Road trip holiday from Perth - Ideas please
Discussion
I'm looking at some ideas for our first Aussie holiday and rather than jumping right on a plane and flying off to Bali or the east coast, I thought we'd explore this end of the country first.
We did a 3 week road trip down the US West coast a few years back and would love to do something similar. However, in the US there is lots to see and do along the way - I'm wary that there might be a lot less to do here!
I think the options are:
1) Drive south towards Esperance.
2) Drive north up to shark bay / Exmouth.
These two obviously have different scenery etc. but I was wondering if anyone here has done a similar trip?
We did a 3 week road trip down the US West coast a few years back and would love to do something similar. However, in the US there is lots to see and do along the way - I'm wary that there might be a lot less to do here!
I think the options are:
1) Drive south towards Esperance.
2) Drive north up to shark bay / Exmouth.
These two obviously have different scenery etc. but I was wondering if anyone here has done a similar trip?
When I got married here 3 years ago, the wife and I did 6 weeks. We did Monkey Mia to Albany in that time.
What are you after? There are some great sights, but they are a long way apart.
Monkey Mia - Dolphins
Geraldton - nice town, nice beaches
Cervantes - Pinacles
Hyden - Wave Rock
Margeret River - nice town, great countryside, plenty of things to do (canoing, horse riding, wine tasting, caves). It's very touristy.
Albany - there are things like chocolatiers, wineries etc. Tree top walk is down there too.
We've also done a few other things in Perth when we've had time off.
Helicopter ride from Burswood over to Freo (look in the entertainment book for big discount)
Rockingham - Dolphins
Freo - Leeuwin boat trip
Even getting the ferry from Perth to south Perth for a pint is something different.
Also get up the swan valley for wineries. A winery we like is Millbrook in Jarradale (some of the best food we've had here, see the water damns while out there too) and there is a Core cider house too up in the hills.
What sort of thing are you looking at?
What are you after? There are some great sights, but they are a long way apart.
Monkey Mia - Dolphins
Geraldton - nice town, nice beaches
Cervantes - Pinacles
Hyden - Wave Rock
Margeret River - nice town, great countryside, plenty of things to do (canoing, horse riding, wine tasting, caves). It's very touristy.
Albany - there are things like chocolatiers, wineries etc. Tree top walk is down there too.
We've also done a few other things in Perth when we've had time off.
Helicopter ride from Burswood over to Freo (look in the entertainment book for big discount)
Rockingham - Dolphins
Freo - Leeuwin boat trip
Even getting the ferry from Perth to south Perth for a pint is something different.
Also get up the swan valley for wineries. A winery we like is Millbrook in Jarradale (some of the best food we've had here, see the water damns while out there too) and there is a Core cider house too up in the hills.
What sort of thing are you looking at?
We loved our US trip because there was a great variety of things to see and do - Walking through national parks, off-roading in death valley getting drunk in Vegas and shopping in LA.
One thing we wont be doing is camping - Hence the motorhome idea. It also means we can take the dog along with us.
Several on your list are things we've got on the "day trips" list as they're no more than a couple of hours away in the car.
Have you ever been on the Swan jet boat?
One thing we wont be doing is camping - Hence the motorhome idea. It also means we can take the dog along with us.
Several on your list are things we've got on the "day trips" list as they're no more than a couple of hours away in the car.
Have you ever been on the Swan jet boat?
I first landed in Oz into Perth and did both directions in the 97 Falcon we had at the time. The highlights for me were: Kilbarri, Pinnacles, Exmouth (Ningaloo reef is incredible), Margaret River & Esperance (the most beautiful place we've been to in Australia) . People rave about Albany too.
Heading north and south are surprising different, and I'm jealous of your choice! North is more sparse, south has more to see in less space.
If it was me, I'd be keen to head south. Margaret River, Denmark, Albany, Esperance. We have fond memories of the area as we broke down between Margaret River and Manjimup and a fantastic couple from Northcliffe rescued us and housed us for Xmas/New year and let me use their workshop to fix the car. Really nice people around those parts.
If you decide the north route is best, there is plenty to see but up to Kilbarri is achievable for a weekend spin and I believe you can fly to Exmouth so I'd be keen on that. We did Perth - Exmouth - Perth in just over two weeks but we weren't hanging around either.
Heading north and south are surprising different, and I'm jealous of your choice! North is more sparse, south has more to see in less space.
If it was me, I'd be keen to head south. Margaret River, Denmark, Albany, Esperance. We have fond memories of the area as we broke down between Margaret River and Manjimup and a fantastic couple from Northcliffe rescued us and housed us for Xmas/New year and let me use their workshop to fix the car. Really nice people around those parts.
If you decide the north route is best, there is plenty to see but up to Kilbarri is achievable for a weekend spin and I believe you can fly to Exmouth so I'd be keen on that. We did Perth - Exmouth - Perth in just over two weeks but we weren't hanging around either.
200bhp said:
We loved our US trip because there was a great variety of things to see and do - Walking through national parks, off-roading in death valley getting drunk in Vegas and shopping in LA.
One thing we wont be doing is camping - Hence the motorhome idea. It also means we can take the dog along with us.
Several on your list are things we've got on the "day trips" list as they're no more than a couple of hours away in the car.
Have you ever been on the Swan jet boat?
Maybe have a good look at the scale on the map WA is a fecking big place, my two eldest live there and they rolled on the floor laughing when I suggested that Monkey Mia might be an easy drive for a day trip. Half of the USoA will fit into WA One thing we wont be doing is camping - Hence the motorhome idea. It also means we can take the dog along with us.
Several on your list are things we've got on the "day trips" list as they're no more than a couple of hours away in the car.
Have you ever been on the Swan jet boat?
I sent a tech over from Sydney to do some network upgrade in Perth, Bunbury, Albany & Geraldton.
He figured a day road trip and was horrified when I told him he couldn't fly it in a day.
[quote=Bibbs]When I got married here 3 years ago, the wife and I did 6 weeks. We did Monkey Mia to Albany in that time.
What are you after? There are some great sights, but they are a long way apart.
Monkey Mia - Dolphins
Geraldton - nice town, nice beaches
Cervantes - Pinacles
Hyden - Wave Rock
Margeret River - nice town, great countryside, plenty of things to do (canoing, horse riding, wine tasting, caves). It's very touristy.
Albany - there are things like chocolatiers, wineries etc. Tree top walk is down there too
quote]
Did this in a camper about 10 years ago, took 2 weeks as an out and back trip. Will never forget the amazing scenery and beaches of the west coast. I'd add a stop in Kalbarri and head a bit further up to Exmouth too, the Ningaloo reef is a few yards off shore at this point and although you need to watch the currents you can do so incredible snorkling just off the beach.
In isolation the sights were nice but the whole journey was unforgettable.
What are you after? There are some great sights, but they are a long way apart.
Monkey Mia - Dolphins
Geraldton - nice town, nice beaches
Cervantes - Pinacles
Hyden - Wave Rock
Margeret River - nice town, great countryside, plenty of things to do (canoing, horse riding, wine tasting, caves). It's very touristy.
Albany - there are things like chocolatiers, wineries etc. Tree top walk is down there too
quote]
Did this in a camper about 10 years ago, took 2 weeks as an out and back trip. Will never forget the amazing scenery and beaches of the west coast. I'd add a stop in Kalbarri and head a bit further up to Exmouth too, the Ningaloo reef is a few yards off shore at this point and although you need to watch the currents you can do so incredible snorkling just off the beach.
In isolation the sights were nice but the whole journey was unforgettable.
200bhp said:
Several on your list are things we've got on the "day trips" list as they're no more than a couple of hours away in the car.
Yup. We did a lot of them every day for a week. Came home and then went to a top resturant in town in the evening.Actually got to know the place fairly well by then. Holidaying at home, also helped that our appartment was like a hotel anyhow (in layout with nice views).
Also ment we didn't need a dog sitter.
You could do Wave Rock or the Pinnicles in a day easy. But it's kinda nice to take your time and stop at all the little places along the way.
200bhp said:
Have you ever been on the Swan jet boat?
Not yet, but after seeing it from the Brewery the other day, it's defo on the 'todo' list.Gassing Station | Australia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff