The Margaret River Region is not just about wineries. We’ve crafted the perfect day trip in Margaret River for non drinkers! We have spent our fair share of time driving back and forth between Perth and Margaret River.
Before we had family down there, we would often head down for a day trip to save money on accommodation. If you love a good road trip on a budget, then this is the perfect way to get out of the city on the weekend.
There are so many things you can do in Margaret river, but a lot of them seem to be focused on the wineries and breweries. For a day trip and those of us that don’t drink, this is the perfect itinerary to see the best the region has to offer!
Be sure to check out our Instagram for our favourite things to do in Margaret River!
Let’s hit the road!
We start with an early morning in Perth to hit the road and make it to Busselton by 9am. Make your way to Hummingbird Café for a coffee and a sweet treat from their glass display. You can choose to grab it to go or dine in at this beachy café. If you got here a little early or just really love brunch, the gnocchi is to die for!
Soak up some ocean air
Head down to the foreshore if you got your coffee to go, and enjoy a little stroll along the beach! (We’ll save a walk on the jetty for the afternoon, when you can do it for free!) The further away from the jetty you go, the quieter the beach will get. The calm waters of the bay make it perfect for a quick dip or just getting your feet wet.
Once you are finished in Busselton drive to Canal Rocks to check out the stunning rock formations and amazing WA coastline. The drive itself is beautiful as well. Make sure you go for a wander along the boardwalk and climb up the small trails along the rocks to see waves crashing and breath in that fresh salty air.
Are you hungry yet?
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite again, it is time for lunch! There are so many places to choose from in the Margaret River region, so here are our recommendations;
- Fishbone Wines for delicious Japanese cuisine, with a Margaret River winery feel.
- Margaret River Brewhouse for great fish tacos and relaxed pub vibes. You can grab a cheeky low, or no alcohol drink here too.
- Aravina Estate for wood-fired pizza and a gorgeous atmosphere to eat it in. The lawn looking out over the vineyard often has live music. There are also stunning gardens leading down to the restaurant, as well as a cellar door and a little museum with old cars and surfboards. A great option for kids, as there is a pretty wonderful playground here too.
As you can see, the lunch options are endless, so pick something that suits you!
There’s always room for dessert
Now it’s time for the true Margaret River experience, FREE TASTINGS! Yes, people often centre on the free wine tastings but there are also a few food options here too, which are perfect for day trips!
First, check out the Margaret River Dairy Company for some delicious free cheese samples. Then, make your way to The Colony Concept just off the main highway on Harmans Mill Rd for some honey tasting.
Next up, dessert! Follow Harmans Mill Rd along to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory for some delicious free samples of chocolate. Located just behind the factory is Providore, with some exceptional sauces, jams, marinades and other delicious condiments on offer to sample and purchase.
Then, follow the road along to Caves Road and up to Gabriel Chocolate for a hot chocolate and more free chocolate samples. This is a family favourite. Tiff’s parents get a hot chocolate from Gabriels almost every day when they are in the region.
If you still haven’t got your fix, there is also Yallingup Chocolate along the way back to Busselton.
Walk it off
Once you get back to Busselton, it’s time to check out the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere! If it’s after 5, then it’s free to walk along, otherwise it will only cost you about $4 each for entry.
There is also an underwater observatory at the very end. If you are here before 5, it will cost you about $35 for an adult. However, this includes the train ride out and back! The train is pretty cool and saves you walking all the way out there. Tiff loves the walk, but Nathan isn’t the biggest fan of it.
See how you are going for time and make some decisions from there! You don’t want to be driving at dusk or when it’s dark, so make sure you give yourself enough time to be out of the country roads before then.
And that’s it, our ideal day trip down to Margaret River for non drinkers.
Still haven’t got enough?
We recommend doing this as a day trip in Summer when it stays light for longer so you can fit the most into your day. If you are doing it in winter, you may need to cut it down a bit or stay the night in either Busselton (Busso) or Dunsborough (Dunners) as we wouldn’t recommend country driving at dusk or dawn as this is prime kangaroo time.
We prefer to stay in Busso or Dunners over Margs as there aren’t as many dinner options in Margs and you aren’t as close to the beach. If you decided to stay the night in Busso, you’re never short on great food;
- Rocky Ridge & Margaret River Burger Co for good burgers.
- Fire Station for pizza, great bao buns and good share plates.
- Al Forno is great for takeaway pizza and potatas bravas.
If you stay the night in Dunners, there is also plenty of delicious dinner options;
- Occys is a great pub for food with very chill vibes.
- Peace Pizza (takeaway) is always delicious. We struggle to decide what to get, as it all sounds so good.
- Pedro’s Mexican is amazing. We recommend dining in if you have anything with chips, as they can go soggy on the drive back to your accommodation.
- Bamboo Spice (Thai) is also a firm favourite of ours.
- Another fave if you stay the night in Dunners is the drinks and banana bread at Hot Chocolatte. We always get an iced chocolate with ice cream and almond milk and take it down to the beach to enjoy for breakfast.
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- 5 Insta Worthy Margaret River Beaches
- Margaret River Caves Complete Guide
- Top 10 Things To Do In Busselton & Surrounds
