Margaret River: capes, caves and wine: Perth itinerary

Duration: 3 days, ~700 km by car
Who it suits: Everyone
Transport: drive
Start: Busselton Jetty & Underwater Observatory
Finish: Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse: two oceans
Pace: moderate pace
Best time: June–August for whales off Cape Naturaliste; September–November for wildflowers
Budget per adult: ≈A$97 per adult for the ticketed sights: jetty A$42, cave A$32, lighthouse A$23Prices as of: July 2026; transport and zoo prices October 2026

Getting there

Go by car. Margaret River is a few days of driving.

The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.

1. Busselton Jetty & Underwater Observatory~2 h at the stop
The Southern Hemisphere's longest timber jetty runs 1.8 km into Geographe Bay, ending at an underwater observatory among the corals.
Tip: Price: A$42 / child A$27. A little train runs the jetty (separate ticket); walking to the end takes about half an hour.
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↓ drive · 40 min · 40 km
2. Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse (whales Jun–Aug)~1 h at the stop
A squat 1903 lighthouse at the tip of the capes ridge; from June to August the lookouts catch migrating whales.
Tip: The Cape to Cape Track starts here. Walk at least the first kilometre to the lookouts.
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↓ drive · 6 min · 3.5 km
3. Sugarloaf Rock~30 min at the stop
A granite fang rising from the ocean: the coast's most photogenic rock, best in low evening light.
Tip: In the warmer months red-tailed tropicbirds wheel above the rock: their southernmost colony.
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↓ drive · 12 min · 11.5 km
4. Overnight Yallingup
A surf village above a white-sand bay; in the Noongar language Yallingup means 'place of love'.
Tip: Take sunset at the lookout above the beach as the surfers ride their last waves.
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5. Ngilgi Cave~1 h 15 min at the stop
Chambers of stalactites that launched the region's tourism back in 1900, wrapped in the Noongar legend of the spirit Ngilgi.
Tip: Price: A$32 / child A$16. It's cool and humid below whatever the weather. Bring a layer.
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↓ drive · 25 min · 25 km
6. Vasse Felix: the founding estate (1967)~1 h 30 min at the stop
The estate that started Margaret River wine in 1967: benchmark cabernet and chardonnay, an art gallery and a restaurant.
Tip: Book ahead for lunch: it's one of the region's headline kitchens.
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↓ drive · 18 min · 18.5 km
7. Margaret River town~1 h at the stop
The town at the heart of the wine region: bakeries, cheese shops, surf stores and cafés along the main street. A handy break between wineries and a dinner spot if you stay nearby.
Tip: On Saturday mornings drop into the farmers market.
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↓ drive · 9 min · 7 km
8. Leeuwin Estate~1 h 15 min at the stop
Home of the famous Art Series wines and lawn concerts; Leeuwin's chardonnay is regularly ranked among Australia's best.
Tip: Leave before dusk: the back roads fill with kangaroos after dark.
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9. Boranup Karri Forest~45 min at the stop
A corridor of giant karri trees up to 60 m tall right off Caves Road: a pale, almost ghostly forest.
Tip: The unsealed Boranup Drive is fine for a normal car in dry weather.
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↓ drive · 14 min · 13.5 km
10. Hamelin Bay stingrays (not guaranteed)~1 h at the stop
Huge smooth stingrays glide right up to the shore by the old jetty remains: wild animals, so no guarantees.
Tip: Don't feed or touch the rays; mornings in the shallows by the jetty give the best odds.
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↓ drive · 24 min · 25 km
11. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse: two oceans~1 h 15 min at the stop
Australia's most south-westerly point, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet beneath the 1896 lighthouse.
Tip: Price: A$23 / child A$12. The tower balcony is guided-tour only; it's windy below even in summer. Bring a jacket.
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Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.