We would have loved extra hours at just about every place we stopped, but here are some of our suggestions of what you could do instead: Esperance is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Western Australia, if not all of Australia, and pics of its crystal clear water and shimmery-white shores dotted with kangaroos make it tough to rule out of any south western Australia road trip itinerary. Getting to Albany is easy, with direct flights from Perth, the capital of Western Australia, around 420km (260 mi) or a five-hour drive to the north-west. Perth is the capital of WA, and its the launchpad for our South Western Australia itinerary. Well be basing ourselves in the town of Margaret River for the next three days of our south west road trip, and tackling this region in sections, starting today with the area around Cape Naturaliste. Last updated February 2021 From the Valley of the Giants, its around 50 km (31 miles) to our next overnight destination, the cute little town of Denmark. By this stage, you might be inclined to make for Pemberton, check into your accommodation and chill out for the rest of the day. In season, this is apparently a bustling holiday spot and adventure hub for water sports like kite and windsurfing. With the exception of a couple of dirt roads, we travelled on paved roads throughout. We only have a night here, so weve cherry picked some of the regions best highlights as an introduction to the area. The view is every bit the reward. We hope to visit properly one day. There are a ton of places to eat and drink around Freos compact heart, mainly clustered along a stretch of South Terrace known as Cappuccino Strip. Back on the South Coast Highway, we set the GPS for the National Anzac Centre in Albany. Use the Google map on this page to explore Western Australia's road network, towns, cities, national parks and other areas. Across the rocky foreshore to the right is Greens Pool and its every bit as beautiful as weve heard, even under a sky of brewing storm clouds. From Albany, we take the Chester Pass Road to Porongurup, around 30-40 minutes drive. Total driving distance appx. The artist Gaudi said there are no straight lines in nature, making this strikingly linear sea-sculpted channel a real eye-catcher, surrounded as it is by an otherwise rugged and wild coast. This is also the launchpad for the famous Cape to Cape Track, an epic 135 km (84 mile) coastal hike. Published on www.hacendo.com 20 Feb 2023. Distance from Perth 222 KM | Distance from Adelaide 2840 KM. Well be returning here tomorrow to properly explore this area, so this afternoons visit is purely about the sunset. #instafail). Perth to Albany via Pemberton. 6.5 hours of driving. Tip: If youre coming from Walpole, keep your eyes peeled for the lookout on the right as you travel along Hilltop Road its a majestic forest-framed view to the Southern Ocean. Any difference driving clockwise from Perth to Albany and back via Pemberton-Augusta-MR-Dunsborough-Yallingup-Busselton-Mandurah-Fremantle route. Keep an eye out for Boranup Lookout en route. So once youre settled in, head up to the famous Castle Rock Granite Skywalk in Porongurup National Park, where youll enjoy sprawling views over the ranges. After lunch, we follow Caves Road and then the turnoff to Canal Rocks. With just a couple of hours to play with though, were making for the parks most famous spots: The Gap and Natural Bridge and The Blowholes. The straight-line route to Albany is one that I've taken many times over the years, eager to get to the Southern Ocean coast. What companies run services between Pemberton, WA, Australia and Albany, WA, Australia? It is 420 km and 5 hours from Albany to Perth. If you have longer here today, consider hitting up some of the citys highlights, like Kings Park and Botanic Garden, which offers gorgeous views over the CBD, or the Art Gallery of Western Australia, where youll find an outstanding collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks. This is our kind of town a vibrant waterfront precinct, a hub of historic sites to wander around, some excellent eateries and great drinking establishments. . Once you leave Pemberton, you will head south either via the main highway or the village of Northcliffe. This isnt the world famous, camel-trekking Cable Beach of Broome (a mere 2,400 km away in the north of WA), but its pretty damn speccy in its own right, and theres not a soul on it when we stop at the lookout (its a serious hike down to the beach itself). If you don't have much time, you could skip the Margaret River region, and take a more direct route from Perth to Denmark via Bridgetown, Manjimup, Pemberton, and Walpole to Denmark. Answer 11 of 31: We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. Find the top 10 trips from Albany to Perth and plan a trip that works best for you. These are some of the tallest trees in the world and its truly something to be among the giants. Or head to the small carpark north of town and wander up the hill to Yallingup Beach Lookout for a great view over the scene and surf. Depart Albany via Porongurup National Park along Chester Pass Road. A post shared by Donnybrook, Western Australia (@donnybrookwa), RAC members save on accommodation in WA's South West. Then hit the road to Busselton enjoy the waterfront along Geographe Bay Road, walk down the famous jetty and have lunch at The Goose, a chilled-out waterside restaurant dishing up amazing local produce. I agree the detour to Balingup is well worth doing and the road between Nannup and Balingup is among the nicest drives in the state. We recommend eight days for this road trip, but if youve time on your side, you could linger a little longer in some of the towns and really scratch beneath the surface. Its about an hour and a half and well make a stop here to stretch legs and use the amenities. From Pemberton, we head south to State Route 10, then take Windy Harbour Road further south until we reach DEntrecasteneaux Drive. The thing about planning a road trip in Australia is that distances can be as epic as the nature itself, so its vital to take a pragmatic approach to just how much you can see and do with the time you have (fun fact: the state of Western Australia is ten times the size of the UK!). Here, within view of the sparkling Indian Ocean, thousands of ancient limestone needles sweep across the rise and fall of a sandy desert. Then make it your civic duty as Western Australian to have lunch at the Truffle and Wine Co with Manjimup being responsible for almost 70 per cent of Australias truffles, its an absolute must-do for any self-respecting WA foodie. SW3 - Perth to Pemberton via Collie and Bridgetown (with train option) GS3 - Perth to Albany via Pemberton. See the Margaret River to Denmark . We will be there for 6 nights and use it as a base, before coming back to Perth for 4 nights. 6:00 pm. Or more if, like us, you sign up for a Margaret River wine tour. A little further up the road is stunning Meelup Beach. from $254. The standout of the museum is a huge, resurrected section of the shipwrecked Batavia, a Dutch East Indies ship that hit the reef and sank off the WA coast in 1629. The shoulder periods between March May (Aussie Autumn) and September November (Aussie Spring) are said by many to be the nicest times of year, though chilling out by a fire with a Margaret River cab sav in winter has definite appeal for us. Day 4: Denmark to West Cape Howe. Albany to Emu Point and Lower King. 4. - See 604 traveller reviews, 159 candid photos, and great deals for Beach House at Bayside at Tripadvisor. The reality is, Esperance is a further five hours along the coast from Albany. We usually stop at Denmark for brekky or morning tea depending what time we leave Albany. The Porongurups are renowned for producing exceptional cool-climate wines, notably riesling and pinot noir, with excellent ones being produced at Castle Rock Estate and Dukes Vineyard. So we manage to squeeze in a late morning wine tasting at Forest Hill Winery on our return from Elephant Cove and Greens Pool. Unsurprisingly, there are also lots of cafs here but the name also reflects Freos Italian heritage, which is still very much alive. We settle in to refuel with a paddle of local brews and a ploughmans platter. There are fifty-odd Pemberton wineries, and while there are far fewer cellar doors, its absolutely worth taking time out to visit at least one to sample the cooler climate wares. Its farewell to Margaret River today as we turn our attention inland and make for the historic town of Pemberton. We plan overnight. Any difference driving clockwise from Perth to Albany and back via Pemberton-Augusta-MR-Dunsborough-Yallingup-Busselton-Mandurah-Fremantle route. We plan overnight. We chose the company we did in part because they aim to visit some of the smaller wineries we might not have otherwise discovered on our own. (1.5 hours' drive south-east of Pemberton) and . The story of mutiny, murder and island castaway horror is the stuff of fiction but its all too real*. The Margaret River and Leeuwin-Naturaliste coast packs a huge punch in the nature stakes, and there are a ton of places to visit in Margaret River besides its world renowned wineries (though wine tasting is most definitely on our agenda). If you've got more time, or if you prefer beaches to mountains, then from Perth to Albany you can road trip via Margaret River. This is old growth karri forest at its best with great bird and wildlife spotting to be had. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Albany to Perth. Convenience Buttons: Time Remaining 14 days Aquaculture Systems Lead Salary: Level 6, $107,096 - $118,028 pa, Public Sector CSA Agreement 2022 Location: Perth Metropolitan Area Pillar/directorate: Primary Industries Development Branch: Aquaculture Research and Development Tenure: Permanent - Full Time . Total driving distance: Driving is optional today but if you do drive, the trips are shortOvernight: Fremantle. A bright white beacon on the headland, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse rises above the dense coastal heath, serving up sweeping ocean views and lighting the way along this dangerous coast, just as it has for nearly 120 years. Answer 1 of 22: Friends, Family and I will be in WA in late Nov into D Jump back onto South Coast Highway and head west to your next destination - Denmark. Around 10 minutes north of Canal Rocks is famous Yallingup Beach, a stunning stretch of white sand and a great spot for swimming, snorkelling and surfing. ): 640km Driving time (approx. Thought to have been formed by sea shell deposits, the pinnacles are more than 25,000 years old. This trip is suitable for two-wheel drives. From here, the Coastal Survivors Walk and the Pupalong Loop Walk wind away, serving up some spectacular cliff-edge panoramas and views over the Southern Ocean. There are a range of exhibitions and tours at the prison, including a creepy torchlight night tour, and a tour into the bowels of the prison to explore the tunnels hacked out of the rock by convicts. Its quite a long (albeit lovely) hike from the carpark down a pathway to the rocky cliffs, where huge boulders cluster in frozen tumbles to the sea. If risking your life climbing a big tree doesnt take your fancy (sensible), we still recommend visiting Warren National Park for a wander on its trails instead. Its an immersive, moving and eye-opening journey through this tragic chapter of history. 2.5-3 hours (with lots of breaks)Overnight: Margaret River. Pls help me decide! Theres a museum and tearooms here, and guided tours including a climb up the 59 steps of the lighthouse to its balcony. Her heartwood has been completely hollowed out by fire over the decades, but this extraordinary, 400-year-old queen of trees is still very much alive. When putting together this south west Australian road trip planner, we plotted to visit the sites below roughly in the order they appeared on the map heading south from Margaret River. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this. One of the most unique experiences in the South West, the Granite Skywalk! Make use of technology. And a drink. Heading further south to Cape Leeuwin, we make a brief stop in Augusta, Australias most south-westerly town. Early morning is also perfect for exploring a bit more of the park on foot the Desert View Trail is an easy, 1.5 km (0.9 mile) return walk. Perth to Albany Road Trip: A Two Week Itinerary for Spectacular South West Australia, For a round-up of the absolute must-sees in this corner of the country, check out our post , bucket list of 100 ultimate road trips around the world. From Nannup, we join the Karri Forest Explorer Drive roughly 52 km (32 miles) south-east on the Vasse Highway. This unpaved (but 2WD-suitable) route loops off Caves Road around 3 km (1.8 miles) south of Lake Cave and rejoins Caves Road just south of Boranup Forest Maze. The World Heritage Fremantle Prison dates back to the mid 19th-century and has all the grim feels of a place that soaked up 140-odd years of angst, rage and sadness in its limestone walls. Perth to Esperance Via Albany. ): 7hr 30min Suggested time: 4-6 days If the extra drive north or desert flies dont appeal, then we suggest taking this day and adding it to any other part of our Perth to Albany road trip where youd like to spend more time. If time is on your side today, you can also opt to leave Caves Road for a bit and immerse more fully in the forest along the 14 km (9 mile) Boranup Drive. Then we turn right and follow it to the end, where theres a small carpark. We will be there for 6 nights and use it as a base, before coming back to Perth for 4 nights. After overnighting in Cervantes, we recommend heading back to the Pinnacles Desert for sunrise to watch as this magical place erupts from an otherworldly expanse of shadowy sentinels into the light of day. We travelled in March and experienced a mix of overcast and beautiful sunny days with temps in the low 20s (low 70s F) punctuated by some brief, torrential storms. Busselton. At just over 415km, from Perth to Albany, it takes just four and a half hours, and . Perth to Albany is 421 kilometres. Sydney to Melbourne Travel options. We plot a cycle loop around the island that takes in some of the natural and heritage highlights, including the crystal clear waters of Little Salmon Bay, the dramatic coastline of West End, the frolicking New Zealand fur seals of Cathedral Rocks, Wadjemup Lighthouse, and the pink salt lakes. If youre travelling during a full moon, aim to be here before the moon starts its ascent above the horizon. Returns: Perth at appx. 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