What Margaret River has to offer
Whether you’re a local from Perth or holidaying in WA, spending a few days exploring the Margaret River region is something you’ll never forget. Famous for its epic surf breaks and pristine coastline, alongside it’s local produce, wineries and breweries, it has something for everyone.
We are lucky enough to call Western Australia home and the south west is only a couple of hours drive south of Perth CBD. Exploring the south west has never been easier since the Forrest Highway opened in late 2009. Before the highway opened it could easily add another 45 minutes onto your journey time.
Whilst we have been travelling, we have met a lot of people from the eastern states who have never even heard of the Margaret River region. So that has inspired us to let everyone know what they are missing out on.
The region
The Margaret River region covers the area between Busselton and Augusta. Busselton is sat on Geographe Bay and Augusta is on the southern cape where the Indian Ocean meets the the great southern. The landscape is a mix of lush paddocks with grazing cattle and native Australian bush. With the pristine white beaches within a stones throw to the west.
Must visit towns in the area are Busselton, Dunsborough, Cowaramup, Augusta and Margaret River township itself.
Self drive the region
Sometimes when travelling, although you might be looking forward to the destination, the journey itself can be just as beautiful. This pretty much sums up the Margaret River region. Whether you drive down the Bussell highway or caves road with all the little country roads in between, you won’t be disappointed.
The distance between Busselton and Augusta is around 100km. You have Bussell Highway and Caves road which run parallel to each other. Both roads have many side roads which are worth exploring.
Caves road is a mix of vinyards, pastures and national parks. The top end of caves road from Yallingup is open paddocks, with the ocean and surf breaks to the west and vinyards and farmers fields to the east. The lower end of caves is made up of Leeuwin National Park. The reason behind the name of the road is due to there being several caves in the area. The most popular ones being Jewel and mammoth cave.
From caves road you can reach Prevelly, famous for main break. This is the most popular surf break in the area. With its left hand reef break, big waves and solid swell, its a firm fave with locals a visitors alike. It’s a few hundred metres off shore but worth the paddle.
There is access to several beaches up and down the coastline here and it’s worth sticking your head down some of these roads.
You also have Boyanup Forrest located at the southern end of caves road. It has excellent 4WD tracks with access to secret beaches and fishing spots. The Forrest is made up towering marri, karri and jarrah trees, these sleeping giants can reach lofty heights of up to 70 meters.
Off the Bussell Highway you can explore the eastern side of the Margaret River region. This side of the highway tends to be more open paddocks with grazing cattle and long country roads. Beautiful to drive through in the cooler months when the grass is lush and green.
The regional towns
Busselton
Sat on the peaceful Geographe Bay, Busselton is a beautiful coastal town. Most noteworthy for its jetty which stretches out almost 2km into the Indian Ocean. The jetty is the longest wooden jetty in the world and the Southern Hemisphere. Commercial vessels used to dock on this jetty, however this practise stopped in the early 1970s. It has survived cyclones, fires, general weathering and the threat of demolition and is now a major tourist attraction.
The town itself has a laidback coastal feel. The esplanade, lined with cafes and parkland is a leisurely way to spend an afternoon whilst overlooking Geographe Bay. The Main Street has everything you could need for a few days in the town, with boutique shops and eateries. Plus there are plenty of local shops offering local produce from the region.
We stayed at Big4 Beachlands whilst in Busselton. This is a great park, located just a short 2 minute walk to the beach. The park has everything you’d need for kids and adults alike. With walk ways stretching for miles in both directions, it meant great walks for Tilly.
The park itself, is a personal favourite of ours. Lovely grass sites, which are well maintained and plenty of space between your neighbours. As I mentioned close to the beach and local amenities for groceries etc. The ablutions are always very clean and tidy. Plus there is a jumping pillow and go karts for the kids to entertain themselves.
For more information and bookings head over to http://www.beachlands.com.au
Cowaramup
Or cow town as it’s known by the locals, is a cute little settlement on the Bussell Highway 12km north of Margaret River. So you have to drive through town to get to Margaret River on the main highway, so you won’t miss it.
One of the towns draw cards is the life size fibreglass Friesian cows and calves dotted around the Main Street. Some of the cows are your standard black and white markings, others are theme painted.
The town has a few shops, a bakery, a fine food supplier and a sweet shop. Worth parking up and spending an hour or 2, meeting the cows and having pie from the bakery.
Margaret River township
The town of Margaret River is our favourite in the whole of the region. The high street is flanked on both sides with great cafes, boutique shops selling delicious local produce, and craft and artisan retailers. Because of this it a mecca for tourists throughout the year.
There are various levels of accomodation in and around town also. From camping with your swag through to high end establishments. Therefore everyone can enjoy the area.
Margaret River is a great base to explore the region. It’s located centrally between Busselton and Augusta.
We stayed at Big Valley campsite in Rosa Glen which is just a few kms out of town. It’s a working farm with chickens walking around, to Tilly’s annoyance, but a beautiful setting. Plenty of open fields around to walk your dog or just go for a leisurely stroll to view the property.
For more information and bookings visit their website http://www.bigvalleymargaretriver.com.au
Augusta
Augusta, set on the Blackwood River is a quaint sleepy town, full of fishermen, kite surfers and holidaymakers alike. The Blackwood River winds it’s way down stream from Nillup, some 40km north east of Augusta before meeting the river mouth and the southern ocean.
One of the top attractions for the area is Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Standing proudly at the tip of the headland and the most south westerly point of the Australian mainland. The lighthouse is also the tallest in Australia. Open daily to the public with guided tours offered, so you can learn about the history of the lighthouse, as well as a trip to the top.
Not far from the lighthouse, there is a driving track along skippy rock road. It’s a great elevated drive, with plenty of lookout points along the way. With views out towards the lighthouse and ocean in the west, and inland panoramas to pastures and native bush. Easily accessible for non 4wd vehicles.
The town has a main street with an everything you’d need for a stay in the area, with an IGA, butchers, bakery and cafes.
We stayed at Flinders Bay Caravan Park. This is a council run site, situated right on the beach. Great large sites with trees and shrubs separating each site. As it’s located towards the end of town there’s lots of good walks nearby as well.
For more information and bookings head over to http://www.flindersbaypark.amrshire.wa.gov.au
The best bit… Wineries, Breweries and Food
In the whole of the Margaret River region there are so many places to visit. From fine dining wineries through to gourmet cafes, all using local produce.
Here’s our top 5 in each category to check out whilst in the area.
Wineries
- Peacetree estate in Wilyabrup is a favourite of ours, probably our number one choice. It’s a small boutique winery with a rustic feel. We love the Tempranillo and the Pineau, which is a brandy liqueur. We usually stock up when passing through the area.
- Swings and Roundabouts in Yallingup is a great way to spend an afternoon chilling out. As we’re travelling with Tilly we need an area with outside dining, and this place has some pretty specky views off the back. The winery has an elevated position with views of slopping hills as far as they eye can see. We have dined here a few times, the food is always excellent.
- Laurence wines is worth a visit just for the famous “chick on a stick”. A golden statue water feature visible from the long driveway. You are then drawn down to English rose garden, with over 1000 flowers. Decadent aromas of floral tones greet you as you miander through the gardens. We have never dined here but there is on an on-site restaurant.
- Leeuwin Estate is a pretty special vineyard. One of the high end, fine dining wineries in the region, you’re in for a treat if you dine here. We have had the opportunity to dine here once and bought wine, as much as we love it, it isn’t cheap. For a special for occasions it’s definitely worth it. The menu is amazing and the Sauvignon Blanc is opulent.
- Vasse Felix is the one of the founding vinyards in the Margaret River region. Established in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, the vinyard is still trading today. There are onsite tours, wine tastings and a restaurant available. Definitely worth a visit to learn about the history of winemaking in the region.
Breweries
- The beer farm in Metricup is by far our favourite brewery in the Margaret River region. Set on a rural property with views for days, its the perfect spot for lunch. We visited knowing they have a resident German Shorthaired Pointer ( like Tilly ) and we were hoping for a meet and greet but Mocha was busy when we visited. The great thing about this place is that dogs are welcome wherever in the seating area, inside and out. The food is 5 star and the beer first class. A definite must if you can only do one brewery.
- Our next favourite brewery is Cowaramup brewing co. Only a short drive from Cowaramup itself. They always have epic pizzas on their menu and Chris always orders a pint of the pale ale. The seating area out back is great for Tilly as well.
- Colonial brewing company is another great stop. They do a tasting paddle here so you can sample 5 of the beers on offer. Again they have a great menu and we can highly recommend the steak sandwich.
- Cheeky Monkey on caves road is always a great spot on a weekend as they normally have live music playing. Again they’re fantastic about where you can sit with your dog. We normally go a pizza from here as they’re always good. Cheeky monkey have a good selection of craft beers on tap as well as cider.
- Bootleg brewery again is another great brewery. The views across the paddocks are delightful on a summers afternoon. They have a great seasonal menu and again awesome craft beers on tap.
Foodie heaven
- Margaret River chocolate factory – you can literally fill your boots here with free samples. They have sample bowls all around the store of white, milk and dark chocolate drops, so you can try before you buy. They have array of chocolate items for sale, from plain bars of chocolate thru to exotic flavours and praline truffles. An absolute must for chocolate lovers.
- Vasse Virgin – These guys produce a variety of products from olive oil, condiments and vinaigrette’s all the way through to soaps and beauty products. They have tastings of all the oils, vinegars, Dukkahs and other foodie treats. Plus all the beauty products have testers available too.
- The Berry Farm – We always make a point of visiting here when we’re in the region. Our first stop is the cafe for tea and fresh scones. We would totally recommend you try something from the cafe. The menu has anything from a light snack like our tea and scones through to a full meal like pie and mash. Next stop is the cellar door, offering ports, wines and ciders. We love the port from here, the muscat being our absolute favourite. They also have a selection of jams, chutneys, preserves, condiments, dressings and syrups available and yes you can do tastings here before purchasing.
- The Fudge factory – located in Margaret River itself. Everything here is made onsite and there is even a viewing window so you can watch the fudge being made. There are also tastings available for all the flavours of fudge so you can see which is your favourite before you buy.
- Margaret River Dairy company – located not far from the beer farm is the cheese factory. Located on Bussell Highway you can’t miss it. They specialise in brie, camembert and cheddar. If you’re not stuffed out of sight, tastings are also available and then you can purchase to enjoy later.
