Australia has some very famous tourist attractions that don’t even need to be named to ignite an image of the iconic sights. But it’s a big country and it’s full of hidden gems that are just as breathtaking as the Sydney Opera House or awe-inspiring as Uluru and deserve much more attention than what they get.

Western Australia may be the most mysterious and remote part of the country but when it comes to landscape and scenery it just could be the peak Aussie travel experience you’re after. 

Because Western Australia is so vast, getting to it and then exploring it can be intimidating. No one wants to get lost in the desert when all they wanted to do was see animals in their natural habitat or enjoy a deserted drive that will culminate in a crystal clear blue water oasis.

Basically, the best way to experience Western Australia is by car. I mean who doesn’t like a ROADTRIP!!! Many of our Australian readers are doing the big lap and travelling full time around Australia with their families, but we also have quite a few international readers wanting to visit our beautiful country as a tourist.

No matter what, exploring Australia by car is the best way to explore all the beauty it has to offer. 

While it is a big task to drive the entire state, fortunately, a road trip around the South West of Australia includes most unbelievable pockets of scenery that will truly open your eyes to what nature can do and what Western Australia has to offer. 

We took on the journey and did a lap around South West Australia in 12 days. It was a special trip for us, as it was our last trip as a couple because I was 6 months pregnant with Sem at the time… But this didn’t withhold us from a bit of adventure 😉 

Here is our roadtrip itinerary through Australia’s South West  ↓

Day 1 » Perth → Wave Rock, Hayden ( 336km )  

Australia’s South West is often compared with stunning remote white beaches, but don’t underestimates it’s outback.

After a few days relaxing in Perth, we picked up our Rental Van and drove to Hayden in the morning to check out Wave Rock. 

WAVE ROCK 

Situated just under 4 hours inland from Perth, Wave Rock is a prehistoric rock formation that gets none of the glory of Ayers Rock but is just as mesmerizing. After millions of years of weather erosion, a giant and solid wave shape has formed that can be climbed to get a view of the spectacular surrounding land.

Make sure you also climb to the top as the views are absolutely amazing and there is much more to discover on the top of Wave Rock.

While it won’t be as refreshing as a surf in the ocean, Wave Rock is a unique site, reminding that the earth has been building her own attractions long before humans were around to appreciate them. It’s the perfect place and direction to start the road trip, as this way you’re going to do a loop of South-west Australia and ensure you see it all. 

The 336 km road trip led us through country roads with dry fields and forests. We arrived in the afternoon and stayed at the Wave Rock Campground, which is located at the foot of Wave Rock and surrounded by bushland.

The campsites are nice and spacious and after checking out Wave Rock and climbing it in the afternoon, we chilled out with a wine and dinner at night and got up rise and shine early the next morning to head to our next destination on our South Western Australia Road Trip Itinerary. 

Day 2 » Wave Rock, Hayden → Esperance ( 382 km ) 

The route from Wave Rock to Esperance itself was not really special, but Esperance itself is a different story. 

If it’s a beach you’re after, Esperance is your destination! As one of the most popular destination in the Australian South Western parts, Esperance is where real waves roll into the white shores of West Beach while near by Blue Haven features the calm turquoise that Instagram dreams are made of.

The most beautiful white beaches you will find at Hellfire Bay & Wharton Beach.

If you want to combine pearl white beaches with one of the most brilliant pink lakes in the world, head to Lake Hillier, located on Middle Island around 150k’s from Esperance ( 11k’s from the Cape Arid National Park Coast ) 

You can only visit Lake Hillier by plane or boat, but there are several tours that can bring you to this stunning piece of paradise. 

Watching the fur seals and sea lions frolicking on the offshore Recherche Archipelago Islands is creating memories you will never forget. 

Esperance has many camping facilities and accommodation to ensure your stay doesn’t have to be short and sweet.

DAY 3 » CAPE LE GRAND NATIONAL PARK & LUCKY BAY

By now it’s getting clear just how much magical natural landmarks Australia’s South West has on offer and this national park continues the stunning journey. Only a short drive from Esperance, camping and hiking trails wrap around a granite shore and ancient beaches that have been above sea level for over 200 million years.

While winter offers awesome whale watching, summer is all about floating in the crystal blue water before rolling around in the white sand and wondering why you haven’t ventured here sooner. 

And then there are of course the wild kangaroos wandering around at dawn and dusk on the pearl white beach at Lucky Bay, which we came for in the first place.

Lucky Bay is often visited as part of a day trip from Esperance, but we decided to camp over at the beach at Lucky Bay to have a chance to catch up with the kangaroos first thing in the morning. 

We left Esperance early morning as we got told to be at Lucky Bay Campground as soon as possible as this is a very popular spot. First, we found this amazing spot with stunning views over the ocean, we got our chairs out, and then we got told we couldn’t park there with our van as we needed to go to the ‘van section’ and that particular spot was for caravans… ( at that time we’re travelling in a rental van ) Bummer!

Well… that ‘van section’ was not a nice little hippy kinda camping field but we were just all lined up in a row with no room for a chair next to the van and I was probably sleeping closer to my neighbour than I was to Lion, but never mind… We still had slight ocean views through the front window and we had a spot at Lucky Bay! 

We chilled out the rest of the day and walked along the stunning beach, which wasn’t that white and clean as you see in all the tourism posters… I mean it was white, yes, but covered in loads of seaweeds – which are probably photoshopped out on many websites 😉

We cooked our camping style dinner, watched a movie and called it the day early as we wanted to be rise and shine the next morning to get up before sunrise and meet the kangaroos. 

Waking up early was not a problem as we woke up at 02.00 am… Jetlag… FYI, before this road trip, we came all the way from the Netherlands where we spend the Christmas Holidays with our friends and family.

After our flight from Amsterdam – Dubai – Perth, we had only one night in Perth before heading off on our South West Australia road trip.

And although we felt awake and fresh in Perth and the first 2 days into our South Western Australia road trip… obviously waking up with our eyes wide open at 02.00 at day 3 wasn’t really the plan… 

Anyhow… we couldn’t get back to sleep anymore and decided to watch another movie at 2am, which finished at 04.00 am, just in time for sunrise. We were at the beach at 04.30 am and had the whole beach for ourselves. We witnessed an amazing sunrise and the first kangaroos popping out of the bushlands – the joys of an early riser! ☕️

We had a few amazing interactions with the kangaroos and one roo was very interested in the baby I was having in my pouch 🙂 – Semmie 

After chilling out with the kangaroos at Lucky Bay, we had brekky and hit the road again to Albany, in our opinion one of the most beautiful parts of Australia’s South West.

Day 4 & 5 » Lucky Bay → Albany ( 542 km ) 

We drove from Lucky Bay to Albany in the morning. A nice and long drive, and the closer we got to Albany, the more beautiful the scenery. 

In regards to nature, Albany is very pretty and has a lot to offer, from crystal clear water in private bays, pearl white sand, rough but pretty nature and lookout points with views as far as you can see. 

Albany has a cosy and small centre with a variation of shops, cafes, restaurants and a few historical buildings. Great to spend a few hours to walk around and discover it all. 

What we liked most was the Albany National Park and its surrounding beaches and areas which can be summed up by their more colourful name of the ‘Rainbow Coast’.

Dotted with tiny towns, the Albany region is a mix of lush forests and creative coastlines with some truly unforgettable added extras.

Like Elephant Cove, for example, a remote bit of beach where you can be fairly certain you’re the only people around. 

There are also many interesting rock formations along the south coast of the Torndirrup Peninsula, carved by the action of waves and weather over many millions of years.

These include The Gap, the Natural Bridge, the Blowholes and Jimmy Newell’s Harbour – all are easy to get to when you’re exploring Torndirrup National Park.

To get to Torndirrup Peninsula from Albany town, you drive all the way around Princess Royal Harbour through the outskirts of town along Frenchmans Bay Road.

Plan on spending at least half a day, preferably a full day out here because there’s so much to see and do, and time flies when you want to see it all!

Mutton Bird Beach is also definitely worth a visit if you love swimming, fishing, diving and surfing. 

Day 6  » Albany → Denmark ( 56 km ) 

The next day it was time to discover another beautiful destination in South West Australia; Denmark. 

Coming back up the coast, this town of just a few thousand people is within the Albany area but yet adds some luscious farmland into the mix. A bit outside of town you will find the most amazing bay’s, blue and turquoise water and pearl white sand. 

One of those amazing beaches is Ocean Beach, which is set between the Wilson Inlet and the Great Southern Ocean. Easily accessed, only a few kilometres outside Denmark along Ocean Beach Road.

As you travel along Ocean Beach Road the Ocean Beach Lookout is signposted to the left, with the main car park shortly thereafter above the Surf Lifesaving Club.

Walking along the beach to the east you will either find a sandbank taking you to the Nullaki peninsula or an open channel from the Wilson Inlet where the dark waters pour into the ocean. It depends on what time of year you visit!

Another must visit in Australia’s South West, and particularly when visiting Denmark, are the Elephant Rocks… We were there early in the morning before more people came in and it was just breathtaking.

The water is crystal clear, and together with the pearl white sand and the massive boulders and rock formations in the ocean it just makes the perfect fairytale picture. 

Denmark itself has a cosy and small town centre with a few restaurants, cafes, shops and there are also a few very nice brewery & wineries  just outside of town. 

We stayed in Denmark with friends for one night before hitting the road again to our next destination on our South West Australian Road Trip.

Day 7 » Denmark → Gloucester np → Augusta (189 + 125 km)

We left Denmark early in the morning to visit The Gloucester NP which is only 3 kilometres via a sealed road from the lovely township of Pemberton.

This is one of the greenest and most nature indulged areas of Australia’s South West. 

Gloucester National Park is home to Western Australia’s most famous karri tree. You can view the karri forest from the ground or from high up in the Gloucester climbing tree.

This massive Karri tree was once a fire lookout tree but can now be climbed by everyone and after mastering the 153 pegs, you will be rewarded with amazing views of the Karri Forest and surroundings.

As I was pregnant with sem at the time, I only got to one peg, just for the feel of it. I must confess that even if I wasn’t pregnant I might not have done the 153 pegs to reach the top of the Gloucester climbing tree as it looked pretty daring. Lion also decided to stay with his feet on the ground, as it was also raining when we’re there and those pegs are quite slippery. 

Day 8 & 9  » Augusta – Margaret River ( 40 km ) 

After a night in Augusta, the most south-westerly point of the Australian mainland, we had a look at the historic lighthouse and had a gorgeous view over the water where the Indian meets the Southern Ocean.

Official tours are on offer for a genuine education of the region, featuring stories of the 19th and 20th Century shipping adventures, while hiking trails allow you to take it all in within your own eyes and time frame. 

At the end of the morning, we drove to Margaret River. Even those who don’t know much about South Western Australia have probably heard of Margaret River and it’s thanks to the wonderful wines hailing from the vast vineyards.

While these are worthy of attention, the Margaret River region is also full of craft breweries, boutique shopping, forests, diverse nature and impressive surf breaks. 

The Lake and Mammoth caves are also amazing experiences, were wandering through prehistoric underground mazes is a new way to see the world.

The centre of Margaret River is cosy and has everything you need… A few amazing interior shops, cafe’s, restaurants, supermarkets and just a nice welcoming vibe. 

We stayed in Margaret River for two nights at the Riverview Tourist Park. A lovely small caravan park in a peaceful area full of rainbow lorikeets who take off with your brekky if you are not watching 😉 

Day 10 » Margaret River – Cape Naturaliste – Freo ( 318 km ) 

After visiting Margaret River it was time to head back to Fremantle, with a few stops along the way.

Cape Naturaliste

From Bunker Bay to Sugarloaf Rock, dolphin and whale watching to Ngilgi Cave tours, Cape Naturaliste lives up to its name with a sensory overload of natural wonders.

Located three hours south of Perth, it’s getting close to being back in the big city but still far enough away to feel completely detached from the chaos of everyday life. 

After a refreshing beach walk and exploring around at Cape Naturaliste in the morning, we continued the last part of our South West Australia Road Trip in the direction of our next stop; Busselton. 

Busselton

The world’s longest wooden jetty is located over a shallow body of water full of stories about the 19th-century shipping trade. Stretching two kilometres out to sea, the Busselton jetty can be both a gorgeous stroll, a history lesson and a place to catch lunch.

Surrounded by Rankin Cod and Snapper, an afternoon fishing session can turn into a fabulous barbecue around the campsite. But if you’re not in the mood to catch any, an underwater observation deck is a fantastic way to watch the sea creatures in their natural habitat. 

If you are travelling with kids around Australia, have a look at the amazing Busselton Foreshore Playground. 

We relaxed a bit at the Busselton promenade and after a late lunch, we continued our road trip to Bunbury. 

BUNBURY 

The second last stop on our South West Australia road trip back to Perth. Bunbury is a calm reintroduction to the more urban world where 3-star hotels and an array of restaurant choices are a fun treat in between making new friends with the Bottlenose Dolphins. 

If you are lucky enough, you can not only watch the dolphins in Bunbury, but you might also be able to swim with them. In the adorable port city of Bunbury, it is actually possible, specifically at Koombana Bay where the friendly animals often swim up to the shore.

We decided not to stay in Bunbury, but instead, spend the last two nights of our South West Australia Roadtrip in Fremantle

Day 12 Fremantle → Perth

We had been to Fremantle before, so we just relaxed at the famous cappuccino strip and walked around town. Read more about things to do in Perth and Fremantle over here

Convinced to do a road trip through Australia’s South West yet? 🙂 

If you are doing the big lap around Australia, find your ( Free ) Campings in South West Australia via the WikiCamps app here

Not so camping savvy? Or want to visit South West Australia with a ( rental ) car and various accommodations? 

We have created this South West Australia Travel Guide for you to make planning and booking your trip easy without scrolling the entire internet looking for the best Australian Travel Deals. 

Cheap Airfares to Perth

If you are not doing the big lap or travelling Australia by car, you might wanna find the best flight to Perth when travelling around South West Australia.

We use www.skyscanner.com for all our flights. It’s one of the most popular flight search engines and it compares hundreds of airline companies and booking websites. A big plus for us is that Sky Scanner can look for flights in the cheapest month, and it will also automatically look for the cheapest dates in that particular month. 

Where to stay in South West Australia

There are many campings around South West Australia. Have a look at the WikiCamp app as mentioned before for your best options. 

Are you looking for something luxurious like a 5 star hotel in Perth or perhaps an apartment to share with family and friends somewhere along the coast? Agoda offers accommodation around South West Australia suitable for any budget or wish list. Check out all hotels in South West Australia

 

Airbnb in South West Australia

Airbnb offers many lovely accommodation options around South West Australia suitable for any budget.

Book via our special link to get a whopping $$$ discount off your first booking with AirBnb, so you can definitely score yourself a bargain.

Have you booked your trip via Airbnb before? Book your next Airbnb accommodation in South West Australia easy and fast right here ↓

 

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Tours around South West Australia

Want to travel around South West Australia without any worries?

Viator offers a wide range of tours and excursions around South West Australia for travellers who’d just like to sit back an relax and see the highlights with a professional guide.

Check out many different tours in South West Australia for the best prices right here ↓

Rental Cars Perth

When you travel around Australia, a car is a must to experience the best places on your own pace. 

Best is to rent a car from and to Perth so you can see all the highlights of South West Australia and when you pickup and deliver your car in Perth, you don’t pay a one way rental fee.

Rentalcars.com compares the best car rental companies for you, so you don’t have to search for hours to get the best car rental deals in Australia. Search now below ↓

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