3 Days jam packed full of exploring for those wanting to see as much as possible!
It may be a long weekend, or you are on holiday in sunny WA and want to check out the famous Margaret River region, but only have 3 days. The first thing you may be thinking is how the hell am I going to see everything in just 3 days, or what shall I prioritize in this short space of time?!!
Believe me, when I say the whole place is S T U N N I N G, and to be honest, wherever you go, I’m sure you will be mesmerized by its beauty. It’s fair to say that going down south has to be one of my favourite places to visit, my happy place, and that’s why I have put together a 3-day itinerary to help you to efficiently travel around and see as much as possible!
Day1: Perth- Margaret River via Augusta (WHALE WATCHING)
If you’re like me and have to drive from Perth, it’s best to wake up super early and hit the road ASAP to make the absolute most of your day.
First of all, Whale Watching has to be on your list of activities to do while down south. Depending on the time of year you are almost guaranteed to see some of these amazing creatures, plus it will be a memory that you cherish forever. You can Whale Watch in Augusta or Dunsborough, but for the purpose of this itinerary I would suggest doing the longer drive and heading straight to Augusta, the furthest point on your trip.
- Drive from Perth to Augusta with the first stop being at the Crooked Carrot Café in Myalup. This quirky café is a great stop to get your caffeine fix and breaks up the first part of the journey nicely.
- You can drive two ways to get to Augusta, both are beautiful, but if you have time and want to stop for lunch it’s definitely worth checking out Beer farm in Metricup. The views are incredible, beers are tasty, and you’ll be supporting a local brewery.
- Stop 3- WHALE WATCHING. After Metricup continue the drive to Augusta, making sure to give yourself plenty of time to get there. I booked my trip with Naturaliste Charters Whale Watching and they were great- took great care with our booking and were really knowledgeable onboard.
- After this unforgettable experience, head to Margaret River taking one last stop at Hamlin Bay. You can chill out and watch the sunset or look on the shoreline to see if there are any stingrays swimming along. Hamelin Bay is known for its friendly stingrays, so if you’re lucky you’ll be able to see one- but remember to not feed or touch them! (If you don’t see any you could try visiting early in the morning).
- Continue the journey via Caves Road, if it’s daylight you’ll admire the picturesque road, and if it’s dark you’ll have something to look forward to the next day!
- Once you’ve got to Margaret River have a wander in the town. I would recommend having dinner at the Settlers Tavern Pub, it has a great atmosphere and will give you a feel for the local’s life, plus the food is great!
Day 2: Explore the area
Luckily for you the best places are all within a 10–30-minute drive, which means that you can see as much as possible if you want too. Or you can take it slow, spend longer in each place, and admire its beauty.
- Wake up early, and when I say early, I mean the sunrise, pink skies, still water and only the sound of wildlife. Head over to Gracetown to spend the morning in peace. Here you can walk around the town (it’s tiny), relax by the beach and take time to reflect and be present in the moment. Make sure to grab yourself a coffee and bite to eat from Gracies General Store.
- Next stop, a little further down the coast (maybe 10 mins) is Prevelly, another picturesque seaside town where you can go for a wander and visit the cool Sea Garden Café.
- A few more minutes down the road is Gnarabup, which has one of the most stunning cafes I have ever seen!! White Elephant Beach Café is literally on the beach and has the best views of the ocean. It makes you feel like you’re In Greece, and the venue would be the dream wedding venue! The best part is the food is amazing- try the Rosies wrap... plus the staff are lovely, this is a MUST while you’re in the area.
- Drive along Caves Road, and make sure to get out of the car at the famous large trees!
- There are plenty of walking trails around the area, so if you fancy it try to find one in the national park, or anywhere and submerse yourself in nature, it’ll do you some good.
- If you have time book yourself a Cave tour and experience the underground world of the natural cave.
- Head back to Magaret River for the evening and grab yourself a well-deserved pint.
Day 3: Margaret River to Perth via Dunsborough
Sadly, it’s the last day, but if you wake up early you will have plenty of time to see a little more of the area.
- Head into Margs for brekkie, we loved Drift Café, but all of the cafes are independent and will be amazing. If you have time have a wander around some shops and take one last walk around the town. Or you can head back to one of the other places like Sea Garden Café.
- Start the journey back to Perth, with your first stop being at Yallingup. There are a few different spots that you can check out, all equally as beautiful- (I know I have said that a lot, but it is true.) Yallingup Beach, Smiths Beach Road, Canal Rocks and Injidup Natural Spa are just a few of the places that you should check out.
- Drive towards Eagle Bay and visit the beaches around there, each one will make your jaw drop!
- Take a final stop in Dunsborough, explore the town or have some lunch and think about how great the trip has been and how much you’ve done in this short space of time.
- Drive back to Perth, there are more stops that you can do, but you may also be tired after this jam packed 3 days of exploring!
This itinerary includes my favourite places to visit when heading to the Margaret River Region and can help you to see as much as possible in 3 days. One thing that I would say is to make the most of it, have fun, support local businesses and make sure to clean up after yourself/ look after each place to preserve its beauty.
Recommendations Listed (plus a few others):
- Beer Farm, Metricup
- Whale Watching- Naturaliste Charters Whale Watching Tour
- Hamelin Bay
- Caves Road
- Cave Tours
- Settlers Tavern Pub
- Gracetown
- Prevelly Sea Garden Café
- Gnarabup White Elephant Café
- Drift Café, Margaret River
- Yallingup Beach & Drive along Smiths Beach Road
- Eagle Bay
- Dunsborough
- Eagle Bay Brewery
- Swings & Roundabouts Brewery
- Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
- Wine Tours
