Perth Margaret River 2-Day Discovery with Lighthouse & Wineries

Margaret River’s appeal comes into focus when you pair its wine country with the coast and forest that surround it. This two-day tour links tastings with Mammoth Cave, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and Busselton Jetty, while a driver-guide handles the long trip south from Perth.

I like two things in particular: you get a broad view of the region without hiring a car, and the overnight stay means you do not have to rush back to Perth after a full day of tasting. The mix of wine, local foods, cider, beer and artisan goods also gives the trip more range than a winery-only outing.

The trade-off is a busy schedule with early pickup and a late return. If you prefer long, unhurried visits at each winery or want to choose your own stops, this coach tour may feel too tightly paced.

What to know before you book

1 / 9

2 / 9

3 / 9

4 / 9

5 / 9

6 / 9

7 / 9

8 / 9

9 / 9

1 / 9

• Two days, many sides of the region: The route includes wine country, coast, forest, caves and small-town stops.
• Big natural landmarks: Expect Mammoth Cave, Boranup Forest, Canal Rocks and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet.
• A mix of local tastes: Wine tastings are joined by food samples and locally made products such as olive oil and soaps, plus a stop at the area’s oldest brewery.
• A night in Busselton: Abbey Beach Resort is a four-star coastal resort, with dinner and breakfast included.
• Perth pickup and a late finish: Pickups operate around 7:00 to 7:30am, with the city departure listed at 8:00am. The return is listed around 8:30pm, with another pickup note giving about 9:30pm.
• Check the final price and meal details: The supplied starting prices differ, so confirm the currency, total, and what food and tastings are covered before booking.

👉 See our pick of the 4 Best Whale Watching Experiences In Busselton

A two-day route that earns its long drive

Margaret River is a long way from Perth for a casual day trip. The overnight format makes sense: you spend the first day heading south and seeing key sights, then continue exploring on day two before returning to the city. Luxury coach transport and a guide take care of the driving and route, which is useful if you want to sample wine without arranging a designated driver.

The itinerary combines places that are often treated as separate outings. You get coastal scenery, forest, cave formations and wine stops, rather than spending both days at cellar doors. That variety is the tour’s main strength, though it also means you should expect a sequence of stops rather than a slow, independent visit to each place.

The driver-guide provides commentary along the way. That can help connect the region’s food and wine stops with its geography and landmarks, and it saves you from having to navigate or research each stop yourself. No guide names are provided, and the exact order of attractions can change with traffic and weather.

Day one: Perth, Cowaramup and the Margaret River region

The day begins early. Hotel pickups operate through Perth CBD between roughly 7:00 and 7:30am, with the city departure scheduled for 8:00am. You need to enter your hotel details when booking and be ready outside at least ten minutes before your assigned pickup. Because this is a shared transfer, the coach may arrive earlier or later than you expect.

Morning tea is at your own expense, so bring money or a card for a stop along the way. It is a small but useful detail: with a long first day, having a drink or snack before boarding can make the early start easier.

Cowaramup, a quirky town on the route, adds a change of pace from the city and the cellar doors. The supplied details do not promise a set amount of time there, so think of it as one stop within a packed regional tour, not a lengthy town visit.

Wine and gourmet tastings are central to the experience. You can expect visits to vineyards and samples of local products, with the selection changing by season and availability. The appeal is breadth: you get an introduction to the region’s wine and food scene without needing to choose individual producers in advance. If you have a particular winery in mind, check the operator’s current itinerary before booking, because no specific vineyard names are given.

The tour also includes locally made goods such as soaps and olive oils. These tastings give you a feel for the area’s small-scale food and craft businesses, and they offer a welcome break from wine. The exact samples are not guaranteed, so treat them as part of the day’s variety rather than a fixed shopping list.

Busselton Jetty is another major stop. It is described as the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, and its scale makes it an impressive coastal landmark even if you are not usually drawn to piers. The tour includes attraction admission, but the information does not specify how long you will have there or whether any particular jetty add-on is included. If there is something you especially want to do, confirm the details before you go.

Mammoth Cave and the Boranup Forest

Mammoth Cave brings a different sort of interest to the itinerary. The cave is described as an ancient time capsule, a phrase that points to its natural and geological value. You get a chance to step away from vineyards and coast and see one of the region’s notable underground attractions. Admission to visited attractions is included, though the length and style of the cave visit are not specified.

Boranup Forest gives the day a change of scale again, with tall forest scenery instead of open shoreline or vineyard rows. It is one of the tour’s more scenic stops, and a good reason to bring a camera. Walking shoes are recommended, but the tour information does not set out the walking distance or terrain at each stop. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator for current details before booking.

Canal Rocks adds rugged coastal views to the mix. As with the other natural stops, the schedule may shift with weather and traffic. That flexibility helps the operator manage a long route, but it means you should not plan a separate timed activity around a precise arrival.

The first night in Busselton

At the end of day one, you check in at Abbey Beach Resort, a four-star coastal resort in Busselton. The overnight stay is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. Instead of spending the evening on a coach back to Perth, you can settle in before continuing the route the following day.

Dinner and breakfast are included with the stay. That takes care of two key meals and makes the overnight portion feel like part of the trip, not just a place to sleep. The tour description also refers to gourmet meals, but it does not spell out every meal or tasting included in the price. In particular, check whether lunch and any winery samples are covered, rather than assuming every food stop is prepaid.

The accommodation is listed as a coastal resort, but room types and specific facilities are not detailed. If those matter to you, confirm them with the operator before you book. The package option is identified as Abbey Beach Resort.

Day two: brewery lunch, more tastings and the lighthouse

You check out mid-morning and meet the coach outside the hotel. The day’s first named stop is lunch at a local brewery. The area is known for cider and beer as well as wine, so this gives the tour a useful change of focus. The exact brewery, menu and lunch price are not specified, and the menu may change with the season and ingredient availability.

The itinerary continues with more regional touring and tastings. Past route details describe another winery, vineyard scenery and handmade chocolate, while the broader tour highlights include local cider, beer and artisanal products. These are appealing additions, but the precise lineup can vary. If you are booking mainly for a particular producer or product, ask what is operating on your date.

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is one of the trip’s signature sights. It sits at the meeting point of the Indian and Southern Oceans, giving the coast a clear geographic story as well as strong views. The lighthouse visit is a highlight for anyone who enjoys big coastal scenery, but the tour does not specify how much time is allotted there or whether climbing the lighthouse is part of the visit. Admission to attractions visited is included; confirm any optional activities separately.

The tour returns to Perth on the second evening. One schedule gives 8:30pm, while the pickup information says about 9:30pm. Treat the return as late and leave room in your plans for the later time. Traffic and weather can also affect the schedule.

What the price includes, and what to check

The listed starting price is $678.19, while the package information separately gives Abbey Beach Resort from US$589.75. Those figures are not directly comparable without knowing the selected date, currency conversion and final booking terms. Check the checkout total and currency before paying.

The stated inclusions are luxury coach travel, a professional guide and coach-captain commentary, attraction admission, one night at Abbey Beach Resort, and dinner and breakfast. Personal expenses are not included. Morning tea is specifically at your own expense. The trip includes tastings, but the available details do not clearly say which tastings or meals are included in the package price, so it is worth confirming.

For the price, the value comes from combining transport, a guided route, entry fees, an overnight stay and two included meals. That can be good value if you want to see several parts of the region without arranging a rental car, accommodation and separate tours yourself. It is less compelling if you only want a couple of winery visits or plan to spend hours at one place.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would consider this tour if you have two days available, enjoy wine and regional food, and want to see more than cellar doors. The mix of forest, cave, coast, lighthouse and jetty gives you a useful overview of the region, and the overnight stop makes the long distance from Perth more manageable.

It also suits visitors who would rather let someone else drive. Wine tasting and self-driving are an awkward combination, and coach travel removes that problem. The guide’s commentary can add context between stops, while the group format keeps the day simple to follow.

This is not the best fit if you want a quiet, flexible itinerary. The early start, shared pickup, numerous stops and late return make for a full two days. Nor is it wheelchair-accessible, though it is stroller-friendly. Children aged 0 to 3 can join free if they do not occupy a separate seat. The legal drinking age is 18, and anyone who plans to drink should bring valid ID.

Dietary needs, including allergies, gluten intolerance and vegetarian diets, can be accommodated. Tell the operator when booking so the team has a chance to plan. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and walking shoes, and keep a camera handy for the coastal and forest stops.

Should you book the Margaret River two-day tour?

Book it if you want a guided sampler of Margaret River’s wines, local foods and headline sights, and you value having transport and one night’s accommodation arranged. Its best feature is the contrast: a cave, forest and dramatic coast sit alongside vineyard visits and a brewery lunch.

Skip it if you need a relaxed pace, want control over every stop, or are looking for a detailed wine-focused itinerary with named producers and tasting inclusions confirmed in advance. Before paying, verify the final price, meal and tasting coverage, hotel pickup time, and the expected Perth drop-off. With those details clear, this is a practical way to cover a lot of southwest Western Australia in two days.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from Perth, with hotel pickups offered at selected locations around the Perth city centre. Enter your hotel details when booking. If it is outside the pickup area, the booking team will arrange the nearest pickup location.

What time does the tour leave Perth?

Hotel pickups operate between about 7:00 and 7:30am. The city departure is listed at 8:00am. Your pickup time is confirmed after booking, and you should wait outside at least ten minutes beforehand.

When does the tour return to Perth?

The schedule lists a return around 8:30pm on day two. The pickup information gives an approximate drop-off time of 9:30pm, so plan for a late return and confirm the current timing with the operator.

Where do you stay overnight?

The included one-night accommodation is at Abbey Beach Resort, a four-star coastal resort in Busselton. Dinner and breakfast are included with the stay.

Are meals and tastings included?

Dinner and breakfast are included, and morning tea is at your own expense. The tour includes food and wine tastings, but the supplied details do not list every included tasting or clarify all meal costs. Confirm what is covered before booking.

What attractions are included?

The tour highlights include Busselton Jetty, Mammoth Cave, Boranup Forest, Canal Rocks and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Cowaramup and local winery, food and drink stops are also part of the regional experience. The exact schedule can change with traffic, weather and seasonal availability.

Can the tour accommodate dietary needs?

Yes. The activity can accommodate allergies, gluten intolerance, vegetarian diets and other dietary needs. Provide your requirements when arranging the booking.

Is the tour wheelchair-accessible, and can young children join?

The activity is stroller-friendly but not wheelchair-accessible. Children aged 0 to 3 can join free if they do not occupy a separate seat.