A local’s guide to the top things to do in Margaret River

From the latest to the greatest, here’s how to make the most of Margaret River.

Cemented as one of Australia’s top holiday spots, the list of things to do in Margaret River reads like a holiday brag list. Ensconced amid spectacular natural attractions in Western Australia’s South West region on Wadandi Boodja, it’s a three-hour drive from Perth or a 40-minute drive from Busselton airport.

A jagged coastline entwines with glittering ivory beaches, towering ancient karri forests and sigh-worthy rolling vineyards. Majestic limestone caves hide amongst the bushland while the main street of town is bursting with cafes, bars and galleries. Here’s our insider’s list of the best things to do in Margaret River.

Sip and savour at these vineyards

a couple enjoying wine on the alfresco deck at Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River — Leeuwin Estate is a picturesque spot to savour wines. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Renowned for wine the world over, you’d be excused for feeling tipsy with the choices of vino. Wine buff or wine buffoon, the Margaret River Wine region serves up an abundance of tangy tastings.

Leeuwin Estate is practically hallowed ground. They deliver world-renowned wine – try the coveted Art Series label – an impressive private art collection worth lingering for and fine dining that draws a crowd. Their annual amphitheatre concerts – hosting acts like Sting and Tom Jones – staged against a backdrop of Karri trees and kookaburras are a bucket list event. Book ahead.

Edwards Wines , originally a family operation, has added some glitzy fresh offerings to its long-standing lineup of great grog. A brand spanking new cellar door refurb gazes over the vines alongside the just opened Miss Chow’s Margaret River restaurant, where you can pair wines with modern Asian fare. Take home a bottle of Edward’s latest booze brilliance from their Ocean Series where Chardy and cab sav have been aged for a year in the surging depths of the nearby Southern Ocean.

There are plenty of notable vineyards along Caves Road, joined by a number of the not-so-usual stars that are shining on the wine making scene. Try LAS Vino for innovative, sustainable, award-winning wine. A short jaunt down the road is Walsh & Sons where you’ll find small batch, bio-dynamic wines and a casual cellar door experience. In the heart of Margaret River, Dormilona is another label to bring organic, minimal intervention wines to the table. Book online for cellar door tastings.

Dive in at these brilliant beaches

The pristine, sandy shore of Redgate Beach. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Powder white sand, rugged granite rock and surging surf make this coastline both beautiful and dramatic. Head to Contos beach to feel off-grid without needing a 4WD. The crescent-shaped beach, hugged by steep cliffs, is accessed from Caves Road via a gravel road and a short walk from the carpark. Redgate Beach has peeling waves, a pristine sandy beach and the South West coastline’s signature granite outcrops. The white-powdered beach of Injidup is enveloped by vegetated dunes. Head to the southern end and challenge yourself to a sandhill sprint and then tumble down to land in the glass-clear water resembling sandy lamingtons. Watch the ocean swallow the sun as surfers carve lines in the swell against a golden glow backdrop.

Get crafty at these local breweries

beef burger with fries and beer at Bootleg Brewery — Pair prize-winning beers with much-loved pub grub. (Image: Bootleg Brewery)

The craft beer scene has entrenched itself as the other drop of choice in the Margaret River region. Blaze a beer trail through the area to discover passionate artisanal brewers popping up in town, sprawling across farms and perched alongside dams.

Hit up Margaret River Brewhouse on the edge of the township. Go for the laid-back Marg’s vibe, award-winning ales and a nod to an Aussie Sunday session. The Beer Farm , smack in the middle of farmland, was once an old dairy and its rural heritage is still at the heart of the tin buildings and the cow-grazing view. Serving up tap beers from local WA ingredients and great food – try the share board with seasonal produce – the venue is a local favourite. Check their calendar for events, including live music. At Bootleg Brewery – the oldest craft brewery in the region – grassy banks spill down to an expansive dam. Prize-winning beers and hearty pub grub can be enjoyed under the umbrellaed tables, plus there’s a kids’ playground.

Bike or hike these trails

the Cape to Cape Track, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park — The Cape to Cape Track boasts unique flora and fauna, rugged tracks and surf breaks. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Power up your peddle and hire a bike, complete with saddlebag to store your snacks, from Hairy Marron Bike Cafe . Margaret River is renowned for serious terrain with mountain bike enthusiasts, yet there are also fabulous leisure trails for those more faint of heart. Meander through vineyards, pedal past paddocks and travel under towering forests with a number of trail options. Try the Wine Trail and taste at wineries along the way. Head out on a section of the Wadandi Track and visit nearby towns of Cowaramup or Witchcliffe. Bookended by the towns of Busselton and Augusta, the route is undergoing an AUD 17.5M upgrade to extend its length.

The Cape to Cape Track stretches for 135 kilometres, hugging the coastline of the Margaret River Region, winding through Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. You can easily hike a section and be treated to a winking, azure Indian Ocean and towering Karri trees in the ancient Boranup Forest.  

Taste the region at these restaurants and bars

dining at Miki’s Open Kitchen — Indulge in the degustation menu at Miki’s Open Kitchen. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Beyond the extensive winery and brewery options for drinking and dining, Margaret River serves up a plethora of alternate venues to indulge at. Miki’s Open Kitchen is unobtrusively tucked away on the main street. The intimate 30-seater space, with two scheduled sittings, is often waitlisted. You’ll be treated to open kitchen theatre and culinary mastery where Japanese-Australian fusion meet head on in an innovative degustation experience that’s outside the bento box. For tucker a little more low-key, try Burger Baby . Seriously good burgers, a small bar and a chilled out atmosphere, you can dine in or takeaway. Bonus points for offering vegan and coeliac fryers upon request. Spice it up with Dahl Daddy’s . Located near the skatepark, this curry canteen is uber casual and the South Asian menu, chalked up on the blackboard, changes daily.

Pearl’s Bar is a gem to quench your thirst, snack on great plates and feel totally welcome. Tucked away behind the main street with a speakeasy vibe is Yonder Bar . You shouldn’t judge this tiny bar it by its exterior. Rather, step inside where the music and cocktails are loud.

Slow down and sauna

Plunge into the wellness craze and balance out all the hiking, biking and beaching with a session at Mend . Book a sauna, ice bath and hot plunge session and cap it off with a holistic massage. Sigh.

Perk up at these best coffee spots

holding two cups of coffee, Margaret River Roasting Co — Pop by Margaret River Roasting Co for a caffeine fix. (Image: Josh Ball)

Percolate with locals at Little Sip . Serving up organic blends from celebrated coffee supplier, Margaret River Roasting Co you’ll find the lavender-haze, restored 1957, caravan parked up at a range of community haunts, such as Surfers Point, Prevelly (home of the Margaret River Pro World Surf Championships). Savour your caffeinated froth while watching surfers froth waves at the famous surf break. Community-loved espresso bar and specialty coffee store, West Coffee Co. on Wallcliffe Street will also satisfy your caffeine cravings with their barista blends.

Discover the best accommodation in Margaret River

Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

Aerial view of Mandurah. — Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

The best things to do in Mandurah

Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

Dolphins swimming in Mandurah. — Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah. — Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

Where to eat in Mandurah

Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops. — Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

Where to stay in Mandurah

With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river — Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.