Top 10 Things to Do in Margaret River in 2026

by Christopher O'Keeffe May 27, 2026 2 Comments

Updated September 2026. Opening days, menus, tour times and road conditions can change, so check the linked official websites before setting out.

The Margaret River Region is still a veritable cornucopia of jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery, phenomenally good food and drink, and warm hospitality. It is also much larger than many first-time visitors expect. The region stretches from Busselton and Dunsborough in the north to Augusta in the south, with vineyards, caves, forests and beaches scattered between them.

It is Wadandi Boodja, the traditional country of the Wadandi (Saltwater) people, whose continuing connection to this landscape deserves to be understood as well as acknowledged.

The drive from Perth to Margaret River takes about three hours on the direct route, not the “two and a bit hours” I optimistically quoted when I first wrote this article. Once there, having a car is by far the easiest way to explore. Public transport is limited and it takes roughly another hour and a half to drive from one end of the region to the other.

My wife and I have made Margaret River a yearly pilgrimage for as long as I can remember. I tend to like eating, drinking and sitting in front of fires, so my recommendations inevitably reflect those interests, with an afternoon amble thrown in for good measure. This is not an exhaustive tourism directory. It is an updated personal list of the places and experiences I would choose in 2026.

1. Visit the Vineyards

Margaret River is internationally known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but the sheer number of cellar doors can turn a relaxing day into a military exercise. I still think it is better to choose two or three properly, if only for the mental wellbeing of the designated driver.

My original trio remains a very good one: Pierro, Clairault Streicker and Xanadu.

Pierro, at Wilyabrup, was founded by Dr Michael Peterkin in 1979 and its Chardonnay remains the wine I would make a point of tasting. I have also long been fond of the Fire Gully wines: they have delivered a great deal of pleasure without stretching the wallet quite as far as their Pierro cousins.

Clairault Streicker is worth visiting before a glass has even been poured. The approach through limestone walls and along the gently meandering driveway is one of those wonderfully calm Margaret River arrivals. A cheese plate first won me over years ago; the current Vineyard Kitchen is now a more substantial reason to linger, although menus and opening days should always be checked before the drive.

Xanadu sits south of Margaret River town. I remember tastings taking place in a converted artist’s studio; today the estate describes a relaxed cellar door overlooking the vines, with cellar-door exclusives and museum selections alongside current releases.

Those are personal favourites rather than an official ranking. If you want to build a route around particular varieties, accessibility needs or tasting styles, use the Margaret River Wine Association cellar door directory.

My advice: pre-book experiences that require it, keep the day to a sensible number of stops and either nominate a driver or join an accredited wine tour. Tasting fees and booking arrangements vary between estates.

2. Enjoy a Spot of Lunch

There are few things in life quite so satisfying as a meal built around local produce, overlooking vines or karri trees, with a Margaret River wine in the glass. My two long-standing choices are still Leeuwin Estate and Voyager Estate.

The drive into Leeuwin Estate, through beautifully maintained grounds, is an elegant introduction to the place. The restaurant overlooks lawns edged by tall karri trees and, weather permitting, I still prefer a table on the verandah. In 2026 the WA Good Food Guide named Leeuwin Estate its Regional Restaurant of the Year, but I would recommend it for the setting and the whole experience even without the trophy.

Allow time after lunch for the estate’s art gallery. Leeuwin’s Art Series labels are drawn from its collection, and seeing the original works adds another dimension to wines many Australians already recognise.

Voyager Estate offers a different kind of theatre. Its Cape Dutch-style manor house, white gables and formal gardens feel almost improbable in the Margaret River bush. Inside, the high timber ceilings and broad windows create a wonderful sense of space. Marron and venison were the dishes I remembered from an earlier visit, although that is an anecdote rather than a promise about the current menu. The estate now presents a range of wine, vineyard and dining experiences, so choose the one that fits the time you actually have.

Do not try to squeeze a serious winery lunch between six cellar doors. Make it the centre of the day, book well ahead and leave room to walk around afterwards.

3. Visit a Chocolate Factory or Two

There are two chocolate stops I continue to recommend because they approach the subject in completely different ways.

The Margaret River Chocolate Company is the exuberant one. Its original Margaret River factory opened in 1999 and still offers free tastings, a café, a production viewing window and a bewildering range of chocolate. The liqueur-filled truffles were always my favourites, while the brownies and hot chocolate deserved honourable mentions. I once challenged readers to leave without buying something. I have still never managed it myself.

Gabriel Chocolate is Western Australia’s first bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Its single-origin bars show how cacao from different places can produce markedly different flavours. The best comparison I can make is with single malt whisky: origin and processing matter, and tasting several side by side is far more interesting than simply deciding whether you prefer milk or dark.

On my first visits, a world map on the wall helped turn the tasting into a journey from one cacao-growing region to another. Gabriel now describes the experience in much the same spirit: travelling the world through chocolate. The dark mint became a personal favourite because it tasted of an actual mint bush rather than mint flavouring, although a 99 per cent bar is available if you prefer your chocolate with no frivolity at all.

For a change from cocoa, visit Vasse Virgin. The old article gave an obsolete Margaret River address; the original soap factory is now at Wilyabrup, with another store on Bussell Highway in Margaret River town. Its olive oils, gourmet foods and olive-oil skincare are still the attraction, and hands-on workshops and masterclasses are available on selected dates. The warm-water testing station is dangerously effective at persuading you that your bathroom needs an entirely new range of products.

 4. Climb down into a Cave

The limestone ridge beneath the region contains six show caves open to visitors. They are not interchangeable, so choose according to the kind of experience and number of stairs you want.

Lake Cave remains my choice for pure spectacle. You descend through a forested sinkhole into a chamber containing a permanent reflective lake and the rare suspended-table formation. On the guided tour, the formations seem to double in the water. I still remember the moment when the guide extinguished the lights and the cave became completely, envelopingly dark.

Lake Cave involves a substantial staircase down and back up. Wear secure shoes, take a layer for the cooler underground temperature and allow more time if steps are difficult for you.

Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience is the more flexible northern option. It now begins with an accessible above-ground path through bushland, where installations explain the landscape, wildlife, cultural connections and formation of the caves. Below ground, you can explore the crystal-filled chambers at your own pace, with guides stationed inside to help. Allow about 90 minutes for the complete above- and below-ground experience.

For a deeper understanding of Wadandi culture, look at the Aboriginal-led experiences offered by Koomal Dreaming. Its tours combine country, food, storytelling, music and Ngilgi Cave in ways a standard sightseeing visit cannot reproduce.

If you prefer a self-guided audio tour and are interested in megafauna fossils, Mammoth Cave is another excellent choice. None of the underground routes is completely step-free, so check the latest accessibility information before booking.

5. Go for a Walk 

The Cape to Cape Track follows the coast between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. The current regional tourism guide describes the end-to-end route as 135 kilometres, normally tackled over five to seven days. It crosses beaches, heath, clifftops and forest, with the Indian Ocean providing a suitably dramatic backdrop.

You do not need to walk the entire track to understand its appeal. There are short out-and-back sections, half-day walks and circuits that return you to the car. That is more realistic for a weekend—and, if I am honest, better suited to my preferred balance between walking and lunch.

For the full route, the Cape to Cape Track Guidebook combines track notes, planning information and detailed maps. The Cape to Cape Track Map is the lighter field companion. For day walks that finish where they started, Walking Round in Circles contains 29 circuit walks on the Leeuwin–Naturaliste Ridge. A Hema South West Western Australia map is also useful for planning the wider road trip.

A phone is useful, but it should not be your only plan in a landscape where batteries fail and reception can disappear. Carry water, sun protection and an appropriate map; check the weather and park alerts; and do not underestimate exposed beach walking or summer heat.

6. Laze by the Beach

The region has some of the most beautiful coastline in Australia, but a famous surf coast is not automatically an easy swimming coast.

For a sheltered family day in the north, my first choice is still Meelup Beach. Its pale sand, grass, picnic facilities and generally protected position make it a pleasant place to settle in for a few hours. Bunker Bay is equally beautiful and has the added attraction of Bunkers Beach House. A beach walk followed by breakfast or coffee on the verandah remains one of my favourite starts to a Margaret River day. Menus have changed since I first praised the smashed avocado and black pudding, so regard those as happy memories rather than ordering instructions.

For dramatic waves and sunset, go to Surfers Point at Prevelly. It is one of the great places to watch experienced surfers, particularly when the swell is running, but it is not where an inexperienced swimmer should attempt to prove anything. Gnarabup, Smiths Beach, Yallingup and Redgate provide further options depending on wind, swell and where you are staying.

Conditions change quickly. Meelup, Bunker Bay, Gnarabup, Yallingup, Smiths Beach and Margaret River Mouth are among the beaches patrolled seasonally, but patrol dates and times vary. Check Beachsafe on the day, read the signs and swim between the red and yellow flags when they are present.

7. Visit the Lighthouse

The two working lighthouses at either end of the Cape to Cape Track make excellent bookends for a journey through the region.

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse stands near Augusta at the most south-westerly corner of mainland Australia, overlooking the meeting of the Indian and Southern oceans. At 39 metres, it is the tallest lighthouse on the Australian mainland. The guided tower tour climbs 176 steps, so it is a proper ascent rather than a casual wander. The site’s interpretive centre is also worth seeing, particularly when winter weather makes the ocean look suitably formidable.

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is the easier climb: only 59 steps to the balcony. It also has an accessible observation platform at the base and a Lightkeepers’ Museum in one of the original cottages.

The region’s whale season runs roughly from June to early December. Augusta and Flinders Bay are the focus from June to August, while the returning humpbacks and their calves are seen around Geographe Bay, Busselton and Dunsborough from September into early December. You may spot them from a lighthouse, shore lookout or the Cape to Cape Track; a licensed whale-watching tour gives you a better chance of a close view, subject of course to weather and whales declining to read the itinerary.

8. Drive through Boranup Karri Forest

Boranup Forest is the most important addition to my original top ten. South of Margaret River town, pale-barked karri trees rise from the Leeuwin–Naturaliste National Park surprisingly close to the coast. Some grow to more than 60 metres, and driving beneath them is an excellent reminder that the region is much more than vines and beaches.

The unsealed Boranup Forest Drive runs between Caves Road and the coast. Parks and Wildlife lists it as suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles, and Boranup Lookout provides views across the forest towards Hamelin Bay. Late-afternoon light is particularly beautiful, while spring brings colour to the forest floor.

Roads and parks can close after fire, storms or maintenance, so check current conditions before taking the turn-off. Stay on formed roads, use designated stopping areas and remember that pets are not permitted in the national park. If you are heading towards Augusta, the drive pairs naturally with Lake or Mammoth Cave and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

9. Enjoy a cleansing ale

Margaret River’s brewing scene has grown considerably since I first wrote this guide. One practical correction is essential: Colonial Brewing Company is now called CBCo Brewing. The Margaret River venue remains on Osmington Road, with beer, food and a broad lawn that suits a relaxed afternoon.

What I enjoyed most at the old Colonial was the contrast between the dependable core range and the small project beers. On one visit I tried a confectionery-flavoured beer. I cannot remember exactly what it was, but it was definitely some form of pink candy. The details have escaped me; the sense that beer did not have to behave itself has not.

Beerfarm at Metricup is another very good 2026 choice. An independent brewery and restaurant built around a converted dairy farm, it combines a working brewery, farm-style food and a pleasingly informal atmosphere. It is the sort of place where a tasting can easily become a long lunch, so plan the transport before the first glass rather than after the third.

Menus, events and limited releases change often. Check the breweries’ current sites, book at busy times and give the car keys to somebody whose enthusiasm is genuinely for the ginger beer.

10. Meet the region’s artists

Margaret River has long attracted painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers and furniture makers. The art is not confined to one gallery or even one town, which is why the best 2026 starting point is the current regional gallery guide.

Yallingup Galleries combines contemporary Australian art with a sculpture trail in a bush setting. Yallingup Aboriginal Art specialises in contemporary Aboriginal art, while galleries and studios around Margaret River, Cowaramup, Busselton and Augusta cover everything from painting and jewellery to glass, timber and ceramics. Winery collections are also well worth seeking out, particularly at Leeuwin Estate and Vasse Felix.

If you are visiting this spring, Margaret River Region Open Studios runs from 12 to 27 September 2026. The free self-drive event brings 155 artists into the program across the region. Pick up or download the event guide and check each studio’s opening times before building a route. It is an ideal way to meet the people who make the work rather than seeing only the finished piece on a white wall.

Outside the festival dates, allow an hour to browse whichever galleries fall naturally along your route. Art is a far better gap-filler than attempting one more hurried wine tasting.

A sensible three-day Margaret River itinerary

Day	Area	Suggested plan
Day 1	Dunsborough, Yallingup and Wilyabrup	Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Meelup or Bunker Bay, Ngilgi Cave, then two northern cellar doors or a brewery.
Day 2	Margaret River and Prevelly	A short Cape to Cape walk, winery lunch at Leeuwin or Voyager, chocolate or galleries, then sunset at Surfers Point.
Day 3	Boranup and Augusta	Lake or Mammoth Cave, Boranup Forest Drive and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Add whale watching in season.

That is deliberately not packed from breakfast to bedtime. Driving takes longer than a map initially suggests, cellar-door conversations have a habit of expanding, and the entire point of Margaret River is to enjoy where you are.

When is the best time to visit Margaret River?

I have always favoured spring and autumn. The days are generally pleasant for walking and touring, wildflowers brighten the landscape in spring, and the region feels made for long lunches. Spring 2026 also brings Open Studios and the later part of the whale migration.

Winter is underrated. It delivers green countryside, dramatic seas, caves that are unaffected by rain and a very strong argument for sitting beside a fire with a glass of red. Summer is best for beaches and long evenings, but it also brings heat, bushfire risk and peak demand.

School holidays and long weekends can be extremely busy—every man and his dog appears to head down from Perth—so reserve accommodation, cave tours and destination restaurants early. If possible, visit midweek or just outside the busiest dates.

Practical Margaret River travel tips for 2026

• Allow more than a day. A day trip from Perth means roughly six hours in the car before local touring. Two nights is the practical minimum; three or four gives the region room to breathe.

• Choose a base that matches your priorities. Dunsborough and Yallingup suit the northern beaches and cellar doors, Margaret River town is central and convenient, and Augusta is best for the wild southern coast.

• Do not rely on public transport. Hire a car, arrange transfers or book an accredited tour. If tasting wine or beer, settle the designated-driver question in advance.

• Book the anchors first. Reserve the winery lunch, cultural experience, cave tour or whale cruise, then add flexible beaches, galleries and cellar doors around it.

• Check conditions on the day. Use official venue pages for opening times, DBCA alerts for parks and roads, Emergency WA for incidents and Beachsafe for beach patrols and hazards.

• Download directions, but carry a paper map. Reception is not guaranteed in forest, park and coastal areas, and a regional map makes it much easier to see which attractions sensibly belong in the same day.

• Travel respectfully on Wadandi Boodja. Stay on marked tracks, take rubbish with you, follow cave and national-park rules, and choose Aboriginal-led experiences when you want to learn about culture and country.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Margaret River for a first visit?

For a balanced first trip, include one winery experience, one cave, a section of the Cape to Cape Track, a sheltered northern beach, Boranup Forest and one of the two lighthouses. Add a winery lunch or whale tour according to your interests and the season.

Can you visit Margaret River on a day trip from Perth?

You can, but I would not recommend trying to see the region that way. The direct drive to Margaret River town is about three hours each way, and the attractions are spread over a large area. Stay at least one night; two or three is much better.

Do you need a car in Margaret River?

For independent sightseeing, yes. Regional public transport serves only limited routes and does not provide a convenient link between most wineries, beaches, caves and trailheads. A hire car, private transfer or organised tour is the practical choice.

Is Margaret River suitable for families?

Very much so. Chocolate factories, self-guided caves, Meelup and Bunker Bay, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, short forest walks and family-friendly breweries can all work well. Check age, height, stair and accessibility requirements before booking caves, lighthouse climbs or adventure activities.

What can you do in Margaret River when it rains?

Rain is an excellent excuse for a cave tour, long winery lunch, chocolate tasting, gallery visit or Vasse Virgin workshop. Winter weather also makes the coast spectacular, but obey closures and keep well back from exposed rocks and cliffs.

How many wineries should you visit in one day?

Two or three is plenty, particularly if lunch is included. Fewer stops mean more time to understand the wines, talk to the cellar-door staff and enjoy the grounds. They also make life much easier for the designated driver.

The bottom line

Margaret River never fails to impress the friends and relatives we bring with us. The pleasures that first drew us south—excellent wine, long lunches, white beaches, dark caves and winter fires—are all still here. What has changed is my appreciation of how much more the region contains: Wadandi culture, coastal walking, working farms, towering karri forest and a creative community spread from Busselton to Augusta.

Do not turn it into a race to collect ten attractions. Pick the experiences that suit your season, leave space between them and accept that lunch may take longer than planned. In Margaret River, that is rarely a problem.

I would love to hear your own favourites, questions or recent discoveries in the comments below. Just include the date of your visit, because opening hours, menus and even road access can change—and useful travel advice always needs a timestamp.

This guide was fact-checked on 5 September 2026. Confirm current availability, prices, accessibility and safety information with the relevant operator before travelling.

 

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