Exploring the Margaret River Region Western Australia

A trip to the Margaret River Region is how I started my Solo Trip. This region had been long on my bucket list for Australia’s South West.

Margaret River is very impressive. It truly is a place full of surprises that unfolds its beauty and richness a little bit at a time. While I was there and started getting around I kept discovering new interesting things to do and see than I could have ever imagined. Initially, my plan was to spend 4 days in the Margaret River Region and 2 more days in the GeographeBay Region.

Soon after my arrival in Margaret River, I realised my plan was too tight and decided to cancel my next stop further south at Walpole and Denmark and preferred spending more time exploring more Margaret River and surroundings. If you want to visit it properly you need at least 5 days but a week is an ideal time to do justice to this magnificent Margaret River Region.

How to get around in the Margaret River Region

To visit the Margaret River region you need to hire a car. There is a bus service  Transwa that takes you from Perth to Margaret River but once you get there you will need to hire a car, otherwise, it will be a bit difficult to explore the region. I had booked my car through our trusted car rental booking site.

I got an excellent offer from Budget Rental Car and paid 280 AUD for 9 days. I have added the GPS navigation system for a discounted price of 50 dollars and spent about 120 dollars for fuel to cover a road trip of 1000 km.

The Margaret River Region is very easy to get around as you will find your way without using the help of a GPS navigation system. So you can use your phone and Google Maps instead of adding the cost of the GPS nav.

Grab a Margaret River Map

The first thing to do when you get there is to grab the fantastic Margaret River Map from the Margaret River Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre is very well serviced with plenty of information. One of the best-serviced visitor’s centre in Western Australia.

At the Margaret River Tourism Office, you can start your visit and find out about what to do and see in the region, about wineries tours, from what’s on, to all activities and events. In addition, they can make all arrangements for your stay in Margaret River from searching to the booking of accommodation, tours, events, entrances to lighthouses, touring the caves and give you guidance for more of South Western Australia too.

Top Things to do in Margaret River Region

My days were fully packed with lots of things to see and tours. On each day I discovered something new about Margaret River and new things to do, so I easily could have spent a whole week and yet I would not have covered it all.

Here a short recap of what I did in 6 days in Margaret River:

• I visited 9 wineries, tested wines and fresh produce with Margaret River Vintage Wine Tours
• I visited a local microbrewery and tested its excellent farm products.
• I went on an MTB bike Tour from one winery to the winery.
• I went canoeing along the Margaret River.
• I walked part of a coastal track in beautiful Cape Naturaliste National Park
• I visited 2 caves  Jewel Cave and Ngilgi Cave with amazing limestone formations
• I saw a giant stingray swimming past my feet at Hamelin Bay, close to Augusta
• I stood in awe at Redgate ‘s beach huge breaking waves
• I watched international surfers hitting the waves at Prevelly Beach
• I watched a Surf Movie under ancient trees at Cape Mentelle
• I visited the tallest Lighthouse on the mainland in Australia at the most south-westerly point where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet.

The list is not complete and I could keep adding things. Thanks to the friendly locals whom I met during my stay I learnt secrets about this precious area and its landmarks, its vegetation, its fertile soil, its aboriginal significance, its thriving local wineries and local produce factories, its amazing natural beauty.

There are no words to explain the greatness of this area, the best way to enjoy the Margaret River Region with its peacefulness, its integrity is to travel down south-west Austalia and experience it yourself.

When is the best time to visit Margaret River

From September to March it is actually the best time to experience Margaret River food and wine. From December to February it can be hot and it will be busy. The ideal time is Springtime from September to November for a few good reasons. First, you can get away with the school holidays, the crowds and the heat. September to October is the time when wildflowers are at its best covering full carpets of coastal heathland to create a stunning contrast with the red rock formations and the green towering forests, so ideal for photos and videos.

Last but not least, you will be lucky to witness spectacular whale watching which is something to add to your list from September to December across the entire Margaret River Region and beyond that to Port Augusta. Moreover, wintertime is the ideal time of the year to hike the Cape to Cape Track. So there are plenty of reasons to plan a trip to Margaret River during the spring months.

Where to stay in the Margaret River Region

Margaret River is not as touristy as you may think. There are no big hotel names or chains. Everything is local and that’s the best part of it. In Margaret River the accommodation types you can find range from fully equipped residences like Darby Park Apartments where I stayed for 4 days. You can find exclusive luxury beach lodges, cabins and bungalows in camping sites to B&B and privately owned accommodation. I also stayed a few days in a wonderful villa surrounded by the forest, I booked with Airbnb.

Some Margaret River wineries and factories offer accommodation too, check it out with the Margaret River Visitor Centre for more details.

I loved staying in a serviced apartment because it made me feel like at home. Moreover, it was the perfect location, only one minute walk from town and all the shops, which is something I really appreciated. Nonetheless, my apartment balcony looked into the forest and the swimming pool, so I could not have asked for more.

Margaret River is a stunning wine and food region that offers a huge variety of things to do and see, which is really hard to beat. From the younger generation to couples, families with kids, to active travellers who love adventure, there is truly something for everyone.

Conclusion about the Margaret River Region

I hope my experience will be helpful to you while getting your trip organized and in the first place will inspire you to travel down south-west Australia.

For more info about the Margaret River Region, check out this post about the Margaret River Wineries

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