The shorter route takes you from Perth to Albany, then on to Esperance, and returning to Perth via Wave Rock and York. We head to the left first, to catch a last light glimpse of the coves famous herd of huddling granite elephants theyre not so obvious at first, but once you see them, well, they really cant be unseen. From previous discussions, I suppose I. These are some of the tallest trees in the world and its truly something to be among the giants. Sydney to Melbourne Travel options. Mammoth Cave is renowned for the extraordinary fossils found here, including the 50,000-year-old jawbone of an extinct giant wombat-like species still embedded in the wall! from $254. Stroll around town for a bit then head on to whatever attractions we decide on. You could also drive to famous Cottesloe Beach for fish and chips. The thing about planning a road trip in Australia is that distances can be as epic as the nature itself, so its vital to take a pragmatic approach to just how much you can see and do with the time you have (fun fact: the state of Western Australia is ten times the size of the UK!). Albany to Perth via Pemberton. Feb 25, 2023, 7:05 PM. It covers 1,621 km and 17 hours of driving time. However, services depart from Proudlove Parade Transwa Albany and arrive at Charles West Avenue Transwa Margaret River via Brockman Street Transwa Pemberton. 4-day Margaret River, Albany, and Valley of the Gian This is old growth karri forest at its best with great bird and wildlife spotting to be had. There's plenty to do around Pemberton, including visiting the cascading waterfalls in Gloucester National Park, which are accessible on an easy 1.2-kilometre trail. As for us, weve already started planning more road trips from Perth, plus future visits to road trip south west Australia further and do all the things we didnt quite manage to squeeze in this time around (though not for want of trying). A bright white beacon on the headland, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse rises above the dense coastal heath, serving up sweeping ocean views and lighting the way along this dangerous coast, just as it has for nearly 120 years. What companies run services between Pemberton, WA, Australia and Albany, WA, Australia? You'll find listed Perth Events, shows, free events in Perth, local community events, fairs, farmers markets, City of Perth events, even events at your local library. You could easily spend your entire stay exploring the Margaret River attractions in this corner alone, so if you have more time, wed definitely recommend giving more of it to this area. Albany (120 kilometres) The drive from Pemberton to Albany is peppered with natural highlights. Weve also booked bikes with our ferry ticket so we can explore the island at our leisure the bikes travel over with the ferry and we collect them when we disembark at the island. Phone reception is fine in and around the main towns, but everywhere else including while youre driving on the long stretches of road will be patchy at best. Perth is the capital of WA, and its the launchpad for our South Western Australia itinerary. Our plan is just to be in Albany. Thought to have been formed by sea shell deposits, the pinnacles are more than 25,000 years old. We plan overnight. This is our kind of town a vibrant waterfront precinct, a hub of historic sites to wander around, some excellent eateries and great drinking establishments. Fly from Albany (ALH) to Perth (PER) 6h 13m. Total driving distance appx. Table . Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Albany to Perth. From beautiful beaches and hiking trails to sandalwood shopping and shipwreck diving. The artist Gaudi said there are no straight lines in nature, making this strikingly linear sea-sculpted channel a real eye-catcher, surrounded as it is by an otherwise rugged and wild coast. A post shared by Thistlebank Estate, Mt Barker (@thistlebankwa). Theres a museum and tearooms here, and guided tours including a climb up the 59 steps of the lighthouse to its balcony. Depart Albany via Porongurup National Park along Chester Pass Road. Leave Manjimup for Walpole. Then we turn right and follow it to the end, where theres a small carpark. Show only these on map. There are a handful of companies doing wine tours in Margaret River and they all follow a fairly similar format. Theres a handful of accommodation in the area, from lodges and bed and breakfasts, to camping and caravan parks. There are also public toilets and a play area across the road. Our goal today is to be in the pretty bayside town of Busselton by early afternoon, so we can max our time exploring the famous Busselton Jetty and surrounds. Perth to Albany distance and driving time The driving distance from Perth to Albany along the Albany Highway is 413km. You'll need a national park pass RAC members save 50%. Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks and Monkey Rock are a must; as is a stroll through the main town and a winery lunch at one of the iconic vineyards. There are plaques and points of interest along the way, telling the story of its past and present. From Nannup, we join the Karri Forest Explorer Drive roughly 52 km (32 miles) south-east on the Vasse Highway. 1,150km return trip weve allowed eight days. Head down to Cosy Corner Beach, which is just a lovely as it sounds a relatively quiet, sheltered beach popular for swimming, snorkelling and fishing. 165 km (100 miles)Total driving time appx. As the other must-see on our Torndirrup list, we make a beeline for The Blowholes as the sun is dropping. Once you arrive at your destination, spend your evening enjoying a Margaret Riversunset and dinner at one of the many spots along the Bussell Highway main drag in town. If youre dropping off a hire car though, be sure to factor in traffic and leave plenty of time to check in. Route Timetable SW2 Coach line East Perth to Pemberton via Bunbury and Donnybrook There are three services to Pemberton, one travelling a more direct route, one travelling down the coast and one that loops inland, hitting Collie and Boyup Brook. Albany to Hopetoun (3.5 hours) The longest drive along the route from Perth to Albany and Albany to Esperance follows the outskirts of Fitzgerald River National Park into Ravensthorpe before you arrive at Hopetoun. How you roll is entirely up to you you can go hard like we did, or slow the pace and pick a couple of places from each days highlights that interest you most. In Australia, you can search and book accommodation via all the usual booking engine suspects. After brunch, get back on the road and head to Perth. Weve got two caves on todays agenda. 170 km (105 miles)Total driving time appx. If risking your life climbing a big tree doesnt take your fancy (sensible), we still recommend visiting Warren National Park for a wander on its trails instead. We will be there for 6 nights and use it as a base, before coming back to Perth for 4 nights. Take the bus from Brockman St Transwa Pemberton to Proudlove Pde Transwa Albany. Torndirrups Blowholes are a bit morewell, subtle. ): 7hr 30min Suggested time: 4-6 days Keep an eye on the weather before you go, and take a warm top no matter when you visit the coastal cliffs and lookouts along the south those Antarctic winds can bite. What you choose will depend on how much time you have and if you have previously visited the South West region. Albany to Perth road trip planner. Your included flights advised via email with 24 hours to select alternative flights, routing or airline (alternatives may be at a higher price). Highlights of the town include: The markets are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and theyre on the CAT loop. We Aussies are spoiled for choice when it comes to road tripping the epic outdoors, but one of our greatest regions for exploring is the wedge of country between Perth and Albany in south west Australia. . Day 4: Denmark to West Cape Howe. That means a Perth to Albany driving time of four hours and 38 minutes. Given the amount of driving on this south west Australia road trip itinerary, we figured it was only fair that we both get a day off from being designated driver and let someone else show us around! As a birder, Ive also brought my binoculars in the hopes of an end-of-season glimpse of the red-tailed tropic birds that nest on the rock over the summer months (no joy, but thats birding). We pick up some lunch at a local bakery and find a grassy spot by pretty Hardy Inlet. . Once your bellies are full, make tracks to Albany. We spend around two hours making this trek. The Giant Tingle Tree is the grand dame and showpiece of a lovely, 800 metre (1/2 mile) loop walk through karri and red tingle forest. The most direct route between Perth and Albany is the Albany Highway. We pick up some fresh juices from a local caf and wander for a bit before settling on the beach for some people watching. See the Margaret River to Denmark . For specific information on travelling to the state of Western Australia (WA), where this road trip itinerary takes place, head here. Or more if, like us, you sign up for a Margaret River wine tour. Of course, if youre us, theres always one more thing to squeeze in. Total driving distance appx. For the many, many Aussies who never made it back, this is where they last stood on home soil. At just over 415km, from Perth to Albany, it takes just four and a half hours, and . (1.5 hours' drive south-east of Pemberton) and . Total driving distance: Driving is optional today but if you do drive, the trips are shortOvernight: Fremantle. Single room: extra AUD $690. All Rights Reserved. We did, however, enjoy an incredible golden hour over the ambient jetty ruins, and the silhouette of a lone dolphin cruising the shoreline. Best stops along Perth to Albany drive. 2 hoursOvernight: Perth. Sure, its touristy and we were initially tempted to skip it. Use an online calendar to create reminders for all the tasks you need to do and invite your guests to the dinner via email or text message. While the cavern itself is tiny compared to Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave requires an epic descent through a vast sinkhole into the bowels of the Earth (which also means a thigh-burning ascent afterwards). 5. The 1.8 km (1.1 mile) Busselton Jetty is (said to be) the longest timber-piled jetty in the world, and its the focus of our visit. But they are extra impressive in their girth. All up, we travel around 2,000 kilometres (1,242 miles), give or take. After lunch, we follow Caves Road and then the turnoff to Canal Rocks. The falls are just a couple hundred metres from the carpark but if you feel like stretching your legs on a further walk while youre here, hit up the 4.5 km (2.8 mile), moderately tough Beedelup Loop Walk. While war museums arent everyones cup of tea, we reckon this award-winning centre, high above King George Sound, is a must-visit. The Gap and Natural Bridge are at the end of The Gap Road. Our first stop is Mammoth Cave, where a self-guided audio tour takes us on a boardwalk journey through the stunning, stalactite-filled chambers of this ancient place. We opt for Hidden River Estate just north of Pemberton and around 15 minutes from the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree. We do not use your personal data, and we will never sell it. Combine our 4 day luxury overnight coach tour of South Western Australia's icons of Albany, Margaret River, Pemberton and Tree Top Walk along with Perth based touring to Rottnest Island and more. While the demographic of the tour was decidedly older than us, the 2.5 hour slow boat tour out of Walpole is easily one of the most memorable and educational tours weve been on, all thanks to Garys charisma and encyclopaedic knowledge. Unsurprisingly, there are also lots of cafs here but the name also reflects Freos Italian heritage, which is still very much alive. Gorgeous Rottnest Island Wadjemup in the Aboriginal Noongar language rises from a cyan-coloured sea just 25 minutes by ferry from Fremantle. The Coastal Route is longer, coming in at just over 8 hours of driving and covering around 690 km. When putting together this south west Australian road trip planner, we plotted to visit the sites below roughly in the order they appeared on the map heading south from Margaret River. With hindsight though, unless youve got more days in Albany, this is probably a spot worth leaving for another time. Its impressive in its own right but the real head spin comes with a read of the signage onsite turns out these rocks are the remnant foundations of a once vast mountain range where Australia joined Antarctica. The final thing for you to do now is head for your accommodations in Walpole which takes about 70 minutes. While its effectively an outer suburb of Perth, it feels a world away from the big city. 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