Perth to Albany Self Drive Loop Itinerary

margaret River
1

Welcome to Perth

Welcome to Perth! Settle into your comfortable accommodation and relax in Australia's sunniest capital city. Perth is the most isolated city in the world: its closest city is Adelaide, over 2,200 km (1367 miles) away!

With soft sandy beaches, epic skyscrapers, huge green parks and a thriving street art scene, Perth is a fascinating town to explore. It's home to one of the biggest city parks in the world – Kings Park & Botanic Garden – right in the heart of town. This is a great place to get your bearings with sweeping views of the Swan and Canning rivers.

Perth's urban villages and small bar-bistros offer plenty of dining options to fuel you up for exciting adventures tomorrow.

Accommodation: Perth - 2 Nights

Perth
Accommodation:
QT Perth is a luxurious, designer, urban hotel in the center of Perth City, ideal for those who love to shop, dine and indulge. A restaurant, bar and a fitness center are on-site and free WiFi is included. Each lavish room is designed with local jarrah timber, rich velvet and polished brass. There are dark stone bathrooms, signature QT Dream Beds, a mini-bar and a coffee machine. Most rooms have city views.
QT Perth

2

Perth at Leisure

With soft sandy beaches, epic skyscrapers, huge green parks, and a thriving street art scene, Perth is a fascinating town to explore. It's home to one of the biggest city parks in the world – Kings Park & Botanic Garden – right in the heart of town. It's even bigger than Central Park in New York! This is a great place to get your bearings with sweeping views of the Swan and Canning rivers.

Perth's urban villages and small bistros offer plenty of dining options.

Rottnest Island

3

Perth to Busselton via Bunbury

Collect your rental vehicle and hit the road and set a course for the seaside town of Busselton. Along the way, come face to face with Western Australia's playful dolphins at Bunbury's Dolphin Discovery Centre.

Discover Bunbury's Dolphins

Bunbury’s amazing street art and obsession with gourmet food & great coffee have made it one of Western Australia’s most exciting cosmopolitan cities. It's also home to some seriously charming Bottlenose Dolphins.

The Dolphin Discovery Centre is a sensational sealife experience with interactive activities to delight all ages. See dolphin feedings, get hands-on in the touching pool, and try not to get sprayed by the resident octopus.

Onwards to Busselton

Arrive in Busselton and take a stroll along the iconic, heritage-listed jetty. Originally built in 1865, the 1.8km jetty features its own railway! Ride to the end to glimpse colourful fish, tropical corals, and possibly a migrating whale or two between June and November.

Approximate Distance: 225 km | 261 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Busselton - 2 Nights

Bunbury
Accommodation:
Surrounded by landscaped gardens, Abbey Beach Resort offers luxury beachfront accommodation on Geographe Bay. Facilities include a gym, a hot tub, 2 swimming pools and free cable TV. Abbey Beach Resort Busselton offers studios with kitchenette and apartments with fully-equipped kitchen facilities. Most rooms include a private balcony and 2-person spa bath.
Abbey Beach Resort

4

Free Day in Busselton

Spend a full day in Busselton for some seaside fun at one of Western Australia's favourite family holiday spots.

The Busselton foreshore has an awesome pathway alongside it, perfect for bike rides and scenic walks. Pack a family picnic or bring your own goodies to grill on the free barbecue facilities. The shallow beach has calm, clear waters for a safe and relaxing family swim.

On the famous Busselton Jetty, there's heaps of fun to be had. Walk the seafloor with the help of a custom-made dive helmet or stay dry at the Jetty’s underwater observatory. Hire see-through kayaks in the summer months and see what you can spot in the waters below. With over three hundred marine species there's always something marvellous to see.

Busselton

5

Busselton to Margaret River

Head onwards to the beautiful Margaret River Region - one of Australia’s best-kept secrets and home to fine boutique wineries and gourmet food producers.

Welcome to Margaret River

The Margaret River Region stretches from Busselton down to Augusta, the most south-westerly point in Australia. The region produces less than 3 per cent of Australia's wine, but over than a fifth of the country's premium wine originates here.

Brimming with spectacular beaches, coastal trails, world-class surf breaks and gourmet cuisine, Margaret River is guaranteed to win your heart.

Your home away from home will be a family apartment at Margarets Beach Resort, just 500 metres from pristine Gnarabup Beach.

Approximate Distance: 50 km | 31 miles   Total Driving Time: 45 mins

Accommodation: Margaret River - 2 Nights

Margaret River Vinyard
Located just 10 kilometres from the town of Margaret River, on WA’s spectacular South West Coast and just 500 m from pristine Gnarabup Beach, Margarets Beach Resort offers seaside 4-star apartment accommodation. The self-contained apartments offer views over either the pool area, gardens or the beautiful coastline. Each apartment offers a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a DVD player. Some feature a spa bath.
Margarets Beach Resort

6

Margaret River Food & Wine Day Tour

Today's Gourmet Food & Wine Day Tour takes you the length and breadth of the region in search of tasty treats.

Kick start the day with artisan coffee and hit the road with your guide, taking in award-winning wineries, olive groves, local cheese & chocolate producers. Lunch is at a local craft brewery where you can see why Margaret River's reputation for beer & cider is growing by the day.

Throughout the day you’ll also appreciate the incredible natural beauty of Margaret River’s lush forests, rolling hills and opulent vineyards. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos!

Wine Tasting

7

Margaret River to Albany: See The Valley of the Giants

Head for the historic Albany, stopping in Denmark to meet some much-loved giants.

Denmark's Valley of the Giants

The Valley of the Giants is world famous for the Tree Top Walk suspended 40 metres high in the canopy of the ancient tingle forest.

The wonderfully-named tingle tree is one of the biggest timber giants on earth. These giant eucalypts are only found in Western Australia and have been standing here for over 400 years.

The incredible walkway cleverly weaves through the majestic trees without damaging them, giving you close up views of their trunks and canopies, and over the densely forested hills beyond.

Albany

The charming city of Albany marks the first spot where European settlers arrived in Western Australia.
Home to elegant public buildings, historic homes and gracious churches, this heritage town also boasts stunning views from the main street into the Princess Harbour's deep blue waters.

Approximate Distance: 345 km | 214 miles   Total Driving Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Albany - 2 Nights

Valley of the Giants
Best Western Albany Motel & Apartments offers accommodation with free Wi-Fi just 200 m from dining and shopping options on popular York Street. Rooms and apartments with harbour views are available. All rooms at Best Western Albany feature reverse cycle air conditioning and heating. Each room has a seating area, 32-inch flat-screen TV and tea and coffee making facilities. Rooms are serviced daily.
Best Western Albany Motel & Apartments

8

Free Day in Albany

Enjoy a free day to explore the history & heritage of Albany and the world-renowned beaches along the coastline. Try some of our favourite family activities in Albany:

•    Tour the Whaling Station Museum and walk the gangplank of a fully restored whaling ship.
•    Stroll the white sands of Waterfall Beach - kids will love climbing on the huge boulders along the shore.
•    Visit the National Anzac Centre to learn about Australia's war history
•    Walk the Amity Trail through town and admire Albany's historical buildings.
•    Rent bikes for the family and ride the trails to unspoilt beaches and rugged coastline

Waterfall Beach

9

Drive to Bunbury

Bunbury is a seaside city that offers protected beach bays mere minutes from budding local bars, trendy restaurants, boutique shops and alluring coffee houses and cafés dotting street art corners and hidden alleyways. One minute you can be walking down the main street, and in the next hit the water where wild bottlenose dolphins can be spotted close to shore.

Approximate Distance: 340 km | 211 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 45 mins

Accommodation: Bunbury - 1 Night

Brunbury
Located in Bunbury, 200 m from the beach, Quality Hotel Lighthouse features free WiFi. Some rooms boast a balcony overlooking the Indian Ocean, Leschenault Inlet and Koombana Bay. All rooms at the Quality Hotel Lighthouse have an en suite bathroom. All accommodation includes free on-site private parking.
Lighthouse

10

Dolphin Eco Cruise - Fremantle

Welcome to the incredible world of dolphins! This is a wildlife experience not to be missed and will ensure guests have the best opportunity to see wild bottlenose dolphins in their natural environment. Watch them socialise, play, fight, mate, and feed from the comfort of the custom-designed 11m vessel that is low to the water and offers 360-degree views. Best of all, dolphin sightings are guaranteed (or a full refund will be provided) however they are wild animals so their location, behavior and proximity to the vessel will vary from day to day.

This Afternoon Drive to Fremantle

Sitting on the edge of the Indian Ocean, this beautiful coastal town is only 20 minutes from Perth. Fremantle in Western Australia (WA) is a vibrant, eclectic city. Home to some of the most beautiful heritage buildings, great beaches, delicious seafood and talented artists and designers, Fremantle offers seven day shopping and a fantastic array of food, fun and entertainment for all ages.

Approximate Distance: 165 km | 102 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours

Accommodation: Fremantle - 2 Nights

Bunbury
Savour the culture and tradition of Western Australia’s premier tourist destination when staying at the reimagined Esplanade Hotel Fremantle – by Rydges. Fremantle as a port city, creating an environment that is rich, warm and sophisticated for business and leisure travellers alike. Ideal location near the Perth CBD, while those on holiday can easily access Bathers Beach, Rottnest Island and Kings Park and Botanic Gardens.
Esplanade Hotel Fremantle

11

Rottnest Island - Snorkel & Bike

A 30-minute ferry ride from the city, Rottnest Island has sandy beaches, coral reefs and smiling Quokkas to meet. These cat-sized native creatures are known as the happiest animals in the world! Explore Rottnest's rugged coastline and witness its abundant wildlife up close. This is the ultimate thrill ride for nature lovers.

Rottnest Island 

Cycle around Rottnest Island and discover the sandy settlement by pedal power. Benefit from round-trip transfers by ferry from Hillarys Boat Harbour and bike around the car-free island at your own pace. It includes Snorkel hire to explore the incredible 83 beaches and 20 bays and the 400 species of tropical fish that Rottnest is famous for!

Rottnest Island

12

Depart Perth

Say farewell to Perth today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Western Australia experience. We know you will enjoy your Perth to Albany Self Drive Loop vacation and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.

Bon-voyage

Want Your Very Own Custom Itinerary?

We can customise any of our online itineraries or create your own from start to finish

Pricing terms

The price is based on current exchange rates but is only an approximation. Please contact us for a final price