore further. The perilous WA coastline has claimed more than its fair share of vessels over the centuries, and the fascinating relics of some of the oldest wrecks have found their way here, in an epic combo of two of our great loves history and underwater archaeology. Save. Perth to Albany via Pemberton. Or the other way round. While its effectively an outer suburb of Perth, it feels a world away from the big city. Our penultimate stop today is Sugarloaf Rock, a dramatic lump of offshore granite famous for its changing hues. For us, at least, thats a whole other future Australian road trip. 440 km (274 miles)Total driving time appx. What you choose will depend on how much time you have and if you have previously visited the South West region. Visit Busselton Jetty, the longest wooden . Day one: Perth to Collie via Jarrahdale, Serpentine and Dwellingup (198 kilometres) Travelling via the South Western Highway, make your way to the heritage-listed town of Jarrahdale, where you can stretch your legs on one of the towns beautiful bushwalks. Our south west road trip centres today on the southern section of the Karri Forest Explorer Drive, which showcases the regions majestic karri forests and national parks on a looping mix of paved and unpaved road in and out of Pemberton. 2.5-3 hours (with lots of breaks)Overnight: Margaret River. Any difference driving clockwise from Perth to Albany and back via Pemberton-Augusta-MR-Dunsborough-Yallingup-Busselton-Mandurah-Fremantle route. For a round-up of the absolute must-sees in this corner of the country, check out our post 20 Unmissable Things To Do in South West WA. . ): 640km Driving time (approx. Its pretty quiet here on the weekday morning we visit, and the waters of Geographe Bay are mirror flat. This unpaved (but 2WD-suitable) route loops off Caves Road around 3 km (1.8 miles) south of Lake Cave and rejoins Caves Road just south of Boranup Forest Maze. This is a town built on logging because Pemberton is surrounded by giant Karri trees. It's roughly 350km which will take a minimum of four hours, without stops. Head inland and follow Highway 10 to the town of Pemberton. 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