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By: Monique Ceccato
The short but sweet getaways that are doable in a weekend, so you won’t have to use up too many work holidays.
Road trips can be epic, spanning many weeks and many thousands of kilometres. They can also be short and sweet, getting you to your destination and back in a weekend, with time to relax and enjoy in between.
Here are nine of the best road trips from Perth, doable in a weekend.
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1. Jurien Bay – 2hr 30min (218km)
There are only a handful of places in Western Australia where you can find colonies of the endangered Australian sea lion, and Jurien Bay is one of them. They live on uninhabited islands within the Jurien Bay Marine Park, which you can reach by joining a licensed tour from the boat harbour.
If you’re into fishing or snorkelling, the marine park delivers in those arenas, too. In the more sheltered areas, there are large seagrass meadows to explore, while limestone reefs are more common between the park’s islands. Fishing is allowed at any time of the year; however, the period from December to April promises a chance at hooking larger sport fish like yellowfin tuna and Spanish mackerel.
Outside of sea lions and fishing, Jurien Bay has made a name for itself in extreme sports; it’s one of the premier places to skydive in WA. Jump out of a plane at 14,000ft and enjoy a birds-eye view of the Coral Coast’s white-sand beaches and turquoise and navy-dappled ocean.
Accommodation options: Campgrounds, caravan parks, and chalets/cabins. RAC Cervantes Holiday Park is 20min south in Cervantes.
Best time to visit: Make the most of the beaches during the warmer months from September-April. Visit at the beginning of the wildflower season in August for slightly cooler days.
2. Green Head – 3hr (250km)
A beachside getaway or a flower-filled weekend: a road trip to Green Head can be both. Smack bang in the heart of wildflower country, the sleepy seaside town makes the perfect base for exploring the seasonal flora of Lesueur National Park, a 20-min drive away. It’s home to some 820 native flowering species—many of which you can’t find anywhere else in the world—and more than 100 bird species. Keep your eyes peeled for the rare carnaby’s black cockatoo.
Closer to base, keen windsurfers can raise a sail and ride the whitecaps at Dynamite Bay. It’s also a great spot to pull on your flippers and snorkel or throw a line in early in the morning (whiting, herring, tailor, and squid are some common catches). Two scenic lookouts flank the stretch of white sandy beach, connected by walking trails that run the length of the town’s coastline.
Accommodation options: Caravan parks and private home/chalet rental.
Best time to visit: Spring for the wildflowers of nearby Lesueur National Park, summer to enjoy the beach to its fullest.
3. Collie – 2hr 30min (186km)
Art trails and bike trails are both big drawcards in Collie, with significant investment over the last few years in building the town’s walking and mountain biking trails.
There are umpteen mountain bike trails for beginner riders to cut their teeth on, but if you’re comfortable and confident on a mountain bike, tackle Ray’s Trail. On the outskirts of town, it’s a challenging 8km ride, with plenty of twists, turns, and berms, and even an uphill climb. Visit in July, and you’ll be in town for the annual Collie River MTB Marathon, which runs along the Munda Biddi Trail and Arklow network.
Come summer, Collie’s water holes and lakes really come into their own. Head into the Wellington National Park for a dip at Honeymoon Pool, stopping to see one of the world’s largest dam murals (the Wellington Dam Mural) along the way. Black Diamond Lake is a favourite with photographers for its opaque turquoise colour, while water sport fans frequent the much larger Stockton Lake.
Accommodation options: Caravan parks, forest campsites, lodges, B&Bs, and casual hotels/motels
Best time to visit: Autumn and winter for the cosy log fires and bushwalks. Wellington Dam is also at its fullest. Visit in summer, and you can make use of Collie’s many swimming holes.
4. Binningup – 1hr 50min (144km)
When sun and sand-seekers flock to Busselton and Dunsborough for the summer, go against the grain and stop at Binningup, just north of Bunbury.
The town sits on a 40km stretch of sheltered sandy beach, its calm waters making it the perfect getaway for families with young children. Throw in the pirate ship-shaped Binningup Beach Foreshore Waabiny Playground, and there’s every reason for families to make this their holiday destination of choice.
Nature lovers can take the short drive out to the Leschenault Peninsula Nature Reserve, where kangaroos and other native wildlife abound.
Don’t be surprised if you see the Leschenault Inlet’s resident dolphins cruising around, as around 100 of them live in the waters. You can’t get close to them as they’re wild animals, but you can enter the water armed with a crab scoop and try your hand at one of the locals’ favourite pastimes: catching some blue manna crabs (in season).
Accommodation options: Caravan parks, B&Bs, and private home rental.
Best time to visit: Spring and summer for beach weather.
5. Bunbury – 2hr 15min (169km)
Like most road trips south, the beach is a highlight of a stay in Bunbury, but there’s a major drawcard out there: the resident bottlenose dolphin population. At Koombana Bay, you can see them up close alongside volunteers at the Dolphin Discovery Centre, either in the dolphin interaction zone or on a dolphin cruise or swim.
The calm bay is, of course, also great for swimming. But if you’re after surf, try BP or the Back Beach.
Whichever beach you’re at, you’re never too far from town, and that’s where you’ll find all of the city’s best eateries, watering holes, and shopping. Start your day with coffee, breakfast, and boutique browsing on Victoria Street before wandering about on the Bunbury CBD Mural Trail. After finding the colourful outdoor artworks, beverages and a good meal are in order, and there’s no better place for them than Market Eating House.
Families should also consider spending some time at the Big Swamp Parkland. You can follow the boardwalk through the wetlands, then visit the Bunbury Wildlife Park and Big Swamp Playground across the road.
Accommodation options: Hotels, motels, caravan parks, private home rental, and B&Bs.
Best time to visit: Any time of year, but the city’s dolphin population is most active from November to April.
6. Donnybrook – 2hr 30min (203km)
Much of Donnybrook’s charm lies in it being a farming town. Its prime export is apples, which you can buy straight from the farm gate around harvest time.
The town is so proud of its title as the ‘apple capital of WA’ that a lot of its infrastructure has been made to resemble the fruit, including the street lights and the huge (and free to enter) Apple Fun Park playground. Kids can spend hours climbing, sliding, and swinging there while adults unwind with a coffee in hand.
If you’re after something with a little more kick, visit one of the handful of boutique wineries in the region. Coughlan Estate is just minutes from town and is known for its vineyard platter and rural views. Walk off any indulgence with a quick once-around of the 1.8km Preston River Loop, where you’ll see plenty of birds and wildlife and the Waugyl Sculpture Park.
Accommodation options: Motels, farm stays, lodges, caravan parks, hostels, and B&Bs.
Best time to visit: Any time, but March-May is harvest season for Donnybrook apples, with the Apple Festival happening in April annually.
7. Busselton – 2hr 50min (223km)
It’s impossible to visit Busselton and not have the Busselton Jetty experience, be it walking its length (1.8km one way), taking the train up it, or checking out what lurks between the pylons from the underwater observatory at the end.
It’s also a much-loved spot for fishing, squid-fishing, and scuba diving, the latter especially popular now that the underwater sculpture park is open. You don’t have to step foot on the jetty to enjoy it, though, as simply viewing it from the beach, Shelter Brewery, or the balcony of your accommodation is an experience in itself.
Venture inland and it won’t take long before you come across one of the many wineries in the South West. Most are open for tastings, but if you don’t have someone to drive you around, you can always taste some of the local drops more centrally at the South West Wine Shop. When you’re hungry, Busselton Pavilion—the large pub-come-bistro next door—or the nearby Middle-Eastern-inspired Inara are great options for a meal.
Accommodation options: Hotels, motels, glamping, caravan parks (including RAC Busselton Holiday Park), and B&Bs.
Best time to visit: Any time of year, though, spring and summer are best for exploring above and below the Busselton Jetty, and autumn and winter are best for tasting the region’s wines.
8. Dunsborough – 3hr 15min (249km)
Dunsborough is WA’s answer to Byron Bay: barefoot and easy-going, but not without a good dose of luxury.
A handful of upscale clothing and homewares boutiques line Dunn Bay Road and Naturaliste Terrace, and even the urban cellar doors, cafes, and ice cream stores have some of their own flair. The town’s restaurants and bars are no different, with Yarri, Blue Manna Bistro, and Lady Lola serving rather refined dishes and wine lists.
Head out of town, and you’re well and truly in the thick of nature, with some of the region’s best beaches just a short drive away. The calm and impossibly blue Meelup Beach is always popular with swimmers and SUP-ers, but so is any beach or bay between it and Eagle Bay.
Make it all the way up the coast to Cape Naturaliste, and you can take a guided tour of the 120-year-old Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. It’s also the world-famous 123km-long Cape to Cape Walk Track's starting point.
Accommodation options: Hotels, motels, glamping, caravan parks (including RAC Busselton Holiday Park), and B&Bs.
Best time to visit: Any time of year, though, spring and summer are best for exploring above and below the Busselton Jetty, and autumn and winter are best for tasting the region’s wines.
9. Yallingup – 3hr 20min (259km)
Surfers have every reason to road trip to Yallingup. It’s home to some of the state’s best breaks—Rabbits and Yallingup Main Break—and the iconic local pub, Caves House, is welcoming of sandy feet and salty skin. But there’s more to this tiny surf town than initially meets the eye.
10km south is Qunninup Falls, an ocean-facing waterfall by the coast near Moses Rock. It’s a challenging hike out there and back, with the track often turning to gravel and a sand-dune climb thrown in there.
Visiting between June and September, preferably after heavy rainfalls, is your surest bet at seeing it in full flow. Conveniently, the start of the whale migration season (June to December) overlaps, so you might even spot humpbacks breaching from a little further along the trail.
Head away from the coast, and you’ll find Ngilgi Cave. It’s a spectacular limestone structure that you can tour by booking at the cave’s visitor centre or tour it as part of an Aboriginal cultural experience with Koomal Dreaming.
Accommodation options: Hotels, motels, glamping, caravan parks (including RAC Busselton Holiday Park), and B&Bs.
Best time to visit: Any time of year, though, spring and summer are best for exploring above and below the Busselton Jetty, and autumn and winter are best for tasting the region’s wines.
