The Margaret River region juts out from the south-west coast of Australia, into the waters where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Mother Nature was in very fine form the day she put this place together.
The Margaret River Region, or Margs as locals like to call it, is a place of abundance. It’s a playground, a place of stunning beaches and over 50 world-class surf spots. It’s a pantry, a place that wherever you go, something delicious is being put before you. It’s a garden, where ancient Karri forests give way to coastal heath carpeted with thousands of species of orchids and wildflowers.
The Margaret River region runs down the Western Australian coastline for over 80 miles and stretches inland for a further 20, and the best way to explore this remote region is by car.
Bunbury
A good place to break the three and a half hour drive down from Perth is in Bunbury, whose fabulous beaches, lighthouse and laidback lifestyle are just a taster for what lies ahead.
Busselton
A further 40 minutes down the highway is Busselton, the gateway to the Margaret River Region. Busselton’s jewel is her wooden jetty, the longest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
First constructed in 1865, the jetty has endured fires and cyclones, and is today one of Australia’s most unique dive sites.
The Underwater Observatory at the wooden jetty
At the jetty’s far end, take the 26-foot descent to The Underwater Observatory and experience the aquatic life that thrives amid the jetty’s pylons.
Mammoth Cave
Busselton marks the beginning of one of Australia’s most scenic drives, Caves Road, which gets its name from the incredible limestone caves which honeycomb the region.
One of the most accessible is Mammoth Cave. Descending through lush forest, leave the sound of birdlife behind and enter a silent subterranean world below…
Margaret River
Caves Road winds inland through picturesque villages and historic timber towns before arriving at the region’s main settlement, Margaret River.
Even though Caves Road is only 69 miles in length, it could take days to fully explore end to end. Each village, each farm gate, invites you to slow down, stop, and taste all this region has to offer.
There are beers brewed with pure rainwater, ice creams and cheeses courtesy of the most contented cows you’re ever likely to see, and olive oils and preserves crafted with passion and love. But it all comes together, the climate, the soils, the people, in the wines.
Leeuwin Estate or Thompson Estate
Surrounded by coasts on three sides, and enjoying virtually rain-free summers, as a wine-growing region, Margaret River has been compared to France’s famous Bordeaux region.
Margaret River’s first vineyards were planted in the mid-1960s, just yesterday in wine growing terms, but today, it’s home to over 200 wineries.
Vasse Felix
Cruise from cellar door to the cellar door, sampling some of the most exciting Chardonnays, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignons on the planet. And at wineries like Vasse Felix, the region’s first winery, enjoy some of Australia’s most innovative and picturesque dining along the way!
All along Caves Road are turnoffs to the coast, side roads to places that for decades were only known by local fishermen and surfers.
Cape Naturaliste
At Margaret River’s northern end is Cape Naturaliste, a headland surrounded by secluded spots, like Bunker Bay, Eagle Bay, and Meelup Beach.
The Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
The Cape Naturaliste lighthouse looks out over Geographe Bay to the west, and south towards Cape Leeuwin. Between June and December, the lookout points around the lighthouse make this cape one of the best places to spot whales in Australia.
The Cape to Cape track
Cape Naturaliste marks the start of one of Australia’s most beautiful walking trails, the Cape to Cape track. The track follows beaches and cliff tops, and strings together many places, which still retain their Aboriginal names. Places like Yallingup, which means, place of love, and Boranup, the place of the male dingo.
Hamelin Bay
Then there’s Hamelin Bay, named after the French explorer who sailed along this coast in 1801.
Prevelly
And, Prevelly, named after the monastery in Crete, which gave sanctuary to a local soldier in World War 2.
Naturaliste Charters whale watching cruise
The names of these beaches may vary in origin, but one thing unites them all, their ability to nourish and feed the soul.
A great way to experience the coastline is to get out on the water, on a whale watching cruise. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, today, thousands of whales return each year to mate, calve and simply enjoy the warm waters of Margaret River.
The Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
The Margaret River region’s southern end is marked by the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, where below, the waves of the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Once, teams of lighthouse keepers toiled to keep the light burning. Today, you can climb the same stairs to marvel at the views, and appreciate how the region has blossomed, from one of the wildest and most remote places in Australia, into one of the most welcoming.
Conclusion
Margaret River is one of those rare destinations that’s a feast for all the senses with tastes, touches, sights and sounds you’ll savor, for the rest of your days.