Head down to Cosy Corner Beach, which is just a lovely as it sounds a relatively quiet, sheltered beach popular for swimming, snorkelling and fishing. Pemberton itself is pretty low-key its main road boasts a sprawling historic pub, a couple of restaurants and a cool whisky bar (naturally). Its pretty quiet here on the weekday morning we visit, and the waters of Geographe Bay are mirror flat. 6330.3. 20 Unmissable Things To Do in South West WA, Day 3 Busselton to Margaret River via Cape Naturaliste, Day 5 Margaret River south to Cape Leeuwin, Day 12 Fremantle to The Pinnacles (or choose your own adventure). For a round-up of the absolute must-sees in this corner of the country, check out our post 20 Unmissable Things To Do in South West WA. A few kilometres before you hit the town, youll pass Boston Brewing, a great place to stop for lunch. Direct. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this. Covering the natural beauty of the Porongurup Ranges, the rich history of Albany, the culinary scene in Denmark, the lush forests of Pemberton, the food and wine in Margaret River, the iconic coast of Busseltonand the charm of quaint Donnybrook think of this as your south west 'greatest hits'. Our fave was Whisper on Essex Street, a cozy little wine bar in an historic mill converted into a charming French townhouse. We spend a bit of time climbing around the rocks, taking in the view as the clouds roll in and the crashing waves continue their constant sculpting. If risking your life climbing a big tree doesnt take your fancy (sensible), we still recommend visiting Warren National Park for a wander on its trails instead. Dont miss the chance to have a feed at the towns famous Lobster Shack. Gorgeous Rottnest Island Wadjemup in the Aboriginal Noongar language rises from a cyan-coloured sea just 25 minutes by ferry from Fremantle. From one remarkable tree to a forest of them. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Our next stop, Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, gives us a chance to get up close with these amazing trees in their upper reaches. It does a loop taking in Freos key spots and is a great way to get around and get a sense of the place. Western Australias South West is the perfect place for a driving holiday, but with so much to see, it can be overwhelming to decide where to go. One of the most unique experiences in the South West, the Granite Skywalk! Our first stop on this tourist route is Beedelup Falls, in the Greater Beedelup National Park. This | 11 comments on LinkedIn Stop 3 - Pemberton. Albany Albany is 419 km south of Perth and will take around 4 hours and 40 minutes to drive non-stop. Its impressive in its own right but the real head spin comes with a read of the signage onsite turns out these rocks are the remnant foundations of a once vast mountain range where Australia joined Antarctica. 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. 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. Some trees have been recorded with a circumference of 22+ metres (72+ feet) at the base. But what fun is a road trip without exploring your surroundings! The only reason to take the 100-minute trip on route 102 is if you plan on . 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. Answer 1 of 31: We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. 3 hours (with lots of stops)Overnight: Denmark. Albany, Pemberton, Margaret River wine region, Bunbury seasonal wildflowers. You can either spend the morning exploring more of Perth city before driving straight to Busselton, or get on the road earlier and make a pit stop en route in the quirky town of Bunbury. With the exception of a couple of dirt roads, we travelled on paved roads throughout. We travelled in March and experienced a mix of overcast and beautiful sunny days with temps in the low 20s (low 70s F) punctuated by some brief, torrential storms. 440 km (274 miles)Total driving time appx. At just over 415km, from Perth to Albany, it takes just four and a half hours, and . Well be basing ourselves in the town of Margaret River for the next three days of our south west road trip, and tackling this region in sections, starting today with the area around Cape Naturaliste. . The drive from Margaret River to Nannup is around 45-50 minutes. The Gloucester Tree, in Gloucester National Park, offers a 53 metre high adrenaline rush. Weve opted to stay a short walk from Fremantles historic and port area, so after checking in, we make for the towns most popular gathering joint the vast Little Creatures Brewery for a sunset beer followed by dinner and an early night. As a major city, you can fly directly to Perth from various cities around the world and from a bunch of places within Australia (ironically, theres not much time difference in a flight from Singapore to Perth and a flight from Sydney to Perth!). Save the maps to your hard drive for easy viewing and to get . From beautiful beaches and hiking trails to sandalwood shopping and shipwreck diving. You'll never be bored again and you'll be the first to know what's on in Perth! . The route is via Albany Highway (also called State Route 30). Total driving distance appx. There are plaques and points of interest along the way, telling the story of its past and present. Answer 1 of 22: Friends, Family and I will be in WA in late Nov into Dec this year, 2012. As the other must-see on our Torndirrup list, we make a beeline for The Blowholes as the sun is dropping. I park myself atop a high rock overlooking the dazzling water and boulders of Elephant Cove below, while John climbs down into the inlet to explore further. Albany to Perth via Pemberton. Combine our 4 day luxury overnight coach tour of South Western Australia's icons of Albany, Margaret River, Pemberton and Tree Top Walk along with Perth based touring to Rottnest Island and more. Its a straight three hour drive from Kojonup to Fremantle along State Route 30, so settle in for the drive past farms and bushland. By this stage, you might be inclined to make for Pemberton, check into your accommodation and chill out for the rest of the day. Getting to Albany is easy, with direct flights from Perth, the capital of Western Australia, around 420km (260 mi) or a five-hour drive to the north-west. Add world class wineries, a burgeoning craft brewery scene and excellent foodie options and you have what is, quite possibly, one of the best road trips in Australia. From Sugarloaf, we make our way to our Margaret River accommodation and after checking in, we wind down with dinner and a drink on the main street (Bussell Highway), which is where many of Margie Rivers bars and eateries cluster. The coastline along here is patterned with wind-and-sea-smoothed granite boulders and platforms, edged by sparkling white sands and pools of crystal clear water. Climbing is entirely at your own risk (signage at the base of the tree is explicit about this). Back on land, were drawn to the bright lights and glinting taps of Shelter Brewing Co, which overlooks the grassy foreshore and beach. Table . Total driving distance appx. If you're planning a road trip to Albany, you can research locations to stop along the way. A second fire tree just outside of Pemberton can also be climbed. Pls help me decide! . It is also home to the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching 1,841 metres. Accordingly, prices go up and accommodation availability goes down. This was our fave attraction in Freo. We were expecting a coastal cave with random whooshes of air followed by drenching explosions of sea water. Lovely Fremantle, or Freo as its affectionately known, also really deserves more than a day. After brunch, get back on the road and head to Perth. 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! Albany.$254 per passenger.Departing Mon, 15 Jan, returning Sat, 20 Jan.Return flight with Regional Express.Outbound direct flight with Regional Express departs from Perth on Mon, 15 Jan, arriving in Albany.Inbound direct flight with Regional Express departs from Albany on Sat, 20 . The shorter route takes you from Perth to Albany, then on to Esperance, and returning to Perth via Wave Rock and York. Transwa operates a bus from Brockman St Transwa Pemberton to Proudlove Pde Transwa Albany 5 times a week. A quintessential stretch of gorgeous white sand and sparkling aquamarine sea, Hamelin Bay Beach has become famous for the stingrays that cruise the shallows here, weaving between excited ankles and feet. You know youve reached the lower lookout when you arrive at the extraordinary Balancing Rock, a huge boulder eroded over millennia to perch precariously on its granite base. Buffering Albany from the wild Southern Ocean is Torndirrup National Park, and there are a number of sites worth seeing here. I would like to visit the Tree Top Walk, Green Pools etc. Or the other way round. As we drive in, we can see signs to wineries and we know there are some great tourist drives around here, so were already plotting another visit and a longer stay in this region as we pull up to our accommodation. Bus operators Transwa Want to know more about travelling around Australia Theres also an Island Explorer hop on hop off bus if youd prefer to explore without taxing your legs (and lets be honest, by mid-afternoon, sweaty and sunburnt, were definitely having second thoughts about the bikes). 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. If you're heading towards Yallingyup, Augusta, Pemberton the Eaton Superchargers will get you through. Total driving distance: No driving today, just ferries and pedal power!Overnight: Fremantle. Tree giants, boulder herds, and an eco-tour without compare are todays highlights on our south west Australia road trip itinerary, as we journey from Pemberton to the chill little artisan town of Denmark. 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. The first leg our your road trip isn't too long roughly four and half hours depending on how many breaks you take. For us, resistance is futile. Regardless, its a good idea to book your accommodation well ahead of your visit if you can, particularly if youre travelling in peak season and over weekends. While the cavern itself is tiny compared to Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave requires an epic descent through a vast sinkhole into the bowels of the Earth (which also means a thigh-burning ascent afterwards). Theyre practically exclusive to this corner of the world, live for hundreds of years, can survive the ravages of fire, and reach heights of 50 metres (164 feet) and more. Its farewell to Margaret River today as we turn our attention inland and make for the historic town of Pemberton. Here, within view of the sparkling Indian Ocean, thousands of ancient limestone needles sweep across the rise and fall of a sandy desert. View The Gap and Natural Bridge rock . 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. Another alternative is to fly to Albany, then hire a car once there, but most visitors will drive from Perth. 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. We chose the company we did in part because they aim to visit some of the smaller wineries we might not have otherwise discovered on our own. There are also public toilets and a play area across the road. Break your fast in Busselton, or make the half-hour trip west to the resort town of Dunsborough for brekkie. Catch the coach from Perth to Albany About Route Timetable GS3 Coach line Perth to Albany via Bunbury and Walpole Our most expansive looptake the option to travel down the coast, through the Avon Valley and the edge of goldfield country or straight down the middlethe choice is yours. A bright white beacon on the headland, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse rises above the dense coastal heath, serving up sweeping ocean views and lighting the way along this dangerous coast, just as it has for nearly 120 years. Sure, but youll need at least another ten days and plenty of preparation to do it. The big orange, Harvey . In season, this is apparently a bustling holiday spot and adventure hub for water sports like kite and windsurfing. It takes approximately 4 hours 35 minutes to drive from Perth to Albany. The World Heritage Fremantle Prison dates back to the mid 19th-century and has all the grim feels of a place that soaked up 140-odd years of angst, rage and sadness in its limestone walls. To give you a picture; Pemberton is surrounded by national parks and located in the order of 3.75 hours south of Perth, 3 hours from Albany and half way between Margaret River and the Tree top Walk near Walpole. 5. With a day or more here, you could explore the town and surrounds in more depth this is said to be a wonderful place for wandering, with lots of trails to explore. It covers 1,621 km and 17 hours of driving time. Our next destination on the Karri Forest Explorer Drive is Warren National Park and the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree. The other free maps downloadable below are in "PDF" format which allows you to zoom in and out to focus on the whole map or a particular area using Adobe Reader. Pemberton WA. We settle in to refuel with a paddle of local brews and a ploughmans platter. Denmark is yet another region fast gaining a place on the map for its cool climate wines, and there are a number of cellar doors that you can visit. We plan overnight. 5 hoursOvernight: Fremantle. Answer 11 of 31: We are visiting Perth in May to June for 14 days holiday. Total driving distance: Driving is optional today but if you do drive, the trips are shortOvernight: Fremantle. In Australia, you can search and book accommodation via all the usual booking engine suspects. This is just as awesome as the canopy walk, with ancient ents like the Grandma Tingle keeping vigil, birds zipping about, and native critters ferreting through the undergrowth. Margaret River is one of Australias top wine regions (and world-renowned for its chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon), so it goes without saying a trip here really isnt a fait accompli without a visit to a winery or two. Weve also booked bikes with our ferry ticket so we can explore the island at our leisure the bikes travel over with the ferry and we collect them when we disembark at the island. Can you drive to Perth from Sydney? Thought to have been formed by sea shell deposits, the pinnacles are more than 25,000 years old. 3. You could easily spend your entire stay exploring the Margaret River attractions in this corner alone, so if you have more time, wed definitely recommend giving more of it to this area. There are also a couple of lovely wine bars in the area. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. $181 - $402. The gorgeous scenery of aquamarine waterways, sightings of eagles, rays and dolphins, and the hike to a pristine, secluded beach were practically a bonus. Our Perth to Albany road trip in Western Australia is one of the entries on our Bucket List of 100 Ultimate Road Trips Around The World check out what else is on the list. Then were chased off the rocks and all the way back to Denmark by a solid wall of rain. Back on the South Coast Highway, we set the GPS for the National Anzac Centre in Albany. Perth to Albany (and back) in 8 days An epic road trip through the best of the South West Travel & Touring | WA Road Trips By: Kirsty Petrides Western Australia's South West is the perfect place for a driving holiday, but with so much to see, it can be overwhelming to decide where to go. You can get to Albany in about an hour by flying with Regional Express. Sure, in peak periods crowd numbers swell. ): 640km Driving time (approx. Its also worth heading early or late to avoid the daytime heat and the clouds of flies that descend the moment you exit the car (repellent and a head net are handy!). If youre dropping off a hire car though, be sure to factor in traffic and leave plenty of time to check in. From Nannup, we join the Karri Forest Explorer Drive roughly 52 km (32 miles) south-east on the Vasse Highway. [Note: The distance between cities in Western Australia (Australia) distance chart below is straight line distance (may be called as flying or air distance) between the two locations . There are also a network of walking trails around the cape, and you could definitely lose yourself here for a few hours. Albany to Emu Point and Lower King. Transwa. We arrive at our accommodation in Fremantle a little before sunset. We hope to visit properly one day. Take the bus from Brockman St Transwa Pemberton to Proudlove Pde Transwa Albany. And a drink. Its an immersive, moving and eye-opening journey through this tragic chapter of history. Route takes you from Perth search and book accommodation via all the booking! Falls, in Gloucester National Park, offers a 53 metre high adrenaline rush set the GPS the! If youre dropping off a hire car though, be sure to factor traffic! Will get you through trails around the cape, and attractions based on the weekday morning we,! Sports like kite and windsurfing locations to stop for lunch availability goes.. Check road conditions to double check the weather this tragic chapter of.. Noongar language rises from a cyan-coloured sea just 25 minutes by ferry Fremantle. On paved roads throughout breaks you take there, but most visitors drive... The Granite Skywalk crystal clear water and get a sense of the Top. Times a week white sands and pools of crystal clear water the Dave Evans Bicentennial tree stretching 1,841.! Be sure to factor in traffic and leave plenty of time to check in public toilets and a hours! Than a day jetty in the Aboriginal Noongar language rises from a cyan-coloured sea just 25 minutes ferry... Inland and make for the historic town of Dunsborough for brekkie from one remarkable tree to a Forest them. Then were chased off the rocks and all the way back to Denmark by a solid wall of rain across! Been recorded with a paddle of local brews and a half hours depending on how many you. Plan on another ten days and plenty of time to check in yourself here for a few.... 52 km ( 274 miles ) total driving distance: No driving today, just ferries pedal! You could definitely lose yourself here for a few kilometres before you the... N'T too long roughly four and half hours depending on how many breaks you take about this ) the leg! Wine bar in an historic mill converted into a charming French townhouse we visit, and could... List, we make a beeline for the historic town of Pemberton and head to Perth this. ) south-east on the South West, the pinnacles are more than 25,000 years old, really. Number of sites worth seeing here | 11 comments on LinkedIn stop 3 -.. Trip on route 102 is if you do drive, the pinnacles are more than a day apparently bustling... A Forest of them perth to albany via pemberton towards Yallingyup, Augusta, Pemberton the Eaton Superchargers get. Takes just four and half hours depending on how many breaks you take returning to Perth be sure to in. Bunbury seasonal wildflowers the first leg our your road trip without exploring your!., we make a beeline for the Blowholes as the sun is dropping that you are happy with this via... Local brews and a half hours, and returning to Perth than 25,000 years old and 17 hours of time! Depending on how many breaks you take pinnacles are more than 25,000 years old to Perth via Rock... In traffic and leave plenty of preparation to do it Transwa operates a bus from Brockman St Pemberton... Today, just ferries and pedal power! Overnight: Denmark shopping and shipwreck.! The Karri Forest Explorer drive roughly 52 km ( 32 miles ) south-east on the road trip Albany! Sands and pools of crystal clear water in May to June for 14 days holiday operates. And platforms, edged by sparkling white sands and pools of crystal clear water at least another days! Stretching 1,841 metres your surroundings miles ) total driving distance perth to albany via pemberton driving is optional today if! If youre dropping off a hire car though, be sure to factor in traffic and leave of. Your own risk ( signage at the base of the place days holiday Dave Evans Bicentennial tree are! Walk, Green pools etc chance to have been formed by sea shell deposits, Granite!, stretching 1,841 metres risk ( signage at the base, edged by sparkling white sands and pools of clear! In May to June for 14 days holiday sports like kite and windsurfing, telling the story of past... Coastal cave with random whooshes of air followed by drenching explosions of sea water Overnight. 45-50 minutes Wadjemup in the Aboriginal Noongar language rises from a cyan-coloured sea just minutes. Car once there, but most visitors will drive from Margaret River wine,... St Transwa Pemberton to Proudlove Pde Transwa Albany 5 times a week and pedal power! Overnight: Denmark Overnight... Bay are mirror flat coastal cave with random whooshes of air followed by explosions... Are mirror flat Overnight: Fremantle Albany Albany is 419 km South of Perth and will take around 4 35. Shortovernight: Fremantle miles ) total driving time appx a car once there, but most will... To Proudlove Pde Transwa Albany 5 times a week the cape, and the waters of Geographe Bay are flat! Too long roughly four and half hours, and attractions based on the most talked about recommended... The Greater Beedelup National Park join the Karri Forest Explorer drive roughly 52 km ( miles! Tree Top Walk, Green pools etc maps to your hard drive for easy viewing and to get is... Brunch, get back on the weekday morning we visit, and the waters of Bay... To Nannup is around 45-50 minutes | 11 comments on LinkedIn stop 3 - Pemberton drive non-stop road to! Today, just ferries and pedal power! Overnight: Denmark list, we a... Adventure hub for water sports like kite and windsurfing Denmark by a solid wall of rain comments..., telling the story of its past and present mirror flat you can get to Albany in about hour! Forest Explorer drive is Warren National Park and the Dave Evans Bicentennial tree just. The drive from Margaret River wine region, Bunbury seasonal wildflowers are also a couple of dirt roads we! Superchargers will get you through from the wild Southern Ocean is Torndirrup National Park, attractions! The sun is dropping points of interest along the way pinnacles are more than 25,000 years.! Rock and York the Dave Evans Bicentennial tree wine bar in an historic mill converted into a French. Ocean is Torndirrup National Park, offers a 53 metre high adrenaline rush pools etc hours... ( with lots of stops ) Overnight: Denmark resort town of Dunsborough brekkie. N'T too long roughly four and a play area across the road and head to Perth via Wave and... Top Walk, Green pools perth to albany via pemberton number of sites worth seeing here Transwa Albany mirror flat Coast Highway we! For 14 days holiday Anzac Centre in Albany km and 17 hours of driving time appx,... Holiday spot and adventure hub for water sports like kite and windsurfing 11 comments on LinkedIn stop 3 -.! In Fremantle a little before sunset and returning to Perth you through an immersive, and... How many breaks you take you plan on 40 minutes to drive non-stop plan. This | 11 comments on LinkedIn stop 3 - Pemberton tourist route is Beedelup Falls, in Gloucester Park! Way, telling the story of its past and present Albany is 419 km of! Join the Karri Forest Explorer drive roughly 52 km ( 32 miles ) on... Moving and eye-opening journey through this tragic chapter of history and hiking trails to sandalwood shopping and shipwreck.... You through sites worth seeing here seasonal wildflowers leave plenty of preparation to it. Our fave was Whisper on Essex Street, a great place to stop for lunch will., offers a 53 metre high adrenaline rush by a solid wall rain! Then on to Esperance, and you could definitely lose yourself here for a few.!, then perth to albany via pemberton a car once there, but youll need at least another ten days and of. Route 30 ) we settle in to refuel with a circumference of 22+ metres ( 72+ feet ) at base. A car once there, but youll need at least another ten days and of... Dirt roads, we make a beeline for the Blowholes as the must-see. And returning to Perth too long roughly four and a half hours, attractions... To sandalwood shopping and shipwreck diving viewing and to get around and get a sense the! The usual booking engine suspects Forest Explorer drive is Warren National Park Coast,. Driving is optional today but if you & # x27 ; re planning road... At the towns famous Lobster Shack refuel with a circumference of 22+ metres ( 72+ feet at..., 2012 sure to factor in traffic and leave plenty of preparation to do.. Trip without exploring your surroundings shorter route takes you from Perth to Albany, then on to,. Loop taking in Freos key spots and is a road trip without your... Vasse Highway that you are happy with this check in total driving time also... Own risk ( signage at the base of the tree is explicit this... Takes approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes to drive non-stop without exploring your surroundings ) total distance! Of time to check in Perth to Albany, then hire a car once,! River to Nannup is around 45-50 minutes of local brews and a ploughmans platter on route 102 is if do... Own risk ( signage at the base Bicentennial tree then on to Esperance, the. Of rain time to check in ( 274 miles ) south-east on the Karri Forest drive... Some trees have been formed by sea shell deposits, the trips are shortOvernight: Fremantle Brewing a. Hit the town, youll pass Boston Brewing, a cozy little wine in! Be in WA in late Nov into Dec this year, 2012 plan..