10 amazing things to see and do on a road trip on The South West Edge
Covering over 1200km from WA’s Perth to Esperance and back again, The South West Edge is one EPIC route. These are our top things to see and do along the way.
Feel the adrenaline rush at The Gap and Natural Bridge GET A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE CHURNING The Gap SOUTHERN OCEAN AT IN ALBANY. A CANTILEVERED LOOKOUT PLATFORM JUTS 10 METRES OUT INTO THE GRANITE CHANNEL, GIVING A PERFECT VIEW OF THE 40-METRE HIGH CHASM. FEEL THE SPRAY AS THE WATER SURGES IN AND SMASHES AGAINST THE COASTAL GRANITE.THERE’S A MUCH DRIER EXPERIENCE Natural Bridge,A AT ROCK FORMATION SUSPENDED OVER RUSHING WHITEWASH.
Swim with dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery Centre Those with a soft spot for dolphins should make a beeline for Bunbury, where you can come within metres of the playful creatures on a fully guided dolphin swim. The team at will kit you up DOLPHIN DISCOVERY CENTRE with a drysuit and snorkelling gear before boating into Koombana Bay to find a pod.
Grab a camera, get down to quokka height and say “cheese”. It’s not hard to find a quokka to snap a selfie with, there are more than 10,000 of them covering Rottnest Island. To be safe, head to the bakery’s al fresco area or the beachside HOTEL ROTTNEST. While you’re there, grab a pint and soak up the sunshine while overlooking the water of Thomson Bay.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CELLAR DOORS ALONG THE SOUTH WEST EDGE, SO IT WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT STOP BY AT LEAST ONE (MAYBE FIVE?) OF THEM. START WHERE WINEMAKING BEGAN FOR Vasse THE MARGARET RIVER REGION AT Felix. CHARDONNAY AND CABERNET SAUVIGNON ARE THEIR MAIN CLAIMS TO FAME, ALONG WITH THEIR EATERY WINNING THE 2021 WA GOOD FOOD GUIDE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARD. OTHER OPTIONS WORTH CONSIDERING Leeuwin Estate INCLUDE (CHECK OUT Voyager Estate THE ART GALLERY TOO), (THE GARDENS ARE A THING OF BEAUTY) Swings and Roundabouts. AND
WINE AND DINE IN THE MARGARET RIVER WINE REGION
MEET LUCKY BAY’S RESIDENT ’ROOS
Lucky Bay has white sand so fine it squeaks underfoot and water so clear it’s a brilliant blue. But the kangaroos on Lucky Bay are ‘insta’ famous. For your best chance to see them head to the beach from mid-morning.
See a bubblegum-pink lake off Esperance
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS – BOTH GREEN AND ESTABLISHED – WILL BE TICKLED PINK AT A FLYOVER OF Lake THE BETA CAROTENE-RICH Hillier TO THE SOUTH-EAST OF ESPERANCE. FOUND ON MIDDLE ISLAND,THE LARGEST OF THE 105 ISLANDS IN THE RECHERCHE ARCHIPELAGO,THE LAKE IS SPECTACULARLY FLANKED BY GREEN SCRUB, A WHITE BAY AND THE DEEP BLUE SOUTHERN OCEAN.
WALK THE CANOPIES OF GIANT TINGLES
It doesn’t get more peaceful than a wander through the canopies of Walpole’s giant tingle trees. Suspended 40 metres above the ground, the VALLEY OF THE GIANTS TREE TOP WALK meanders its way through the ancient tingle forest, giving you access to a rarely seen angle of the towering plants. Complete the walk above before tackling the short forest track below.
Hunt for truffles in Manjimup
Manjimup sits at the heart of WA’s most prosperous farming region and is truffle central. All gourmands should hunt for their own chunk of black gold between June and August. Head out with AUSTRALIAN TRUFFLE TRADERS or TRUFFLE HILL, following the truffle dogs to unearth the expensive fungi.
Stroll the Busselton Jetty
AT1.8 KILOMETRES, BUSSELTON JETTY IS THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE’S LONGEST TIMBER-PILED JETTY. GET A FEEL FOR THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PIER WITH A STROLL TO THE OCEAN END (TIRED LEGS CAN HOP ABOARD THE SOLAR-POWERED JETTY TRAIN). AT THE END YOU’LL FIND AN UNDERWATER OBSERVATORY,WHEREYOU CANWATCH FISH DARTING AROUND THE CORAL-COVERED PYLONS EIGHT METRES BELOW THE SURFACE.
WATCH WILD ORCAS IN BREMER BAY
Bremer Bay, a small town halfway between Albany and Esperance, is the only place in Australia you can see orcas on a tour in their natural habitat. More than 150 of the creatures feed on the rich marine life 37 kilometres offshore every January to April. Unlike the migrating humpback whales the orcas aren’t visible from the shore, so the best way to see them is to jump aboard an expedition with CHARTERS. NATURALISTE