Things to do in Margaret River
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Margaret River
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Summer peak: best swimming and surf, Leeuwin concerts, highest prices and crowds, bushfire risk on extreme days.
Autumn, locals favourite: best Cape to Cape walking, warm ocean, harvest, and the Margaret River Pro.
Winter: whale season from Augusta, cosy winery lunches and lowest prices, but cold rough beach weather and rain.
Spring: wildflowers, whales in Geographe Bay, mild hiking and biking, and Pair'd in November.
What's on
- Busselton Jetty Swim February
Iconic open water swim around Busselton Jetty.
- Margaret River Pro typically April to May
WSL Championship Tour event at Surfers Point, free to spectate from the lookout.
- Cabin Fever July
Region wide food, wine and fire events that build winter into a deliberate season.
- Cape to Cape MTB October
Four day stage race that put the region on the national mountain bike map.
- Pair'd Margaret River Region 19-22 November 2026
The flagship food festival: vineyard dinners and beach and cave events pairing music with wine and food.
- Ironman WA Busselton early December
In Busselton, with accommodation across the whole region filling.
- Leeuwin Concert Series summer
Lawn concerts at Leeuwin Estate in picnic format, book months ahead.
Best things to do in Margaret River
Vasse Felix
The founding Margaret River estate, and the best first cellar door for tasting, art and a winery lunch.
Leeuwin Estate
A pillar estate pairing famous Art Series chardonnay with a gallery, grounds and a long lunch.
Cullen Wines
Biodynamic icon for a serious tasting conversation and a garden led lunch, quieter than the big estates.
Lake Cave
The deepest show cave here, with a suspended table formation hanging over a still underground lake.
Jewel Cave
The largest show cave in WA, with three massive chambers and one of Australia's longest straw stalactites.
Ngilgi Cave
A self guided northern cave paired with the Ancient Lands Wadandi cultural walk above ground.
Mammoth Cave
A self guided cave with audio, giant fossil bones and a wheelchair accessible first chamber.
Giants Cave
An adventure cave where you explore with a torch and helmet and minimal hand holding.
Where to stay in Margaret River
Margaret River town
first trip, all-round base
The only base where you can walk to dinner and home, with beaches and wineries a short drive away.
Prevelly / Gnarabup
surf and sunset
You wake to the ocean and walk to the surf check, but dinner choice within walking distance is minimal.
Yallingup / Smiths Beach
luxury beach base
Granite headlands, lagoon swimming and the densest cluster of luxury beach stays, at premium prices.
Dunsborough / Bunker Bay / Eagle Bay
families and calm swimming
Calm shallow Geographe Bay water and good everyday dining, but a separate base from Margaret River town.
Wilyabrup / Cowaramup vineyards & rural retreats
quiet wine weekend
Forest, farm and vineyard quiet with cellar doors nearby, but you drive everywhere including dinner.
Augusta
far south and whale season
Cheaper and uncrowded near Cape Leeuwin and Jewel Cave, but too far south as a sole base for the north.
Think twice about
- Bussell Highway strip motels far from Margaret River town centre
Isolated highway stops with no footpath, no dinner within walking distance and truck noise. Same money is better spent in town or Prevelly.
Best restaurants in Margaret River
Vasse Felix Restaurant
The benchmark winery lunch: a la carte cooking, estate wines by the glass and the gallery downstairs.
Leeuwin Estate Restaurant
Fine dining on the terrace over lawns and karri trees, built around Art Series wines and local produce.
Wills Domain
A hilltop winery restaurant with sweeping valley views and tasting menus from the estate garden.
Miki's Open Kitchen
A 30 seat Japanese degustation using WA produce, with tempura as the signature and sake after wine days.
Yarri
Wood fire cooking in Dunsborough, the northern special dinner if you are based that way.
Morries
Cocktails and modern Australian share plates on the main street, sharing is the format and it runs late.
Margaret River Brewhouse
The town brewery in the forest, with a big beer garden, playground and a pub plus menu.
Pizzica
Wood fired pizza and charcoal grill Italian on the main strip, rustic and group friendly.
Outdoor things to do in Margaret River
Cape to Cape Track
A 132 km cape to cape trail, with free day sections along cliffs, beaches, heathland and karri forest.
Cape to Cape Explorer Tours
Guided highlights or end to end Cape to Cape walking carrying only a daypack, in the ideal seasons.
Darch Trail
A local river loop trail from Rotary Park, recommended in the locals trail running guide.
Margaret River Parkrun
A free style local 5 km Saturday run at Rotary Park at 8am, before the Farmers Market.
Margaret River Surf School
Group surf lessons with boards and wetsuits, usually at forgiving sand bottom Redgate Beach.
Yallingup Surf School
Group surf lessons with boards and wetsuits, often at Yallingup Lagoon depending on conditions.
Margaret River Adventure Co.
Coasteering at water level: swimming, scrambling and cliff jumping along the granite coast.
Naturaliste Charters
The long running whale watching specialist, with marine biologists on board in season.
Best hotels in Margaret River
Grand Mercure Basildene Manor
A historic 1912 manor on 14 acres, adults focused, famous for conservatory breakfast scones.
Prideau's of Margaret River
Central aparthotel rooms and apartments where you can park the car and walk to dinner.
Grande Escape Resort
A family friendly resort with pool and mini golf, a short walk from the centre.
Margaret River Tourist Park
Cabins, powered sites and camping walkable to the main street, the best value base if self catering.
Margaret River Youth Hostel
In town dorms and private doubles for summer, with location beating highway motels at twice the price.
Margaret River Beach Apartments
Self contained apartments a street back from Gnarabup Beach, waking to the ocean and surf check.
Prevelly Park
Caravan park cabins and simple stays at Prevelly, basic and unbeatable for dawn surf checks.
Cape Lodge
The region's grand luxury lodge, a private estate with its own lake, vineyard and acclaimed restaurant.
Is Margaret River expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | A$140 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | A$330 a person |
| Splurge | A$750 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Vasse Felix: weeks ahead
- Leeuwin Estate: weeks ahead
- Cullen Wines: a few days ahead
- Lake Cave: weeks ahead
- Jewel Cave: weeks ahead
- Ngilgi Cave: a few days ahead
- Margaret River Discovery Co.: weeks ahead
- Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse: a few days ahead
- Book weeks ahead for Miki's, flagship winery lunches, Lake and Jewel Caves in holidays, and peak accommodation in December to January.
- Book days ahead for Ngilgi Ancient Lands, whale tours in September to October, weekend golf and Yarri or Morries on Friday and Saturday.
Is Margaret River safe?
- WA drink driving limit is 0.05 and police breath test on Caves Road and Bussell Highway on weekends. Spit, share or use a driver.
- Kangaroos and emus are on the roads from sunset. Slow down and do not swerve sharply.
- Swim at lagoon or patrolled spots where possible. Rips, sharks, snakes, bushfire and extreme UV are the real risks, not crime.
Margaret River travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Margaret River Chocolate Company is a retail factory outlet, not a food destination. Do not build a day around it.
- Trying 6 to 7 cellar doors in a day causes palate fatigue and drink driving risk. Three done properly beats seven rushed.
- Busselton Jetty is 40 minutes north. Give it its own northern half day, not a pop in after lunch in town.
Getting around Margaret River: public transport and more
- A car is essential. There are no trains, no rideshare fleet to rely on, and taxis are few and must be pre-booked.
- Town to Yallingup is 25 minutes, to Augusta 45 minutes and to Busselton 40 minutes. Do not try both capes in one rushed day.
- For wine touring without driving, book a small group tour capped at 3 to 4 wineries or a private driver.
Who Margaret River suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Margaret River your trip
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