Margaret River & Caves Road
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Australia drives

Margaret River & Caves Road

Australia

Forest light, coastal stops and a wine-country base.

82 miles · 3 days · 6 rally points

Guide statusPublished and available
Editorial updateSeptember 6, 2026
Road conditionsCheck before departure
Check WA road conditions

The route

Begin beside Geographe Bay in Busselton, turn west through Dunsborough and Yallingup, then follow Caves Road into the Margaret River region. Three days give the coast, the town and the southern forest their own rhythm. Spend the first night around Yallingup and the second in Margaret River; the route ends in Augusta. Perth transfers and the return from Augusta are outside the measured itinerary. The mapped southern leg stays on Caves Road rather than the unsealed Boranup Drive. Cave visits, meals and walks are stops to enjoy after parking, not deadlines to chase.

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Route

Exact route map

The complete route, every rally point and sequential navigation links ready to open in Google Maps.

Itinerary

Full rally-point itinerary

A day-by-day sequence with distances, driving time and the stops that shape the journey.

Field notes

Road character & timing

Surface notes, corner character, suggested departure windows and the stretches that demand attention.

PDF

Downloadable roadbook

A premium PDF edition of the complete Drive Pack, designed for print and reliable offline use.

Web + PDF

Pre-drive checklist

Interactive and printable checks for the car, fuel, bookings, weather and offline navigation.

Live tools

Live departure desk

Official road-condition links and practical departure checks gathered in one place.

Curated

Stops, stays & tables

Curated accommodation, restaurants, wineries and worthwhile pauses matched to the route.

Route map

See the territory. Keep the discovery.

The shaded area shows the landscape of the drive. Members receive the verified road, sequence and navigation.

Explore the route region
  1. 01

    Day 1

    Busselton

    Start point · No transit leg
  2. 02

    Day 1

    Dunsborough

    15.6 miles · 26 min driving, plus stops

  3. Days 2–3 · Member Drive Pack

    The rest of the journey

    4 further rally points with verified routing, timings and road notes

Day by day

The drive, unfolded.

Busselton01

Day 1

Busselton

The bay before the forest

Start at the Busselton waterfront and leave time to walk beside the jetty before driving. This is the gathering point, not a timed transit stage. Prepare offline navigation and settle fuel or charging needs in town. The first driving leg heads west towards Dunsborough; resist adding a Perth transfer to the same morning without allowing for the extra journey. Follow signed visitor parking and keep the waterfront approach clear of pedestrians.

Distance
Start point
Drive time
No transit leg
Dunsborough02

Day 1

Dunsborough

A short first leg

Dunsborough is the practical pause between Busselton and the west-facing coast. Park in town, stretch your legs and pick up anything missing from the car. The route continues to Yallingup on Caves Road and Yallingup Beach Road. Cape Naturaliste is a separate excursion and is not included in the mileage. A short transit gives you room to enjoy the day without treating the town as a fuel-only stop.

Distance
15.6 miles
Drive time
26 min driving, plus stops

Complete Drive Pack

4 more rally points await.

The complete itinerary includes exact timings, road character, every stop and the downloadable roadbook.

Public preview · 2 of 6 rally points
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Beyond the road

Worth stopping for.

Places selected because they belong to the journey, not because they happened to be nearby.

Food & wine

Restaurant

Amelia Park Restaurant

3857 Caves Road, Wilyabrup

A vineyard-side lunch stop on the second day’s Caves Road corridor. The operator currently advertises lunch service; plan the day around your confirmed booking rather than assuming dinner is available.

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Booking note

Reserve directly; arrange a non-driving period or separate transport for wine.

Parking

Confirm the driveway and parking arrangement when booking, particularly for a low-clearance car.

Bakery and cafe

Margaret River Bakery

89 Bussell Highway, Margaret River

A useful town breakfast or picnic-provision stop before the southern leg. Choose from the current counter rather than planning around a fixed menu.

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Booking note

Check current holiday hours; this is a morning and lunchtime option.

Parking

Use signed town parking; a dedicated guest car park is not confirmed.

Cafe, bar and takeaway

The Colourpatch

Augusta

A final-day meal option in Augusta after the forest drive. The operator publishes seasonal hours and sample menus, so treat the booking confirmation as the plan for your dates.

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Booking note

The current winter schedule closes Tuesdays; recheck your travel date.

Parking

Follow signed parking at the venue; ask about access before arrival if vehicle clearance is a concern.

Where to stay

Apartments

Caves House Apartments

1 Yallingup Beach Road, Yallingup

A first-night base in the Caves House grounds, close to the Yallingup end of the opening day. Choose the room category carefully: the operator distinguishes studios from apartments with kitchens and laundry.

Visit website
Booking note

Book directly and check the selected room facilities.

Parking

The operator confirms free on-site parking. Confirm bay and access suitability for your vehicle.

Motel

Margaret River Motel

18 Farrelly Street, Margaret River

A practical second-night town base that lets you leave the car and walk to nearby services. It suits the itinerary’s early start south more naturally than returning to the northern coast.

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Booking note

Confirm arrival arrangements and book any tasting transport ahead.

Parking

The operator confirms an allocated car bay per room. Oversize vehicles need a separate check.

Before departure

Know before you go.

Navigation

Download the complete route before departure. Distances cover the mapped base route only; attraction parking, accommodation approaches and optional excursions can add mileage.

Road and weather checks

Check Main Roads WA Travel Map and Emergency WA before the forest section. Do not replace Caves Road with unsealed Boranup Drive.

Time behind the wheel

The displayed driving times are routing estimates without stops. Add time for meals, walks, traffic and weather, and keep arrivals in daylight.

Stays and tables

Recommendations are based on current operator information, not a first-hand inspection. Confirm service days, room category and vehicle access directly. Keep alcohol separate from driving.

Prepare the car

Check tyres, fluids, fuel or charge, insurance and roadside assistance. Carry water, a charging cable and offline maps. Pull over safely before changing navigation.

Continue exploring

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The complete journey

Take the full route with you.

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