Date of Visit: 9-25 Mar 2021
Western Australia
Western Australia state is Australia’s largest state, with a total land area of 2,527,013 square km, and is about 25% of Australia’s total land area. The state has a population of about 2.68 m, which is just above 10% of Australia’s total population of 26 m.
Remarkedly, Western Australia state is so massive that it is larger than most countries in the world such as France, Germany, Japan, and the UK. Western Australia state is larger than the world’s 14th largest country Indonesia (1,910,931 square km), which has a population of around 279 m – that is more than 100 times the population of Western Australia state. Can you see the huge contrast in terms of population density between Australia and Indonesia?
Western Australia South West Edge
Western Australia South West Edge refers to the southwest region that stretches from south of Perth towards Albany then east from Albany to Esperance.
The coastline from Perth to Albany stretches more than 700 km by the Indian Ocean. Continuing from Albany to Esperance is another approximately 500 km of coastline by the Great Australian Bight, which is part of the Indian Ocean.
There are never-ending beautiful natural beaches and coastal cliffs to explore on the Western Australia South West Edge coastline. Coastal cities and towns such as Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River, Augusta, Walpole, Denmark, Albany, Bremer Bay, Hopetoun, and Esperance are all worthy of short and long stays to explore. In addition, there are national parks near the coast and inland, forests, caves, farms, and vineyards to visit too.
Western Australia South West Edge region has so much to offer for visitors to see, do and experience. In term of accessibility, the destinations can be accessed by a 2WD vehicle.
Rockingham
Rockingham is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean and is a 50-minute drive or 47 km south of Perth city centre. Like Mandurah, Rockingham is a suburb of Perth that has developed into a satellite city in Perth’s southwest.
Rockingham makes a very good first stop of the Western Australia South West Edge road trip.
Rockingham and the surrounding beaches have had a mixed history as a port, holiday location, and now a rapidly growing southern commuter suburb of Perth with a population of 60 000. Today the city also incorporates the adjoining seaside communities of Peron, Shoalwater, Safety Bay, and Waikiki.
Rockingham’s long spectacular coastline and pristine beaches stretch from Kwinana Beach in Kwinana in the north, to Rockingham Beach, Palm Beach, Cape Peron, Shoalwater Beach, and Warnbro Beach in Safety Bay in the south.
The Rockingham foreshore, Shoalwater foreshore, and Safety Bay foreshore are great locations for a relaxing walk.
Click to read the blog about a short walk at Rockingham foreshore.
Click to read the blog about a short walk at Shoalwater foreshore.
Click to read the blog about a short walk at Safety Bay foreshore.
Point Peron, also Cape Peron
From Rockingham, it takes just a 10-minute drive west on Point Peron Road to reach Point Peron, not far from the causeway that connects Garden Island. Garden Island houses Australian Navy facilities and is not accessible to the public.
At Point Peron, take a walk on the walking trails through the dunes, along the shores, and on the Point Peron lookout bridge, you will be amazed by the rugged limestone cliffs and the panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.
Point Peron is a popular place for a family or social group getaway where visitors can swim and snorkel or just enjoy a beach picnic.
Preston Beach
Preston Beach, a 1-hour drive south of Rockingham, is a relatively low-key holiday venue where nature lovers could have a relatively quiet holiday and enjoy walking in nature at the nearby Lake Preston and Yalgorup National Park.
Myalup Beach
A 25-minute drive further south from Preston and a 30-minute drive north from Bunbury, Myalup Beach is a popular family beach in the warmer months where kids can build sand castles using the pristine white sand and the adults can enjoy the beautiful sun.
Wellington Dam
It is worth making a detour from Myalup Beach to drive 45 minutes southeast to Wellington Dam to admire the world’s largest dam mural before driving to Bunbury. Wellington Dam’s world’s largest dam mural was the work of artist Guido van Helten and was opened on 19 February 2021. The mural, titled “Reflections”, measured 34 m high and 367 m wide, and took 4 months to complete. It features images of Collie mines workers, families playing in the water, Aboriginal children, and other scenes taken from actual photographs of Collie’s history.
Wellington Dam is the second largest surface water catchment in Western Australia and holds 185 billion litres when full. The water in Wellington Dam is used for agriculture and industrial purposes.
Black Diamond Lake
Black Diamond Lake was an abandoned mine site decommissioned in the 50s. Under the sun, the lake sparkles and radiates a magnificent blue colour said to be caused by the limestone rock at the base of the lake. In the warmer months, the lake is a popular venue for a day trip from Perth or nearby residents. The lake is perfect for swimming, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, or a lakeside picnic. Visitors need to note that camping is not allowed, and there is no toilet or rubbish bin so visitors will need to clean up after their visit.
A 25-minute drive further south from Preston and a 30-minute drive north from Bunbury, Myalup Beach is a popular family beach in the warmer months where kids can build sand castles using the pristine white sand and the adults can enjoy the beautiful sun.
Bunbury
Bunbury is another coastal city in Western Australia, just a 2-hour drive south of Perth or a 1.5-hour drive south of Rockingham. Bunbury is a 40-minute drive west of Wellington Dam.
With a population of over 100,000, Bunbury is the second largest city in Western Australia.
Bunbury is often called “The City of Three Waters” because the city is located near Koombana Bay, Leschenault Inlet, and Back Beach by the Indian Ocean. Residents and visitors get to enjoy seeing more than wild bottlenose dolphins frequent the calm waters of Koombana Bay in the warmer months, take a mangrove walk by the Leschenault Inlet, and explore the long stretch of Back Beach which is excellent for swimming, beach outing, snorkelling, surfing, and watching beautiful sunsets.
Leschenault Inlet
San Marco Promenade Park on the coast of Leschenault Inlet is a good location where visitors can enjoy amazing views of Leschenault Inlet.
Turkey Point at The Cut, situated between Koombana Bay and Vittoria Bay within the Leschenault Inlet, is another scenic location with amazing views of Leschenault Inlet on the one side and the Indian Ocean on the other side.
Koombana and Marlston Hill lookouts
Visit either or both the Marlston Hill lookout and Koombana lookout to enjoy panoramic views of Bunbury, Koombana Bay, Leschenault Inlet, and the Indian Ocean. You will understand why Bunbury is also called “The City of Three Waters”.
What not go for a short 30-minute relaxing evening walk between Marlston Hill lookout and Bunbury Lighthouse near Back Beach?
Click to read the blog about the walk between Marlston Hill Lookout and Bunbury Lighthouse by The Indian Ocean.
Bunbury Back Beach
Bunbury’s Back Beach stretches south for 12km from Bunbury Lighthouse alongside Ocean Drive. Drive along Ocean Drive to view the scenic beach, shoreline, and the Indian Ocean. Stop at the carparks on Ocean Drive at any point, walk along the walking paths or relax on the benches to enjoy the cool ocean breeze.
Dalyellup Beach
Dalyellup Beach, a 5 km family-friendly beach, is just a 5-minute drive south from Bunbury Back Beach, on the way to Busselton.
Peppermint Grove Beach
Peppermint Grove Beach, another 14 km family-friendly beach, is just a 20-minute drive south from Dalyellup Beach, on the way to Busselton. This beach has calm waters and large stretches of beach, perfect for walking, paddling, and swimming but is often ignored by visitors driving from Perth to Busselton.
Busselton
Located 230kms or a 2.5-hour drive south of Perth, the City of Busselton is a coastal city that has a population of just over 40,000. Busselton has 5 main town centres including Busselton, Dunsborough, Vasse, Yallingup, as well as Eagle Bay.
Busselton Jetty
At 1.84 km long, Busselton Jetty is the longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. Used exclusively for tourism and recreation today, Busselton Jetty has been the tourist icon of Busselton.
The recently redeveloped Busselton Foreshore, where Busselton Jetty is located, has added 2 children’s playgrounds, an outdoor amphitheatre, extensive walking paths, and food outlets. These facilities draw visitors for a wide variety of activities, other than visiting Busselton Jetty.
Click to read the blog about a short walk at Busselton foreshore.
Beach Hopping from Dunsborough to Shelley Cove
Dunsborough town centre is a 25-minute drive west on Caves Road from Busselton Jetty.
The 15 km coastline from Dunsborough to Shelley Cove has many beautiful beaches, granite outcrops, scenic points of natural bushland, and the Indian Ocean for visitors to explore and hop from one to another with a 2WD vehicle such as Dunsborough Beach, Castle Rock, Castle Rock Beach, Meelup Beach, Point Picquet, Eagle Bay Beach, Bunker Bay Beach, Point Marchant and Shelley Cove.
At Shelley Cove, visitors will find a small beach surrounded by large granite rocks and coastal cliffs in amazing formations that are the creative work of nature.
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is a 20 m high cylindrical limestone tower built in 1904. Families with small children will enjoy a 30-minute guided tour to learn the history of the lighthouse and climb up the narrow stairs to the balcony of the lighthouse, at 123 m above sea level, for amazing views of Cape Naturaliste, the northern most point in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and the Indian Ocean.
Sugarloaf Rock
Sugarloaf Rock, in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, is a 10-minute drive south of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. This photogenic granite rock, named for its distinctive conical shape like a sugarloaf, is about 50 m in height rising from the Indian Ocean, just off the coast. It is so popular that a lookout was specially built to offer amazing views of the rock in the spectacular ocean. Sugarloaf Rock has appeared in the Australian Geography magazine.
Views of the rock with the sunset in the background are especially popular, but really at any time, the views of the rock are magnificent.
From the lookout, visitors can see Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to the north in the distance.
Yallingup Beach and Lagoon
From Sugarloaf Rock, it takes a 20-minute drive in the southern direction to Yallingup Beach. Yallingup Lagoon, sheltered by a shallow reef, is perfect for swimming in safe, calm kid-friendly water, preferred by young families. Yallingup Beach on the right of Yallingup Lagoon, surfers enjoy surfing in big waves.
Yallingup is a small town with a population of just over 1100 and is a popular accommodation venue for visitors because of its proximity to beaches, limestone caves, and Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
Ngilgi Cave
Ngilgi Cave is just a 5-minute drive from Yallingup Beach on Caves Road.
Discovered by Europeans in 1899, Ngilgi Cave was known to be Western Australia’s first tourist attraction. The cave was estimated to be about 1 million years old. The stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites are estimated to be around 500,000 years old.
Boardwalks and stairs lead visitors through different chambers to come close to observe these delicate crystals enhanced by lighting. This cave maintains a constant temperature of 20°C, so wear extra clothing to keep warm.
Smiths Beach
A short drive of 10 minutes south of Yallingup Beach and Ngilgi Cave, Smiths Beach is another beautiful beach that is more isolated and therefore quieter compared to Yallingup Beach. Beach walkers will love the long stretch of fine white sand beach. For those who prefer quietness, Smiths Beach is a perfect beach to relax and recharge.
Canal Rocks and Canal Rocks Bridge
Canal Rocks is located a short drive of 10 minutes south of Smiths Beach.
Visitors will be amazed at how the Indian Ocean carved out deep cracks and channels into the rocks creating a network of rock islands over thousands of years. Canal Rocks Bridge is a raised boardwalk built across the rocks to connect some of these rock islands for visitors to view a natural canal formed by a series of large rocks and admire the work of nature closely. Canal Rocks was named after the natural canal.
Unfortunately, a huge storm and strong tides in May 2020 badly damaged a large section of Canal Rocks Bridge making it impossible to access Canal Rocks during repair and restoration of the bridge.
Injidup Natural Spa
Injidup Natural Spa is a short drive of 10 minutes south of Canal Rocks. Like Canal Rocks, Injidup Natural Spa is another amazing piece of work by the nature.
Injidup Natural Spa is a natural rock pool formation shielded by the surrounding rocks from the ocean waves. The cracks in these rocks allow ocean waves to constantly push ocean water through the cracks to fill the rock pool. The depth of the water in the rock pool is maintained at the right level for a wonderful “spa experience”. It is truly stunning. Surely no such natural spa can be experienced anywhere else.
Gracetown
Gracetown is a peaceful little coastal town with a population of just under 500. Located within Cowaramup Bay, Gracetown is well known for its many surfing spots. Still, within proximity of Gracetown, young families will be able to find sheltered shallow spots such as Gracetown Beach for kids to swim and play.
Western Australia South West Edge Road Trip is written in 5 parts.
Click to read Western Australia South West Edge Road Trip Part 2 – Margaret River to Point D’Entrecasteaux.
Check out “Travel and Destinations Blogs” for more travel blogs on a wide range of destinations from popular, exotic, unique to obscure.
Cape Naturaliste is the northern most point in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.