Ultimate Margaret River spring bucket list

Thousands of humpbacks, southern right and blue whales travel the whale superhighway each year, making their annual migration to the north of WA for breeding season. From September through to December, we have about 35,000 humpback whales, 300 blue whales and a few thousand southern right whales travelling through Geographe Bay, and the most awesome way to see them is up close from a boat. Book your whale watching experience today.

Try a tour with Whale Watch Western Australia, All Sea Charters or Naturaliste Charters. 

Welcome to Wadandi Boodja – land of the Wadandi (Saltwater) people, the traditional owners of this region. Walk softly, take the time to listen to and care for Boodja (Country). Let Josh ‘Koomal’ Whiteland, Wadandi cultural custodian, share stories and ancient bush food and medicine knowledge on a Koomal Dreaming tour.

Also try: Ellensbrook at Mokidup, a heritage-rich and family-friendly site nestled in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Explore the 1857 homestead, and learn more about the life of the Bussell family and their relationships with the Wadandi people.

Capturing memories requires a delicate blend of the right place, the right time and the right gear and skills. We’ve sure got plenty of great content to practice on – whether it’s red-winged fairy wrens, beautiful wildflowers or stunning beaches. Take your photography practice next level with a tour by local wildflower and nature expert Hank at Margaret River Exposed.

There’s a rainbow of spring wildflowers blooming, but unlike the everlastings up north, you may need to slow down and get out of your car to spot some of our specimens! Take a wander out yonder through karri, marri and jarrah forest and you’ll spy wildflowers of every colour – dozens of types of orchids, hot pink and orange pea vines and abundant kangaroo paws. Dial up the adventure with a wildflower-loving tour guide; Hank from Margaret River Exposed, Gene and the Cape to Cape Explorer Tour team or Sean from Margaret River Discovery Coare all experts when it comes to tracking down an elusive orchid and telling weeds from wildflowers.

You could also try: South West Eco Discoveries

She’s been keeping sailors safe since 1903, and there’s no better way to experience Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse than to join a guided tour. See the light and the original 12-tonne crystal lens and take in the ripper view of where two oceans meet. You might even see a passing whale or dolphin, if you’re lucky. The Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Precinct picked up a WA Heritage Award, so be sure to check out the Lightkeeper’s Cottage Interpretive Centre while you’re there.

You’ll feel on top of the world hiking the Cape to Cape Track, which is considered one of the world’s finest scenic treks by those in the know. 134km end to end, through national park and cute coastal towns, and plenty of secret swimming spots along the way, you’ll soon realise that no two bays are the same. Grab a Cape to Cape Track Guidebook, download the app or relax and let someone else look after you on a guided hiking tour – go with Cape To Cape Explorer Tours for a fully guided experience and with Cape2Camp if you’d like to discover the track at your own pace. South West Driving Services specialises in Cape To Cape transfers and can help you get to and from the track with ease.

Nothing feels so lovely as cooling off in the deep blue or getting an adrenaline buzz on the water. There are so many ways to enjoy the sapphire blues of Geographe Bay and the Cape to Cape coast; find a secret swimming spot, hop on a stand-up paddleboard, get barrelled or cruise the Meelup coast.

Some saltwater experiences: Margaret River Kayaks and Canoes and Stand Up Surfing

Life’s short so live large with some of the finest experiences right here in the Margaret River Region. Arrive in a helicopter, take a private guided tour along the Cape to Cape and top it all off with rockstar views from your luxury pad – try Private Properties, Bina Maya Yallingup Escape, Pullman Bunker Bay or Edge Luxury Villas for something very special.

Also try: Scenic Helicopter Tours, A Touch of Glass, Walk into Luxury, or KAS Helicopters

Here we are in wine paradise, surrounded by some of Australia’s finest drops and most postcard-perfect wineries. Take your love of wine to the next level with a guided wine tasting or specialist tour experience… there’s plenty to choose from. Case in point? Whicher Ridge Wines offers guided tours exploring the vineyard in spring, stopping by the winery and ending in their very own wine sensory garden. Even the drive out there is spectacular with native bushes bursting into colourful flowers this season. Rivendell Winery Estate is another winery that boasts stunning gardens, now is the time to book in for lunch and check them out. Here are some more ideas to get you started.

Can you think of a more relaxing way to wander out yonder than a gallop along the beach – or a peaceful ride through a forest? Find happiness on horseback and make your holiday one to remember. Saddle up at Jesters Flat or The Horse Resort.

Discover crystal wonderlands in million-year-old caves. About 100 limestone caves lie beneath the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge – hence the iconic ‘Caves Road’ – and four of them are open for us to explore. Be prepared for stairs and jaw-dropping sights, these caves are the ultimate underground adventure. Find out which cave is best for you.

Make tracks down south for wildflower season. The Margaret River Region’s tracks and trails are hidden gems just waiting to be explored. But you might need a local to show you which ones are best. Hit up On Track Mountain Biking to show you the best trails, let Brooksey at Margaret River Mountain Bike Tours take you on a ‘trails to ales’ or ‘ride to wine’ tour, or see Paul at The Hairy Marron, who’ll sort you out with a bike and a great flat white.

Others to try: Bike Shed Dunsborough or Life Cycle Bikes Margaret River

Nobody knows all the Margaret River Region’s hidden gems quite like the local tour guides. They’ve lived here for yonks and spend their days exploring, unearthing, and lovingly sharing a yarn. See a side of WA you’ve never seen before and support the awesome operators who know the Margaret River Region and all its wonderful secret spots and amazing stories.

Feel the breeze on your skin as you sail through crystalline waters – this is the life! Don’t have a boat? No worries! Call up Capt’n Luke from Sailing Charters WA for the most incredible afternoon for you and five friends on his 41ft yacht. Dive off the bow, snorkel the clear waters, then drink champagne in the sun. Bliss.

Or would you like to learn how to sail instead? Ask Adventure Sailing about their 2-day Learn to Sail course.

Paddle-paddle-paddle and you’re UP and the feeling is amazing s you ride that wave of exhilaration. There’s a wave here for everyone, from gentle shore breaks for beginners to perfect barrels where local legends Taj Burrows and Jake Patterson honed their styles. Hire a board or let one of the locals give you a lesson.

Try: Margaret River Surf School, Margaret River Surfing Academy, Yallingup Surf School

Learn a new skill or practice something you love – there’s plenty of awesome workshops to choose from. Get a distilling degree at Giniversity, cook up a storm at Wildwood Valley, blend your own wine creation at Clairault Streicker, or blend your own skincare at Vasse Virgin.

Imagine it; you’re at the top of a 50-metre cliff with your heart pounding and waves smashing the granite below. Adrenaline surging, it’s time to lean back into your harness and abseil down… then run back up to the top of the Wilyabrup cliffs, ready to do it again. Or, palms sweating, you climb a swaying ladder that’s suspended 18 metres up in the treetops, only to be rewarded with nine consecutive flying foxes. Or give coasteering a whirl – jump into a wettie and leap off rocks into the surging sea for thrills.

More for your adrenaline fix: Forest Adventures South West, Next Level Monkey Business, Margaret River Climbing Co.

Sometimes it’s the little things that bring so much joy – listening to birdsong on a forest walk, cuddling a pet lamb or having a ride on a jetty train. Find happiness in the Margaret River Region at Busselton Jetty, Sunflowers Animal Farm or at a Glenarty Road farm tour.

Or for the ultimate zen: enjoy a private 1-1 Cranio Sacral & Sound Massage and a private yoga session at Yoga and Therapy with Amber’s newly opened private studio.

Scratch the surface and you’ll find some fascinating people and places… but where to start? The Busselton and Margaret River Visitor Centres are the first to know about new tours and experiences, and the quirky or lesser-known attractions. Some experiences that spring to mind are Passel Estate’s conservation walks through their possum sanctuary, or Augusta River Tours along the Blackwood River, teeming with birdlife and dolphins. If you’re after some relaxation after all the new adventures, we recommend Willow Wood’s adults-only glamping experience: retreat to nature in the style and comfort of their luxury eco tents.

Spark creativity with an inspiring visit to local artists, ceramicists, glass blowers and galleries. Pottery meets beekeeping at Happs Pottery + Icon Honey, see molten glass blowing at Melting Pot Studio, and art meets wine with famed galleries at Vasse Felix and Leeuwin Estate. Cruise galleries packed with local art and sculpture, such as The Studio Gallery and Yallingup Gallery.

There’s also plenty of street art to check out, like Cowara Dreaming just off the main street of Cowaramup.

There’s nothing as tasty as crayfish fresh from the reef or fruit plucked straight from the tree, and where better to enjoy fresh food than right where it’s grown in the Margaret River Region. The Margaret River Farmers Market is an awesome place to start, buying direct from the baker, fisherman and cheesemaker on a Saturday morning, but you could also hop on a Bushtucker tour, dine with Fervor or learn about native ingredients with Koomal Dreaming.

More folk making the most of the exquisite local produce: de’sendent, Miss Chow’s, Amato Vino

What a joy to spend time as a family without all the ‘life admin’ of remembering library books and fundraiser bake sales! Take a canoe tour with Bushtucker Tours, hop aboard the Busselton Jetty Train, go zip lining as a family or explore a crystal cave. These are adventures the whole family will love.

Also try: Mammoth Cave, Forest Adventures South West or Next Level Monkey Business

Sure, you can snap a quick selfie at the Boranup Forest lookout before whizzing onto the next winery, but you’d miss out on all the best stuff. Tiny wildflowers on the forest floor, the distant screech of cockatoos and stories of megafauna fossils found in caves. This is why we’d always recommend searching out the incredible nature tours and really getting to experience the Margaret River Region’s amazing wildlife, geology and stories.

Try: Untamed Escapes, Margaret River Exposed, and Margaret River Eco Adventures

The beautiful Busselton Jetty was built over 150 years ago when timber exports were booming and extended a bunch of times as the boats got bigger! There’s more than one way to experience the jetty; stroll the entire 1.81km out to sea, reel in a fish or squid, take a ride on the famous jetty train and underwater observatory tour, or dive with the fishes on an underwater helmet tour. The brand new Marine Discovery Centre is a great addition to the Busselton Foreshore as well.

Spring marks the perfect time to tick scuba diving off your bucket list, and Swan Dive in Busselton is the place to do it. With improving water visibility and ocean life in full swing, their expert team helps everyone – from first-timers to more seasoned divers – explore the stunning underwater world in the region.

Dive beneath the iconic Busselton Jetty, visit the hauntingly beautiful HMAS Swan Wreck, or explore the vibrant 4 Mile Reef. And if you’re diving in spring, you can even hear the whales singing underwater!

Not ready to dive in fully? Join Oceania Experiences for a snorkelling tour or a relaxed day out on the boat. Either way, these are marine experiences you won’t forget.

Road trip! There’s no better way to travel from A to B than with a local to guide the way. And since we’re in wine country, there may be a few sips of wine involved, so always book a driver and stay safe. Tours in the Margaret River Region range from full day winery tours, to charter services in luxury vehicles.

Try: Margaret River Vintage Wine Tours, Wine for Dudes, Esquire Classic Charters, Cape to Cape Wine Tours and Charters, Tannin Road, Margaret River Tours, Cheers Winery and Scenic Tours, Gold Star Charter, MYDRIVER, or McLeod Tours

Sometimes a holiday is really all about getting off the treadmill, taking a breather and allowing the mind and body to relax. Experiences like canoeing up the Margaret River, stand up paddle boarding in a calm bay, or walking through the subterranean landscape of one of the region’s caves all create some form of zen. Join one of the many yoga classes available throughout the region, or enquire at your accommodation about organising a private session with a local instructor.

If you’re chasing some time to reflect and rejuvenate, try some of these experiences: Stand Up Surfing, Margaret River Stand Up Paddle, Uniquely Balanced Sound Massage

Put down the map for a while and just enjoy the ride, because sometimes you find the coolest places when you’re lost! There are three epic mazes in the region – A Maze’n Margaret River, Yallingup Maze and Boranup Forest Maze.

Happy kids pretty much spells happy adults so finding entertainment for toddlers, tweens and teens is an essential task when you’re holidaying in the region. Luckily, there are a plethora of options to choose from. Hold a snake and meet cool reptiles at Discover Deadly, zip line through the trees at Next Level Monkey Business or Forest Adventures South West, or have your mind blown at Wow Illusions.

Also try: The Margaret River Chocolate Company. For obvious, sweet reasons.

The Margaret River Region is bursting with animal life. You can happen upon kangaroos, bird life, woylies and possums on tours along the Cape to Cape Track. Or you can visit an animal farm and find chickens, cows, pigs and emus.

Try: Sunflowers Animal Farm, Capes Raptor Centre, Country Life Farm, South West Eco Discoveries, Discover Deadly