Spring offers the full spectrum of experiences in the Margaret River Region. Longer, warmer days are perfect for getting outdoors and basking in the sunshine, and you don’t have to sacrifice the cosy pleasures of chilly nights around a log fire.
Whoever you’re with and whatever you’re into, this seven-day itinerary is designed to help you find the best that spring brings to the region. From a romantic getaway to a family friendly adventure, we’ve got you covered.
Settle into your beachfront accommodation at the Mandalay Resort in Busselton. Whether you’re towing the caravan, camping, or ready to relax with all amenities provided, there’s something for everyone here, with camping and caravan park facilities, chalets, cabins, and everything you’d expect from a four-and-a-half-star resort.
Let the kids roam around the four giant playgrounds or play in one of the three pools, while you slip into holiday mode in the heated indoor jacuzzi.
Go for a stroll or cast a line along the sprawling beaches of Geographe Bay right out front, or visit the Busselton Jetty. Then treat yourself to a movie night and an easy dinner with one of Mandalay’s regular food vendor pop-ups or head into town for Middle Eastern eats at INARA Dining.
If you’re kid-free and chasing a luxurious adult-only retreat, Samphire Chalets have got everything you need. Stay here for a front-row view of the Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary, all from your comfy king-sized bed.
Spring is the best time of year for birdwatching, and the team has thoughtfully provided binoculars and a birdwatching book to help you identify local species.
Retro charm more your thing? The Timothée Resort is a renovated 80’s motel that invites you to wind back the clock & experience a modern homage to holidays of yesteryear. There are plenty of modern luxuries, a tennis court, a heated pool and a riverside fire pit (with complimentary marshmallows!).
Watch the sun rise over the bay or treat yourself to a sleep in. You are on holiday, after all.
Way off in the western distance, you’ll see the tip of Cape Naturaliste, the northernmost point of the 100km-long Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge. Around the other side, the sheltered waters of Geographe Bay meet the Indian Ocean, and at this time of year, it’s a whale superhighway.
Take a trip out into the deep blue with Naturaliste Charters, All Sea Charters, or Whale Watch Western Australia. Nothing beats the thrill of experiencing a whale breach up close – it’s an unforgettable way to encounter the ocean’s giants.
Back on land, take a 25-minute drive into Dunsborough and browse the boutique shops, or cook up a barbecue on the foreshore down at the Old Dunsborough boat ramp. If eating out is your thing, you’re spoilt for choice here: night-time dining in Dunsborough is a veritable smorgasbord of options. For a dinner with stunning sunset views and another whale sighting or two, head to Bunker Bay, where you’ll find Otherside of the Moon Restaurant inside Pullman Bunker Bay Resort.
Now you’ve settled into holiday mode, it’s time to venture a little further afield.
Visit Yallingup’s always popular brewery, Wild Hop. With a great respect for the circular food philosophy, Wild Hop Brewing Co shares seasonally inspired craft beers (well renowned for their IPAs) and rustic, farm-to-table food best shared. An excellent nature playground makes the trip worthwhile if you have kids, as they’ll be entertained for hours while you sit, sip, and admire the view. The deck overlooks the picturesque Gunyalgup Valley, perfect for spring weather. Wild Hop are family and pet-friendly, and open seven days a week – making the visit an easy choice.
Looking for more experiences in this neck of the woods? For a caffeine hit, head to Commonage Coffee Co, then treat yourself to a wine tasting at Aravina Estate, Rivendell Winery Estate or Deep Woods Estate – all a short scenic drive from the brewery.
You’ll leave with a renewed appreciation of the land you are travelling on, if you book into a tour with Wadandi Cultural Custodian, Josh Whiteland from Koomal Dreaming. His Ngilgi Cave Cultural Tour is educational and one-of-a-kind, as you learn about traditional plants, foods and medicines. Discover the art of creating fire without matches, then head underground for a didgeridoo performance inside the cave. The acoustics make this experience phenomenal.
If you’re child-free, finish the afternoon by checking into Edge Luxury Villas an award-winning, adults-only retreat. Once you’re settled into your dreamy accommodation, head out on their self-guided orchid walk to explore more than 20 acres of protected old-growth forest. The lake comes alive in spring and is surrounded by native wildlife, including kangaroos, ducklings (swimming right by your balcony!) and flocks of visiting red-tailed black cockatoos.
Pack your bags and get ready to move down to Margaret River. It might only be 50 kilometres from Busselton, but it’s a totally different world down here, with lush green forest and a laid-back, alternative vibe.
Check into your new home among the trees at Eight Willows Retreat. Set upon 75 acres of land in Metricup, you’ll find 24 luxurious chalets, and at this time of year, you’ll usually spot a bridal party or two. Farm-stay activities here include enjoying fresh eggs from resident chickens, hand-feeding joeys around the property, and trout fish feeding.
It’s a fifteen-minute drive from Gracetown, where you’ll find one of the region’s premier surf breaks at North Point and a family-friendly swimming beach in the bay. Hiking tracks along the Cape to Cape boast stunning wildflowers at this time of year.
Alternatively, families will love the well-appointed cottages at Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay. Located just north of Margaret River township, the fresh country air and wholesome energy are the perfect tonic for any city-life stresses. Kids of all ages will love the farm animals – alpacas, emus, Scottish Highlander cows, Dorper sheep, chickens and other winged friends
End your afternoon with world-class wine icon Vasse Felix at their recently opened sparkling house, devoted to Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs, aka really good bubbles. With the longer, warmer days that spring brings, there’s no better place to be than the Idée Fixe Courtyard, under the Crepe Myrtle tree.
The majestic river that lends its name to the township, Margaret River, is a hidden treasure that visitors often miss entirely. To share the secret is Margaret River Discovery Tours business owner Sean Blocksidge. Even for those who ‘don’t do tours’ – this is a bucket-list experience for travellers in spring. Sean kicks off the day with a canoe down the river – an experience only the locals know about – followed by a coffee and a surf check at Margaret River Mainbreak, lunch at world-class winery Fraser Gallop (with exclusive vineyard access), and then a 4WD experience to the Wilyabrup cliffs, where you do a section of the famed Cape to Cape. Spring presents opportunity for many animal encounters on the hike, with regular kangaroo spotting, whales migrating along the coast, and birdlife attracted to the blooming wildflowers.
Tonight, make dinner experiential with Walk Talk Taste Margaret River’s newest tour, a progressive dining experience across four handpicked venues, featuring surprise menus, local flavours, and unforgettable food, wine and cocktail experiences. Embrace the mystery and discover the region from a different perspective.
If you’re in town on a Saturday morning, pop into the Margaret River Farmers Market. This time of year is especially productive for fresh produce, and you’re likely to find some of the finest veg you’ll ever have the pleasure of eating. Pick up cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peas, beans, onions, pumpkins, potatoes… the list goes on.
In the morning beeline straight to whole-family fun at A Maze’n Margaret River. A picturesque spot on the edge of Margaret River’s townsite, this place has a giant hedge maze, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and beautifully landscaped gardens complete with butterflies.
While the setting itself is beautiful, it’s more about the top-end entertainment you’re receiving here. It’s spring, so a game of spotto on the Western Australian native plants is in order, as is the testing of the familial skills at the mazes, outdoor games and puzzles. When you’re ready for a break, park up at the café veranda or BYO lunch and unwind on one of the shaded picnic tables in the garden.
For more fun and games, you can also embark on a Secret Picnic Adventure. Enjoy the warmer weather by riding a bike through the lush trails and backroads of Margaret River with their ‘Margaret River Bike or Drive Picnic Experience’. It takes up to four hours and, while it is a secret adventure, it’s worth knowing you’ll get to enjoy some delicious local food along the way.
From here, continue your nature appreciation journey and head south. Spend the afternoon immersed in the staggering Boranup Karri Forest. Whether you’re walking, cycling or taking a leisurely drive along Caves Road, take your time to really slow down here, breathe in the cool, earthy air and enjoy this part of the world. While you’re down here, book a late afternoon, fully guided tour at Lake Cave. Descend through the sunken forest into this mesmerising crystal cave with a reflective underground lake.
For the full country experience, finish the day with dinner at the Karridale Tavern. It’s the classic watering hole for this old timber town, where the outdoor tables are made from huge jarrah stumps, and the fish burger is a local special.
If this trip is all about adults-only indulgence, while you’re in the southern end of the region, you have to spend the night at Jarrah Grove Forest Retreat. Spring is one of the most magical times to book a stay here, when the 86 acres of private native jarrah forest seems to change almost daily. Step straight from your chalet onto their private bush tracks and spend hours wandering through the forest, discovering more than 160 species of native wildflowers, including an incredible variety of orchids.
Start your last day on an absolute high with a Scenic Helicopters flight. By now, you would have realised just how big the Margaret River Region is, and what better way to enjoy breathtaking views of the region’s beachs, forests and vineyards than with a helicopter ride. A 10 or 20 minute coastal flight will give you a taste of adventure. Opt for 30 minutes and you might have time to find a pod of migrating whales too.
Once you’re back on the ground (and your heart rate has calmed down), visit the family-owned and operated wineries on the Southern Backroads Trail. There’s Brown Hill Estate in Rosa Brook or Si Vintners and Firetail Wines in Rose Glen. Both areas are full of quaint farm cottages and rolling green pastures just waiting to reveal rare wildflowers. In their cellar doors, you’ll learn about harvesting processes and minimal intervention winemaking.
On your way back, don’t forget to stop in at Witchcliffe, a quaint little town filled with quirky stores and more excellent cellar doors.
Housed inside the charming, heritage-listed Witch and Windmill building is the Amato Vino Cellar Door, Dear Darnell’s (a contemporary bar and bistro with a seriously epic interior), a coffee shop, an apothecary and more. Further along the main street is McHenry Hohnen and Vintners Wine Bar. The Mediterranean-inspired menu, 300-bottle wine bar and experienced cellar door team offer multiple ways to experience the space.
End the day at Surfer’s Point in Margaret River. Sprawled out on the grass with a picnic blanket and watching the sunset – it’s the perfect place to sit, reflect, and appreciate. Life is good.
