For the purposes of my travelogue, I consider the South-West Region to include all areas West of the Albany Highway and South of Armadale, as well as Albany itself, while the South-West Corner is that area South of Bunbury and West of the South Western Highway. Areas to the East of the Albany Highway fall into the South-East Region.
Spectacular views of the Southern Ocean are to be found close to Albany, as well as coastal cliff structures including The Gap, Natural Bridge, and The Blow Holes.
The South-West Corner of Western Australia, from Busselton to Augusta, offers a huge range of tourist attractions all within reasonable driving distance, regardless of your choice of base. Gracetown and Margaret River are fairly central to the region, but Busselton and Augusta are less than 30 miles (54 KM) away in opposite directions. Dunsborough, Yallingup and Hamelin Bay are also popular places to stay at or use as a base. We have "based up" at Margaret River, Busselton, and Augusta at various times, and our preference is probably for Augusta, with Busselton a close second.
The Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association has it's own Home Page for further information, well worth the visit.
Augusta is only 200 miles (320 KM) South of Perth, just a few miles from the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean at Cape Leeuwin.
Albany
Albany is a major commercial and tourist centre located 255 miles (409 KM) South-East of Perth on the shores of Princess Royal Harbour. Christmas Day 1996 will mark the 170th Anniversary of settlement of this historic city. Albany was once the base for a thriving whaling industry, the history of which is preserved at Jaycee's Whale World. The historic fort buildings have been restored to the way they were 100 years ago. This area also saw duty as a lookout point during the Second World War, when Albany was home port to a large fleet of United States Navy submarines. More of the history of this area can be found at the Residency Museum, the Old Gaol Museum and a replica of the brig Amity which brought the first settlers to the site in 1826.
South-West Corner
|
Cape Leeuwin - a view of two oceans |
|
A cruise of the Blackwood River aboard Miss Flinders is an excellent way to see some of the sights around Augusta. Knowledgeable operators provide a running commentary on the sights and wildlife. |
|
Car Ferry to Molloy Island near Augusta February 1993 (seen from Miss Flinders) |
|
Entrance to Molloy Caravan Park |
|
The Windsor and canoe with outboard at Molloy Caravan Park February 1996 |
|
The old Busselton jetty, looking back to the shore |
|
and looking seaward - note fire damaged section |
Yallingup is another popular spot, just 165 miles (263 KM) from Perth, on the opposite side of Cape Naturaliste from Dunsborough. This position facing the Indian Ocean produces surfing conditions said by some to be better than anywhere else in Australia - Not being a surfer I can't judge, but I've seen some magnificent waves here.
Gracetown is a beautiful spot roughly halfway between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin,. This is a small settlement on Cowaramup Bay with guest house/holiday home accommodation and a small caravan park. Gracetown offers good fishing and swimming and, while being "quiet and out of the way", is centrally located for exploring the caves and wineries in the surrounding area.
Margaret River is the hub of the South-West wine making industry, and is rapidly gaining world reknown. The serious wine lover can spend days just visiting the wineries in the region and sampling the huge variety on offer, provided they have a non-drinking driver to chauffer them around.
Margaret River
The town of Margaret River is situated on the river of the same name, 173 miles (277 KM) South of Perth and about 6 miles (10 KM) inland from the great surfing beach for which the area is reknowned (although strictly speaking Prevelly Beach should probably be the internationally known name).
A visit to the wineries can be interspersed with visits to the caves or other interesting sites in the area including historical, craft and wildlife sites.
|
Bridge over Margaret River to Old Settlement |
|
Old Settlers Barn |
Wineries
The South-West is gaining worldwide fame as a wine growing region, with many wineries throughout the area and particularly around Margaret River. The Berry Farm situated South-East of
Margaret River offers something different in the form of wines made from various fruits - I particularly recommend their liqueurs, a very nice drop. The Regional Vineyard brochure and Berry Farm brochure are available at Margaret River Tourist Information Centre and most other Tourist Bureaus in the region.
|
A common roadsign in the area |
Pemberton
Pemberton is a major timber milling town located 210 miles (335 KM) South of Perth and surrounded by magnificent karri forests. Apart from the forests and national parks, which abound with wildflowers in the spring, there are the spectacular Beedelup Falls, the Cascades, and the Gloucester Tree, a tree-mounted fire lookout said to be the tallest in the world. The King Trout Farm and
Karri Valley Resort both offer the opportunity for trout fishing.
|
Beedelup Falls June 1990 |
| Back to Travel Page | The South-East | In and Near Perth | The Mid-west | Back to My Front Page |