Margaret River trip planner Margaret River, planned in one, two or three days
Two days covers the town, one cave and a stretch of coast. Three lets you run the whole cape, from Cape Naturaliste down to Cape Leeuwin, without spending the trip in the car. Here's the plan, day by day, with what to book and what to take home.
- From Perth
- About 3.5 hours277 km. The time is Tourism WA's estimate
- Best time
- SpringWildflowers, and whales off Cape Naturaliste from September to November
- Wettest month
- July194 mm over about 19 days at Witchcliffe
- Book ahead
- Two cavesLake and Jewel Caves are bookings essential
When to go, month by month
Summer is dry and busy. From December to March it rains on only two to four days a month, and it's high season, so book caves and the jetty ahead. The Capes Foundation says its tours often sell out in peak periods.
Spring is the pick. Wildflowers bloom across the South West from August to November, peaking around October, and from September to November Cape Naturaliste is one of the region's best spots to watch whales breaching close to shore.
Winter is wet but far from wasted. From May to September it rains on 12 to 19 days a month, but the caves are the same in any weather, and whales pass Cape Leeuwin from May to August.
Marked months: rain on 12 or more days a month at Witchcliffe, on average.
Three days, from the jetty to Cape Leeuwin
Only one day? Do day 3: two caves, the karri forest and Cape Leeuwin. Two days? Do day 1 on the way in and day 3 on the way out, with a night in town between. The map follows the route as you scroll.
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DAY 1
The coast road in: Busselton to Margaret River
Coming from Perth, you reach Busselton first, so start at the jetty. It runs 1.841 km into Geographe Bay. The little train and the Underwater Observatory are both worth booking before you leave home: the observatory takes 44 people a tour, and you can only go down on one.
Then take the long way round, by the capes. Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is just 59 steps to the top, and from September to November its point is one of the best places in the region to see whales close to shore. The sealed path from Sugarloaf Rock to the lighthouse is 3.4 km each way and free.
Heading south, stop at Canal Rocks, where a wooden bridge crosses the canal and you can watch the waves surge through. Then turn inland for chocolate at Metricup and Cowaramup, and the last 13 km into Margaret River.
BookJetty train and Underwater ObservatoryFreeSugarloaf Rock path, Canal RocksDogsNot on the jetty or the jetty trainChocolate on the way
Gabriel Chocolate makes bean-to-bar chocolate at Metricup. In Cowaramup, Temper Temper hand-tempers bars and roughs, and Bettenays has a kitchen you can watch at work. Check hours before you go.
If it rains
Ngilgi Cave at Yallingup is self-guided, so you go at your own pace. Allow about an hour and a half. Back in Busselton, Origins Market on West Street is under cover, with an indoor nature playground for kids.
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DAY 2
Margaret River itself: the market, the makers and the river mouth
Saturday is the day to be in town. The Margaret River Farmers Market runs every Saturday, all year round, at the Education Campus on Bussell Highway. Park in the TAFE car park rather than on the highway verge, and leave the dog with someone that morning: dogs aren't allowed in the market space.
The town centre is easy on foot. Watch fudge being mixed, poured and cut through the viewing window on the main street, then work your way along the shops.
In the afternoon, follow the river out to the coast at Prevelly and Surfers Point, by the river mouth. If you'd rather walk or ride, the Wadandi Track runs 31 km one way from Cowaramup to Sebbes Road, south of town. It's rated easy, and dogs are welcome on a lead.
MarketSaturdays, all year, on Bussell HighwayWalkWadandi Track, easy, dogs on a leadDogsNot in the farmers marketMakers in and around town
At the market, look for Fine Food of Margaret River, a regular there since 2001. In town, Margaret River Fudge Factory has been on the main street since 1999, Margaret River Hemp Co has its store on Bussell Highway, and Yahava KoffeeWorks has its KoffeeWorks. Check hours before you go.
If it rains
Calgardup Cave, south of town, is self-guided, with helmets and torches supplied, and it suits all ages. From winter into spring you can watch a stream flowing into the cave.
New makers, once a month
One short email a month: the makers we have added, what is in season, the odd gift list.
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DAY 3
The deep south: caves, karri forest and Cape Leeuwin
Head south on Caves Road. Two caves need a booking: Lake Cave, where you go down through a large sinkhole to an underground lake, and Jewel Cave near Augusta, the largest show cave in Western Australia. Both are fully guided, one-hour tours. Mammoth Cave is self-guided with an audio guide, and a 50,000-year-old jawbone is still set in its wall.
Between caves, turn onto Boranup Drive, which is fine for two-wheel drives, through tall karri forest to Boranup Lookout and its view west to Hamelin Bay. In spring, white clematis, purple hovea and yellow hibbertia flower under the trees. At Hamelin Bay, stingrays forage in the shallows in summer. They're wild and carry a venomous barb, so look but don't touch.
Finish at Cape Leeuwin. The lighthouse is 176 steps to the top, children must be at least four to climb, and from May to August you might spot whales migrating along the shore. Augusta is about 40 km from Margaret River, so the drive back is short.
BookLake Cave and Jewel CavePark entryFree in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National ParkDogsNot in the national park, Boranup includedThe rainy-day day
Keep this day for the worst weather of your trip. Underground, rain makes no difference, and three caves sit within a short drive of each other.
Before you leave home
- Book Lake Cave or Jewel Cave, and the jetty train or Underwater Observatory, for the days you want them.
- Download a Parks and Wildlife offline map of the national park. Phone coverage on the capes is patchy.
- Check Emergency WA for total fire bans before any campfire or barbecue. They're most common in the hotter months but can be declared outside them.
- Before you swim, check Beachsafe for patrolled beaches and SharkSmart WA for recent shark activity.
- Fill up in Margaret River, Cowaramup, Witchcliffe, Karridale or Augusta before heading down the coast.
- Travelling with a dog? National parks, Boranup, the jetty and the farmers market are all off limits.
What to bring, by season
Tick things off as you pack. Your ticks stay on this device.
All year
May to September
December to March
Questions people ask before they go
How many days do you need in Margaret River?
Two days covers the town, one cave and a stretch of coast. Three lets you see the whole cape, from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south. Everything on the cape is within about 50 km of town, so a third day means less time in the car, not more. With only one day, go south: the caves, Boranup Forest and Cape Leeuwin.
Is Margaret River worth visiting?
If you like the coast, forest and food made close to where you buy it, yes. In three days you can climb two lighthouses, go underground in caves on a limestone ridge about 90 km long, drive through karri forest and meet the people making chocolate, fudge, olive oil and tea. Entry to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is free, and you don't need to visit a single winery to fill the days.
When is the best time to visit Margaret River?
Spring, from September to November. Wildflowers bloom from August to November, peaking around October, and whales pass close to shore at Cape Naturaliste. Summer is dry and the busiest time of year, so book caves and the jetty ahead. Winter is wet, with rain on 16 to 19 days a month from June to August, but the caves are the same in any weather, and whales pass Cape Leeuwin from May to August.
How far is Margaret River from Perth?
About 277 km, which Tourism WA puts at about three and a half hours' drive. There's no train to Margaret River, but Transwa's SW1 coach from East Perth stops in town, and private coach companies run services too. The region's airport is at Busselton, about 45 minutes' drive away. Check the airport's own site for current routes.
Can you visit Margaret River without a car?
You can reach the town by coach, and the centre is easy on foot, with the farmers market on Saturdays. The capes are another story: the caves, lighthouses and beaches are spread along 111 km of Caves Road, and there's no public transport out to the Cape to Cape Track. To see more than the town, you'll need a car or a tour.
What should I book before going to Margaret River?
Lake Cave and Jewel Cave say bookings are essential. The Capes Foundation recommends booking its other caves and the lighthouse tours online too, because they often sell out in peak periods. Busselton Jetty advises booking the train and the Underwater Observatory ahead. Camping at Conto or Boranup in the national park is bookings only, through ParkStay, up to 180 days ahead.
Do I need cash in Margaret River?
Not much. Cards work almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for the farmers market and roadside stalls.
Can I bring my dog to Margaret River?
Not into the national park. Parks and Wildlife doesn't allow pets in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Boranup Forest included, and warns that 1080 baits laid in the area are poisonous to dogs. In the Shire's public spaces, dogs must be on a lead unless they're in a designated dog exercise area, and the Shire's website maps them. Dogs also can't go on Busselton Jetty or into the farmers market space. The Wadandi Track, 31 km from Cowaramup to south of Margaret River, welcomes dogs on a lead.
What is free to do in Margaret River?
Plenty. National park entry is free. So are the sealed path from Sugarloaf Rock to Cape Naturaliste, the bridge at Canal Rocks, Boranup Drive and its lookout, the headland walk at Hamelin Bay, and the Wadandi Track. Watching fudge being made through the viewing window in town costs nothing either.
What should I bring home from Margaret River?
Something made here: olive oil from a local grove, stone-ground or bean-to-bar chocolate, fudge, loose-leaf tea, jams and pastes, soap, or a handmade mug. The makers listed at the end of this guide all sell from their own shops or websites. For more ideas, see our South West gift guide, or grab the free South West Maker Map for the car.
Where can I find more on each part of the trip?
Each day has its own detailed guide: the coast road from Busselton, which cave to choose, Margaret River with kids, a rainy day, the chocolate trail, Cape to Cape day walks and Augusta and Cape Leeuwin.