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Where Adventure Meets Indulgence: Wander Out Yonder in the Margaret River Region

It’s time for another happy jig for the Australian travel industry as Jetstar has just launched the first interstate route into Busselton Margaret River Airport. Gaining direct access from Melbourne to the Margaret River Region three times weekly gives us yet another excuse to make a trip to the place where adventure and indulgence meet!

It’s time for another happy jig for the Australian travel industry as Jetstar has just launched the first interstate route into Busselton Margaret River Airport. Gaining direct access from Melbourne to the Margaret River Region three times weekly gives us yet another excuse to make a trip to the place where adventure and indulgence meet!

This convenient new Jetstar route removes about three hours of travel time for Victorians as there’s no need to travel via Perth. That’s three more hours sampling the Margaret River Region’s famous food and wine, three more hours hanging out at its wow-worthy natural attractions, and three more hours on their stellar white-sand beaches. Yippee!

Located in Western Australia’s south west corner, the Margaret River Region is also accessible from Perth by car in under three hours. Once there, nature is the drawcard, not only from the region’s incredible natural wonders but from the produce that grows from the rich and fertile land.

Join us as we share the best of the Margaret River Region.

World-Class Food & Wine

Voyager Estate, Margaret River ©Tourism Western Australia
Voyager Estate, Margaret River

When the produce is this fresh, this juicy, and tastes this good, it gets a reputation. And that’s precisely what the Margaret River Region has: a reputation as one of Australia’s most foodie-forward destinations.

Award-winning wineries impress with top drops and complementary high-quality meals ready to create a taste explosion you’ll be talking about for years. Farmer’s markets offer produce so vibrant, you’ll want to move to the area and cook with it daily. Contemporary restaurants vie for your reservations, boutique breweries brew boldly, and the local café offers delectable homemade treats.

Voyager Estate, Margaret River ©Tourism Western Australia
Voyager Estate, Margaret River

Wine, to the fine folk of the Margaret River Region, is like family. They’ve been in partnership since the late ‘60s, and together, the 150+ local wine growers produce a quarter of Australia’s fine wines. Visit one of 90 cellar doors, follow the themed wine trails, and indulge in the exquisite vineyard restaurants. You can even book a stay at one of the nine wineries that welcome you for the night.

Brilliant White-Sand Beaches

Injidup Beach, Yallingup ©Tourism Western Australia
Injidup Beach, Yallingup

When two worlds collide, magic happens. This is why the Indian and Southern Oceans meeting in the Margaret River Region has forged a coastline like no other. Ask any surfer, and they’ll tell you it’s one of the best big-wave surfing locations globally, thanks to its 40 epic surf spots. The prestigious annual Margaret River Pro surf championships, held from the 24th of April to the 4th of May 2022, tells you how outstanding it is!

Castle Rock, near Dunsborough ©Tourism Western Australia
Castle Rock, near Dunsborough

Of course, you don’t need to be a big-wave surfer to enjoy the Margaret River Region coastline. Whether you’re a flop-and-dropper seeking some R&R, a beach babe looking for a secluded bay to call your own, or just love squeaky white sand between your toes, it’s all available in this pocket of Western Australia. From Busselton to Dunsborough to Yallingup and Augusta, secluded coves, crystal-clear lagoons, and idyllic beaches await.

Mind-boggling Natural Wonders

Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup ©Tourism Western Australia
Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup

A visit to the Margaret River Region is good for the soul. How can it not be when it offers such natural diversity? Part of the larger ‘South West’ region, this is a biodiversity hotspot, with 80% of the native species living here not found anywhere else on earth!

Hike national parks and walk forests paths following well-trodden trails or join a local guide to discover the area’s secrets. Passionate outdoor lovers, they hold the key to the best flora and fauna around. If you’re visiting in spring, the colourful wildflower blooms have to be seen to be believed. Be in awe of the stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites of Ngilgi Cave, WA’s first tourist attraction. To connect to country and all her medicines, join an Aboriginal tour led by the Wadandi and Bibbulmun people. After sharing insights from 50,000 years in the region, they’ll play the didgeridoo in a limestone cave: it’s an experience that reaches deep into the soul.

Whales Swimming, off the coast of Dunsborough ©Tourism Western Australia
Whales Swimming, off the coast of Dunsborough

The marine life is spectacular here, too. From June to December, whales migrate the coast: join a whale-watching boat in Dunsborough to get close enough for that magic tail or breaching pic. If you’re a qualified scuba diver, dive the historical Busselton Jetty; if you’d prefer not to get wet, witness the same 300 marine species from the Underwater Observatory instead. Head an hour south to see stingrays feed in the shallow waters of Hamelin Bay.

Hike Cape to Cape

Cape to Cape Track ©Tourism Western Australia
Cape to Cape Track

The 123km Cape to Cape Track invites you to balance the Margaret River Region’s indulgent offerings with adventure on this 7-day (ish) hike. The trail runs between two lighthouses at Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste, rewarding committed hikers with every natural wonder this region offers in one week. The spectacular coastal views are interspersed with lush forest scenery. Along the way, you’re welcome to explore the cliffs, caves, and rock formations that make this region a stand-out.

It’s possible to pack a tent and camp along the track; however, you’ll be missing out on the warm hospitality of the local hosts that offer accommodation close to the trail. Book a luxury guided tour with everything hosted for the most effortless option.

Margaret River Region Thrills

The Aquarium, near Yallingup ©Tourism Western Australia
The Aquarium, near Yallingup

In a region gifted with so much natural beauty, it’s no wonder that a wealth of activities are available to the equally adventurous Margaret River Region guest. Especially not when coupled with the Western Australian spirit of adventure.

On the water, surf, paddleboard, snorkel, dive, or canoe. On land, hike, bike, rock climb, ride a horse or go coasteering. And if you want the best birds-eye view of the region, be bold and book a skydive! If you like your thrills festival style, head to Cabin Fever Festival from the 15th to 24th of July 2022. It’s the perfect complement to your travels here as the event dots across the Margaret River Region.

The Deets

Voyager Estate, Margaret River ©Tourism Western Australia
Voyager Estate, Margaret River

Ah, there are so many ways to experience this region, yet so little time (although let’s not forget those three extra hours Jetstar has so kindly gifted us all).

When your clients are ready to Wander out Yonder to WA’s Margaret River Region, book them direct from Melbourne to Busselton Margaret River with Jetstar. The Margaret River website is a handy tool, as too is the trade-ready product from Western Australia Tourism.

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