The South West Edge

Jump on a ferry ride from Fremantle to the picturesque Rottnest Island. Here you can hire a bike and explore the many beaches that are perfect for snorkelling, plus Mermaid Pools and blowholes. Meet friendly quokkas and enjoy the Thompson Bay Settlement or hop on a Rottnest seafood tour to experience fresh delicacies before catching the ferry back to the mainland. Catch the ferry back to Fremantle to overnight.

Overnight in the historic town of Fremantle, which has a vibrant arts scene and plenty of boutique shops for some retail therapy.

Get an early start from Fremantlee and head south, taking a scenic drive through Harvey and Dardanup with its picturesque rolling hills of farmland and orchards. Be sure to stop and see the colourful gnomes at Gnomesville in the Ferguson Valley.

In Bunbury, you can meet the friendly dolphins who frequent the shores in front of the Dolphin Discovery Centre. The wild, bottlenose dolphins come in close to shore daily (seasonal) to interact with humans. Eco-cruises and swim tours are also available. Out of Bunbury you can also visit Collie and Wellington National Park.

Interact with the friendly wild dolphins of Koombana Bay outside Dolphin Discovery Centre this morning or SUP in the calm, still water of the bay before departing for the Margaret River region, beginning at Busselton and Dunsborough. Swing amongst the trees on a high ropes course or dive below the Busselton Jetty for a view of colourful sea life. From winter through spring, spot whales as they migrate along the coast. Indulge in gourmet food at beachfront dining before continuing to Yallingup. Visit incredible coastal spots like Canal Rocks and Injidup Natural Spa, or hike part of the Cape to Cape Track between the lighthouses.

Connect with the world’s oldest living culture through an Aboriginal experience.

Famous for its premium wines and world-class surf, Margaret River is also home to plenty of restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries for foodies to enjoy. Visit cellar doors and meet the makers on guided tours with nature-meets gourmet experiences. Adventure-seekers can ride the waves, go rock climbing or abseiling, or take a kayak or canoe along the Margaret River. Savour the natural surroundings with plenty of underground caves and the stunning Boranup Forest and meet stingrays at Hamelin Bay.

There is plenty of overnight accommodation options in the region ranging from quaint B&B’s, private homes, luxury lodges and spa retreats set either in forest, vineyard or beach locations.

Travel from the Margaret River region to the old timber town of Nannup. From there continue on to Pemberton where you can experience the beauty of the different terrains on offer: from dense forests and water cascades to the massive land locked Yeagerup Dunes and beach. Take a cruise on the Donnelly River and experience the stunning D’Entrecasteaux National Park from the water. D’entrecasteaux National Park is only accessible via 4WD, with the exception of a sealed road to Windy Harbour.

Windy Harbour is a quaint seaside village, perfect for fishing and 4WD holidays. On the way back to Pemberton, you’ll pass through the impressive Mt Chudalup, which offers fantastic views from the top and understory – an ‘art in nature’ walk trail experience through the forest in Northcliffe.

Travel to Walpole and be sure to visit the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, a 40m high walkway through the forest’s canopy and home to old majestic tingle forests, found nowhere else in the world. If you prefer to be out on the water, enjoy a cruise through Nornalup National Park.

In Denmark make sure you travel to the southernmost point of Western Australia, Cape West Howe National Park. Take time to drive to other spectacular ocean side locations such as Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks in William Bay National Park with its sandy beaches and giant granite boulders.

Hikers are well catered for on the Bibbulmun Track which commences in Perth and passes through Pemberton via Walpole and Denmark before ending in Albany. At 1,000km it is WA’s longest walking trail but can be experienced in shorter sections as guided or self-guided itineraries. Or cycle a section of the world’s longest off-road cycling trail, the Munda Biddi Trail. In Denmark, enjoy a gourmet trail on the Scotsdale and Mt Shadforth tourist drives, stopping off and enjoying the many wineries and local produce on offer along the route.

Head to Albany and perhaps spend the morning at Discovery Bay, an old whaling station and now an interpretive centre and flora/fauna park.

From Albany, take a drive and view the dramatic, make sure you stop at the new cantilevered lookout over the impressive twenty five metre ‘Gap’ in Torndirrup National Park, carved over time by the crashing waves of the Great Southern Ocean. Come and visit the brand new and extraordinary National ANZAC Centre. If time is limited and you need to return to Perth, you can head north to Kojonup’s Kodja Place. Built around the theme of ‘One Story, Many Voices’, Kodja Place includes the farm experience, life on the “reserve” of the indigenous community and the heartfelt stories of early settlers.

Today will be one of the longest drives along this route so please make sure you set off early. Depart Albany via one of the oldest ranges in the Porongurup National Park and climb the Granite Sky Walk. Rising 670m, this suspended walkway gives an incredible view of the landscape allowing you to experience one of the most bio diverse places in the south west.

The Porongurup Range is an incredible area to discover the biodiversity of the region with 750 native plant species within a relatively small area of 2,600 hectares. Continue your journey along Chester Pass Road, and take in the Stirling Range National Park, home to Western Australia’s second highest peak, Bluff Knoll (1,095m) and renowned for its unusual cloud formations.

The Stirling Range is a hot spot for wildflower enthusiasts, bird watchers and hikers. In Ongerup, discover the conservation efforts for the shy native bush turkey at the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre before heading to Ravensthorpe and the pretty coastal town of Hopetoun, located near one of the most biodiverse places in Western Australia, the Fitzgerald River National Park.

Visit the UNESCO recognised, international biosphere of the spectacular Fitzgerald River National Park. It is one of the largest and most botanically significant national parks in Australia with over 1,800 beautiful and unique species of plants, 22 species of mammal, 200 bird species as well as 41 species of reptiles. The park has had major improvements with new scenic coastal roads, whale lookout and interpretive sites.

Travel east to the stunning coastal town of Esperance perhaps detouring to the Stokes Inlet National Park. Esperance is located on the Recherche Archipelago with its snow white beaches and turquoise blue waters. Spend the afternoon exploring Great Ocean Drive along Esperance’s western beaches or call into some of the local artisan galleries and attractions.

Set aside a full day to explore some of the attractions of Esperance like a cruise into the Recherche Archipelago to view Australian and New Zealand fur seals, sea eagles and other wildlife. Esperance is also famous for Lake Hillier, a pink lake on Middle Island off the coast of Cape Arid. Take a drive to Cape Le Grand National Park only 40 minutes on sealed roads from town. On the way see the unique Esperance Stonehenge, a full size replica of UK’s original or perhaps consider taking an escorted 4WD tour with Eco Discovery Tours along the beaches to Cape Le Grand National Park.

Lucky Bay boasts the whitest beach sand in Australia with kangaroos on the beach. Returning to Esperance call in to the Esperance Museum with its Skylab exhibit, pop in and see some local art and craft outlets and also wander the Museum Park Period Village and beautiful landscaped foreshore with its whale tail sculpture.

Travel Esperance to Hyden. Hyden is famous for Wave Rock, a fascinating 3 billion year old rock formation in the shape of a wave. The area also boasts historic Aboriginal hand print art in Mulka’s Cave.

Alternative route: Depart Esperance viaNorseman and Coolgardie to the famous gold mining town of Kalgoorlie. This route takes you north from farmlands near Esperance into the red earth outback country of the historic Goldfields. Norseman, Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie are all part of gold rush pioneering history with the area producing 60% of Australia’s gold. That afternoon visit the Super Pit or drive 1.5 hours north of Kalgoorlie to take in the Antony Gormley Inside Australia exhibit, 51 sculptures set in a 10km2 salt lake at Lake Ballard.

Drive from Hyden back to Perth perhaps making a slight detour along the Tin Horse Highway to Kulin before driving through Corrigin and historic York before entering Perth city.

Alternate route via Kalgoorlie: Set off early this morning to drive 600kms from Kalgoorlie back to Perth. The countryside changes from red earth to golden Wheatbelt farmlands. Along the way stop at several towns, view the museum atSouthern Cross, take a slight detour off the highway to Westonia, just before you arrive in Merredin. From here call in to Cunderdin Museum with its Meckering Earthquake simulator then finally wander the historic streets of York before heading into Perth.