SW Western Australia - an Australian hot spot

"One of Australia's best kept secrets. Jaw dropping coastline, massive tall forests and world class wineries"

Our group expedition to SW Western Australia was part of our ‘Big Lap’ of Australia in 2024 named ‘Operation Big Sky’. I did my first road trip to this area when I was a teenager and I seemed to have forgotten the stunning beauty of this region. Consequently, I was amazed at the scenery and now better understand why this region is such a sought after tourist destination.

We travelled to this region in April which has optimum weather and less windy than Spring. We spent 2 weeks in this region and could easily have spent longer.

The beaches and massive coastline are some of the most spectacular you will find in Australia. The region also has great diversity including tall forests and the world class wineries of Margaret River.

We stayed at the following four locations, for three days each, which allowed easy day trips to the highlights at each location.

Esperance highlights include:

Lucky Bay, beach driving, Frenchman’s Peak hike, Twilight Beach.

Albany highlights include:

Torndirup NP incl The Gap viewing platform & The Natural Bridge, The Anzac Centre, Whaling Station, Granite Skywalk at Castle Rock, Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve.

Denmark highlights include:

William Bay NP incl Elephant Rocks & Green pool, Bibbulmun Track walk, Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk.

Margaret River highlights include:

Busselton Jetty, Hamelin Bay, Gnarabup Beach, Boranup Karri Forest, Meelup Beach, Pemberton, Cape Naturaliste, Dunsborough, Eagle Bay, Bunker Bay, Yallingup, Canal Rocks, wineries.

Our purpose with this post is to give you just enough insight to spark your curiosity and enable you to plan your own expedition of discovery. Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.

Lucky Bay - Cape Le Grand NP. This area has Australia’s whitest sands, striking turquoise waters and wild landscapes, make Esperance one of the most visually captivating places in the country.

Green Pool - William Bay NP, famous for its large granite boulders.

Hellfire Bay - Cape Le Grand NP

Frenchman's Peak in Cape Le Grand NP gives spectacular views across the southern coastline and Recherche Archipelago

One of the many stunning beaches of Cape Le Grand NP

Elephant Rocks - William Bay NP which resembles a herd of elephants gracefully wading in the water

Bunker Bay  - near Dunsborough

The Gap viewing platform sitting above 40m high grantie cliffs - Torndirup NP. This vantage point offers stunning ocean views from Bald Head to West Cape Howe

Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk near Denmark - some of the huge Tingle trees are 16m circumference and can reach up to 75m high.

Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk - some of the plants have origins that can be traced back 65 million years.

The wineries of the Margaret River region have world class wines with two varieties in particular being cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay.

White Elephant Cafe - Gnarabup Beach Margaret River. One of the popular beaches at Margaret River

Margaret River offers world-class wine alongside unspoilt coastline, as well as stunning inland rivers, tall-timber forests and ancient underground caves, making it one of the most unique destinations on Earth.

Margaret River Region has supported one of the world’s longest, unbroken human occupations, resulting in an immensely deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land.

The Heritage listed Busselton Jetty extends 1,841m over the protected waters of Geographe Bay

The Busselton Jetty includes an underwater observatory and can accessed by walking or by the jetty train ride

Meelup Beach on Geographe Bay - near Dunsborough

Our very special treats from Dusty Buns Bakery Busselton

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and the Lightkeepers Museum give great insight into the fascinating maritime history of the Cape region

Emu Beach Albany

Our campsite at Albany - Emu Bay

Our travel companions at the Albany whaling station cafe

David & Rosemary Allan – the faces behind:

May adventure & discovery be your constant companions.

Reflection:

For me, a trip is memorable when I am enriched by a deeper sense of connection to a place which triggers an emotional or spiritual response. This comes from feelings of Awe when I feel part of something bigger. Such as, seeing dramatic landscapes, being caught up in the history and sensing the passion of the human spirit.

A memorable experience will cause me to day dream about the next trip even more than the last trip.

Remember: Your adventure begins the moment you decide to go.