A local’s guide to the top things to do in Margaret River

From the latest to the greatest, here’s how to make the most of Margaret River.

Cemented as one of Australia’s top holiday spots, the list of things to do in Margaret River reads like a holiday brag list. Ensconced amid spectacular natural attractions in Western Australia’s South West region on Wadandi Boodja, it’s a three-hour drive from Perth or a 40-minute drive from Busselton airport.

A jagged coastline entwines with glittering ivory beaches, towering ancient karri forests and sigh-worthy rolling vineyards. Majestic limestone caves hide amongst the bushland while the main street of town is bursting with cafes, bars and galleries. Here’s our insider’s list of the best things to do in Margaret River.

Sip and savour at these vineyards

a couple enjoying wine on the alfresco deck at Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River — Leeuwin Estate is a picturesque spot to savour wines. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Renowned for wine the world over, you’d be excused for feeling tipsy with the choices of vino. Wine buff or wine buffoon, the Margaret River Wine region serves up an abundance of tangy tastings.

Leeuwin Estate is practically hallowed ground. They deliver world-renowned wine – try the coveted Art Series label – an impressive private art collection worth lingering for and fine dining that draws a crowd. Their annual amphitheatre concerts – hosting acts like Sting and Tom Jones – staged against a backdrop of Karri trees and kookaburras are a bucket list event. Book ahead.

Edwards Wines , originally a family operation, has added some glitzy fresh offerings to its long-standing lineup of great grog. A brand spanking new cellar door refurb gazes over the vines alongside the just opened Miss Chow’s Margaret River restaurant, where you can pair wines with modern Asian fare. Take home a bottle of Edward’s latest booze brilliance from their Ocean Series where Chardy and cab sav have been aged for a year in the surging depths of the nearby Southern Ocean.

There are plenty of notable vineyards along Caves Road, joined by a number of the not-so-usual stars that are shining on the wine making scene. Try LAS Vino for innovative, sustainable, award-winning wine. A short jaunt down the road is Walsh & Sons where you’ll find small batch, bio-dynamic wines and a casual cellar door experience. In the heart of Margaret River, Dormilona is another label to bring organic, minimal intervention wines to the table. Book online for cellar door tastings.

Dive in at these brilliant beaches

The pristine, sandy shore of Redgate Beach. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Powder white sand, rugged granite rock and surging surf make this coastline both beautiful and dramatic. Head to Contos beach to feel off-grid without needing a 4WD. The crescent-shaped beach, hugged by steep cliffs, is accessed from Caves Road via a gravel road and a short walk from the carpark. Redgate Beach has peeling waves, a pristine sandy beach and the South West coastline’s signature granite outcrops. The white-powdered beach of Injidup is enveloped by vegetated dunes. Head to the southern end and challenge yourself to a sandhill sprint and then tumble down to land in the glass-clear water resembling sandy lamingtons. Watch the ocean swallow the sun as surfers carve lines in the swell against a golden glow backdrop.

Get crafty at these local breweries

beef burger with fries and beer at Bootleg Brewery — Pair prize-winning beers with much-loved pub grub. (Image: Bootleg Brewery)

The craft beer scene has entrenched itself as the other drop of choice in the Margaret River region. Blaze a beer trail through the area to discover passionate artisanal brewers popping up in town, sprawling across farms and perched alongside dams.

Hit up Margaret River Brewhouse on the edge of the township. Go for the laid-back Marg’s vibe, award-winning ales and a nod to an Aussie Sunday session. The Beer Farm , smack in the middle of farmland, was once an old dairy and its rural heritage is still at the heart of the tin buildings and the cow-grazing view. Serving up tap beers from local WA ingredients and great food – try the share board with seasonal produce – the venue is a local favourite. Check their calendar for events, including live music. At Bootleg Brewery – the oldest craft brewery in the region – grassy banks spill down to an expansive dam. Prize-winning beers and hearty pub grub can be enjoyed under the umbrellaed tables, plus there’s a kids’ playground.

Bike or hike these trails

the Cape to Cape Track, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park — The Cape to Cape Track boasts unique flora and fauna, rugged tracks and surf breaks. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Power up your peddle and hire a bike, complete with saddlebag to store your snacks, from Hairy Marron Bike Cafe . Margaret River is renowned for serious terrain with mountain bike enthusiasts, yet there are also fabulous leisure trails for those more faint of heart. Meander through vineyards, pedal past paddocks and travel under towering forests with a number of trail options. Try the Wine Trail and taste at wineries along the way. Head out on a section of the Wadandi Track and visit nearby towns of Cowaramup or Witchcliffe. Bookended by the towns of Busselton and Augusta, the route is undergoing an AUD 17.5M upgrade to extend its length.

The Cape to Cape Track stretches for 135 kilometres, hugging the coastline of the Margaret River Region, winding through Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. You can easily hike a section and be treated to a winking, azure Indian Ocean and towering Karri trees in the ancient Boranup Forest.  

Taste the region at these restaurants and bars

dining at Miki’s Open Kitchen — Indulge in the degustation menu at Miki’s Open Kitchen. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Beyond the extensive winery and brewery options for drinking and dining, Margaret River serves up a plethora of alternate venues to indulge at. Miki’s Open Kitchen is unobtrusively tucked away on the main street. The intimate 30-seater space, with two scheduled sittings, is often waitlisted. You’ll be treated to open kitchen theatre and culinary mastery where Japanese-Australian fusion meet head on in an innovative degustation experience that’s outside the bento box. For tucker a little more low-key, try Burger Baby . Seriously good burgers, a small bar and a chilled out atmosphere, you can dine in or takeaway. Bonus points for offering vegan and coeliac fryers upon request. Spice it up with Dahl Daddy’s . Located near the skatepark, this curry canteen is uber casual and the South Asian menu, chalked up on the blackboard, changes daily.

Pearl’s Bar is a gem to quench your thirst, snack on great plates and feel totally welcome. Tucked away behind the main street with a speakeasy vibe is Yonder Bar . You shouldn’t judge this tiny bar it by its exterior. Rather, step inside where the music and cocktails are loud.

Slow down and sauna

Plunge into the wellness craze and balance out all the hiking, biking and beaching with a session at Mend . Book a sauna, ice bath and hot plunge session and cap it off with a holistic massage. Sigh.

Perk up at these best coffee spots

holding two cups of coffee, Margaret River Roasting Co — Pop by Margaret River Roasting Co for a caffeine fix. (Image: Josh Ball)

Percolate with locals at Little Sip . Serving up organic blends from celebrated coffee supplier, Margaret River Roasting Co you’ll find the lavender-haze, restored 1957, caravan parked up at a range of community haunts, such as Surfers Point, Prevelly (home of the Margaret River Pro World Surf Championships). Savour your caffeinated froth while watching surfers froth waves at the famous surf break. Community-loved espresso bar and specialty coffee store, West Coffee Co. on Wallcliffe Street will also satisfy your caffeine cravings with their barista blends.

Discover the best accommodation in Margaret River

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .