Most people arrive in the region from Perth. It is a relatively uninteresting 2.5-3 hour drive from Perth south along the Kwinana Freeway which turns into the Forrest Highway. For a more interesting but longer drive, take the old coast road through Mandurah, which provides some coastal scenery along the way.
Google Map with recommended detour through Mandurah.
If you are planning to arrive from the south (via Walpole, Denmark or Albany), then you will have a scenic drive through forest and small towns. Allow about 4 hours from Albany, plus time to stop and look at the attractions.
Highlights include:
- The fire-lookouts at the tops of several huge Karri trees near Pemberton. You can climb them (exhilarating!) to get a great view.
- The 4 Aces, just west of Manjimup, which are 4 grand old Karri trees standing tall in a row. Karri trees only grow in this corner of Australia and nowhere else, so be sure to get a good look at them. You won’t be disappointed.
- The tree-top walk and Tingle Forest to the north-east of Walpole.
Google map of several possible routes between Albany and Margaret River.
There is a very good bus service between the Margaret River Region and Perth. There are several local taxi companies, but in general the region is lacking good public transport, so once you are here your best bet is to hire a car.