As I’ve already mentioned here on the blog , and also in the Before Travelling to Australia post, we spent the second part of our trip to Western Australia exploring the Margaret River region, specifically the Busselton and Dunsborough area.
We stayed for six days in total, and still there was so much we didn’t get to see! (There always is, isn’t there…)
I’ll start by listing the things we did, and end with some suggestions for activities we didn’t get to do, but are definitely worth checking out.
To really explore this area, I highly recommend hiring a car, as taxis are generally expensive and there aren’t many Ubers in this region. You can also check out the Driving in Australia post for tips on hiring a car.
Many activities revolve around food and drink, and rightly so! As well as being a famous wine region, there are loads of craft breweries and great restaurants.
And just a heads-up: there’s a serious fly problem in this region in the Summer, especially towards the end of the day! I saw a lot of people wearing these hats with nets over their faces, and I have to admit, I thought it was a bit much at first … but after a few days I was tempted to get one myself 😅
Explore the local beaches
After two very windy (and chilly!) days in Dunsborough, the warm weather finally arrived and we were able to explore the local beaches.
Meelup Beach was by far our favourite, we loved it so much we even went back for a second visit. We also checked out Eagle Bay and Smiths Beach.
For me, Meelup Beach is the definition of a top beach! The sea is mirror flat, crystal clear and perfect for swimming. Unfortunately, I was recovering from a surgery and couldn’t get fully in the water (boo-hoo 😭), but even without diving it felt amazing to be there.
Photos 1 and 2: Meelup Beach
There were lots of people snorkelling, although I don’t think there’s a huge amount of marine life, just a few small fish here and there.
The beach is very sheltered from the wind, and you can really feel the difference when you step up from the sand into the shade of the trees. It was noticeably cooler there, which was actually quite welcome during the hottest part of the day. There are picnic tables and benches under the trees, and we even saw a few people having barbecues.
The beach is well equipped, with toilet facilities, outdoor showers, and changing rooms where you can have a proper shower.
Just behind the toilets, there’s a small coffee van selling coffee and the wonderful Simmos ice cream.
Photo 3: Simmos ice creams at the end of a beach morning
Photo 4: Café and ice cream van at Meelup Beach
Photo 5: Luckily, this was the only shark warning sign we saw during our stay 😅
It’s a very popular beach, and the car park is not so big, so you may have to wait a little for a space. However, both times we visited, we found a spot fairly quickly and there seems to be a good turnover, so with a bit of patience it’s not too much of a hassle.
This was hands down my favourite beach in the area – don’t miss it! You can check out the exact location of Meelup Beach here, and find out more about Meelup Regional Park.
We went to check out Eagle Bay, but as has been so impressed with Meelup the day before, we decided to return to the same place.
If you have more days to explore the beaches in the area, Eagle Bay is definitely worth including in your itinerary.
You can read more about the beach and its location here.
Photos 6 and 7: Eagle Bay
We went to Smiths Beach on one of the very windy and chilly days of our stay in the Margaret River region, so we didn’t really get a sense of what the beach is like in good conditions. It’s a very popular beach with surfers and big waves lovers. Find out more details about this beach here.
Opposite the beach there were some stunning apartments with huge balconies and sea views, and there was also a hotel right on the beachfront – the Smiths beach resort.
You can find this and other accommodation suggestions in the region in the post: Hotel in Margaret River – Busselton/Dunsborough.
Photos 8 and 9: Smiths Beach
Nocturnal Animals Tour
One of the highlights of our stay in the Margaret River region!
This tour run by South West Eco Discoveries was truly an unforgettable experience and I would highly recommend it – especially if you’re travelling with children.
The guides are two brothers who are extremely knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. They pick you up at an agreed location at the end of the day, which in our case was our accommodation in Geographe Bay.
Photos 10,11, and 12: At the wildlife sanctuary just before nightfall
The tour itself takes place in a sanctuary, which is home to orphaned kangaroos for example. A portion of the ticket price goes directly into the park’s upkeep, such as repairing fences to protect the more vulnerable animals.
We got to feed kangaroos and even saw a baby kangaroo in the pouch! We also saw bandicoots and possums. In fact, Maria Rita’s class mascot is a bandicoot, and she was absolutely thrilled to see one in real life!
The guides also pointed out various insects and creatures that we would never have noticed without their keen eyes.
Photo 13: A bandicoot
Photo 14: A possum
Photo 15: A cute little spider caught in the act of spinning its web
The tour lasts about two hours (or more) and ends with another unforgettable moment: stargazing under the Australian night sky, completely free of light pollution. Living in big cities, we tend to forget just how beautiful the starry sky really is, and this was one of those rare moments when we were able to see it in its pure state (except for the thousands of passing satellites, but let’s ignore that).
Wine Tasting
The Margaret River wine region officially began in 1967 with the establishment of the regions’s first vineyard, Vasse Felix.
Today, the region is well established as one of Australia’s top wine producing areas, particularly known for the following grape varieties:
Here are some suggestions for places where you can enjoy a wine tasting. Most vineyards are open to visitors all year round, and you usually only need to book in advance if you want a guided tour or lunch in the restaurant.
You can read more about our visit to Aravina Estate in the post Where to Eat in Margaret River, where I shared photos of our meal and the lunch options available.
As we were having lunch there, we were entitled to a complimentary wine tasting, otherwise, the cost would have been $10 AUD per person. They give you a list of wines, and you can choose six to taste, although not all of them are included.
I have to admit I wasn’t particularly impressed with the wines, and we didn’t end up taking any bottles home. However, I was pleasantly surprised by one of the Chardonnays – not usually a fan, but I really enjoyed this one!
Although I didn’t find the wines outstanding, I would still recommend a visit. The estate is stunning, with views over the vineyards and a lake at the bottom of a large lawn. There was also live music, and a bar for those who preferred a beer.
Photos 16 and 17: Aravina Estate
Vasse Felix was the first winery to be established in the Margaret River region and is now considered one of the most reputable, with international acclaim.
The tasting room is open daily, with prices range from $10 to $20 AUD, depending on whether you opt for the standard or premium wine selection.
For a more refined experience, head to the award-winning Vasse Felix restaurant, which also offers menus with wine pairings.
Swings and Roundabouts comes highly recommended, and if we’d had more time we’d definitely have paid it a visit.
As well as wine tastings, which cost $25 AUD per person, they also offer specially curated menus to pair with selected wines. You can check out all the options available here.
If you’re just after a lazy afternoon on the estate’s expansive lawn, enjoying their famous wood-fired pizzas, you’ll want to book your table in advance here.
Here you’ll find a list of over 90 wineries across the Margaret River wine region where you can enjoy wine tastings.
Visit a brewery
There are so many local breweries in this region that the hardest part is choosing which one to go to! And it’s worth noting that this is a great day out for the whole family, as many of the breweries have child-friendly facilities like playgrounds, water slides, and sometimes live music.
Expect to spend several hours at each one, especially if you stay for lunch, which I highly recommend!
We ended up visiting Beer Farm, although Cheeky Monkey was also highly recommended. We also happened to visit Shelter, which is right next to Busselton Jetty, you can read more about this visit in the post Visit to Busselton Jetty.
Here are a few more details about each of these places.
I highly recommend a visit to the Beer Farm, it’s absolutely worth it!
During the summer holidays, they set up a water slide for the kids (so don’t forget to pack swimsuits)! There’s also live music, and the food and beer are excellent.
You can read more about our visit to Beer Farm in the post Where to Eat in Margaret River, where I also shared photos of the dishes we tried.
Photos 18, 19, and 20: Beer Farm
This brewery also comes highly recommended, and has a large lawn with a playground where children can play freely.
You can visit Cheeky Monkey Brewing at three different locations, the most child-friendly being on Caves Road. Find out more on their official website.
You can also check out this list which includes 12 great brewery recommendations to visit across the Margaret River region.
Busselton Jetty
For all the details on how to visit Busselton Jetty – one of Western Australia’s top tourist attractions – see my dedicated visit guide here.
Dolphin Discovery Centre
We visited the Dolphin Interaction Zone at the Dolphin Discovery Centre – a section of beach where some of the local famous dolphins regularly come to swim. Unfortunately, according to a volunteer at the centre, the dolphins had just left before we arrived. We hung around the beach for a while but had no luck spotting any that morning! ☹
If you really want to see dolphins, your best bet is to join one of the boat trips – sightings are pretty much guaranteed. Have a look here for more info.
The Dolphin Discovery Centre also has a cafe/restaurant on the beachfront, that serves brunch and lunch.
If you’re also interested in whale watching, their website has useful information about the types of whales you can see at different times of the year and which parts of Western Australia they can be seen in.
Photos 21, 22, and 23: Dolphin Discovery Centre
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
The section between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste stretches 120 km along the coast and forms part of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. This region has a little bit of everything – from caves, limestone cliffs and beaches to forests.
Below are just a few of the park’s highlights, but you can check out this full list for everything there is to explore.
Here you can walk along the boardwalks and marvel at the sheer force of the ocean crashing against the rocks. For the more adventurous, there’s even a bit of hiking. We were lucky enough to spot a stingray gliding close to the shore.
Photos 24, 25, and 26: Canal Rocks
The Aquarium at Yallingup – this small bay is a (somewhat) secret spot known for its excellent snorkelling. It’s between Canal Rocks and Smiths Beach. There’s a small car park at the entrance, and when it’s full you’ll notice cars parked along the main road, which is a good sign you’re in the right place.
From there, it’s about a 1.3 km walk down a dirt track, followed by a short scramble over rocks – so wearing sturdy footwear is recommended. (We didn’t actually make it to “the Aquarium” ourselves as it was freezing on the day we visited Canal Rocks!)
This beach is a must for anyone who wants to see stingrays close to shore – read more here.
We were lucky enough to see several stingrays right on the beach in front of our accommodation at Geographe Bay, so we didn’t end up making the trip further south to Hamelin Bay. Well… lucky for some! Maria Rita didn’t find it funny at all to have these little creatures swimming right next to us. 😂🤣
This was another excursion we didn’t get to do, but I think it’s worth considering if you’re exploring the region. The Capes Foundation manages four caves in the area: Jewel, Lake, Mammoth, and Ngilgi.
The one that seemed the most appealing to me was Mammoth Cave, where you can even see the fossil of a now-extinct giant marsupial embedded in the cave walls.
You can buy your tickets at Get Your Guide.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to do in the Margaret River region, from wine tasting and brewery hopping to spotting stingrays on the beach, and exploring fascinating caves.
If you haven’t read the other posts about Australia, especially our time in Perth, click here:
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