Five autumn road trips from Perth

We’ve compiled some highlights for five autumn road trips from Perth. Some are old favourites, others may be places you haven’t visited for a while. So, if you’re looking for some inspiration and maybe some new reasons to consider making the trip, here are some activities and attractions to tempt you.

Perth to Dwellingup - 1hr 35min 102km

Not being a long haul from Perth and with an abundance of outdoor activities and forest scenery, this is a great trip for families who want the atmosphere of a holiday in the far south without a long drive.

Already well known as a camping destination, Dwellingup has a good number of other accommodation options, including chalets, cottages and farm stays.

There’s plenty to keep kids of all ages busy, including a high ropes course with Treetops Adventure, kayaking on the Murray River or having an up-close animal encounter at Ranger Redz Zoo.

Drop by Vergones Fruit Stall for fresh fruit and amazing sweets in the cakes cabinet. Garden Eats is a popular café where you order from a converted horse float and sit in the shade of the leafy courtyard. The cafe is on the site of the Lost Eden Art Gallery. Blue Wren Café is another favourite with locals.

Redgum Wine Estate opened a cellar door in 2023. Located just outside of the town, it’s open for tastings and lunch.

For mountain biking enthusiasts, just on the edge of Dwellingup town, a network of mountain bike trails wind through the forest, with trails for all skill levels. At Lane Poole Reserve, the renowned Murray Valley trails open up a further 50km of exhilarating forest rides.

Whatever the pace you want to travel at, there’s lots to love about autumn in Dwellingup.

Perth to Margaret River - 3hr 30min 275km

Yes, you probably know enough about this place that it doesn’t need a mention but stay with us – this is not about the usual Margaret River drawcards.

Wineries, fine dining and breathtaking coastline without doubt define this region but there’s a lot more you may not yet have uncovered.

The Margaret River Discovery Tour is a wine tour with a difference, combining a canoe trip down the Margaret River, a four-wheel drive adventure to the spectacular Wilyabrup Cliffs and exclusive behind-the-scenes winery access.

Away from the wineries, at the Capes Raptor Centre, you can watch flight displays of hawks, eagles and falcons and get a selfie with one of the resident owls.

For a very different nature experience, visit Discover Deadly, where you can come (safely) face-to-face with snakes, spiders and frilled neck lizards. Discover Deadly’s mission is to change attitudes towards many of these misunderstood creatures. They can also teach you about keeping reptiles as pets.

There’s a self-guided tour of Ngilgi Cave where you’ll learn about local Aboriginal peoples’ cultural connections to Wadandi and Bibbulmun country. Or go on a self-guided torchlight tour deep into Giants Cave, the region’s biggest cave.

Back up at ground level, a coasteering adventure will take you to parts of the Margaret River coast that most people never see. This fast-growing sport blends rock climbing, abseiling and cliff jumping along coastal stretches, into one adrenaline-filled experience.

And there are many more reasons to spend some calm autumn days uncovering a new side of Margs.

Perth to Albany - 4hr 40min 418km

The Great Southern region is brimming with spectacular sights all year round but visiting while it’s blanketed in autumn shades is extra special.

To break up the drive down Albany Highway, The Kodja Place interpretive centre and its giant maze is well worth a stop. It also has a café and outdoor play spaces.

Once in Albany, you can enjoy the atmosphere and amenities of this bustling regional city while still being surrounded by stunning natural wonders.

Attractions not to miss include the award-winning National Anzac Centre and the Historic Whaling Station. The vibrant Albany Farmers Market is also a must-do for visitors.

Albany’s food scene is impressive, from the harbourside pub Due South, to nationally acclaimed bar-restaurant Liberté.

For those planning on tackling some hiking trails, the Castle Rock Trail in Porongurup National Park will reward you with spectacular views from the skywalk, which winds around the summit’s granite outcrop.

And further north, in the Stirling Range National Park, for those who’ve already conquered Bluff Knoll, consider ticking the Mount Toolbrunup hike off your list. It’s the park’s second-highest peak but with equally breathtaking views.

Perth to Denmark - 4hr 30min 422km

Mild days with clear blue skies make autumn a great time for bush walks on forest trails, mountain biking, wine tasting and fishing in and around Denmark.

The Taste Great Southern Food and Wine Festival is also on from 1-4 May with acclaimed national chefs coming to town and the region’s fresh produce in the spotlight.

Even if it’s too cool to swim, make sure you get to Greens Pool in William Bay National Park. The small, calm bay is enclosed by giant, rounded boulders. Just around the corner at Elephant Rocks those boulders take on the shape of a herd of elephants looking out over the ocean.

For the kids, the Denmark Animal Farm has a petting zoo where the little ones can also help bottle-feed some of the animals. It’s also a working alpaca farm with a gift shop that sells items made with alpaca fleece. For little dinosaur fans, Denmark Dinosaur World is not to be missed.

To get a bird’s-eye view of the lush forest, head for the Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants and take a walk high up in the tree canopy.

Perth to Esperance with stops - 755km total

The drive from Perth to Esperance is a long one, so breaking it up is a good idea. You’ll also be surprised at how much there is to see on the way there. Our itinerary is as much about the drive as it is about the destination and includes stops at some iconic landmarks, and also some hidden gems.

One of the more unexpected discoveries you’ll make along the way is the saltwater pool not far from Wave Rock, where you can float weightlessly in water that is six times saltier than the ocean.

Finding a yabby farm in the middle of the Wheatbelt is also a little unexpected, as is WA’s most inland winery, Walkers Hill.

Once in Esperance, the dazzling snow-white beaches and coastal scenery are the main event. You can take a cruise out to the offshore islands or get there via helicopter, with new helicopter tours now operating from the Esperance foreshore.

In addition to immersing yourself in the coast, you can also take a tour of a working farm, join a glass making workshop or visit the cellar door of a local gin distillery.

Mild autumn temperatures are perfect for the drive with the days still warm enough to enjoy all of those famous Esperance beaches.