Margaret River: Day Trips and Tours from Perth

Beautiful Margaret River in southwestern Australia offers a bewildering array of attractions. Adventure-seekers flock to the area’s caves and surfing beaches.

Nature lovers will marvel at centuries-old trees only found in the region. A day trip to Margaret River from Perth is a must-do on a trip to Australia’s west coast.

Here's all you need to know about Margaret River, one of the most exciting day trips from Perth.

How to get to Margaret River from Perth

Margaret River lies on Australia’s west coast, a scenic 3-hour drive south from Perth.

From Perth to Margaret River by car

Follow State Route 2/National Route 1 south out of Perth for 170 kilometers until you reach Davenport. Exit at Robertson Drive/State Route 10. Travel on State Route 10 for 100 kilometers until you reach Margaret River.

Guided tour to Margaret River from Perth

Booking a guided tour to Margaret River from Perth provides you a rich experience from start to finish. With an expert guide at the wheel, absorb yourself in Western Australia’s natural beauty. Visit the area’s highlights easily by choosing an excursion that bundles transportation, entry tickets and a professional guide.

What is the typical itinerary?

With the wealth of attractions between Perth and Margaret River, your expert guide will make the most of the picturesque drive. Along the way lie beach towns, ancient forests and Australia’s longest wooden jetty in Busselton. Stop for panoramic views and photos of the Indian Ocean and the region’s rugged coastline.

Depending on the focus of your trip, you may taste your way around the Margaret River area at its wineries, dairies and chocolatiers. Or you may discover a subterranean world in a few of southwestern Australia’s hundreds of caves.

Take a surfing lesson, fly from Perth for lunch at an award-winning vineyard, or wander through 300-year-old tuart and karri tree forests.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Margaret River?

Margaret River and its surroundings have so much to offer that choosing only one day tour may be a challenge!

Guided tours to Margaret River from Perth

From caves to beaches to ancient forests to vineyards, you have a vast variety of day tours to choose among. Try regional foods and drinks, take a dip at one of the many beaches, shop for art or hike along wooded trails with the help of a guide.

Private tour to Margaret River from Perth

Create a day of memories for your group on a private tour. With customizable itineraries and flexible timing, a private guide will show you the best of the area without the hassle of crowds or driving.

Multi-day tours to Margaret River from Perth

With so much to see in the area, an overnight excursion or even up to a week takes you farther afield from Margaret River to the southern coast of Australia. Choose glamping, a wellness getaway or a regional highlights tour.

How much does a day trip to Margaret River from Perth cost?

Day trips to Margaret River from Perth cost from US$105 per person to US$205 per person and include guided round-trip transportation from Perth hotels, a guided cave tour and wine tastings. Higher-cost tours provide a meal.

Private tours to Margaret River from Perth cost as low as US$100 per person to US$650 per person. Prices vary according to group size, the duration of the trip and whether food and drink are offered in the tour.

Multi-day tours cost from US$750 per person to US$4,710 per person, depending on the duration of the trip, group size and whether full accommodation is included.

What will you see and do?

Vineyards and local foods

The Margaret River region is known as the best wine producing area in Australia. Stop at a winery or two for a tasting, then check out one of the artisan chocolate shops in town. Sample cheeses, honey, olive oil and coffee at some of the many shops and producers in Margaret River.

Forests

Within less than an hour’s drive sit two protected forests, Tuart National Forest Park and Boranup Karri Forest. The tuart forest is an easy stop on the way from Perth, and Boranup is only a 20-minute drive out of Margaret River.  

Walk among giants, with tuarts reaching 30 meters in height and karris towering higher at 50 meters.

Caves

The area’s 200 caves make for a challenge to decide which to visit. Caves are a main highlight of many tours in Margaret River, and the best among them are Mammoth and Lake Caves. See Mammoth Cave’s three chambers full of rock formations and fossils, as well as Lake Cave’s sunken forest locale and underground lake.

When is the best time to visit Margaret River

The best time for a visit to Margaret River is from November through April. October through January, plus April, are the peak tourist months. Witness the whale migration from June through December along Australia’s western coast.

Travel tips

• Wear clothing and shoes appropriate for an active day.
• Let tour providers know of dietary restrictions at the time of booking a tour that provides a meal.
• Bring sun protection.