Southwest Edge

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Spend 7 days on this epic and unique road trip experiences along the edge of the South West. This drive will take you on an adventure through popular wine regions and karri forests as well as along the iconic picturesque south coast to Esperance.

Travel

7 days


Route

Perth to Perth

km


Best Time of the Year

All year round

Highlights

  • Margaret River
  • Pemberton
  • Albany
  • Cape le Grand National Park
  • Wave Rock

The Journey

Days

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Tourism Australia

Day 1
Perth to Bunbury

Distance 172km - Driving Time About 2 hours

Make a stop at Gnomesville in the Ferguson Valley and witness the thousands of brightly coloured gnomes. Next, get up close with dolphins at the Bunbury Discovery Centre. Choose between diving right in with a dolphin swim tour, or jump onto a dolphin cruise to experience the friendly nature of these beautiful wild creatures.

Where to stay: Bunbury Foreshore

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Day 2
Bunbury to Margaret River

Distance 99km - Driving Time About 1 hour 30 minutes

Begin day 2 with the iconic Busselton Jetty. With your option to dive, walk or visit the underwater observatory – this destination caters to everyone. Exploring Margaret River, visit vineyards, caves, timber forests, and country roads to private pristine beaches, and world-renowned surf destinations. Unwind for the day and spend the afternoon at Augusta watching whales migrating along the 'humpback highway.'

Add a Koomal Dreaming experience to your itinerary. Wadandi cultural custodian, Josh Whiteland will provide you with the opportunity to taste native foods, discover bush medicine and share stories of Dreaming spirits that are linked to this traditional area.

Where to stay: Fair Harvest Permaculture Campground

Tourism Australia

Day 3
Margaret River to Albany

Distance 387km - Driving Time About 5 hours

Begin your journey to Albany by starting with a lazy drive through the ancient towns and produce rich towns of Nannup and Pemberton. Next, continue to the incomparable scenery surrounding Walpole and Denmark en route to the next stop. Along the way, call into Elephant Rocks – a stunning site to break up your day of driving. Greens Pool lies on the edge of William Bay National Park and is famous for its turquoise green waters and pristine white sandy beach. Large boulders surround the pool, protecting it from the Great Southern Ocean – making it a relaxing and calm destination. Before you reach the end of your journey for the day – make a stop at Pemberton's glorious Gloucester and Bicentennial trees, towering 61 and 75 metres above the forest floor.

Where to stay: Albany Happy Days Caravan Park

Tourism Australia

Day 4
Albany to Hopetoun

Distance 382km - Driving Time About 5 hours

Start your day by heading to the Porongurup National park, and climbing the Granite Sky Walk. This is a 670km high suspended walkway that provides an incredible overlooking view to the Porongurup Range. If you are not too keen on heights, instead head to Chester Pass Road for the Stirling Ranges. These ranges are home to Bluff Knoll and are known for their brooding beauty and diverse natural landscape.

Where to stay: Hopetoun Beachside Caravan Park

Tourism Australia

Day 5
Hopetoun to Esperance

Distance 193km - Driving Time About 2 hours 30 minutes

Head out of Hopetoun to your first stop – Fitzgerald River National Park. With both walking and driving trails, this destination is the perfect place to explore Australia's natural environment. Along these trails, you can explore almost 20 percent of Western Australia's plant species. Upon arrival in Esperance – enjoy the panoramic views that the Great Ocean Drive has to offer. 40 km of coastal bliss running along a ribbon of pristine beaches surrounding the town is a view that is hard to beat. At the end of your day head to Cape Le Grand National Park and take in its white sands, otherworldly granite peaks, and crystal-clear waters. If you visit Lucky Bay, you might get the chance to get close to the friendly kangaroos.

Where to stay: Esperance Bay Holiday Park

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Day 6
Esperance to Wave Rock

Distance 382km - Driving Time About 5 hours

Before heading to your next stop – spend the day exploring the Recherche Archipelago to experience Australian and NZ's fur seals, sea eagles, and other wildlife. Travel from Esperance to Hyden whilst taking in the incredible panoramic views of Australia's unreal coastline.

Where to stay: Wave Rock Caravan Park

Tourism Australia

Day 7
Hyden to Perth

Distance 340km - Driving Time About 4 hours 30 minutes

Famous for Wave Rock, Hyden is an exciting place to go to view this cultural landmark. The 3-billion-year-old rock formation shaped like a wave is an exciting site to view, and so is the Aboriginal handprint art in Mulka's Cave. To begin your return trip back to Perth, head along Western Australia's Wheatbelt and experience the quaint country towns.