Australia’s Great South West Edge has a lot to offer any visitor. The Indian and Southern Oceans which surround the coast make the water the perfect host for a wide range of water sports. Partake in snorkelling, swimming, diving and surfing during your trip. The turquoise waters and white beaches are a massive draw and are bound to make you feel peaceful. If water sports aren’t for you, then indulge in a vineyard visit, or purchase fresh fruit and other local produce often available from outside farms. This coastal region is home to 8000 unique species of flora and fauna that can be found nowhere else in the world- what will you discover on your road trip of Australia’s south west?
You should plan to spend 10-14 days (or more!) on this road trip, allowing for more activities if you have the time as there is a lot to take in. We include some highlights below, but you may find your eye often caught by other sights- explore away!
Photo by: gb27photo/Fotolia
From Perth to Bunbury
Head out from Perth on the South Western Highway, or State Route 20 from Armadale. Base yourself in Bunbury for a day or two of exploration. Head inland from Bunbury to Ferguson Valley. You’ll find the home of over 7000 garden gnomes, Gnomesville. A surely strange sight but one you won’t want to miss nonetheless. Why not leave your own?
Continue further inland for Wellington National Park. Witness 17,000 hectares of jarrah, marri and yarri trees. You may glimpse a quenda, quokka or chuditch on your walk around the park.
Venture into Bunbury itself and visit the Dolphin Discovery Centre. Learn more about the bottlenose dolphins that frequent Bunbury waters. Take an eco-cruise lasting 1.5 hours around Koombana Bay or participate in a swim tour with a guide to get up close to these docile creatures when they swim into the bay for food. Discover more of Australia’s aquatic wildlife in the discovery pools and aquarium.
Head out on the Bussell Highway
Continue into Busselton and visit Busselton Jetty and Underwater Observatory. The jetty extends 1.7km from the shore and takes around 25 minutes to walk one-way. A jetty train operates for a fee. The observatory lies 8 metres under the jetty on the ocean floor. 300 different marine species live here around arguably the greatest artificial reef. Learn all there is to know about the sub-tropical corals, fish, invertebrates, and sponges that you can see below the water. For perhaps a once in a lifetime experience, take a seawalk.
Busselton Jetty. Photo by: Abzt/Fotolia
Margaret River Region
Continue from Busselton on Caves Road and into the Margaret River Region. If you want to drive cape to cape, visit Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse before heading south on Caves Road, and then Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, south of Augusta.
You’ll find lots of forest walks and vineyards to explore off this road between the capes. The road runs along Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge and features over 150 caves. Some are open to the public, including Ngigli Cave, Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave, and the largest, Jewel Cave. This cave comprises three caverns, each naturally filled with helictites and stalactites, and extends 42m into the earth. The longest straw stalactite of 580cm can be found here. Tasmanian tiger fossils, pawprints and bones have been found in the caves.
Head off Caves Road to discover beaches; most of the scenery from the road will be trees. Consider staying along Caves Road in one of the many chalets on offer- Wrenwood Chalets or Caves Road Chalets are based at almost either end of the road.
South of Augusta, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is the tallest mainland lighthouse in Australia. During peak season between May and September, you can often spot whales off the shore. Visit for some unhindered views of the ocean.
Ancient Empire and tree top walk. Photo by: Marcella Miriello/Fotolia
Nannup and beyond
From Augusta, travel on Brockman Highway into the old timber town of Nannup. Walk the heritage trail to discover the past of this shire. Visit tulip farms and sample locally produced cheese. Rumour has it a Tasmanian tiger still strolls the area…
Head back south on Vasse Highway towards Pemberton. Turn down Ritter Road and park at Yeagarup Lake to explore the Yeagarup Dunes by foot. These dunes are being blown inland and swallow up forest 4 metres each year. If you’re planning to extensively explore the dunes, be sure to only do so when you can clearly see where you’ve travelled- don’t get lost and don’t take your hire car on the sand! For a safer approach, book a 4 wheeled-tour with Pemberton Discovery Tours. A 4-hour guided tour will take you to hotspots of Warren National Park, D’Entrecasteaux National Park and finally, around the Yeagarup Dunes.
Back on the South Western Highway
Connect from the Vasse Highway back onto the South Western Highway and continue around Shannon National Park towards Walpole and through to east of Nornalup. Out on Valley of the Giants Road, you’ll come to the Ancient Empire and Tree Top Walk. Take a walk through these 400-year-old tingle trees and meet those named Grandma Tingle and Gatekeeper. Wander around them and awe at how wide their bases are. Some of the flora here is believed to date back to the era of the super continent, Godwana.
The South Western Highway ends in Walpole and connects to the South Coast Highway. Travel towards William Bay and take a turn onto William Bay Road. Two car parks are located at the end of this road, one for Elephant Rocks and the other for Greens Pool. These two attractions are connected by a footpath so park at either. Elephant Rocks are aptly named- they look like the backs of elephants rising from the sea as they bathe. Elephant Cove is believed to be an aboriginal birthplace and so has a somewhat mystic feel. Greens Pool is a highly popular attraction as it’s natural conditions make it a great location for swimming and snorkelling. The high rocks protect from wind and the sea stays calm.
Continue towards Albany, the final destination on our road trip of Australia’s south west coast. Spend a day exploring this town. Those who love history should pay a visit to the National Anzac Centre. Learn all about the Anzacs and their involvement in the First World War. Take on the identity of an Anzac character and follow their journey. Spend the night in Albany before setting back towards Perth on the final day of travel.
Elephant Rocks. Photo by: Andreas Edelmann/Fotolia
Hiring a car for your road trip around Australia’s South Western Coast
Zest Car Rental currently works with the suppliers Thrifty and Alamo at Perth Airport. A free additional driver is available with Thrifty so you can share the driving with a companion. Rental periods can last up to 90 days with either supplier so extend your road trip and cover all Western Australia if you wish! Full Collision Damage and Theft Waiver with Excess Reimbursement Insurance is included with all bookings from Perth Airport. All bookings currently operate on a collect full, return full fuel policy.
What will you discover on Australia’s south west coast?
Have you taken this road trip or a similar one of the south west coast before? Are you planning one? Let us know your recommended sights to include in the comments below.
Written by Jessica Juby.
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