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

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.