Next is a tight climb up a six metre, enclosed metal ladder to the Skywalk, a narrow suspended platform crowning the peak of Castle Rock. John, for his tree-climbing pains, gets to do a full tasting session, after which we retreat to the outdoor patio to enjoy some snacks and a glass of pinot noir overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of the estate. 2 hoursOvernight: Perth. Total driving distance appx. Any difference driving clockwise from Perth to Albany and back via Pemberton-Augusta-MR-Dunsborough-Yallingup-Busselton-Mandurah-Fremantle route. Members save up to 30% on Apollo campervan hire, 10% off admission to National ANZAC Centre. 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. 2 hours (with lots of stops)Overnight: Pemberton. From the carpark at the top of the hill, you have the option to head right to Greens Pool, or left to Elephant Cove. If Esperance is a non-negotiable though, swap out some earlier days/stops or add a couple more days to this itinerary. 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 Getting to Albany is a breeze via the Williams Supercharger, plus Synergy should have some Kempower DC chargers operating in Albany by June. Enjoy a slow start to the morning before commencing the final leg of your road-trip. As with just about every stop on our south western Australia itinerary, you could spend days exploring this park alone Torndirrup has a ton of trails, lookouts and some exquisite beaches. From there it's only 45 minutes to Donnybrook, the apple capital of WA. We plan overnight. A rugged coastline, picturesque beaches and an incredibly diverse national park are just the beginning. If youre travelling during a full moon, aim to be here before the moon starts its ascent above the horizon. Answer 1 of 31: We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. . We ultimately werent in Bunbury long enough to make a qualified judgment about this bustling port city. We turned up for sunset so we didnt get to mingle with the rays. As the other must-see on our Torndirrup list, we make a beeline for The Blowholes as the sun is dropping. Bus operators Transwa Want to know more about travelling around Australia Its perched right on the cusp of West Cape Howe National Park, which is also worth popping in to if you have time on your side Shelley Beach and its synonymous lookout are stunning places to stop. Should be buzzy and close to dining options and coastal feel. 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. 255 km (160 miles)Total driving time appx. Keep an eye on the weather before you go, and take a warm top no matter when you visit the coastal cliffs and lookouts along the south those Antarctic winds can bite. Were definitely putting Denmark on our list for a longer future visit. Theyre so understated, in fact, that we overshot the path and almost missed them. Once you leave Pemberton, you will head south either via the main highway or the village of Northcliffe. After a long drive, theres no better way to stretch the legs than with an afternoon climb. Depending on the weather, you can either visit the next couple of sites as they roll out along the coast, or do a bit of backtracking in order to be at Sugarloaf Rock for sunset, which is our plan of attack. . Last updated February 2021 For us, at least, thats a whole other future Australian road trip. For us, resistance is futile. view full itinerary. If youre dropping off a hire car though, be sure to factor in traffic and leave plenty of time to check in. Fortified by a plate of tasty tacos and a paddle of local craft beer, were ready to call it a night as weve got a huge day of exploring tomorrow. Then were chased off the rocks and all the way back to Denmark by a solid wall of rain. From Esperance. Travel time Nannup-Balingup 45mins as its a VERY winding road and Balingup-Bridgetown approx 30mins. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Perth Airport to Albany. And if youve done some swimming and snorkelling at Cosy Corner, youll have worked up an appetite for their freshly cooked woodfired pizzas - so grab a table on the grass and enjoy. Despite having our sensible planner hats on, we found it almost impossible to pick and choose what to include on our itinerary. Day 5: West Cape Howe to Two Peoples Bay (Albany) Day 6: Two Peoples Bay to Fitzgerald River National Park. See full website for details. Theres actually a festival going on at Esplanade Park the weekend were there and its a hive of activity in addition to all the usual things to do in Fremantle, be sure to check out whats on while youre in town. Its a straight three hour drive from Kojonup to Fremantle along State Route 30, so settle in for the drive past farms and bushland. The gorgeous scenery of aquamarine waterways, sightings of eagles, rays and dolphins, and the hike to a pristine, secluded beach were practically a bonus. Heading further south to Cape Leeuwin, we make a brief stop in Augusta, Australias most south-westerly town. Our plan is just to be in Albany. But Perth is a smorgasbord of international dining and drinking options here are some ideas on where to spend your evening. Australian Train Travel. 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. Theres no shortage of places to pick up a bite to eat in the villages dotting the peninsula, but were keen to visit the beautifully-sited Eagle Bay Brewing Co for lunch. While its effectively an outer suburb of Perth, it feels a world away from the big city. Journey Planner. Once youre done exploring, jump back in the car for the home stretch to Perth, with (hopefully) full bellies, full hearts and full bags of amazing WA produce. Seeing the artefacts of the fateful voyage set out around a massive section of raised and carefully restored stern, brings it all back to gruesome reality. Top 9 trips from Albany to Perth. 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. This trip is suitable for two-wheel drives. You can pick some of the fresh produce at Spring Valley Orchard, and if travelling with kids visit the Apple Fun Park, Australias largest free entry playground. We visited a local olive oil company, followed by a couple of vineyards, including Thompson Estate and Jarvis Estate, before winding up the day at Margies famous just-out-of-town brewery, Margaret River Brewhouse. 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. From Castle Rock, we make our way back to the Albany Highway/State Route 30 and plot a route to Kojonup. 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. Travel time Nannup-Balingup 45mins as its a VERY winding road and Balingup-Bridgetown approx 30mins. Garys family history in this area goes back generations, and his passion for the nature and wildlife of the delicate Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is absolutely contagious. But a quick online search of things to do throws up plenty of options to fill a day or more here. 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. Perth to Esperance Via Albany. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. 2023 The Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc.). The highway stretches just over 400 kilometres, which you can drive in 4 or 5 hours if you do not intend to stop for a rest. Make use of technology. Western Australia (Australia) Distance Chart (Distance Table): For your quick reference, below is a Distance Chart or Distance Table of distances between some of the major cities in Western Australia (Australia). 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. The coastal drive from Perth to Margaret River via the Pemberton tree tops has been voted Western Australia's most popular road trip route. From Pemberton, it's just over an hour to Walpole, where you'll find even more enormous trees in the . If you're planning a road trip to Perth, you can research locations to stop along the way. Perth to Albany. 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. As luck would have it, theres a small pod of five or six dolphins chasing each other back and forth along the shoreline. 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. Perth to Albany via Margaret River . Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. After a coffee under the vines at the Blackwood Caf, we have time for a short wander of the main street to check out its heritage buildings. From Perth; take the Forrest Hwy, travel to Bunbury and then via the South West Hwy to Vasse Hwy ~343km south. From beautiful beaches and hiking trails to sandalwood shopping and shipwreck diving. Walk through town, go for a swim at Gnarabup Beach and get a coffee from the laid-back White Elephant Beach Caf. Two hours from Perth, Williams is a great spot for a break on the . We also stop for a cooling arvo beer at Pinks Beach Club, before rolling back into town in time for our return ferry. Day 2: Dunsborough to Walpole via Margaret River. We only have a night here, so weve cherry picked some of the regions best highlights as an introduction to the area. 5. I would like to visit the Tree Top Walk, Green Pools etc. After the tour, we hitch a ride back to shore aboard the little red train that runs on tracks the length of the jetty. But what fun is a road trip without exploring your surroundings! *Terms and conditions apply. You may have spent so much time enjoying the South Coast of Western Australia you don't have much time to enjoy an Albany to Perth Road trip. This is no small commitment its a 60 km (37 mile) drive each way but the temptation of a sunset over dramatic coastline gets us every time! Since mid-February 2022, travel to and around Australia is possible again woot! Here, within view of the sparkling Indian Ocean, thousands of ancient limestone needles sweep across the rise and fall of a sandy desert. Back in Perth, the citys highlights await, so if you missed Kings Park, the Art Gallery of Western Australia or the Perth Mint at the start of the trip, nows the time. The first leg our your road trip isn't too long roughly four and half hours depending on how many breaks you take. The view is every bit the reward. As you approach Walpole, take a quick stop and swing by Walpole-Nornalup National Park and enjoy the Valley of Giants Treetop Walk. Our two week south west Australian road trip planner starts and finishes in the city of Perth, capital of the vast state of Western Australia. Total driving distance: Someone else is doing the driving today!Overnight: Margaret River. The Gloucester Tree, in Gloucester National Park, offers a 53 metre high adrenaline rush. Overlooking an expansive panorama of fields and forest, this huge brewery, restaurant and beer garden is a brilliant spot to break up the touring. At the end of Leeuwin Road out of Augusta is Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia. DAY 1 - (Perth - Augusta) Depart Perth at 7 am and head south in air-conditioned comfort. 4. You'll find listed Perth Events, shows, free events in Perth, local community events, fairs, farmers markets, City of Perth events, even events at your local library. Mammoth Cave is renowned for the extraordinary fossils found here, including the 50,000-year-old jawbone of an extinct giant wombat-like species still embedded in the wall! Route Timetable SW2 Coach line East Perth to Pemberton via Bunbury and Donnybrook There are three services to Pemberton, one travelling a more direct route, one travelling down the coast and one that loops inland, hitting Collie and Boyup Brook. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and . 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. 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. We opt for Hidden River Estate just north of Pemberton and around 15 minutes from the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree. Feb 25, 2023, 7:05 PM. Albany to Perth Route via Denmark, Walpole, Pemberton, Augusta, Margaret River, Busselton, Bunbury Direction Map Travel Time LatLong Flight D Flight T HowFar Route TripCost CO2 Emission 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. 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. The drive from Margaret River to Nannup is around 45-50 minutes. You'll find listed Perth Events, shows, free events in Perth, local community events, fairs, farmers markets, City of Perth events, even events at your local library. Perth to Pemberton via South Western Highway. Break your fast in Busselton, or make the half-hour trip west to the resort town of Dunsborough for brekkie. 275 km (170 miles)Total driving time appx. A beautiful spot to end the day. Table . Weve pre-booked the first ferry out from B Shed in Fremantle and the last one back, to max our time on the island.