Perth to Margaret River: The Best Stops

You can drive Perth to Margaret River in about three hours down the Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway. But the drive itself is half the holiday — here's how to do it properly.

Mandurah (~1 hour from Perth)

First leg done — stretch your legs on Mandurah's waterfront, where the estuary boardwalks and foreshore cafes make an easy coffee stop. Like Bunbury, Mandurah has its own resident dolphins if you keep an eye on the water.

Harvey (~2 hours)

Swing off the highway into dairy and citrus country. The Harvey district is good for a picnic at Harvey Dam, a photo with the Big Orange, and stocking up on local produce for the road.

Bunbury — the overnight stop (~2.5 hours)

Almost exactly halfway, Bunbury is the natural place to break the trip — and the smart money gives it a night rather than a drive-through. Morning dolphins at Koombana Bay, an afternoon on the beaches or in the galleries, dinner on Victoria Street, and a fresh start into wine country tomorrow. Our weekend itinerary has the full plan, and there's plenty of accommodation from waterfront hotels to caravan parks.

Busselton (~40 minutes on)

No one should drive past the Busselton Jetty — walk or ride the train out 1.8 km over Geographe Bay and drop into the Underwater Observatory at the end.

Dunsborough & Cape Naturaliste (optional detour)

If time allows, detour through Dunsborough to the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse and the postcard beaches of Meelup Regional Park — in whale season (roughly September to December) this is one of the best lookouts in the state.

Margaret River (~3.5–4 hours total driving)

Then it's vineyard country all the way into Margaret River itself — world-class wineries, surf breaks, forests and caves. Start planning with our Margaret River guide.