The Margaret River Region is a water-lovers playground. Check out these six ways to have your very own aquatic adventure.
The Margaret River Region is an aquatic playground.
Surfing, fishing, diving, boating, paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, jetboating – the list goes on. The options are so endless that just deciding what to do on the water can be a little overwhelming. That said, it’s absolutely worth getting out and experiencing all of the fun our coast and rivers have to offer.
Here are six ways to get wet and wild in the Margaret River Region.
The latest fitness craze to sweep the globe, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) involves standing on a large paddleboard and using a paddle to propel yourself across the water. Variations include paddleboard surfing, paddleboard tours, and even paddleboard yoga, and at the Stand Up Surfing school in Margaret River you can experience them all.
This team of experienced instructors will show you how to ride one of their paddleboards, share their intimate knowledge of the local coastline and river systems on guided tours, and even run you through a yoga class on the water!
It’s excellent fitness, and an awesome way to gain a different perspective on Margaret River’s rugged and intricate coastline.
If you thought all there was to the Busselton Jetty was a long walk above the water on the pier, think again.
As if said walk wasn’t glorious enough alone, the Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory offers a glimpse into the mysterious world under the sea. Eight metres deep beneath the end of the jetty, you can see all the natural wonders of the marine world from the windows of the underwater observatory, with forests of vivid tropical and sub-tropical corals, and up to 300 individual marine species.
Not even wild weather can get in the way – the Virtual Reality tour offers the chance to dive without even getting your hair wet, as you take a 3D vision tour beneath the jetty complete with mermaids and marine life. Experience the magic!
One of the most unique aquatic experiences a water-lover can have in the Margaret River Region, a guided cruise up the magnificent Blackwood River should be essential-touring on any holidaymakers list.
This incredible unspoilt wetland ecosystem is home to an array of wildlife, and maintains a pristine and peaceful atmosphere to be enjoyed with Augusta River Tours. Graeme Challis, Skipper of The Dolphin Discoverer and Augusta local, has grown up along the river and will share his intimate knowledge of its waters with all who grace his deck.
From private discovery tours to sundowners with a barbecue on board, this is one aquatic adventure you can’t miss on your visit to the Margaret River Region.
This is a not a tour for the faint hearted.
Jet Adventures offer the ultimate wilderness cruise on one of their high-powered jet boats. Take a hair-raising joy ride at 90km per hour across Geographe Bay that will have you clinging to the seat in front of you, or witness the stunning Sugarloaf Rock up close on the Cape Naturaliste Wilderness Cruise. Expect to see seals, dolphins, sea lions and birdlife.
These unique and affordable tours offer the chance to see Margaret River’s coastline as you’ve never seen it before, and their affordable thrill rides are family friendly, with all ages welcome.
In Autumn, Margaret River’s waters are at their warmest and, consequently, fish are at their most plentiful. Huge schools of salmon are migrating North, and the beaches are packed with herring, skippy, and tailor. While fishing is a popular pastime for many Margaret River locals and visitors today, it has also sustained a thousand generations of its Aboriginal People.
The Djiljit Coastal Fishing Experience offers a contemporary experience of ancient knowledge and fishing practices, handed down through the generations to Koomal Dreaming Tour guide, Josh Whiteland.
Josh takes his guests out on country and shows them the natural indicators that the salmon have arrived. He’ll take you to some traditional fishing spots to cast a line, share traditional fishing methods and stories, and then, you’ll smoke or barbeque your catch on the beach with a beer in hand. Does it get any better than this?!
The Margaret River Region is famous for its waves, and it’s no secret why. Distant storms from the infamous Roaring Forties wind belt consistently send huge waves to the coast, where local limestone reefs sculpt the incoming swells into rideable waves.
The region is abundant in excellent reef and beach breaks – Surfers Point, Gracetown’s North and South Point, and Yallingup Mainbreak are excellent options for the experienced surfer, but there are also plenty of sheltered nooks and crannies for the beginner to hone their skills.
Surf schools operate at the Yallingup Lagoon, sheltered parts of Smiths Beach, Margaret River mouth, and Bunker Bay, where gentle rolling waves offer you the chance to experience what the region is all about!
