Perth / South West WA - Where to Stay on 8 Day Road Trip? Unplanned & Leaving Friday

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  xwx on 30/10/2024 - 11:47

  The (slightly) inland South-Western forests (Pemberton, Manjimup, Bridgetown, Northcliffe region) are pretty interesting with their tree-top walks, along with the caves in the South. Great wine & wineries Margaret River and just North of Albany. It is a bit further than your plan, but the coastal journey Albany to Esperance via Denmark is stunning [Check the geography limits of your rental though].

  Bunker Bay Dunsborough area is also quite lovely but has grown a lot since its coastal hamlet / village charm of past decades.

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  frondono on 30/10/2024 - 11:50

  +1

  have a look at staying on rottnest here. there's usually last minute cancellations so you can probably get a unit.

  https://bookings.stayrottnest.com/search-rates

  Albany motel and apartments is pretty good and close to the action.

  If you're driving down to albany stop in at the williams woolshed and grab a brekky burger. there's also a drive that goes through wagin and katanning that will take you through the porongorups on the way to albany and the granite skywalk is on the way. It's a bit of a drive though so you wanna leave early.

  agoda has been pretty good for last minute bookings in the margaret river region.

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  coxjon on 30/10/2024 - 12:06

  +6

  Albury

  That's a very long drive from Perth!

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  dirtybigbjelke on 30/10/2024 - 13:26

  +1

  These both sound like good options especially Bunker bay. It really doesn't take long to get anywhere in Perth/Fremantle by car so a CBD location like that is fine. Perth CBD is dead after hours generally. With the short time you have I might skip Albany. Base yourself in Margaret River and explore out from there, there is plenty to do in that region all the way down to Pemberton etc. I just skip Albany because the drive is long and boring.

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  payless69 on 30/10/2024 - 14:11

  Wave Rock really rocks!

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  carlJack on 30/10/2024 - 14:38

  On the way to Albany from Perth you can checkout Bluff Knoll (Highest peak in WA) and Granite skywalk in Porongurup. On the way to Perth from Albany you can talk the long route and visit places like Denmark(beautiful little town), walpole (Tree top walk), Pemberton, Manjimup, nannup, Augusta, Margaret river and Busselton before going back to Perth. After Albany I would probably stay in walpole and checkout nearby attractions before moving to Pemberton for the next pit stop. Next stay I would do is , somewhere between Augusta and Margaret river in caves road. Last stay will be in Busselton.

  • 

    Saul Goodman on 30/10/2024 - 16:02

    Leaving early in the morning from Albany, do you think that's still too long drive to Busselton - if we want to do those things on the way (Tree top walk etc)?

    I think I was leaning towards 2N Perth, 3N Albury, 3N Busselton (or Bunbury)

    • 

      frondono on 30/10/2024 - 16:10

      you probably want to stop in pemberton or nannup on the way through to margaret river or yallingup. Northcliffe and windy harbour is worth a look for the scenery.

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  El cheepo on 30/10/2024 - 15:41

  My advice is read your hire car PDS carefully as some car hire companies have a certain radius in which you are not allowed exceed from the cbd.

  Usually they cover as far south as Margaret river, but may exclude anything further south.

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  cuethebush on 30/10/2024 - 18:53

  +1

  Have a look at this mob for car hire: https://www.nobirds.com.au/perth/car-hire

  They are usually heaps cheaper than your Thrifty/Budget/Avis/etc. Only downside is they are offsite from the airport but have a shuttle bus to/from their lot. Only 5 or so minutes drive.

  I find Albany a nice place and if you haven't been there before there is plenty to see and do for a couple of days. I agree the drive from Perth to Albany is a bit dull but there are small towns to stop and break up the drive. It is also a different starting point for the South West region as opposed to starting and finishing in Perth.

  If it was me I'd be looking at an itinerary like this:
  - 2N Perth (Rottnest Island, Fremantle, Kings Park, beaches near city, as someone else said do the CBD in daytime)
  - Drive to Albany via Narrogin, Wagin, Katanning (you go through more small towns this way as opposed to the main highway)
  - 2N Albany (if you can manage to get to Bremer Bay, I've heard its a scenic coastal town but haven't been myself)
  - Drive to Pemberton via Denmark, Walpole, (Windy Harbour if time allows, it's a bit of a detour. Its just a scenic lookout over the Southern Indian Ocean)
  - 2N Pemberton (plenty to see and do here and in the region)
  - Drive to Margaret River region via Augusta and Bussell Hwy Caves Rd (edit: Caves Rd is probably more interesting)
  - 2N Margaret River region or Busselton or split 1N each (depending on your interests)

  Of course this is subject to what interests you and your fellow travellers so do your own research!

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  Drakesy on 30/10/2024 - 18:58

  Do a couple of days in Albany for the peninsula walk, gap, natural bridge, Granite Skywalk etc.
  Do a day at Denmark and Elephant Rocks/Greens Pool.

  Do a few nights in Margaret River with a wine tour and a degustation at one of the many wineries. There's literally 100's of wineries to choose from.
  My go to is Cullens (pricey), Lenton Brae, Leeuwin (pricey), Happs (cheap and unlimited tastings), Hay Shed Hill (average wine but great degustation for lunch) and Wolf Blass (pricey).

  Go for a bushwalk in the Karri Forest around Margaret River - stunning trees.
  Head north to Bunker Bay, that and Meelup Beach are the two go to beaches in Dunsborough.
  walk along the Busso Jetty
  Stop at the Bunbury farmers market and watch your wallet get reamed on your way back to bypassing Bunbury and Mandurah and finally Perth

  Ozbargain should incorporate an AI reader to summarise what comes up most frequently.