Australia's South West

HMAS Swan, Geographe Bay, WA. Photo credit: Copyright Tourism Western Australia

Australia’s South West

South of Perth, find a region of adventure. Whale and dolphin watching, caving, tree walks and wreck-diving await in Australia’s south-west.

Things to do in Australia’s south-west:

Margaret River
As if to stress the connection between the two, the river and town share the same name. The town, 277km (about 3½ hours drive) south of Perth and 10km from the Indian Ocean, is a good base for exploring. Accommodation is numerous and varied, with caravan parks and five star retreats covering both ends of the budget spectrum.

Caves: There are 150 caves in the area, many navigated by the honestly named Caves Road. The most easily accessible – and some of the most spectacular – are Mammoth, Jewel and Lake Caves. If you’re in the mood for some serious exploration, head to Moondyne Cave, where spelunkers (cave explorers) stand ready in their overalls, gloves and helmets to take you on an adventurous 3hr tour.
Boranup Karri Forest, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park: Contrast your time deep underground with a journey through trees that punch their way skywards. The karri tree is the 3rd tallest in the world, reaching heights of up to 90m.
The scenic drive weaves through the forest, and leads to the Boranup Lookout with its exhilarating views of forest and coast.

Tingle State Forest
A ‘tingle’ is another of Western Australia’s mammoth trees and you’ll see them at their best along the south coast between Walpole and Quarram. The forest is best known for the Valley of the Giants and the jaw dropping Tree Top Walk that rises 40m above ground and stretches for 600m. The gradient is gentle enough to accommodate wheelchairs.

After your trip through the foliage, head back down to the forest floor and check out the Ancient Empire, a group of older trees (over 400yrs) with evocative names such as Grandma Tingle (aka The Gatekeeper).

Gloucester National Park
Only in Australia could you find trees so tall they make decent fire lookouts. Pemberton has three climbable giants. They’re all karri trees and all were used as lookouts. Climb the Gloucester Tree’s pegs to the platform and cabin above and you’ll be a knee-trembling 61m above the ground.

Less famous but still impressive is the 51m high platform of the Diamond Tree.

The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree in neighbouring Warren National Park is tallest of the lot. Stand on its lookout platform and you’ll be 75m up. Gulp.

Whale watching
Augusta’s Flinders Bay is your best bet for humpbacks and southern right whales between June and September.
From September to December you’ll want to be off the coast of Dunsborough and Busselton in Geographe Bay. There you’ll find humpbacks and, if you’re incredibly lucky, blue whales, possibly with calves.

King George Sound, Albany is where humpbacks and southern rights mate and calve and is good from July to October. Albany’s old whaling station was Australia’s last before being decommissioned in 1978. It’s now put to a more whale-friendly use as Whale World, an interactive whale museum.

Dolphins
The Dolphin Discovery Centre at Bunbury gives you access to a pod of around 100 bottlenose dolphins that like to enter Bunbury’s Koombana Bay to interact with visitors. You (and they) choose how you’ll meet. Take a cruise, get up close with a snorkelling trip, or stay close to shore for a beachfront encounter.

Inside the Discovery Room you’ll learn more about the animals and the centre’s research.

Busselton Jetty
Busselton Jetty stretches 1.8km into Geographe Bay, looking almost like a low-level British seaside pier. It’s a delightful stroll and the Jetty Train will take the load if your feet have given up.

The real treat lies at the end of the jetty. An underwater observatory takes you 8m beneath the waves to explore the 300 different species that have turned the jetty into their home. In doing so, they’ve helped create Australia’s best artificial reef.

Wreck diving
Scuttled in 1997, HMAS Swan is one of the most popular dive spots in Australia. Being a former destroyer, it’s also one of the largest. The ship lies 35m deep in Geographe Bay, off the coast of Dunsborough. To get there take one of the many commercial dive tours or go privately by obtaining an access permit from the Dunsborough Visitor Centre.

HMAS Perth, in King George Sound off Albany on the south coast, is almost as spectacular. Divers are given a map of the best way to navigate but it’s really up to you to choose your path. Swimmers and snorkellers can also explore from the surface.

View what’s on in Perth
View what’s on in Australia

Western Australia

The wines of Margaret

More than 25% of the Australia’s premium wines are produced in the south-west.

The Margaret River Wine Region’s varieties are numerous, often internationally acclaimed and well worth exploring.

Start at the Margaret River Visitor Centre’s Wine Tourism Showroom for wine making advice and (more importantly) the occasional wine tasting.

The oldest vineyard here, Vasse Felix in Cowaramup, was established in 1967 when the owner, Dr. Tom Cullity bought the land for the princely sum of $75 an acre. The vineyard, and the local Vasse area, are named after Thomas Timothee Vasse who was lost at sea off the coast in 1801. Ironically, ‘Felix’ is Latin for ‘fortunate’, which Vasse clearly wasn’t.

Take a break from the wine at the area’s boutique breweries or sample the local fresh produce which includes berries, fudge, preserves, olive oils, cheeses and handmade chocolates.

View what’s on in Perth

View what’s on in Australia