20 Unmissable Things To Do In South West WA

Looking for the best things to do in south west WA? After searching out just about everything we could on our own South West Australia road trip, here’s our take on 20 highlights that should simply not be missed. Plus a bonus highlight!

The south west of Western Australia (WA) is the stuff of road trip dreams. A vast land of red earth, turquoise ocean, jaw dropping beaches, ancient forests, and a rich history of seafaring, shipwrecks, and intrigue.

I first road tripped the south west corner more than 20 years ago in a rusty old campervan. It’s always stuck in my mind as one of Australia’s most pristine, rugged and beautiful landscapes.

You could spend weeks, if not months here, exploring the epic nature, eating fresh seafood, and enjoying the warm hospitality of the region’s many wineries and breweries.

It’s a place with so much to offer that it’s a serious challenge to settle on a single list of highlights. We’ve given it our best go though. While our natural inclination is to try and see everything a region has to offer, here’s our take on the absolute best things to do in south west WA that just can’t be missed.

20 Unmissable Things to do in South West WA

1. Discover Incredible South Western Australia Beaches
2. Sample the Tasty Craft Breweries
3. Walk Out to Sea On Busselton Jetty
4. Marvel at Canal Rocks
5. Explore the Caves Near Margaret River
6. Escape to Eagle Bay
7. Chill Out at Elephant Rocks & Greens Pool
8. Climb a Fire Tree
9. Hang Out at The Gap & Natural Bridge
10. Stand Inside the Giant Tingle Tree
11. Meet the Hamelin Bay Stingrays
12. Explore Historic Fremantle
13. Visit Iconic Lighthouses
14. Immerse in Australia’s Wartime Heritage at the National Anzac Centre
15. Hike to the Granite Skywalk at Porongurup
16. Castaway on Rottnest Island
17. Watch Sunset at Sugarloaf Rock
18. Climb Into the Canopy in the Valley of the Giants
19. Taste Your Way Through South West WA Wineries
20. Be Delighted on a Unique EcoCruise
21. Bonus Highlight: The Pinnacles Desert

If you’re planning a South West Australia road trip, we visit all of these places and more in our 2-Week Perth to Albany road trip itinerary post.

1. Discover Incredible South Western Australia Beaches

To say the south west corner of Australia is a beach lover’s dream might just be one of the biggest understatements you could make.

There are more than a thousand kilometres of coastline between Perth and Esperance. So you could say the south west of Australia has something of a monopoly on beautiful stretches of powdery white sand lapped by impossibly turquoise sea.

From iconic surf breaks like Yallingup and Prevelly, to picture perfect spots like Greens Pool in Denmark and Little Salmon Bay on Rottnest Island, you’ll find some of the nation’s best beaches in Western Australia, if not the world.

Whether you’re into surfing, snorkelling, diving, fishing, swimming, sailing, or just taking in some Vitamin D while reading the latest Tim Winton novel, you’ll be hard-pressed not to find your ideal beach escape here.

2. Sample the Tasty Craft Breweries

It’s no secret that we’re partial to a brewery visit here and there, and I must admit to being just a little bit excited about the prospect of visiting breweries in Margaret River and the south west region. Especially Beerfarm, a little over 20km (12.4 miles) from Margaret River and home to one of my all-time favourite beers, Asam Boi Gose.

What I didn’t realise is that south west WA is dotted with an array of craft breweries, serving up top notch beers and tasty meals in snazzy taprooms across the region.

For us, Margaret River Brewhouse gets top billing for being stumbling distance from the centre of town and pouring a stunning red IPA. We also recommend seeking out the beautiful setting at Eagle Bay Brewing to sample their excellent XPA. Or tickle your tastebuds with a delicious raspberry gose at Boston Brewing Co near Denmark.

Personally, finishing the day with a sundowner at Beerfarm looking out over the countryside was a beery highlight of the trip. If that sounds like your kind of road trip, then you may just love this corner of Australia as much as we do. Just take turns being the designated driver if you still want to be friends at the end.

3. Walk out to sea on Busselton Jetty

At just shy of 2km (around 1.1 miles), Busselton Jetty is one of the world’s longest timber-piled piers. Building started in 1865, and the jetty was extended during the following centuries in an attempt to accommodate larger ships…before the government realised Geographe Bay just didn’t get any deeper.

Today you can walk or take a train ride to the far end of the jetty to visit the excellent Underwater Observatory on one of their regular tours (book ahead if you can).

Keen divers and snorkellers can also explore Busselton Jetty’s new Underwater Sculpture Trail and Artificial Reef. The jetty is already renowned as a fantastic site for a shore dive thanks to the diversity of marine life drawn to the structure. Now there are also 13 underwater sculptures to check out along with the local sea critters, who have apparently been quick to move in.

It’s also worth sticking around for sunset when Busselton Jetty is particularly picturesque, before enjoying a cold one and some dinner at nearby Shelter Brewing Co or one of the many restaurants here.

Busselton Jetty is in the town of, yep, Busselton! It’s around 220km (137 miles) and a 2.5 hour drive south of Perth. You can wander the length of the jetty 24 hours a day. The Underwater Observatory is open from 9am to 4pm daily, though this can change depending on the weather and sea.

4. Marvel at Canal Rocks

One of the many highlights of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Canal Rocks showcases the unrelenting power of the Indian Ocean as it continues to shape the ruggedly beautiful West Australian coastline.

Made up of several granite outcrops carved apart by the ocean’s constant battering over millennia, it’s a spectacular spot to really appreciate the power of nature. What makes Canal Rocks even more unique is that nature has well and truly departed from the norm here, sculpting ruler straight channels right through the rock.

You can explore the area via a series of narrow wooden walkways that get you up close and personal with the surging ocean. For the more adventurous (and mobile), there’s plenty of rock clambering to enjoy here.

A word of warning though, while the area is stunningly beautiful, the pounding ocean is about as treacherous as it gets, so be sure to tread carefully.

Canal Rocks is around 40km (25 miles) north of Margaret River towards Cape Naturaliste. There’s no park entry fee for Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.  

5. Explore the Caves Near Margaret River

For a bit of time travel into Australia’s geological past, we highly recommend seeking out some of the incredible caves that dot the landscape of South West Australia.

If you’re based in Margaret River for a few days, there are a bunch of caves within easy driving distance. The most popular of these are Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave, Ngilgi Cave and Jewel Cave. Some of the caves near Margaret River can only be visited on a guided tour so it’s best to check ahead for opening and tour times.

One of our faves, Mammoth Cave, is just 15 minutes’ drive from Margaret River and partially wheelchair accessible. It’s something of a palaeontological treasure trove, yielding thousands of fossils over the years. One of the most special finds is a 50,000 year old jawbone of a prehistoric oversize wombat-like creature called a Zygomaturus, still embedded in the cave wall. You can visit this cave on a self-guided audio tour.

Just a few minutes further along Caves Road you’ll find Lake Cave. It’s nestled at the base of a large sinkhole hidden within a particularly beautiful stand of karri forest. Only visitable on a guided tour, this cave wows with its beautiful formations, including the famous suspended table reflected in the cave’s namesake lake. Unlike Mammoth Cave, this one requires a bit more puff to get up and down the many stairs, so you’ll definitely feel like you earned that winery visit afterwards.

Buy a multi-cave pass and save

If you plan to visit more than one cave, ask at the first cave you visit about multi-cave passes to save some money.

Caves are located throughout the Margaret River region, around 3 hours south of Perth. Head to the Margaret River Busselton Tourism website for more information about the caves, tickets and opening hours. 

6. Escape to Eagle Bay

If you want a sneak peek at the abodes of West Australia’s wealthy set, swing by Eagle Bay and spy a few of the luxury escapes that dot the coastline here.

And who could blame them? With a white sand beach, aquamarine water and world class wineries on the doorstep, if I had a few million bucks to spare I’d certainly be tempted to buy a plot overlooking this beautiful, remote-feeling bay at the tip of Cape Naturaliste. We visited on an overcast day and it was still stunning.

It’s worth stopping for a swim or a snorkel, and if you feel like getting your SCUBA on, the wreck of the HMAS Swan lies in 30 metres’ water not far from here. Tours to dive the wreck can be organised in advance through Viator.

If all that activity sounds exhausting, why not relax for a while, and grab some food and a brew at nearby Eagle Bay Brewing Co – this was a favourite lunch stop for us on our road trip through the region.

Eagle Bay is on the Cape Naturaliste peninsula, around 55km (34 miles) and 45 minutes north of Margaret River.

7. Chill out at Elephant Rocks & Greens Pool

Just 15 minutes’ drive west of Denmark, on a coastline awash with stunning beaches and coves, Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool stands out as an absolute highlight of our own South West Australia road trip. This stunning place is definitely on our shortlist of best beaches in Western Australia, if not the country.

Sitting atop the rocks overlooking a ‘herd’ of massive elephant-esque boulders in a frozen charge towards a cyan sea is a moment that stays with you, and undoubtedly why this area is so ‘instafamous’.

Climb down the stairway to explore tiny Elephant Cove or walk around the headland and have a swim in the sheltered waters of Greens Pool. There are plenty of reasons to make a day of it and enjoy this stunning corner of William Bay National Park. Sunset here is also spectacular – the last rays of the sun turn the rocks a beautiful burnt orange.

There’s a carpark at Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool, and well-maintained toilet facilities. Park entry is free for William Bay National Park.

8. Climb a Fire Tree

Or sensibly admire one from its base.

From the late 1930s, prior to the introduction of aerial surveillance, the forests of south west WA were kept safe by a network of ‘fire trees’. These giants were pegged to allow foresters to climb to platforms high above the canopy and keep a lookout for fires.

While the trees are no longer needed as fire lookouts, two are still set up for visitors brave (crazy?) enough to make the climb. These are the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree in Warren National Park and the Gloucester Tree in Gloucester National Park, both near the town of Pemberton.

Described as Australia’s scariest tourist attraction, I had strong reservations before arriving at the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree. Those concerns weren’t helped by seeing 165 pegs spiralling up into the thick green canopy towards a lookout platform some 65 metres above the ground.

Climbing is entirely at your own risk and this is definitely not an experience for the faint of heart. It’s almost certain there will be a level of regret, if not sheer terror, at some point during your climb. But for those that push on, the reward of unparalleled views across the Karri Forest from the top while you suck in lungfuls of air is simply sublime. Until you realise you need to somehow cajole your jelly legs into getting you back down.

As of early 2024, both the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree and the Gloucester Tree are closed to climbing while maintenance and inspections are carried out. Check the WA Park Alerts website for the latest info.

Warren National Park is around 15km (9.3 miles) and 20 mins from Pemberton. Gloucester National Park is a 4-minute drive south-west of Pemberton. Both national parks have an entry fee (unless you have a WA Park Pass).

9. Hang out at The Gap & Natural Bridge

Another must see attraction on any South West Australia road trip is The Gap and Natural Bridge, located in beautiful Torndirrup National Park near Albany.

Imagine the boom of the Southern Ocean slamming into the solid granite Australian coastline 40 metres beneath your feet, conjuring a feeling of awe as you’re misted in saltwater. This is what it feels like to experience The Gap in all its glory.

Just a few metres further along you’ll find a viewpoint over the Natural Bridge, a solid granite arch carved out by the ocean over millennia.

Both sites provide a tangible reminder of the impressive power of nature, not to mention the ingenuity of the engineers that built the gravity-defying platform that hangs over The Gap.

If you have time, there are also blowholes in Torndirrup National Park, just 5km (3.1 miles) east of The Gap and Natural Bridge and accessed via a beautiful coastal walk. Just be mindful of nature’s unpredictable, well, nature: the blowholes here are almost invisible fissures in the rock and there are no guarantees you’ll see or hear them at their booming, powerful best. On the day we went, the sea was fairly calm and we actually struggled to even work out where the blowholes were.

To find the blowholes, follow the path from the carpark to its end where you’ll see a pole with an orange life ring. From there, turn to face the sea and carefully make your way over the rock shelf till you see the blowholes sign (or see and hear them first).

Torndirrup National Park is around 18km (11 miles) and a 20 minute drive south of Albany. There’s an entry fee for this national park.

10. Stand Inside the Giant Tingle Tree

You might be inclined, on a road trip in Western Australia, to charge through the Walpole area to get to the Valley of the Giants and its famed Treetop Walk. If you can though, it’s absolutely worth making time for the Walpole Wilderness Area, and in particular, the old growth tingle and karri forest in magical Walpole-Nornalup National Park.

Keep an eye out for a left turn onto Hilltop Road a couple of kilometres out of Walpole on the road towards Denmark. As the road twists and climbs away from the coast, and the forest canopy closes in around you, it’s hard not to be awed by the sheer beauty of this ancient place.

As you travel along the Hill Top Scenic Drive, watch for a small parking area on your right. Here you’ll find a lovely lookout over the Frankland River and Nornalup Inlet towards the Southern Ocean.

Around 3km (1.8 miles) further along you’ll arrive at the Giant Tingle Tree car park. From there, you can explore the pristine karri and tingle forest via a timber boardwalk, soaking up the serenity while learning about the local flora and fauna via information panels.

The shady 800-metre loop walk takes you past the immense, fire-hollowed red tingle tree known as the Giant Tingle Tree. It’s said to be the largest living eucalypt tree in the world by circumference. The loop walk is open 24 hours and it’s free to visit Walpole-Nornalup National Park.

The Hill Top Scenic Drive is a little over 6km (3.7 miles) of unsealed road. While it’s a little bumpy in places, it’s drivable in a two-wheel-drive.

11. Meet the Hamelin Bay Stingrays

Chilling out at Hamelin Bay Beach as the sun dropped over the horizon and the sky erupted in colour was an unexpected highlight of our South West Australia road trip. As amazing as they are though, sunsets aren’t the main reason so many people head to this gorgeous stretch of sand just north of Cape Leeuwin.

The main drawcard, and the reason it’s on our shortlist of unmissable things to do in south west WA, is the Hamelin Bay stingrays. They’ve been frequenting the area for years, attracted by scraps left by fishermen that use the beach and boat ramp.

While these majestic creatures may have scored a bad rap since the tragic death of Steve Irwin, they are actually extremely docile and rarely aggressive towards humans unless provoked or threatened.

If you’re lucky enough to share the water with these critters, it’s likely you’ll find them cruising the shallows on the lookout for a meal. So you may have more chance of seeing them when fishermen are around. From our research, it sounds like summer mornings are also a better bet. Just remember, these are wild animals and can be unpredictable, so don’t approach them or try to touch them. If they’re curious, they will come and check you out in their own time.

Aside from the resident stingrays, there’s plenty to keep visitors to Hamelin Bay occupied. If chilling out on this spectacular turquoise bay fringed by a white sand beach isn’t enough, there are also swimming, snorkelling and diving opportunities, as well as coastal walks and birdwatching.

Hamelin Bay Beach is around 38km (24 miles) and a 30-minute drive south of Margaret River. There’s free parking in the carpark at Hamelin Bay.

12. Explore Historic Fremantle

I’ll be honest and confess that for me, one of the big drawcards of Fremantle (or Freo, as Aussies affectionately call it) was the beer scene, having supped the occasional Little Creatures brew in my time. And indeed there is a smorgasbord of craft beer joints in this town to keep you well oiled.

As it turned out though, it was actually the deep and palpable sense of maritime and convict history, along with Freo’s easygoing arts, culture and foodie scene, that really made me fall in love with the place. The great beer just made it even better.

If you’re history geeks like us, strolling through historic Fremantle, with its abundance of heritage-listed buildings is a buzz in itself. Architectural gems include WAs oldest building, the Round House, and the World Heritage Fremantle Prison, although the whole precinct is beautifully preserved.

Check out the WA Maritime Museum, and our personal favourite, the WA Shipwrecks Museum. The latter is chock-full of interesting artefacts recovered from the perilous south west Australian coastline. The highlight here is the beautifully restored and reconstructed stern of the Dutch merchant ship Batavia. It was the subject of Australia’s most notorious and vicious mutiny and shipwrecking on the remote Abrolhos Islands off the Australian coast in 1629.

While it’s pretty easy to explore Fremantle independently by foot, if you are after a bit more in-depth information about the history and culture of Freo, there are also self-guided audio tours and guided tours available.

If all this history isn’t enough, in Freo you have some of the best beaches in Western Australia on your doorstep, the iconic Fremantle Markets to explore from Fridays to Sundays, an abundance of very cool cafes, numerous craft beer joints to sample (including the very slick operation at Little Creatures), and some seriously good restaurants, pubs and wine bars.

Fremantle is just 24 minutes by car south-west of Perth city. It’s an easy day trip or a cool alternative base to Perth.

13. Visit Iconic Lighthouses

It’s impossible to visit the south west of Australia without being drawn to the famous white sentinels that have watched over the rocky coastline here for generations.

Visiting the windswept lighthouses of Western Australia will leave you in awe of the immense power of the Indian and Southern oceans, and the hardy families that lived and worked in these lonely outposts, keeping the light burning and protecting seafarers plying their trade along this wild coast.

Two of the most iconic lighthouses of the Margaret River region are at Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. They bookend the iconic Cape to Cape Track: more than a hundred kilometres of rugged coastline trail showcasing everything that makes the south west corner of Australia so special.

Sixty kilometres (37 miles) to the north of Margaret River, you’ll find 120-year-old Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, set in thick coastal heath on a headland with a beautiful coastal loop walk. The lighthouse precinct has cosy tea rooms and a decent lighthouse museum. Guided tours are available if you’re keen to learn more about the lighthouse and climb to its balcony.

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, 53km (33 miles) to the south of Margaret River, is spectacularly sited on the most south-westerly tip of Australia. Standing 39 metres (128 feet) tall, it also lays claim to the title of tallest lighthouse on the Australian mainland. Remote, windswept and beautiful, this wild spot is great for whale watching in season (May to November). There are also lighthouse tours here and an informative interpretive centre.

Both lighthouses are in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, which has free park entry. There are fees, however, for entry to the lighthouse precincts and for guided lighthouse tours.

14. Immerse in Australia’s Wartime Heritage at the National Anzac Centre

Built to coincide with the 2015 Anzac centenary commemorations, the award-winning National Anzac Centre is set in the Princess Royal Fortress precinct overlooking stunning King George Sound in Albany.

This is an extremely important historical site for Australians and New Zealanders. It’s difficult not to feel a solemn and very tangible sense of history right from the moment you gaze out over the bay and imagine that fateful day in November 1914, when a huge convoy of ships departed these shores to take Anzac troops to the Great War in Europe.

On arrival at the centre, visitors are allocated a card for an actual serviceman or woman who departed Albany for the war. You can use the card to navigate interactive displays throughout the museum, uncovering the very real and often tragic story of the person whose journey you’re following.

It’s worth setting aside a couple of hours to truly appreciate this outstanding museum and the tales of those who fought in the Great War and who, in so many cases, never made it home.

The National Anzac Centre is located just 4km (2.5 miles) outside of Albany. It’s open daily from 9am to 4pm. You can purchase tickets to enter the museum in advance through Viator, while the broader site and grounds can be explored for free.  

15. Hike to the Granite Skywalk at Porongurup

If you’re staying in the Albany area, we absolutely recommend stretching your legs with a hike to the Granite Skywalk in Porongurup National Park. It’s a little over half an hour north of Albany.

You’ll need good lungs and stout legs for the steady 2km (1.3 mile) climb from the carpark through the lovely native forest of the park. We also highly recommend an early start to make the best of the (relatively) cooler morning temps.

In addition to the ‘nearly there’ encouragement from hikers heading back down, you’ll know you’re near the top when the scenery becomes decidedly more ‘bouldery’ and you need to start scrambling more on the ascent.

You’ll soon be rewarded with your first proper view of the immense Balancing Rock from the lower lookout, dramatically poised on its eroded granite perch overlooking the surrounding countryside.

There’s a bit more scrambling required to get to the upper lookout. Your already shaky legs (and nerves) may well be tested as you grip the metal handholds to climb your way between huge boulders to reach a 6-metre (20 foot) high enclosed ladder that will take you to the top.

The skywalk itself is an engineering marvel, cleverly crowning an enormous boulder. As we recovered our breath while enjoying the incredible views over the plains below, we could only wonder at the smarts required to build this unique platform high above the forest.

The hike to the Granite Skywalk starts at Castle Rock in Porongurup National Park, 44km (27 miles) north of Albany. There is an entry fee for this park (unless you have a WA Park Pass).

16. Castaway on Rottnest Island

Probably the least surprising entry on our list, Rottnest Island really doesn’t need much of an introduction: it’s one of the jewels in Western Australia’s tourism crown.

Rottnest Island is named for the island’s cute resident marsupial, the quokka, which 17th-century Dutch sailors took for large rats (hence the name ‘rats nest’ island). Known as Wadjemup in the local Aboriginal Noongar language, the island is an easy day trip from Fremantle or Perth by ferry.

Save time by pre-booking the ferry and a bike

To make the best of your day, consider pre-booking a fast ferry, which can also be booked with bikes if you’re feeling energetic. Pre-booked bikes travel over and back with the ferry and can be collected and dropped off as you disembark/re-board. You can also hire bikes and electric bikes once you arrive on the island.

There are loads of options for exploring Rottnest Island’s 19 square kilometres of jaw-dropping amazingness, including walking, running (yep, we saw a few dedicated groups), cycling (both unpowered and powered), and the popular Island Explorer hop-on hop-off bus. You can also join a guided tour by bus, boat, Segway or heritage train. Cars aren’t permitted on the island.

We opted to explore under own steam on pre-booked bikes. We plotted a loop taking in some of the island’s natural and heritage highlights like Wadjemup Lighthouse, the fur seals at Cathedral Rocks, the pink salt lakes, and a sample of arguably some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. There are more than 60 to choose from on the island; standouts include Little Salmon Bay, Little Parakeet Bay, Geordie Bay and Pinky Beach.

It’s impossible not to be tempted into the crystal-clear waters that lap the island, so factor in time for swimming and snorkelling. If you’ve pedalled yourself into sweaty exhaustion like we did, you might seek reward with a refreshing drink at Pinky’s or Isola before jumping on the return ferry to Freo or Perth.

Staying on Rottnest Island

As one of the truly unmissable things to do in south west WA, it’s difficult to do Rottnest Island justice in a single day. With a variety of accommodation options from high-end waterfront escapes right through to camping, it’s definitely worth staying longer if you have the time, and exploring the island at a less breakneck pace.

On our ride around the island we stopped for some well-deserved refreshments Pinky’s, with it’s lovely pool bar and restaurant right on the beach. The glamping tents here, part of Discovery Resorts, looked very tempting for a night on the sand right by the beach.

Another good option on the other side of the port is Samphire, where you’ll find nice modern rooms and all the resort facilities you’d expect.

Save Your Legs

While the loop road around the island is lovely, it’s worth bearing in mind you could end up cycling 25km (15.5 miles) or more. Especially if try to see everything in a day like we did.

On the face of it that distance might not sound too bad, but once you add a few hills, some beach walks, a swim or two, and the scorching WA sun (there’s very little shade on Rottnest), it can start to feel more like an endurance test.

Unless you really enjoy your exercise, maybe consider a shorter loop around the east and centre of the island, hire an electric bike, or take the bus and save your energy for swimming, snorkelling and the spectacular scenery.

Rottnest Island is accessed by ferry from Fremantle (Northport and B Shed Victoria Quay) and Perth (Barrack Street Jetty and Hillarys Boat Harbour). Depending on your departure point and ferry type, the journey can take anywhere from 25 to 90 minutes.

If you’re just going for the day, we recommend booking a fast ferry and taking the earliest boat out and the latest back, giving you as much time as possible on the island.

17. Watch Sunset at Sugarloaf Rock

Not far from the start of the Cape to Cape Track between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin hunkers Sugarloaf Rock, perhaps one of South West Australia’s most instagrammable spots.

The rugged coastal views here are truly spectacular, but if your luck is in, there are also whales (June to early December) and dolphins to be spotted off the coast. In the summer months, red-tailed tropic birds nest on the rock itself.

The area is also a haven for walkers of all persuasions, from keen hikers traversing the multi-day Cape to Cape Track, to day ramblers out for a short stint along this stunning coastal stretch. If you’re pushed for time but want to get a small taste of the Cape to Cape Track, check out the 3km (1.9 mile) section between Sugarloaf Rock and Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.

If, like us, you’re visiting as part of a road trip around the national park’s many attractions, we recommend arriving later in the day to experience one of the dramatic sunsets that Sugarloaf Rock is renowned for. While the weather didn’t quite deliver on the day we visited, we were equally awed by the brooding, stormy backdrop that greeted us.

We’ll be back in better weather for that sunset though!!

Sugarloaf Rock is just south of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and around a 50-minute drive north of Margaret River. It’s in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, which has free entry. 

18. Climb Into the Canopy in the Valley of the Giants

The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is an absolute highlight of any South West Australia road trip. It serves up a birds-eye-view of some of Australia’s most majestic tingle trees, many of which are more than 400 years old.

Set in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park and Walpole Wilderness, just 20km (12.5 miles) east of Walpole, this award-winning 40-metre (131 foot) high walkway lets you get up close and personal with some of the tallest trees on the planet.

After an initial slope up, the cantilevered walkway weaves (and sometimes sways) through this ancient and uniquely Australian tingle forest for 600 metres (0.4 miles), giving you ample time to enjoy the canopy. If you’re lucky, you’ll also spot some of its feathery inhabitants.

Once you’ve descended to terra firma, be sure to check out the adjoining Ancient Empire walkway. Here you can truly appreciate just how immense these giant tingle trees are from the perspective of the forest floor.

There’s a great Discovery Centre on site, and free daily guided walks and talks outside peak periods and school holidays. The Valley of the Giants is open everyday from 9am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. There’s a fee for the Tree Top Walk but the Ancient Empire and Discovery Centre are free.

19. Taste Your Way Through South West WA Wineries

For us, a visit to the south west corner of Australia wouldn’t be complete without sampling some of Western Australia’s stunning wines.

While Margaret River wines are known on the global stage, there are also six other distinct wine regions south of Perth, including Peel, Geographe, Blackwood Valley, Manjimup, Pemberton and Great Southern. There are also multiple sub-regions. Which all equates to huge diversity for visiting wine lovers. Happy days!

Of course, Margaret River rightly gets plenty of accolades for its top notch, stylishly designed cellar doors, gourmet food offerings, and its location just a stone’s throw from some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches and coastline. This is cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay country, with sauvignon blanc and semillon also very well regarded.

With so many wineries to choose from and so much wine to sample, we highly recommend leaving the car at home and joining a Margaret River winery tour.

On our tour we got to sip some incredible varieties in a modern tasting room surrounded by floor to ceiling barrels; at the counter in an understated, simple family estate; and on a cosy veranda overlooking the vines. Tours will generally visit a couple of cellar doors and include a tasty lunch.

Outside Margaret River, we were fairly opportunistic in selecting our wine stops depending on how our day was going (or if we passed a vineyard sign!). En route to Pemberton and throughout the ancient karri, marri and jarrah forests, keep your eyes peeled for signs that will take you to some of the region’s best cool climate vineyards, with mainstays of chardonnay, merlot and pinot noir.

On the way to Denmark, our lucky dip approach to selecting vineyards found us sipping delicious wine in a lovely, ambient, wood panelled winery with some of the friendliest hosts we’d met on our trip. Denmark is part of the Great Southern wine region, literally the coolest wine region in Western Australia. It’s famous for riesling, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay.

Whether it’s cool climate pinot noir or premium Margaret River shiraz, if you like wine, you’ll definitely enjoy the diverse wine regions in the south west of Australia! We’ll certainly be back for more.

20. Be Delighted on a Unique EcoCruise

Incredible, educational, hilarious, offbeat, beautiful, unique and thought-provoking – just some of the descriptors that jump to mind when I think about how to describe the WOW Wilderness EcoCruise out of Walpole.

To be honest, it’s a tour that defies description, largely due to the larger-than-life presence of tour guide Gary Muir. He not only takes you on a physical journey through the sparkling waters of Walpole-Nornalup Inlets Marine Park, but somehow manages to weave a story covering the history, geology, nature, ecology, biodiversity and sociology of this unique and very special area, as seen through the eyes of a local.

Gary’s delivery is part larrakin, part teacher, part comedian, and all performer. His stories, delivered at a breakneck pace, are nothing short of hilarious, but will somehow leave you better informed and more curious than you arrived.

After cruising the serene and jaw-droppingly beautiful waterway with dolphins, sea eagles and ospreys for company, and with Gary’s stories ringing in your ears, there’s an opportunity to stretch your legs and walk through the wilderness area to a secluded beach. Then it’s back to the boat for tea and cake ahead of the return journey to Walpole.

This unforgettable eco-tour runs daily at 10am out of Walpole and lasts for 2.5 hours. It’s extremely popular, so book ahead if you can.

Walpole is around 120km (75 miles) and a 1hr20 drive from Pemberton. 

21. Bonus Highlight: The Pinnacles Desert

Ok, so it’s not strictly located in the south west corner of Australia. But if you’re visiting Perth you may, like us, find it impossible to pass up the opportunity to scoot 2 hours north to the Pinnacles Desert, perhaps one of the most interesting places to visit in Western Australia.

Set in Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles Desert is one of the most unique places we’ve ever been. Thousands of ancient limestone pillars pincushion the mustard-coloured desert here, against a backdrop of Indian Ocean and vast, vivid sky.

The Pinnacles is especially picturesque at both sunset and sunrise (along with being much cooler and with far fewer flies). For easy access to the site, we suggest staying locally, like nearby Cervantes.

You can drive around the area via the 4km (2.5 mile) Pinnacles Loop, an easy, well-maintained unsealed track. Or walk the 1.5km (0.9 mile) Desert View Trail. There’s also the excellent Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre, where you can learn more about the nature, culture and geology of this stand-out natural wonder.

Nambung National Park has a park entry fee (unless you have a WA Park Pass), which you can sort out at the pay machines in the carpark. You can access the Pinnacles Desert anytime while the Discovery Centre is open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm.  

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If you’ve got any questions or thoughts about things to do in South West WA, drop us a line in the comments below.

And if you’re looking for a planner for exploring the south west of Australia, check out our 2-Week Perth to Albany Road Trip itinerary.