Western Australia has plenty to offer visitors, from some of the country’s best beaches, to award-winning wineries, and much, much more. Begin by picking up your rental car in Perth, Western Australia’s buzzing capital city. Make sure to take some time to soak up the vibe before setting off on your adventure.
Bunbury
From Perth, drive two hours south to Bunbury. Here you can swim with bottlenose dolphins at Koombana Bay and observe them in their natural habitat. Historical and heritage attractions include St Mark’s Church, The Rose Hotel and King Cottage Museum. To get a bird’s eye view of town, head to Marlston Hill Lookout, a former lighthouse that has been converted into a viewing tower.
Grab a coffee from one of the many cafes on Victoria Street before hitting the road towards the next stop.
Dunsborough
From Bunburry, head south to Dunsborough, just over an hour’s drive away. Dunsborough is home to a whole host of beaches, famous for their crystal clear waters and marine life. Check out Bunker Bay, Meelup Beach and Eagle Bay for breathtaking views. A short drive west brings you to the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. Here you can take in panoramic views of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Geographe Bay, and the Indian Ocean.
Margaret River
Just over an hour’s drive south from Dunsborough is Margaret River, a region famed for its extraordinary food and wine, as well as its pristine beaches and coastline.
Before you get stuck into exploring the region’s wineries, make sure to check out some of Margaret River’s beaches, which are widely regarded to be among Australia’s best. Some of the nicest beaches include Surfers Point near Prevelly, Boodjidup Beach, Conto Spring Beach, Foul Bay, and Hamelin Bay, where you can see stingrays.
When it comes to wine, there are few places better in Australia than Margaret River. If you’re looking to explore and enjoy a drop or two, you can either book an organised tour, or pick up and map and designated driver and explore the wineries at your own pace. Some of our top picks for wineries in the region include:
Lenton Brae
Cullen Wines
Cape Mentelle
Amelia Park Wines
Brookwood Estate
Leeuwin Estate
Voyager Estate Winery
Vasse Felix
Moss Wood
Evans & Tate
If beer is more your thing, then fear not. Margaret River is also awash with great breweries, some of which include the Brewhouse, Cheeky Monkey, The Beer Farm, Colonial Brewing Co, and Eagle Bay Brewing Co.
Augusta
A half an hour drive from Margaret River will take you past tall karri trees and white sandy beaches, before you end up in Augusta, which is almost as far south-west as you can go in Australia.
Drive right down to the tip of rugged Cape Leeuwin. Here you can climb up to the top of the historic lighthouse – which is the largest of its kind on mainland Australia – before casting your eyes down to watch the waters of the Indian and Southern oceans collide.
From June to September, the waters of Flinders Bay welcome migrating humpback and southern right whales who gather for a while before continuing on their journey north to their breeding grounds.
Albany
The final – and the longest – part of this road trip takes you from Augusta to Albany, a town of breathtaking beauty with an impressive history. Albany is a historic town set along a rugged coastline that is befitting of its colonial, whaling and convict past. It’s the perfect place to end any south coast Australian adventure.
This charming city marks the spot where the first British colonists set foot in Western Australia, with much of their legacy surviving to this today, with colonial era buildings now operating as museums, galleries and restaurants.
The Historic Whaling Station Museum continues to tell fascinating tales from Albany's whaling industry past, which fortunately ceased in 1978. Now you can cruise the oceans with much friendlier motives and meet beautiful whales up close.
If you visit Albany on a weekend, you’ll be lucky enough to visit the iconic Albany Farmers' Markets. Here you’ll find fresh, fabulous, locally-grown produce to make the perfect evening meal.
A road trip around Western Australia takes you into the heart of real Australia, with stunning sights and experiences at every turn.
Wherever you choose to adventure, you’ll get there in a rental car with Hertz.
Image: Josh Sorenson
