After the Rottnest Marathon: Margaret River

The Route: Rottnest Island → Fremantle → Perth (hire car) → Busselton → Margaret River → Yallingup → Perth Logistics: Return to the mainland by ferry, collect a hire car in Fremantle or Perth, and drive about 270 km south. Allow around three hours without stops. A car is essential in the region. Marathon Month: June Duration: 3 nights

Rottnest ──(ferry)──> Fremantle ──(about 2 hrs 30 mins by road)──> Busselton ──(about 40 mins)──> Margaret River
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Perth Airport (PER) <──(about 3 hrs by road)────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The Wadjemup Rottnest Running Festival marathon is held in June, and the south-west is a much stronger extension than trying to combine heavy sightseeing with the pre-race island weekend. Wait for the legs to recover, collect the car and drive south.

June in Margaret River: winter. Days are typically in the mid teens Celsius, nights are cold, and rain is common, so the forests and paddocks are green. It is the quiet season, with fewer visitors and shorter hours at some venues. Humpback whales pass along this coast on their northward migration in winter and can be seen from the headland lookouts, though sightings are never guaranteed. Southern right whales spend winter months in the shelter of some southern bays. Check every venue's winter hours before you drive out.

Night One: Busselton

Busselton is about two and a half hours from Perth, and the jetty is the highlight. It is about 1.8 kilometres long, flat and wide, with a small train and an underwater observatory at the end. Check the current train fares and the observatory times. The end of the jetty is exposed and can be cold and wet in June, so bring a windproof. The foreshore promenade is level, with cafés and benches, and a 30 minute walk covers it.

Nights Two and Three: Margaret River and Yallingup

The region runs between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, and its wineries follow Caves Road through karri and marri forest, mostly sealed and gently rolling. Margaret River town has cafés, a bakery and a supermarket on a flat main street.

Seated tastings are the recovery-friendly choice, and winter is the season for log fires and warm cellar doors. Vasse Felix at Cowaramup is the region's oldest winery, and Cullen and Leeuwin Estate are other well-known producers. Prices and booking rules vary, so check each producer, and do not drink and drive. Book a driver, a tour or a designated driver.

Mammoth Cave has a self-guided route on a boardwalk and is the gentlest cave. Lake Cave has a long staircase down to the floor, and Jewel Cave near Augusta has guided tours, so check the tour details and effort before booking. Ngilgi Cave near Yallingup also has steep steps.

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse has a paved path to whale-viewing platforms, and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse near Augusta, about 45 minutes south of Margaret River, is another lookout at the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Keep the walks short, and check the lighthouse tour times.

Winter is also truffle season in the Manjimup and Pemberton area, about 1 hour 30 minutes south-east of Margaret River. Some producers run truffle-hunting experiences and festivals in the cooler months, so check the dates and book, and keep this for a rested day.

For a bed, Cape Lodge on Caves Road is a long-established country retreat, and Smiths Beach Resort at Yallingup has a beach setting. Both are a drive from Margaret River town.

For a meal, the winery restaurants at Vasse Felix and Leeuwin Estate are well known, and the town has pubs and cafés. Book winery tables for weekends.

Wineries and Slow Meals

The Margaret River region has well over a hundred wineries, and cellar doors range from small family operations to large estates with restaurants and views across vineyards. Most tastings are seated, and a tasting can be done in an hour with no walking beyond the car park. Winter hours are usually shorter, so check each venue before you plan a route. Book a driver or a small-group tour if you plan to taste, and do not drive afterwards.

The town of Margaret River has a flat main street with cafés, bakeries and a bookshop, and it makes an easy base for a slow morning. Prices for tastings and platters vary, so use any figure as a guide only.

Caves and Coast on Foot

Mammoth Cave and Lake Cave, south of Margaret River town, are among the region's best-known limestone caves. Lake Cave involves a long descent by stairs, so check the number of steps and the tour times before you go. Walking down is hard on tired quads and walking up is worse, so choose the tour with the least descent, or leave it for another trip. Surfers Point near the river mouth has a level cliff-top path with an ocean view and is a good place for a short, easy walk.

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