Welcome to Margaret River

Welcome to Margaret River

Surf is synonymous with the Margaret River Region, Australia's most premium wine region nestled among pristine beaches, ancient caves and tall timber forests. Journey through more than 150 wine producers and 100 cellar doors, where the forest meets the ocean and where friendly, passionate locals welcome you in - and it's all just 2.5-hours' drive south of Perth (Boorloo). Winemakers, farmers, surfers and creatives have congregated here on Wardandi Noongar Country, inspired by nature's beauty.

Welcome to Margaret River

0:31

Go beyond the surf and discover what Western Australia's premium wine region has to offer.

Blessed with mild weather, abundant surf breaks and plenty of sunshine, Margaret River is a dream destination for anyone looking to enjoy the region's fine flavours and otherworldly scenery, where rolling vineyards sit against a backdrop of forest trails that hug the stunning coastline.

Top things to see and do in the Margaret River region:

1. Enjoy a long lunch of fresh local produce prepared by award winning chefs at one of the region's many vineyard based restaurants such as Vasse Felix, Cullen Wines, Leeuwin Estate, Wills Domain, Voyager Estate and Amelia Park.

2. Sample some of the best local brews, spirits and ciders such as The Beerfarm, Cheeky Monkey, Eagle Bay Brewery, Wild Hop Brewing Co. and Shelter Brewing Co in Busselton. Don't miss the new Busselton Pavilion which opened in January 2024. Or, make your own gin at Margaret River Distilling Co's Giniversity.

3. Sheltered beaches, bays and epic swells are dotted along the coast. Known internationally as one of the best big-wave surfing locations on Earth for consistently spectacular breaks, there are more than 40 top spots along Margaret River's coast, with conditions ranging from powerful reef breaks to fun beach surf.

4. Walk or train to the end of the Busselton Jetty, then meet the colourful fish and sea-life at the Underwater Observatory. At 1.8 kilometres, the jetty is the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Dive or snorkel off the jetty and see the new underwater sculpture trail - a series of 13 sculptures acting as an artificial reef for the incredible marine life.

5. Learn about the Margaret River Region on an Aboriginal cultural tour with Koomal Dreaming - be mesmerised by a live didgeridoo performance in Ngilgi Cave or forage for bush tucker on the Cape to Cape track.

6. Browse the beautiful boutiques and galleries of Dunsborough and Margaret River. There's homewares, florists, clothing stores, great cafes and plenty of beautiful souvenirs.

7. Stock up on local chocolate, cheese, olives, olive oil, nougat, bread and venison at local providores or the weekly farmers market, then picnic or camp amongst the karri trees in Boranup Forest.

8. Head underground and explore the ancient limestone cave formations. Join an underground tour at Lake, Jewel, Mammoth or Ngilgi Caves. The newly opened Ancient Lands Experience at Ngligi Cave offers visitors of all abilities the opportunity to discover the formation of the region in ancient times, in a series of interactive installations leading to the cave entrance.

9. Walk a section or all of the Cape to Cape track. The track runs 135 kilometres from Cape Naturaliste near Dunsborough, to Cape Leeuwin near Augusta, with companies such as Cape to Cape Explorer Tours and Walk into Luxury offering guided walking tours.

10. Climb the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Australia's tallest mainland lighthouse, and see where the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean meet. It's undergone a major upgrade, reopening in 2023. Grab a coffee at the Lighthouse Café. There's also the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, which offers panoramic ocean views from a new observation platform.

11. Enjoy the great outdoors and go rock climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, eco quad biking, fat biking, horse riding and canoeing.

12. Since the region is famous for its wine, taste the region's premium drops on a winery tour. The region produces around 20 percent of Australia's premium wine, with more than 100 cellar doors. Make sure you elect a designated driver, or better yet, join one of the many tours such as Margaret River Discovery Co, McLeod Tours, Margaret River Tours and Walk Talk Taste Margaret River.