ITINERARY
South West Trail
A taste of Australia’s largest premium wine region and hidden little treasures beyond.
Seekers of premium wines make a beeline from Perth to Margaret River to indulge their foodie passions. Venture a little off the trail and find the mild weather and abundant sunshine also produce some extraordinary At a glance: flavours in the surrounding regions of • Perth to Bunbury (2 hours) Bunbury, Pemberton and Manjimup. • Bunbury to Margaret River (1 hour) THE JOURNEY • Margaret River to Pemberton (1 hour) • Pemberton to Perth via Manjimup Nearest major city: Perth (3 hours) Distance: 4 days Duration: 750 km / 469 miles Mode/s of transport: Car
DAY 1 – PERTH TO BUNBURY
Get the first taste of South West cheese, forests, or check out Bunbury’s cafes and wine and fresh produce by heading for the restaurants beside Koombana Bay, home harvest town of Harvey. Follow the Kwinana to more than 100 bottlenose dolphins. Freeway from Perth to the Forrest Highway and take the Harvey turnoff. Or, enjoy a Highlights leisurely country drive from Mundijong on the South Western Highway. From Harvey, >>Gnomesville, don’t miss the opportunity to it’s just a 30-minute drive to the vibrant see thousands of gnomes in the Ferguson port town of Bunbury and its award- Valley. winning wine region, the Ferguson Valley. >>Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, see dolphins at the shore or take the Take a self-guided tour of its arts, opportunity to extend the drive and have a wine and food trail and stop for lunch swim with the dolphins day tour. overlooking the vineyards and tuart ITINERARY
DAY 2 – BUNBURY TO MARGARET RIVER DAY 3 – MARGARET RIVER TO PEMBERTON
Hug the coastline of Geographe Bay along the Follow Caves Road south and take the including Pemberton’s finest delicacy, Bussell Highway, passing the seaside towns of Brockman and Vasse Highway, heading marron. Stay overnight at a local winery, Busselton and Dunsborough before the final deep into karri tree country to reach the forest retreat, guesthouse or caravan park. stretch to Margaret River along Caves Road. old timer milling town of Pemberton, a town of towering timbers. Highlights This this right at the heart of one of Australia’s largest wine regions and most diverse Set in the heart of karri tree country, find and >>A good detour is the Augusta Lighthouse – holiday destinations. Choose from over 100 climb the world’s tallest fire lookout tree – the where the Southern and Indian wineries, as well as fine restaurants, boutique famous Gloucester Tree, see a forest filled with oceans meet. breweries, art galleries, fresh produce stores the colour of spring wildflowers and taste >> Walk around Big Brook Dam and take and a huge variety of accommodation options, some of Western Australia’s top cool-climate in the amazing nature. If not afraid of from luxury retreats and private beach wines. They are the perfect accompaniment heights then look to take the challenge of houses to motels and camping grounds. to a lunch or dinner of fresh local flavours, climbing Gloucester Tree. Highlights
>>Busselton Jetty, visit the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere. DAY 4 – PEMBERTON TO PERTH >>Margaret River, explore the many cellar doors in the region and enjoy nature After a small drive from Pemberton, arrive the tranquil swimming and picnic spots activities like caving, mountain biking, at Manjimup which lies in the land of the of Fonty’s Pool, the Donnelly River and surfing, walking, etc. giants, surrounded by karri trees. They are Glenoran Pool before returning to Perth. the tallest species in Western Australia and one of the tallest hardwoods on Highlights Earth. That said, it’s what lies beneath the ground here that captures the attention >>Do a tour half day tour in Pemberton to and imagination of the world’s top chefs see some amazing sand dunes that are and foodies. This is the home of Australia’s located right next the forest. most successful black truffle industry. >>Over 80 percent of Manjimup shire is composed of National Park and forestry. Just a short drive from town, see the towering timbers of the King Jarrah, Four >>Have a truffle experience at the Wine and Aces and Diamond Tree Lookout Tower, or Truffle Co. in Manjimup town.