Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Scenic Drives
Boranup Drive
is a magical detour off Caves Road through towering kar-
ris (though keep in mind that your rental car is not insured on its unpaved
surface). It departs Caves Road 6km (3
3
⁄
4
miles) south of Mammoth Cave and
rejoins it after a 14km (8
3
⁄
4
-mile) meander.
Caves Road
is a 106km (66-mile)
north-south drive through forest and farms, from Busselton to Augusta on
Cape Leeuwin in the south.
Moments
Allow time to browse the area's arts-and-crafts galleries, too. One of the most
upscale is
Gunyulgup Galleries,
Gunyulgup Valley Drive (off Caves Rd.) near
Yallingup (
&
08/9755 2177
), which has elegant jewelry, glass, ceramics, and
artworks by 120 artists. It is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Plenty of
hiking trails
are available in this area, whether you want an easy
stroll to a whale-watch lookout, an afternoon's ramble through the forest, or an
overnight trek. The tourist information center in Margaret River (see “Visitor
Information,” above) sells trail maps, including maps to all the open sections of
the Cape-to-Cape cliff-edge walk from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin.
Try to make time for a tour offered by
“Bushtucker Woman” Helen Lee
(
&
08/9757 1084
or 0419/91 1971; www.bushtuckertours.com). On one tour,
she has you canoeing up the river, exploring a cave, and eating smoked emu, grub
paté, and other Aboriginal delicacies on a river island. It runs from 10am to 2pm
(no tour Tues and Thurs in winter), and costs A$40 (US$26) for adults and A$20
(US$13) for kids under 16. Her winery tour has an alternative bent incorporat-
ing short karri-forest walks, insights into organic winemaking, tastings of up to
40 wines at five wineries, a visit to Leeuwin Estate's herb garden, and a picnic
lunch of bush tucker and local cheeses, hams, and dips. She'll teach you things
like how vaporized peppermint oil from the native trees condenses on the grapes
to create the distinctive flavor of Margaret River whites. The 5-hour tour departs
daily at noon and costs A$55 (US$36) per person.
Surfing lessons
from four-time Western Australian professional surfing
champion
Josh Palmateer
(
&
08/9757 3850
or 0418/958 264) are a must!
Two-hour lessons in the gentle waist-deep surf at Prevelly Park Beach, 9km (5
1
⁄
2
miles) west of Margaret River, run daily and cost A$80 (US$52) per person, or
A$40 (US$26) per person for two or more. Lessons run September through
June. If you are already a Master of the Surf Universe, try legendary Smiths
Beach or the Three Bears (Mama, Papa, and Baby) break at Yallingup, the dou-
ble-barreled North Point at Gracetown, or the plentiful breaks at Prevelly Park.
Beach Life,
117 Bussell Hwy., Margaret River (
&
08/9757 2888
), rents boards
for A$40 (US$26) for 24 hours.
June through December
whales
play just offshore all along the coast. There
is a whale lookout near the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse. Daily 3-hour whale-
watching cruises with
Naturaliste Charters
(
&
08/9755 2276
) depart June
through September from Augusta (where you'll also see fur seals and often
dolphins). September through December, cruise departures switch to Dunsbor-
ough, where whales rest their calves. The boat is fitted with an underwater camera
connected to a TV and a hydrophone, so you can see and hear the creatures.
Cruises cost A$45 (US$29) for adults, A$42 (US$27) for seniors and students,
and A$25 (US$16) for children 4 to 12; free for children under 4.
