Its farewell to Margaret River today as we turn our attention inland and make for the historic town of Pemberton. Travel time Nannup-Balingup 45mins as its a VERY winding road and Balingup-Bridgetown approx 30mins. If you are short on time, take Albany Highway and make stops on the way down. To give you a picture; Pemberton is surrounded by national parks and located in the order of 3.75 hours south of Perth, 3 hours from Albany and half way between Margaret River and the Tree top Walk near Walpole. A quintessential stretch of gorgeous white sand and sparkling aquamarine sea, Hamelin Bay Beach has become famous for the stingrays that cruise the shallows here, weaving between excited ankles and feet. Albany Regional Airport (11 kms/7 mi from the city); domestic flights only This was our fave attraction in Freo. Can you drive to Perth from Sydney? Approx. When you see a white pole with an orange life-ring, turn towards the sea and make your way carefully down the slope until you see the sign for the blowholes. The view is every bit the reward. 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. Albany to Perth via Pemberton. This is without doubt one of the most beautiful places on our Perth to Albany road trip (and the competition is fierce). Departs from Perth. . ): 640km Driving time (approx. Total driving distance appx. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and . To be fair, we should have done more research. As suggested earlier, if youre keen to see the Hamelin Bay stingrays, make this your first or second stop today. It covers 1,621 km and 17 hours of driving time. Use an online calendar to create reminders for all the tasks you need to do and invite your guests to the dinner via email or text message. 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. The story of mutiny, murder and island castaway horror is the stuff of fiction but its all too real*. Our plan is just to be in Albany. There are also a network of walking trails around the cape, and you could definitely lose yourself here for a few hours. He insists the panoramic views and sense of achievement were worth it, even as his leg muscles went into meltdown and had him limping for days. As the other must-see on our Torndirrup list, we make a beeline for The Blowholes as the sun is dropping. Top 7 trips from Albany to Perth. Virgin Australia also flies up to three times a day from Perth to Albany Airport. You could also drive to famous Cottesloe Beach for fish and chips. But what fun is a road trip without exploring your surroundings! An extended 6-day tour of Albany, Esperance, Wave Rock and the best WA's South-West has to offer. If you fancy a dip, nows the time. As a birder, Ive also brought my binoculars in the hopes of an end-of-season glimpse of the red-tailed tropic birds that nest on the rock over the summer months (no joy, but thats birding). Check for updates before visiting. We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. Perth to Albany (and back) in 8 days An epic road trip through the best of the South West Travel & Touring | WA Road Trips By: Kirsty Petrides Western Australia's South West is the perfect place for a driving holiday, but with so much to see, it can be overwhelming to decide where to go. Perth Mango Farm February 27, 2023; Everything You Need to Know About Misery Beach February 27, 2023; The Maze at Perth's Outback Splash February 27, 2023; The House of Honey & The Sticky Spoon Cafe February 27, 2023 Day 3: Walpole to Denmark. You'll never be bored again and you'll be the first to know what's on in Perth! All Rights Reserved. With a day or more here, you could explore the town and surrounds in more depth this is said to be a wonderful place for wandering, with lots of trails to explore. There are also public toilets and a play area across the road. Gorgeous Rottnest Island Wadjemup in the Aboriginal Noongar language rises from a cyan-coloured sea just 25 minutes by ferry from Fremantle. It does a loop taking in Freos key spots and is a great way to get around and get a sense of the place. 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. . Make your first stop the epic Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, located between Denmark and Walpole in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.The Tree Top Walk is a suspended walkway that weaves its way through the forest of giant tingle trees, 40 metres above the ground. This is just as awesome as the canopy walk, with ancient ents like the Grandma Tingle keeping vigil, birds zipping about, and native critters ferreting through the undergrowth. Cervantes, gateway to the Pinnacles, is named for an American whaling ship that wrecked offshore in 1844. From Sugarloaf, we make our way to our Margaret River accommodation and after checking in, we wind down with dinner and a drink on the main street (Bussell Highway), which is where many of Margie Rivers bars and eateries cluster. A STRONG contingent of Fremantle riders will take part in a 700km fund-raising cycle from Albany to Perth next month to help West Australians struggling with their mental . Bus route 806 807 808 . Its a two hour drive to Bunbury from Perth and were only stopping here to stretch our legs, but on the chance we might see some dolphins, we park up at the centre and wander down to the beach. We opt for an hour-long wander along the Lighthouse Track, a peaceful loop walk around the headland accompanied by speccy ocean views. I would like to visit the Tree Top Walk, Green Pools etc. 6330.3. There are RAC 50kw DC at various locations but reliability is poor. Its around 45 minutes from Bunbury to Busselton, and we arrive early afternoon. ): 7hr 30min Suggested time: 4-6 days The Hawaiian Ride for Youth has raised more than $30million for mental health support services in WA. After brunch, get back on the road and head to Perth. You could easily spend your entire stay exploring the Margaret River attractions in this corner alone, so if you have more time, wed definitely recommend giving more of it to this area. While our route from Busselton follows a loose trail around the Cape Naturaliste peninsula, theres a bit of criss-crossing and back-tracking as we follow the sun. There are more than 60 beautiful beaches (definitely some of the loveliest beaches in Western Australia that weve seen), snorkelling and diving sites, cycling and walking trails, WWII relics, historic lighthouses and heritage sites and, of course, the islands most famous resident the charming quokka (wed post a pic of the quintessential quokka selfie that just about every visitor to Rottnest posts, except that we found it virtually impossible to take a quokka selfie. There are two routes to get to Albany from Perth; direct along Albany Highway or the longer, more scenic route via Margaret River or Pemberton. Perth is the capital of WA, and its the launchpad for our South Western Australia itinerary. It's a great destination and a logical point from where you make the return drive to Perth. Well be returning here tomorrow to properly explore this area, so this afternoons visit is purely about the sunset. It's roughly 350km which will take a minimum of four hours, without stops. Answer 1 of 31: We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. Torndirrups Blowholes are a bit morewell, subtle. After a quick dip, head to lunch at the nearby Montys Leap, a local vineyard offering stunning views and delicious grazing boards. And a drink. One of the most unique experiences in the South West, the Granite Skywalk! So weve got you covered with this ultimate south west road trip. Table . From Castle Rock, we make our way back to the Albany Highway/State Route 30 and plot a route to Kojonup. PERTH Porongurups Mt Barker Kojonup Pemberton Wilderness Lookout Tree Top Walk The Gap - Natural Bridge Granite Skywalk Walpole Denmark Albany 4 1 3 2 Getting high in nature . While the Albany Wind Farm wasnt originally on our itinerary, we spot a sign en route to the national park and make a spontaneous decision to head down that road instead. Getting to Albany is a breeze via the Williams Supercharger, plus Synergy should have some Kempower DC chargers operating in Albany by June. Dont miss the chance to have a feed at the towns famous Lobster Shack. With more time in this town, you could explore some of the other local sights like the Old Courthouse Art Complex and Busselton Museum. Hamelin Bay was our last stop when we drove this route. We plan overnight. Last updated February 2021 Stop in the quaint Mount Barker for a quick stroll down the main street, to stock up on any supplies you need from the IGA, and to admire some of its heritage architecture. The perilous WA coastline has claimed more than its fair share of vessels over the centuries, and the fascinating relics of some of the oldest wrecks have found their way here, in an epic combo of two of our great loves history and underwater archaeology. Having said that, well fess up and note that even this looping two week Perth to Albany road trip itinerary is ambitious given the distances and the sheer number of highlights involved. Of course, if youre us, theres always one more thing to squeeze in. From Albany it's around a 40-minute drive to Denmark. Save. Our first stop is Mammoth Cave, where a self-guided audio tour takes us on a boardwalk journey through the stunning, stalactite-filled chambers of this ancient place. Our next stop, Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, gives us a chance to get up close with these amazing trees in their upper reaches. Bus route GE4 . The cantilevered walkway here takes you from ground level up to 40 metres and into the canopy of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park tingle forest. The final thing for you to do now is head for your accommodations in Walpole which takes about 70 minutes. Depending on what time you depart Perth today, you could explore a bit more of the town, or head to Cottesloe Beach or back to Fremantle for a final brekkie or lunch. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Tree giants, boulder herds, and an eco-tour without compare are todays highlights on our south west Australia road trip itinerary, as we journey from Pemberton to the chill little artisan town of Denmark. The 1.8 km (1.1 mile) Busselton Jetty is (said to be) the longest timber-piled jetty in the world, and its the focus of our visit. While its effectively an outer suburb of Perth, it feels a world away from the big city. This is a town built on logging because Pemberton is surrounded by giant Karri trees. This | 11 comments on LinkedIn We spend around two hours making this trek. The shorter route takes you from Perth to Albany, then on to Esperance, and returning to Perth via Wave Rock and York. The storm front gathering angst over the sea ahead intensifies the last light of the day, delivering a stellar sunset. Fly from Albany (ALH) to Perth (PER) 6h 13m. Total driving distance: No driving today, just ferries and pedal power!Overnight: Fremantle. And as all Aussies know, its not an Aussie road trip until youve had a pie (or a sausage roll) in a country town. Today we hit the roads south of Margaret River to explore the natural and historic highlights along the coast to Cape Leeuwin, Australias most south-westerly point. Table . A few kilometres before you hit the town, youll pass Boston Brewing, a great place to stop for lunch. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Albany to Perth. THE FAST ROAD TO ALBANY The quickest way to drive to Albany from either Margaret River or Augusta is via Manjimup and then the Muir Highway. *If you want to learn the story of the Batavia, two of my fave reads are Batavia by Aussie journo, Peter FitzSimons, and a fictional account written through the arch villains eyes called The Company, by Arabella Edge. The Gap and Natural Bridge are at the end of The Gap Road. Having recently completed a five-day road trip from Perth to Albany, via Bunbury, Margaret River, Nannup, Manjimup, Pemberton and Denmark, it's remarkable just how much of the time you feel like you have this corner of the country all to yourself. 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. The 100 metre high falls themselves are said to be at their best in the wetter months of winter and spring. . 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. . From Pemberton, it's just over an hour to Walpole, where you'll find even more enormous trees in the . Located about 50km north of Albany on top of Castle Rock in the Porongurups. 2 hours (with lots of stops)Overnight: Margaret River. Perth to Albany via Bunbury and Pemberton. While weve seen plenty of wind farms from a distance on our travels, this is the first time weve had the chance to get right up in the shadow of these vast turbines and its pretty cool. From there it's only 45 minutes to Donnybrook, the apple capital of WA. Here, within view of the sparkling Indian Ocean, thousands of ancient limestone needles sweep across the rise and fall of a sandy desert. Keep an eye out for Boranup Lookout en route. It is 420 km and 5 hours from Albany to Perth. Some trees have been recorded with a circumference of 22+ metres (72+ feet) at the base. Its an impressive sight in and of itself (and you can join a guided tour if youre keen to climb its narrow interior*). 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. If you're heading towards Yallingyup, Augusta, Pemberton the Eaton Superchargers will get you through. If youre here on a weekend, start your day here with something tasty and some souvenir shopping. On arrival, youre randomly assigned a real service woman or man from the past and as you move through the museum, you follow their actual experience of WWI. We break up the journey between Margie River and the Karri Forest Explorer Drive with a coffee stop and wander in the charming village of Nannup. 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. DAY 1 - (Perth - Augusta) Depart Perth at 7 am and head south in air-conditioned comfort. Its a steady, 2 km (1.24 mile) climb to the Skywalk along a bush track through beautiful native forest we find it a solid cardio workout. Meaning that you can get home . Buffering Albany from the wild Southern Ocean is Torndirrup National Park, and there are a number of sites worth seeing here. 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. Day one: Perth to Collie via Jarrahdale, Serpentine and Dwellingup (198 kilometres) Travelling via the South Western Highway, make your way to the heritage-listed town of Jarrahdale, where you can stretch your legs on one of the towns beautiful bushwalks. Total driving distance appx. 4-day Margaret River, Albany, and Valley of the Gian Weve got two caves on todays agenda. Total driving distance appx. Theres a path through the scrubby coastal heath overlooking the farm, and were so close to the nearest turbine that we can practically feel the slow whummp of the enormous rotor blades as they turn. We figured the distances on this trip are already long and the days packed, and we didnt want it turning into the Amazing Race by adding a further ten hour round-trip for a couple of hours on the sand. - See 604 traveller reviews, 159 candid photos, and great deals for Beach House at Bayside at Tripadvisor. Departs: Perth at 7:00 am. Break your fast in Busselton, or make the half-hour trip west to the resort town of Dunsborough for brekkie. For us, at least, thats a whole other future Australian road trip. And that's ok. There are also a couple of lovely wine bars in the area. Back on the South Coast Highway, we set the GPS for the National Anzac Centre in Albany. 2023 The Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc.). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello! Warren Beach Track, Pemberton This four-wheel-drive track is located in Pemberton, about 330 km from Perth. Its about an hour and a half and well make a stop here to stretch legs and use the amenities. But theres plenty happening on and around the jetty itself to keep us busy for a couple of hours. As Australian road trips go, Albany isn't too far from Perth. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. 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