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Margaret River Region

Margaret River Region

Feel the intangible magic of the Margaret River Region as you walk the ocean floor, through colourful coral towers. Hear it in the waves where world champion surfers have been barrelled, as the sets crash against rugged rock formations. Immerse in it through the soothing sounds of an ancient culture – one of the oldest on the planet. Taste it in the gourmet produce and wine. No, you’re not dreaming.

Things to Do

Looking for some inspiration on what to do in the South West? Here are some of our top picks!

Ngilgi Cave & Ancient Lands Experience

Marvel at the ancient wonders of one of Geographe Bay’s most renowned tourist attractions.

Hamelin Bay

A vast expanse of bright white sand, turquoise waters filled with marine life, and spectacular coastal cliff walks.

Cape to Cape Track

Multi-day walk trail 123 kilometres along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, between Yallingup and Augusta.

Canal Rocks

Take a walk over the bridge to view Canal Rocks, a series of protruding rocks popular with fishermen and photographers.

Busselton Jetty

This wood-piled jetty is the longest in the Southern hemisphere.

Injidup Natural Spa

Discover the Injidup Spa, a beautiful natural rock pool which is popular with locals and visitors.

Wanju (Welcome) to the Margaret River Region – arguably the only wine region on Earth that combines pristine beaches, towering forests, jewel-like caves and unique flora and fauna with award-winning wines and culinary excellence.

An easy 2.5hr drive from Perth is the beginning of the region, which stretches from Busselton to Augusta. The density of this part of the South West allows you to hop from award-winning wineries and bespoke art galleries, to stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, flowing rivers, world-class surf breaks and ancient caves – all in a single day. Each of the towns can be found hugging the coast of the Indian Ocean, nearby vast landscapes of vineyards and kangaroo dotted farmland. Here you can indulge at fine restaurants and boutique breweries, seek out wildflowers and wildlife, explore bespoke art galleries and immerse yourself in one of the many food and wine festivals.

Food and wine 

Let’s not forget about the food and wine! The Margaret River Wine Region is renowned world-over for producing some top notch, award-winning drops. Need proof? Head to one of the many cellar doors for a taste test. You’ll know you’ve hit wine heartland when you start to drive past endless rows of grapevine-covered trellises. Foodies will smack their lips over the abundance of fresh produce available at their fingertips. All they need to do is visit one of the many restaurants, cafes, boutique breweries and distilleries, local farmers markets, artisan providores, and food and wine festivals for a smorgasbord of South West delights. 

Sea and surf

Each of the Margaret River Region’s towns can be found hugging the coast of the Indian Ocean. The picture-perfect, calm waters of Geographe Bay entice families and sunbathers, while the dramatic west-facing coastline between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin attracts surfers, kite boarders and those who love some action on the water. Known internationally as one of the best big-wave surfing locations on Earth, there are more than 40 top surfing spots along Margaret River’s coast , with conditions ranging from powerful reef breaks, to fun beach surf.

Nature and wildlife

Venture inland and you’ll be dwarfed by some of the world’s tallest trees and underground limestone caves. Adrenaline seeker? Go rock climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing and whale watching (whether from the shore or on a tour). Nature enthusiast? Head on a guided tour of the region, or venture out on paths less trodden to spot stunning wildflowers and all sorts of wildlife

Festivals and Events

From world-class surfing and Ironman events, to extravagant foodie and film festivals – there’s heaps of entertainment to be had on your next trip to the Margaret River Region. Check out our South West events for any upcoming events before you head down. 

A drone shot of a road winding between shrubs

Where to stay

Take a look at these places to stay when planning your next visit to Australia’s South West.

Olio Bello Lakeside Glamping

Luxury safari-style bungalows in the heart of the olive groves.

Pullman Bunker Bay Resort

5 star luxury beach hotel with 150 luxury villas, dining, spa and recreation facilities.

Not to be missed

Don’t miss out on these great events happening in the region.

Crescendo – an exhibition of Argyle Pink Diamonds™

03 January 2024 - 31 March 2024
Dunsborough
Nina's Jewellery proudly presents Crescendo - an exhibition of West Australian Argyle Pink Diamonds

Margaret River Pro

11 - 21 April 2024
Margaret River
Watch world-class surfers ride some of the world's best waves.

Xterra Dunsborough

20 - 21 April 2024
Dunsborough
Premier off-road triathlon series in Dunsborough's pristine Meelup National Park.

Top 10 things to do in Margaret River Region

3. Picnic or camp among the karri trees in Boranup Forest or star gaze at Injidup Natural Spa.
4. Taste the region’s finest drops on a winery, distillery or brewery tour, or go at your own paces with a self-drive cellar door hop. Finish your foodie adventure with a long table lunch.
5. Browse Dunsborough and Margaret River’s beautiful boutiques. There’s homewares, clothing stores, great cafes and plenty of beautiful souvenirs to discover.
8. Head up the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Australia’s tallest mainland lighthouse, and see where the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean meet, or visit Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse for views of the Cape to Cape.

Other ideas for your trip

Looking for some inspiration on what to do? Read up on the different experiences and trips for the holiday of your dreams.

A man riding the barrel of a wave.

Swimming, Surfing or SUPing: Which South West Beach is best for you?

Your guide to which beach to visit for any coastal activity.

#MelbstoMargs Road Trip

Come for the wine, stay for the sunset! Here's our go-to guide for a 3 night stay in the Margaret River region.

Margaret River FAQs

  • What are the top tourist attractions in Margaret River?

    Margaret River offers some of the best tourist attractions in the South West, some of these include: Walking along Busselton Jetty and visiting the underwater observatory; Exploring Boranup Forest; Winery, distillery and brewery tours, Visiting the underground caves such as Jewel, Lake, Mammoth and Ngilgi Cave; Walking some of the amazing 135km-long Cape to Cape Track; Visiting Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse (Australia’s tallest mainland lighthouse); Whale Watching; and there are plenty more attractions for all sorts of travellers from families to adventure seekers and those after a romantic getaway.

  • How far is Margaret River from Perth?

    An easy 2.5hrs drive from Perth is the beginning of the region, which stretches from Busselton to Augusta. Each of the towns can be found hugging the coast of the Indian Ocean, nearby vast landscapes of vineyards and kangaroo-dotted farmland.

  • What is Margaret River known for?

    Margaret River offers world-class wine alongside unspoilt coastline, as well as stunning inland rivers, tall-timber forests and ancient underground caves, making it one of the most unique destinations on Earth.

  • When is the best time to visit Margaret River?

    Margaret River is an all-year-round holiday destination with summer temperatures sitting around the 25-35 degrees celsius mark and winter temperatures around the 15-20 degrees celsius mark. With plenty to do indoors and outdoors, you can’t go wrong visiting in summer, autumn, winter or spring. Summer is best for sticking to the coast, exploring white sandy beaches and pristine rock pools. Autumn is great for surfing the coast with prime swell conditions, while winter brings migrating whales in Augusta and is a great time to indulge in hearty comfort food and red wine. Spring is best for spotting a beautiful array of wildflowers, bushwalking and joining a whale watching tour from Busselton or Dunsborough.

  • How many Margaret River wineries are there?

    You can sample world-renowned wines at one of the nearly 100 cellar doors in the Margaret River wine region, which produces plenty of prestigious and award-winning drops, particularly varieties of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. Not your thing? Try delicious ciders and beers at one of the many craft breweries in the region. Pair this with some delicious local produce, and a plethora of dining options – from farmers markets and artisan providores, to fine restaurants and wineries, foodies will salivate their way through the region, devouring tasty treats along the way. Or, immerse yourself in one of the many food and wine festivals.

  • What day trips can I do from Margaret River?

    Don’t miss these day trips from Margaret River: Travel 1hr north toward Bunbury, where you’ll find a premier wild dolphin experience at the Dolphin Discovery Centre for the whole family to enjoy. Friendly wild bottlenose dolphins frolic in the shallows of Koombana Bay from November to April. Take a charming country drive east along rolling hills and undulating farmland through Nannup and Bridgetown. Here, you can stop for a cider, stroll the historic streets and discover quaint and quirky artisan wares, sweet treats and vintage finds. Drive 1.5hrs east to Manjimup during truffle season in winter, where you can join a swimming and catching trout and marron (freshwater crayfish).

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    Welcome to Australia’s South West!

    Here you can easily enjoy natural beaches beautiful vineyards, forests, caves and more, all in a single day. More than 23,000km make up the south west corner of Western Australia, with 1000 of those kilometres consisting of awe-inspiring coastline just waiting to be explored.

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