Nine Days in Western Australia by Car

Itinerary
Written By Jenny Ehrman

Australia is the perfect location for a road trip! Driving is readily accessible and offers flexible access to a wide range of stunning remote natural areas. In Australia, we suggest focusing on a single state and building a logical loop from its capital city. On self-drive trips like this, we typically choose 2-3 "hub" locations and explore the region from each home base. This results in some longer stretches of driving, but they are worth it in our opinion.

Australia has several “homegrown” car rental companies we have used and had good experiences with. Most recently, we booked with No Birds. They are affordable with a nice fleet of cars. You do have to take a shuttle from the airport, but we found this worth the extra effort given the cost savings. 

Here is a closer look at our itinerary. You can easily toggle the number of days in each location up or down based on your interests and available time. Let’s go!

Day 1 -

  • Arrive in Perth - Pick up your rental car and head straight to the suburb of Fremantle. We found Fremantle to be more quaint and manageable than staying in the city. You can choose to spend a day or two in Perth on the back end of this itinerary if there is anything you want to see before leaving.

  • Check in to your hotel and explore Fremantle on foot.

  • Fremantle has an impressive culinary scene featuring the region's fresh seafood and produce. Plan a relaxing dinner on your first evening. Some places we enjoyed include:

  • Book a nighttime tour of the Fremantle Prison after dinner. Be sure to reserve tickets ahead of time to ensure the tour type and time slot you prefer.

Day 2 -

  • Spend a full day exploring nearby Rottnest Island.

    • We suggest renting e-bikes in Fremantle and taking them on the ferry with you. Renting e-bikes on the Fremantle side and transporting them with you lets you skip the bike rental lines on Rottnest and have guaranteed access to quality e-bikes.

    • Note that you need to book your ferry tickets in advance. If you are bringing bikes, you must note this on your ticket booking so space is allocated for both you and your bike. You will need to remove your e-bike's battery for the ferry ride (just something to be ready for as it can be a bit cumbersome).

    • If you choose not to bike, there is a hop-on-hop-off bus service around the island to help you explore with less physical exertion.

    • There are several places to eat on the island. They can get quite busy, so you might want to consider booking ahead for lunch. We recommend a beach-front meal at Havza.

Note: If you have any additional time in Fremantle, you can consider adding the WA Shipwrecks Museum and the Fremantle Markets to your itinerary.

Day 3 -

  • Following breakfast at the hotel, it is time to drive to the Margaret River wine region for your next "hub". Margaret River boasts loads of world-class vineyards and beaches dotted along the coastline. You can stay in one accommodation and explore several interesting sights each day.

    • Consider staying centrally in the region to make each day's exploration a bit easier (read: less time in the car). We found Cowaramup to be a convenient launching pad to all of the area’s must-see sights.

  • As you drive from Fremantle to Margaret River, consider stopping at a scenic spot along the way. The coastal drive is part of the fun, and taking a slow approach with stops to enjoy the views is what the whole trip is about! Consider Rockingham Beach Foreshore, Palm Beach Jetty, or Busselton Jetty as places to stop, stretch your legs, enjoy a coffee, and take in the impressive views.

  • Spend the day exploring the region's natural beauty. Start with the “north loop” attractions and choose a few that interest you. Bundle together several sights to create an itinerary for the day. Some to consider include:

    • Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse (consider the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse Walk/Boardwalk Loop. We would suggest hiking at least a portion of the Cape to Cape Track or one of the coastal loop trails. These coastal walks offer impressive views and are a great way to appreciate the region's beauty and break up your time in the car.)

    • Sugarloaf Rock (at the end of the Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock Walk)

    • Smiths Beach

    • Canal Rocks

    • Yallingup Beach

    • Dunsborough 

  • Plan ahead for lunch at:

Day 4 -

  • We recommend allocating 1 full day for wine tastings in the region. Even if you aren't a big wine drinker, it is the main attraction of Margaret River and would be a big blind spot if skipped altogether. Hire a private driver-cum-guide to help plan your route, book your tastings, and drive you for the day. A more economical choice is to book a small-group tour, with many great options available. Either way, a guide is essential for understanding the region, learning about winemaking, and accessing a seamless flow of tasting rooms/cellar doors.

  • After a long day of wine tasting, plan for dinner in with a charcuterie board, take-away pizza from +81, or stock groceries in your rental and cook dinner on the grill.

Day 5 -

  • Much like Day 3, you’ll spend the day hopping from beach to beach, taking in the natural coastal beauty. Cluster multiple sights that pique your interest and spend the day leisurely exploring. Today will focus on the “southern loop” attractions. Some options to consider include:

    • Margaret River Town

    • Surfers Point

    • Boranup Lookout (within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park)

    • Hamelin Bay Beach

    • Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

    • If wine is of particular interest to you, you can also prioritize visits to 1-2 additional cellar doors

Notes:

  • Margaret River is a food lover’s destination. Plan for at least 1-2 "special" meals during your visit (lunch and/or dinner). Remember to book ahead! A few restaurants to consider: 

  • We have found hotels in the more rural areas of Australia to be a bit lacking/unimpressive, especially for the price, so we tend towards AirBnB as our accommodation category of choice. This also gives us the flexibility to prepare some meals ourselves, using fresh local produce. There are loads of high-quality options worth considering as viable hotel alternatives. In addition to 8 Paddocks, some others on our short list include:

Day 6 -

  • Back on the road! Following Margaret River, drive onwards to Albany/Denmark as your final "hub" and explore several of the more remote beaches/coastal areas. These are very quiet/sleepy towns with nature as the main attraction. To break up the drive, make a stop in the Karri (Eucalyptus) Forest. This is a nice way to stretch your legs and enjoy some fresh air and nature. Consider the Greater Beedelup National Park (near Pemberton).

  • Note: This drive takes you through a large/dense forested area that is fairly remote. Cell service is very limited, so be sure to download your maps for use offline.

  • Again, do your research in advance and link several of the region's scenic attractions to create a daily itinerary. Consider packing a lunch/snacks and bundling 2-3 sights together for a nice day of relaxing, enjoying nature, and light activity. Focus on Denmark one day and Albany the next. In Denmark, consider:

    • Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks (5 minutes apart, both in William Bay National Park)

    • Lights Beach

    • Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk

    • Peaceful Bay

    • Denmark Town

    • Conspicuous Cliff

Day 7 -

  • For the Albany-focused day, consider:

    • Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve (Little Beach)

    • Ellen Cove Boardwalk

    • Torndirrup National Park (The Gap & Natural Bridge)

    • Misery Beach

  • Remember to pack towels, bathing suits, snacks, water, comfortable walking shoes, and plenty of sun protection to ensure an enjoyable time each day.

  • A few notable restaurants in the area include:

  • In addition to the AirBnB we booked, here are a few others that made our shortlist:

Day 8 -

  • You'll spend most of this day driving and end your loop back in Perth for your flight home. You can choose to spend extra time here if there is anything you want to see. Otherwise, you can just spend the night, enjoy a nice dinner, and head off on your flight the next day. 

  • Note that we suggest driving the scenic coastal roads on our way south from Perth. On your return drive to Perth, we suggest the more direct (less scenic) inland route (State Route 30). There are limited places to stop along SR30 and the drive can get a little long/monotonous. Consider pacing your day with a planned stop at Williams Woolshed (it is roughly halfway between your start and end points and is a nice enough option to stretch your legs and have lunch).

  • A few restaurants to consider in Perth:

Day 9 -

Additional Locations to Consider -

  • If you have extra time and are not bothered by driving some very long stretches (or taking a short regional flight), you may want to consider traveling all the way to Esperance, specifically Lucky Bay. This is one of the most remote and pristine stretches of beach in Australia and boasts kangaroos on the beach! 

  • You can also consider Bremer Bay to view the Orca migration (time-of-year dependent)

  • Pinnacles Desert is another attraction to consider if you have a longer visit planned or want to see a landscape other than coastal or beach areas. This is north of Perth and would require reworking the itinerary to build a logical route.

General Thoughts/Notes -

  • Note that you need to apply/be approved for an eVisa before your trip. Use the AustralianETA app to apply from your phone (it is easy to use and generally provides application results almost instantly). Don't miss this step or save it until the last minute; apply with enough buffer time to address any problems should they arise.

  • If you are planning anything beyond Albany/Denmark, plan to allocate roughly 2 weeks for this trip. For context, we took 9 days (total including travel days) to cover the base route outlined above and would have enjoyed a few more days to relax the pace a bit.

  • The sun is noticeably (and measurably) more intense in Australia. This is something to take seriously. Beyond good SPF discipline, consider UPF clothing layers, always wear a hat, stay in the shade when you can, and be mindful of your hydration. 

  • We suggest having an International Driver Permit (IDP). While you can legally drive in Australia with an English-language license, it is best practice to carry an IDP whenever you are driving/renting a car abroad. They are cheap and easy to get from AAA and can help head off several potential headaches.

Jenny Ehrman
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