WA trip in September - south west planning help please

[ellen10]

After having to cancel a few trips over the last 6 months, due to some health issues, we have a 15 day trip to Perth and the south west, flights booked earlier this year. It looks like it will be a goer.
Very late to the planning, as we were not sure we could take this trip, I'm usually a plan well ahead gal!
So I need some help from the locals on AFF and members who may have done similar, please.

I have been doing some research and reading over the last few days and have looked at a possible route.

A few things to note:
We fly into Perth from Sydney arriving 7.10pm
We will hire a car for the drive south.
Due to some health issues for Mr Ellen10, the pace will be a bit slower and no big hikes, but we do like walks.
We have not been to Perth or this region before, so open to lots of suggestions.
And yes we do like to visit a few of the wineries along the way.

So this is a very rough itinerary:
Night 1. Stay overnight In Perth, at airport or in town. We will need to collect a car the next morning.
Night 2. Drive to Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough o/n Dunsborough?
Night 3&4. Margaret River area, in town or elsewhere?
Night 5. Pemberton
Night 6. Denmark
Night 7&8 Albany
Night 9 Katanning for a stop on the way back to Perth or somewhere else along the way?

This would leave 6 nights for Perth and surrounds, too much? Add more nights to the south west? Do we need to to have a car in Perth?

I would appreciate your thoughts, ideas, accommodation recommendations (I am an Accor member, but thats no requirement)
Where should we stay in Perth?

Nothing is booked yet, only flights.

Thank you

 

[Human]

Sounds very nice. If you like a slow pace, 6 nights in the SW seems about right to me.

I lived in Perth for 4 years a decade ago, so I know the area a little but I definitely wouldn't qualify as a "local".

Margaret River and the south-west are very nice. Lovely scenery, and very nice places to eat and drink around Margaret River.

For Perth itself I would recommend a car. The public transport is not horrible by any means, but once you leave the CBD/Kings Park area the things to do and see are quite spread out: the Swan Valley, Fremantle, possibly Mandurah (on the way to Bunbury/Bussleton), the beaches ... a car would certainly make things more convenient.

I'd also recommend a day trip (or longer) up to the Pinnacles area. My family and I stayed overnight in Jurien Bay a couple of times and we liked it.

But as I say, my "local knowledge" is quite old and brief, so take all the above with a grain of salt if more knowledgeable locals and/or travellers respond!

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for your reply @Human and information and ideas.

Yes I did look briefly look at visiting The Pinnacles, either by driving or a tour.
We would also like to go to Rottnest Island

 

[ols]

Yallingup, Eagle Bay and Smith's Beach are all very nice.

 

[OZDUCK]

Some quick thoughts for a start.

- Currently no hotels/motels at the airport itself but a variety of ones close by on Great Eastern Highway. There are also a number of car rental places nearby not just at the airport. There is an Ibis Budget on that strip.

- Stay at only one place in the Margaret River/Dunsborough region. The area is relatively compact so it is not worth the effort to change accommodation - only around a 35 minute drive between the two.

- A couple of highlights down there for me are the Boranup Forest and the rays at Hamelin Bay.

https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/boranup-forest-drive

Ultimate Guide to the Hamelin Bay Stingrays | Perth Weekend

Enjoy a unique wildlife experience this weekend at Hamelin Bay. Check out the sociable stingrays who call the bay home. Here's all the info!

perthweekend.com.au

-You will be spoiled for choice of vineyards down there. I will let some of our more oenophile members to offer suggestions.

-Pemberton is pleasant but just be aware that it is certainly not a metropolis. That said the drive there from Dunsborough way is very pleasant, Our German friend enjoyed it.

On the way towards Albany from Pemberton be sure to stop at the Valley of the Giants. As long as you are not to phased by heights the tree top walk there is excellent and there are easy strolls among the Tingle Trees. The tree top walk is physically vey easy if occasionally wobbly.

Valley of the Giants, Denmark, Western Australia

The Valley of the Giants region in the South West of Western Australia is home to the iconic Tree Top Walk, ancient forests, rugged coastline, fine wine and food and a range of accommodation options.

www.valleyofthegiants.com.au

- Again I would suggest staying in only one of either Albany or Denmark as well as it is only a 35-40 minute drive between the two.

-The Pinnacles and the nearby coastline is worth a visit. I think a nice overnight trip would be ideal. If your trip aligns with a full moon they are pretty surreal at sunset and under moonlight.

 

[VPS]

Great to see you are planning a holiday

 

[kookaburra75]

MrsK and I did a similar trip a few years ago. See our trip report for highlights - Winterly Westerly Wanderings

For hire cars, there is a local company Bayswater who are a lot cheaper than the usual suspects. They have depots in the city, Fremantle, and Subiaco. We picked and dropped our car off at the city depot, and Uber-ed to and from the airport.

 

[ellen10]

Some quick thoughts for a start.

- Currently no hotels/motels at the airport itself but a variety of ones close by on Great Eastern Highway. There are also a number of car rental places nearby not just at the airport. There is an Ibis Budget on that strip.

- Stay at only one place in the Margaret River/Dunsborough region. The area is relatively compact so it is not worth the effort to change accommodation - only around a 35 minute drive between the two.

- A couple of highlights down there for me are the Boranup Forest and the rays at Hamelin Bay.

https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/boranup-forest-drive

View attachment 515029

Ultimate Guide to the Hamelin Bay Stingrays | Perth Weekend

Enjoy a unique wildlife experience this weekend at Hamelin Bay. Check out the sociable stingrays who call the bay home. Here's all the info!

perthweekend.com.au

View attachment 515026

-You will be spoiled for choice of vineyards down there. I will let some of our more oenophile members to offer suggestions.

-Pemberton is pleasant but just be aware that it is certainly not a metropolis. That said the drive there from Dunsborough way is very pleasant, Our German friend enjoyed it.

On the way towards Albany from Pemberton be sure to stop at the Valley of the Giants. As long as you are not to phased by heights the tree top walk there is excellent and there are easy strolls among the Tingle Trees. The tree top walk is physically vey easy if occasionally wobbly.

Valley of the Giants, Denmark, Western Australia

The Valley of the Giants region in the South West of Western Australia is home to the iconic Tree Top Walk, ancient forests, rugged coastline, fine wine and food and a range of accommodation options.

www.valleyofthegiants.com.au

View attachment 515030

- Again I would suggest staying in only one of either Albany or Denmark as well as it is only a 35-40 minute drive between the two.

-The Pinnacles and the nearby coastline is worth a visit. I think a nice overnight trip would be ideal. If your trip aligns with a full moon they are pretty surreal at sunset and under moonlight.

View attachment 515010

Thanks @OZDUCK for your first hand knowledge, when searching I did read your comprehensive trip report and took notes. Hoping we might see some wild flowers as well. I admit we don't really like one night stays, so if we can combine an area to stay longer that is a bonus.
I will look into fitting in a trip to the Pinnacles.

 

[ellen10]

Great to see you are planning a holiday

Thanks @VPS until a couple of days ago I didn't think we would make it to WA. But things are going well, slowly, but positive.
I do enjoy planning a trip.

 

[ellen10]

Yallingup, Eagle Bay and Smith's Beach are all very nice.

Thanks @ols I will look those places up.

MrsK and I did a similar trip a few years ago. See our trip report for highlights - Winterly Westerly Wanderings

For hire cars, there is a local company Bayswater who are a lot cheaper than the usual suspects. They have depots in the city, Fremantle, and Subiaco. We picked and dropped our car off at the city depot, and Uber-ed to and from the airport.

Thanks @kookaburra75 I will read your trip report now.
And thanks for the hire car recommendation and ideas.