Guide · Western Australia ·
Margaret River trip: wineries, beaches and caves
A Margaret River trip works best over three days, with one day each for cellar doors, caves and beaches. The region sits in the south west corner of Western Australia, 277 km south of Perth. Allow about three hours for the drive. This guide sets out a simple route you can follow, with tips for each day.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Margaret River, Western Australia; Wikipedia, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
Why three days is enough
The region is long and thin. It runs along a ridge between two capes, Cape Naturaliste in the north and Cape Leeuwin in the south. Most sights sit within a short drive of Margaret River town, so you spend less time in the car than you might expect.
Three days lets you do the main things without rushing. You can taste wine on day one, go underground on day two and spend day three on the coast. If you only have a weekend, drop one of the cave visits.
You will need a car. Distances are short, but buses between the wineries and caves are few. Plan for one designated driver on wine day.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park; Wikipedia, Cape to Cape Track.
Day one: cellar doors
Margaret River is best known for its wine. Vineyards have grown here since the first big plantings at Vasse Felix in 1967, and the region now has a long list of cellar doors. That is far too many to see in a day, so pick a small number.
- Choose four or five. Three tastings before lunch and two after is a comfortable pace.
- Group them by road. Pick wineries that are close together on the map, not ones at opposite ends of the region.
- Eat a proper lunch. Many cellar doors serve food, and a meal between tastings keeps the day easy.
- Spit or sip. Small tastes add up. A shared designated driver is the safest plan.
Most cellar doors open in the daytime and pour a handful of wines. Call ahead if your group is large, because small places may not have room.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Margaret River, Western Australia (page as it stood in September 2010).
Day two: limestone caves
Hundreds of caves lie under the ridge, all inside Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Six are open to the public: Mammoth, Jewel, Lake, Ngilgi, Calgardup and Giants. They are a good way to fill a day when the weather turns wet.
You do not need to see them all. Two or three is plenty, and each gives a different view.
- Mammoth Cave lies about 21 km south of the town. It holds fossils dating back more than 35,000 years, and it has been open to visitors since 1904. You can explore it on a self guided audio tour.
- Jewel Cave, Lake Cave and Ngilgi Cave are three more of the six. Check tour times before you arrive, because each cave keeps its own hours.
- Giants Cave and Calgardup Cave complete the six. Ask at a visitor centre what each one involves before you choose.
Caves stay cool all year, so bring a light jumper. Wear shoes with grip, because steps and paths can be damp. Some caves have many stairs. If anyone in your group finds stairs hard, ask the visitor centre which cave suits them best. This is general information, not medical advice.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park; Wikipedia, Margaret River, Western Australia.
Day three: beaches and the coast
Spend the last day on the coast. The ocean here is rough and open, and it draws surfers from far away. Yallingup and Smiths Beach, on the northern part of the coast, are both known for their surf. Watching from the sand is the safe choice for most visitors.
If you want to swim, ask locals where the water is calm. Surf beaches can have strong waves and currents, so check the swell and the tide before you get in, and never swim alone.
Walkers can also try part of the Cape to Cape Track. It was officially opened in April 2001. It runs for 135 km and links the lighthouses at Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, passing through Yallingup, Gracetown, Prevelly and Hamelin Bay. You do not have to walk it all. A short stretch near the sea makes a nice morning.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park; Wikipedia, Cape to Cape Track (pages as they stood in September 2010).
Planning tips
A few simple steps make the trip smoother.
- Book ahead. Rooms, tours and popular cellar doors can fill up on weekends and school holidays.
- Pack for four seasons. The coast can be windy and cool, even on a sunny day.
- Fuel up in town. Fill the tank in Margaret River before you head down the coast.
- Check opening times. Caves, tours and tastings keep their own hours, and these change by season.
- Respect the park. Stay on marked tracks and take your rubbish with you.
The park is popular. It is claimed to have more visitors than any other national park in the state, so expect company at the main sights, especially at midday.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
A sample three day route
| Day | Plan | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Drive from Perth, then four or five cellar doors and a long lunch | About 3 hours to arrive, then short hops |
| Day 2 | Two or three caves, with a break for a picnic | Short drives between sites |
| Day 3 | Beach morning, a short coastal walk, then the drive back to Perth | About 3 hours home |
Leave Perth early on day one so you reach the first cellar door by late morning. On day three, set off by mid afternoon so you are not driving in the dark.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Margaret River, Western Australia; Wikipedia, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Margaret River, Western Australia: en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park: en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Cape to Cape Track: en.wikipedia.org