Driving tours around Perth Australia
Discussion
The Boss fancies a road trip in Western Australia to mark our 20th wedding anniversary (we first became a couple on a road trip around the other half of Aussieland). Has anyone got any suggestions for a nice route for a fortnight or so, starting at Perth. We really want to avoid the road trains if possible and it’s the big outdoors, not restaurants that float our boat. After Perth I reckon we would head over to the East again. Ta.
I’ve had three or four road trips from Perth.
Last October we (Mrs and 17 year old) went north - to Exmouth, there and back in seven nights, in hindsight too far (2000 mile) there is a lot of nothingness to pass through! Rewarded with great beaches though - Coral Bay was lovely.
However, I’ve also had a couple of trips to the south. The towns are a little bigger, and closer together. And the scenery a little greener;
Mandurah, Bunbury, Margaret River, Albany and Esperance.
On review I’d say Esperance is too far out on a limb (with a lot of empty space to pass through to get there). I did vow (in 2001) I wouldn’t drive that far in Australia again… until last October. Realised how isolated I was when the MW radio signal faded out!
The motor museum in York is a nice place to pass a couple of hours.
Other highlights; loved watching the oceans meet at Augusta. And the blow holes at Albany. Bottled climbing the big tree at Pemberton! You can (pay to) swim with wild dolphins at Rockingham - but to be fair that’s barely a day trip from Perth.
If you can; share the driving, it’s often barely an hour before boredom sets in.
Last October we (Mrs and 17 year old) went north - to Exmouth, there and back in seven nights, in hindsight too far (2000 mile) there is a lot of nothingness to pass through! Rewarded with great beaches though - Coral Bay was lovely.
However, I’ve also had a couple of trips to the south. The towns are a little bigger, and closer together. And the scenery a little greener;
Mandurah, Bunbury, Margaret River, Albany and Esperance.
On review I’d say Esperance is too far out on a limb (with a lot of empty space to pass through to get there). I did vow (in 2001) I wouldn’t drive that far in Australia again… until last October. Realised how isolated I was when the MW radio signal faded out!
The motor museum in York is a nice place to pass a couple of hours.
Other highlights; loved watching the oceans meet at Augusta. And the blow holes at Albany. Bottled climbing the big tree at Pemberton! You can (pay to) swim with wild dolphins at Rockingham - but to be fair that’s barely a day trip from Perth.
If you can; share the driving, it’s often barely an hour before boredom sets in.
My wife and I love doing road trips in the wide open spaces of Australia, NZ, Canada etc. We did WA a few years ago and loved it.
We started in Perth and spent a couple of days around Freemantle (loved the maritime stuff including the first Aussie boat to win the America's Cup) and a boat trip upstream on the Swan River. Then a day trip to Rottnest Island, cycling the island and meeting countless Quokka's and the odd poisonous snake.
Then down to Margaret River for a couple of days which was actually the least interesting part of the journey despite all the good reports and expectations of great wine we had. The nearby coast was beautiful. Then over to Albany, a nice town with a lovely ocean lookout and surrounding hill with great views of the bay. Lots of Kangaroos at the roadside at dusk which was a bit worrying. Took in the Valley of the Giants tree top walk along the way.
Over to Esperance for a couple of days which was the highlight of the trip. A day trip about 50km east took us to the most spectacular beaches I have ever seen. Porcelain white sand and you can drive your rentacar along them for miles. Deadly great white sharks in the area so caution needed when swimming.
Then the big leg of 700km from Esperance back to Perth via Hyden and the Wave Rocks, the most interesting geological structures I have ever seen. Another night in Perth after a long day of driving then north to Cervantes taking in The Pinnacles (another interesting geological structure) and seeing plenty of wild Emu's.
On the way back to Perth a stop at Lake Thetis to see the stromatolites.
The trip was about 10 days total and a bit less than 2,500 km but apart from one long day was easily managable.
We enjoyed it so much we are planning to do something similar again in a year or two.
We started in Perth and spent a couple of days around Freemantle (loved the maritime stuff including the first Aussie boat to win the America's Cup) and a boat trip upstream on the Swan River. Then a day trip to Rottnest Island, cycling the island and meeting countless Quokka's and the odd poisonous snake.
Then down to Margaret River for a couple of days which was actually the least interesting part of the journey despite all the good reports and expectations of great wine we had. The nearby coast was beautiful. Then over to Albany, a nice town with a lovely ocean lookout and surrounding hill with great views of the bay. Lots of Kangaroos at the roadside at dusk which was a bit worrying. Took in the Valley of the Giants tree top walk along the way.
Over to Esperance for a couple of days which was the highlight of the trip. A day trip about 50km east took us to the most spectacular beaches I have ever seen. Porcelain white sand and you can drive your rentacar along them for miles. Deadly great white sharks in the area so caution needed when swimming.
Then the big leg of 700km from Esperance back to Perth via Hyden and the Wave Rocks, the most interesting geological structures I have ever seen. Another night in Perth after a long day of driving then north to Cervantes taking in The Pinnacles (another interesting geological structure) and seeing plenty of wild Emu's.
On the way back to Perth a stop at Lake Thetis to see the stromatolites.
The trip was about 10 days total and a bit less than 2,500 km but apart from one long day was easily managable.
We enjoyed it so much we are planning to do something similar again in a year or two.
We arrived in Perth at the start of our holiday and headed north as far as Kalbarri
I think there's a reasonable number of activities you can do along the way and it's all low stress and relaxing.
After further travels around Australia we flew up to Learmonth/Exmouth and visted Ningaloo just before returning to the UK. This was the highlight.
As mentioned above, I'm glad we didn't drive all the way as it allowed us to spend more time in other parts of Australia.
Have done a couple of road trips around Western Oz, in our opinion the
best trips in all of Australia.
Its 1300kms up to Exmouth stopping 3 times on the way, pick your places,
coral bay, Denham, Kalbarri etc
On the way back visit different places.
It is easily done in 2 weeks and we loved the remoteness, fab beaches, great snorkeling
and all the interesting stopping places - a lot of driving but easy.
South to Esperance is also good, you can go east first via wave rock, Kalgoorlie then down to
Esperance and back to Perth via Bremer bay, Albany, Margaret river.
Just make sure you have a couple of days in Fremantle before driving after the flight.
best trips in all of Australia.
Its 1300kms up to Exmouth stopping 3 times on the way, pick your places,
coral bay, Denham, Kalbarri etc
On the way back visit different places.
It is easily done in 2 weeks and we loved the remoteness, fab beaches, great snorkeling
and all the interesting stopping places - a lot of driving but easy.
South to Esperance is also good, you can go east first via wave rock, Kalgoorlie then down to
Esperance and back to Perth via Bremer bay, Albany, Margaret river.
Just make sure you have a couple of days in Fremantle before driving after the flight.
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