The ultimate self-drive guide to the Margaret River Region.
The ultimate self-drive guide to the Margaret River Region, from scenic coastal roads and world-class surf breaks to vineyard trails, public art and forest adventures.
There’s nothing quite like the freedom of jumping in the car, picking a playlist and seeing where the day takes you.
Whether you’re chasing waves, following your appetite or simply taking the scenic route, these five classic road trips reveal some of the best of Western Australia’s South West.
Start: Dunsborough
Finish: Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Time to allow: One hour in total, but allow three hours if you’re stopping for food, an ocean dip and a lighthouse tour
Best for: Coastal scenery, swimming, photography and families
Highlights: Old Dunsborough, Meelup Beach, Point Picquet, Eagle Bay, Bunker Bay and Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Some road trips are about the distance travelled. This one is about how often you’ll want to stop.
Beginning in Dunsborough, this spectacular coastal drive winds past some of the Margaret River Region’s most beautiful beaches before reaching the dramatic headland at Cape Naturaliste.
Start with a leisurely stop at the Old Dunsborough Boatramp, where the calm waters of Geographe Bay, shady picnic areas and relaxed coastal atmosphere make it an inviting place to ease into the day.
From here, continue towards Meelup Regional Park. Take a detour along Castle Rock Road or Meelup Beach Road and discover white sand, turquoise water and striking granite formations.
Follow Eagle Bay-Meelup Road past Point Picquet and Eagle Bay, where sweeping ocean views offer plenty of excuses to pull over and take a photograph.
If you’re feeling peckish, stop at Eagle Bay Brewing Co. or Wise Wine for a relaxed lunch. Alternatively, continue towards Bunker Bay, where Ilma Beach House offers a beautiful setting for a coffee or meal overlooking the water.
The final stretch takes you to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, perched high above the meeting of the sheltered bay and the wild Indian Ocean coastline.
Take a guided lighthouse tour or enjoy the surrounding walking trails and lookouts, where seasonal whale sightings add an extra reason to linger.
Local tip: This is a particularly lovely drive on a clear day when Geographe Bay’s clear blue waters are at their most striking. In spring, keep an eye out for migrating whales from the coastal lookouts.
Start: Yallingup
Finish: Surfers Point, Prevelly
Time to allow: Half to full day, depending on whether you’re doing a surf check or getting into the water at each stop
Best for: Surfers, coastal explorers and lovers of spectacular ocean scenery
Highlights: Yallingup Mainbreak, Smiths Beach, Gracetown, Huzzas, North Point and Surfers Point
Few places capture the spirit of the region quite like its surf breaks.
From the legendary waves of Yallingup to the iconic Surfers Point near Margaret River, this road trip follows a coastline that has shaped generations of surfers, beach lovers and adventurers.
Start in Yallingup, where the region’s pioneering surfers once carved tracks through the coastal scrub to reach the waves before returning to the historic Caves House Hotel.
Yallingup Mainbreak remains one of the area’s most recognisable surf spots, attracting experienced surfers when conditions are right. Nearby Smiths Beach offers another beautiful stretch of coastline, although wave conditions and suitability vary considerably.
Even if you’re not planning to paddle out, Yallingup is a wonderful place to watch the waves, enjoy a coastal walk or take a swim in suitable conditions.
Continue south towards Gracetown, a laid-back coastal village where beach houses overlook a beautiful bay.
Huzzas is a popular surf break within the bay, while nearby North Point is renowned for its powerful waves and is best left to highly experienced surfers. Watching from the shore can be just as memorable.
For a lunch stop, Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. offers a relaxed setting and a range of locally brewed beers, including its Surf Break Series.
The journey finishes at Surfers Point in Prevelly, one of Western Australia’s most celebrated surfing locations and home to world famous surf competitions like the Margaret River Pro.
Find a spot overlooking the ocean and watch surfers take on the powerful Indian Ocean swells. If you arrive towards sunset, you’ll understand why this is one of the region’s favourite places to end the day.
Local tip: Autumn is often associated with favourable surfing conditions, while winter can bring powerful swells. Always check the forecast, local hazards and your own ability before entering the water. Many of the region’s famous breaks are suitable only for experienced surfers.
Start: Yallingup, northern Caves Road
Finish: Boranup Forest
Time to allow: 1.5 hours to half a day, or longer with tastings and lunch
Best for: Wine lovers, food enthusiasts, nature lovers and scenic driving
Highlights: Caves Road, vineyards, cellar doors, regional produce and Boranup Forest
If your idea of a perfect road trip involves a winding country road, a cellar door or two and a long lunch somewhere beautiful, Caves Road is calling.
One of the Margaret River Region’s most scenic drives, Caves Road winds south through vineyard country, farmland and incredible native forests, revealing a different side of the landscape with every passing kilometre.
This is the heart of one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions, with an extraordinary variety of wineries and cellar doors to discover along the way. Whether you’re drawn to small family-owned producers, established wine estates or delicious food offerings, it’s worth choosing a few stops in advance rather than trying to fit everything into one day.
As you travel south, watch the scenery change. Rolling vineyards and golden paddocks give way to increasingly dense stands of jarrah, marri and karri trees. The drive is as much about appreciating these changes in the landscape as it is about the cellar doors along the way.
One of the most remarkable stretches comes near Boranup Forest, south of the Conto Road turn-off, where towering karri trees create a dramatic canopy above the road. Take time to stop at an appropriate lookout or parking area and appreciate the forest. It’s a beautiful contrast to the open farmland and vineyard landscapes further north.
Local tip: If you’re planning wine tastings, arrange a designated driver or consider a guided wine tour instead. Check cellar door opening hours and book popular restaurants ahead, particularly during weekends and school holidays.
Start: Busselton
Finish: Prevelly
Time to allow: This road trip will take a full day if you’re taking your time.
Best for: Art lovers, curious explorers and travellers seeking something beyond the usual attractions
Highlights: Busselton Jetty, public sculptures, Cowaramup murals, Margaret River street art and Prevelly
The Margaret River Region might be best known for its beaches and wine, but there’s a thriving creative community waiting to be discovered along its streets, laneways and coastal landscapes.
This self-drive art adventure begins in Busselton and travels south through Cowaramup and Margaret River before finishing beside the ocean at Prevelly.
Start at the iconic Busselton Jetty, where artist Ian Mutch’s striking whale murals celebrate the marine life of Geographe Bay.
Further along the jetty, the Underwater Sculpture Park reveals another creative dimension, with 13 sculptures by Western Australian artists positioned beneath the surface. The artworks also provide habitat for marine life. For a closer look, experienced divers and snorkellers can explore suitable underwater experiences with local operators such as Swan Dive.
Leaving Busselton, head south along Bussell Highway towards the Cowaramup area.
Art and wine come together at Island Brook Estate, where the property’s distinctive red truck is a familiar roadside landmark. Nearby, Suzy French Art offers an opportunity to discover the work of a local artist in a peaceful gallery setting.
Continue towards Cowaramup, where the town’s famous cow sculptures are only the beginning of its creative character.
Look out for Brenton See’s colourful mural at the Lions Shed in Pioneer Park, celebrating the surrounding flora and fauna. Around the corner, Anita Revel’s interactive Cowara Dreaming wings offer another playful encounter with public art.
Next, continue south to Margaret River, where sculptures, mosaics and murals can be discovered throughout the town centre.
Near the Visitor Centre, look for Alan Meyburgh’s Ziggy sculpture, inspired by the prehistoric megafauna that once inhabited the region.
Nearby murals by Kyle Hughes-Odgers and Ian Mutch are another reminder of Margaret River’s vibrant artistic identity.
Finish the drive by following Wallcliffe Road towards Prevelly, where Russell Sheridan’s whimsical sculptures bring an unexpected creative element to the rugged coastal landscape.
Look for the man-and-dog sculpture at Riflebutts Reserve and the beautiful Layla sculpture near the rock pools before the Margaret River mouth.
With the ocean as your final backdrop, it’s a fitting place to reflect on the creativity that runs through the region.
Local tip: Allow time to explore the towns on foot, rather than simply driving between artworks. Public art is often tucked away in unexpected places, and some of the best discoveries are made when you slow down.
Start: Augusta and Cape Leeuwin
Finish: Redgate Beach, south of Margaret River
Time to allow: At least 2–3 hours, or a half to full day for tours, meals and additional stops
Best for: Nature lovers, photographers, coastal explorers and travellers seeking quieter places
Highlights: Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Augusta, Flinders Bay, Hamelin Bay, Jewel Cave, Boranup Forest, Contos and Redgate Beach
Some of the most memorable road trips take you away from the busiest visitor attractions and into landscapes that feel beautifully remote.
This journey begins at Australia’s south-western tip before travelling north through historic coastal settlements, limestone caves, impressive forests and some of the region’s most dramatic beaches.
Start at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia, standing at the meeting place of the Indian and Southern oceans. Take a guided tour to discover the lighthouse’s history and enjoy sweeping views across the surrounding coastline.
From here, follow Leeuwin Road back towards Augusta, taking in views across Flinders Bay, the boat harbour, Hardy Inlet and the Blackwood River mouth.
Around the boat harbour, discover Subsea Estate, a local wine producer known for its innovative approach to ocean wine maturation.
For a coffee or meal, The Colourpatch Café & Bar and Augusta Hotel both offer beautiful settings overlooking the water.
Continue north along Caves Road, making time for the extraordinary white sand and clear waters of Hamelin Bay.
Nearby Cosy Corner offers another picturesque coastal stop, where limestone cliffs and turquoise water create a striking landscape.
For an underground adventure, visit Jewel Cave, home to spectacular limestone formations and guided experiences revealing the fascinating geology beneath the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge.
Further north, the road winds through Boranup Forest, where magnificent karri trees rise above the surrounding bushland.
If time and road conditions permit, consider a detour towards Contos Beach. The unsealed Conto Road leads towards coastal scenery, walking tracks and rugged ocean views. Check current conditions and vehicle suitability before travelling on unsealed roads.
Finish the journey at Redgate Beach, a spectacular stretch of coastline where granite boulders, white sand and powerful Indian Ocean waves create a memorable finale.
Arrive towards the end of the day, find a sheltered place to enjoy the view and watch the changing light across the water.
Local tip: This route rewards a slower pace. Leave time for a cave or lighthouse tour, check access conditions before travelling and keep to designated tracks to protect the surrounding coastal environment.
The Margaret River Region is particularly well suited to self-drive holidays, with coastal destinations, wineries, galleries, forests and national parks spread across a diverse landscape.
A little preparation can make the journey even more enjoyable.
Some scenic drives can be completed in a few hours, while others are best enjoyed over a full day.
If you’re planning to include wine tastings, guided tours, longer walks or leisurely meals, allow additional time between destinations.
Having a car is one of the most flexible ways to explore the region, particularly if you’re planning to visit beaches, wineries and attractions outside the main town centres.
Guided tours and local transport options are also available for visitors who prefer not to drive.
Every season offers something different.
Summer is ideal for beach-hopping and long coastal days, while autumn can bring beautiful conditions for surfing, food and wine experiences.
Winter showcases the region’s dramatic coastlines and lush forests, while spring brings wildflowers and migrating whales.
Conditions can change throughout the year, so check the forecast and relevant access information before travelling.
Some of the most popular scenic routes include Cape Naturaliste Road near Dunsborough, the coastal roads around Yallingup and Gracetown, Caves Road through the vineyards and Boranup Forest, and the southern coastline around Augusta and Cape Leeuwin.
The best choice depends on whether you’re looking for beaches, surf, wineries, art or natural landscapes.
