Are These the Best Places to Go in South West Australia?

It’s sometimes hard to appreciate just how vast Western Australia is and how much there is to do there. But when you look at a small part of the state, like the south west of WA, it becomes incredibly clear. That’s because even though it’s a small slice of Western Australia, it’s absolutely huge and the list of places to visit there is a super long one.

During my first trip to visit my brother in Perth, we did a week-long road trip through south west Western Australia. Even with all that time, and we spent all of it sightseeing, we really only scratched the surface I feel. To get a sense of how much we did, just look at this tour of the region for comparison and how much it fits into half the time. But everyone needs to start somewhere. To help you get started, these are the places in south west Australia that I definitely recommend you see for yourself.

Map of South West Western Australia

By its name you should be able to work out where generally in Australia we’re talking about. But if you’re not familiar with the region, you may not actually know the destinations that make up south west WA. Typically, the region includes the coast from Albany to Busselton and everywhere inland of that.

Here is a south west Australia map to help you visualise and plan your itinerary. It’s limited to places I’ve personally been; I didn’t get to Busselton or out towards Bremer Bay, so yes there’s definitely more places to visit south of Perth. But this should give you a good place to start your trip.

Two Peoples Bay

Out of the gates, lets start with a real crowd-pleaser – Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. This reserve covers a peninsula at the eastern end of the Rainbow Coast with just a single road leading into it. The good news is that road takes you Little Beach, the one place you can’t leave without seeing.

Little Beach is one of those perfect beaches in Australia that you picture when you travel here; stunning white sand, clear and vivid water, and utter seclusion. Because it is so gorgeous, you’ll no doubt encounter a few people, but not enough to ruin the place for you. If you do want to get away from any people, take the minor path at the far end of the beach and walk over to Waterfall Beach, an even more isolated spot that gives Little Beach a run for its money.

Albany

Albany is the lone city on the south coast of Western Australia and an extremely useful base for exploring the Rainbow Coast. But this small city isn’t just a place to stay and travel from to visit other regional destinations. In Albany there are attractions to visit, from the historical such as the National Anzac Centre, to the scenic like the viewpoint at Mount Melville. There are even fun bonuses to the city, including gin distilleries and a beach or two.

Margaret River

Margaret River really doesn’t need much of an introduction. After all, it’s one of Australia’s most famous wine regions. Weekends away in Margaret River are a popular escape for Perth locals, thanks to its winning combination of loads of wineries and stunning beaches. And that’s the best way to balance time here; start with a wine tour like this one which I did and then relax (or recover) the next day by the beach somewhere like Gnarabup Beach.

Valley of the Giants

While it may not seem the right part of Australia for it, south western Australia is actually home to a lot of forest. Visitors can see this for themselves at the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk near Walpole. This state of the art canopy walk takes you from the forest floor right up among the towering red tingle trees that the region is known for. If you’re afraid of heights don’t fret – there are also ground level paths that let you see the nature from below.

Torndirrup National Park

Besides maybe Margaret River, no other destination on this list has as much going on as Torndirrup National Park. I think you could easily dedicate two days to this park on the peninsula south of Albany and not run out of things to do. While most relate to the park’s nature, one notable exception is Albany’s Historic Whaling Station at Frenchman Bay, which is a museum to the region’s former industry.

But it’s the natural attractions on the coast that make Torndirrup National Park so memorable. You have unusual coastal formations like at The Gap, the Natural Bridge, and the Blowholes, all of which are pretty self-explanatory. Then there are the beaches – check out Torndirrup Beach and Cable Beach. And with such a dynamic coastline, there are many viewpoints to visit, with Stony Hill one of the best. As for hikes, I can’t wait to do the hike to Bald Head next time.

Cape Naturaliste

Combining a historic lighthouse, nature trails and a varied coastline, Cape Naturaliste offers a fun mix of attractions for visitors. Sitting at the northern point of the coast at Margaret River just up from Busselton, it’s one of the easier places to reach, unless you’re embarking on the massive Cape to Cape walk.

Cape Naturalise Lighthouse is a bit of a focal point here and with good reason. From the top you can enjoy sweeping views of the cape, while there are turn of the century cottages below it. There are plenty of nature trails to explore around the lighthouse area, with the main loop a pleasant stroll. It even has a whale watching platform if you don’t want to take a whale watching boat tour. 

Injidup Natural Spa

The coast near Margaret River is home to a lot of beaches. But at Injidup you’ll find something very different, and yes, also a beach. Rocks cover much of the coast here, all with deep fracture lines through them. There are many more of these rocks at Canal Rocks on the other side of Wyadup Bay, but it’s the rock pool known as Injidup Natural Spa that people flock to. Water rushes in through channels in the rocks to reach the pool and foams in such a way that it really does seem like a natural spa.

Denmark

If you’re looking for a central place to stay that’s not Albany then Denmark is a great choice. This country town sits along a relaxed river park a little inland from the coast. Denmark doesn’t offer too much in the way of attractions, but it is home to some nice cafes. Plus, just down the road is the Boston Brewing Co. brewery, that has a lot of beer to try and tasty food as well.

Gull Rock National Park

Looking at Gull Rock National Park it’s hard to believe how close it is to the city of Albany. Found just east of the city, it’s a place that feels completely wild and remote. Two lone dirt roads lead towards the beaches in the middle of the park, namely Gull Rock Beach and Skippy Reef Beach. Fishing seems to be a popular activity, as do beach walks. I think whatever you choose to do here is probably going to be pretty laidback and involve soaking up the quiet natural surroundings.

Ocean Beach

Some of these destinations, such as Ocean Beach here, are smaller than others. Ocean Beach sits at the mouth of Wilson Inlet near Denmark and the shape of the coast seems to make it a popular surf spot.

The actual beach itself is quite small, but to me the real draw was the lookouts on the hill above. Ocean Beach Lookout has decent views of the coast, but Lions Lookout is the better one as you can see into the inlet, across to Anvil Beach, and still watch the local surfers out on the water.

William Bay National Park

Hopefully you’re not sick of coastal attractions and national parks at this point, because we have one more. Good news is that William Bay National Park, just west of Denmark, is quite an interesting place to explore despite its small size. You have your pick of nice coastal spots here.

There’s Greens Pools with its gorgeous water colour and pristine beach. Or Elephant Rocks with its rock formations that you can squeeze through when the tide is right. Even Waterfall Beach with its sheltered beach and trickling cascade makes for a pleasant spot to take it easy for a moment.

Porongurup National Park

To my mind, one of the most important things to know about south western Australia is that visiting doesn’t have to be all about the coast. Because inland of the Rainbow Coast you’ll discover some real gems, like Porongurup National Park above. While only a pocket of nature east of Mt Barker, Porongurup is an excellent pick for nature walks.

The national park covers a small range of hills blanketed in forest and home to a bevy of wildflowers if you go in spring. There are selection of nature walks, many quite gentle, but the main draw is the one to the Granite Skywalk on Castle Rock. It too isn’t all that long or taxing, but is definitely worth the effort for the stunning views from the small walkaway perched on a stack of boulders.

Stirling Range

Now for an actual, I’d recommend turning your attention north to the considerably larger Stirling Range National Park. This mountain range is pretty hard to miss as it rises from the dead-flat plains of the region. The lower reaches of the Stirling Range are covered in light forest but get higher and things really start to get quite barren.

You have your pick of hikes to the various peaks in the national park, but there’s one main one most people do. The hike up Bluff Knoll takes you to the highest point of the mountains, providing you with an uninterrupted panorama of this region. On the way up and down you’ll also be treated to lots of forest, wildflowers, and the occasional wildlife in the form of lizards and skinks.

Mount Barker

For many, including myself, Mount Barker is mostly a stopping point en route to other places on this list. I’d wager a lot of people see nothing more than the Mount Barker Country Bakery, which I do recommend as a great lunch stop.

But there is more to this small country town north of Albany if you take a moment to look. Mount Barker is the heart of another WA wine region. Around town you’ll find a selection of wine cellars, such as Plantagenet Wines which I quite enjoyed. But there are more wineries surrounding the town, making this a useful alternative to Margaret River if you’re already down this way.

Conspicuous Cliff

Because you can never have enough beautiful beaches to visit, let’s add one last spot to the list. Conspicuous Cliff sits on a stretch of coast just east of Walpole and is home to yet another wide-open beach of fine white sand. Take one look at the cliff when you arrive and you’ll understand the obvious reasoning behind its interesting name.

Beach walks are going to be the main activity here, as it can get windy and the raging surf doesn’t make swimming an option. That said, there are walking trails that go to the top of the cliff.

Travel Tips for South West WA

With plenty of ideas now for your southwest Australia trip, let’s get into how to make a trip happen. For starters, you’re going to desperately need a car to travel here. We’re talking about long, long distances and relatively remote areas. So rent a car, unless you’d prefer the comfort and convenience of a 4-day tour through the region.

As for where to stay in southwest Western Australia, you can take your pick. There’s accommodation in most places, but the easiest places to base yourself are Albany, Denmark, Margaret River, plus maybe Walpole and Pemberton.

In terms of timing your visit, I highly recommend going in the shoulder season around October/November. This lets you avoid the summer heat and families on holiday from December through January. Winter may also be nice, as it doesn’t get too cold in Western Australia at that time.

Finally, there are many national park areas on this list. Some of these have entry fees, which you can pay for individually or with a parks pass. We went with the pass and it was excellent value.

Where are your favourite places on the south coast of WA? What other places in southwest Australia would you recommend people visit? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.