Spring’s officially here which means your next road trip is calling – and when it comes to travelling through Western Australia, there’s absolutely zero shortage of amazing road trips and adventures to choose from! For this one we’ll be heading to stunning Hamelin Bay, with a bucket load of awesome places to stop along the way (think Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton and magnificent Margaret River). So, hop aboard, buckle up and let’s get those mighty Maxxis tyres a’ rolling!
A few directions
Just an easy 310km on State Route 2 (Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway) and the Bussell Highway will get you from the centre of Perth to Hamelin Bay, on WA’s spectacular southwest coast. This road trip never fails to deliver amazing sights and experiences, and while it should take less than three-and-a-half hours, we’d recommend that taking your time to “stop and smell the roses” is the best way to go.
Best tyre choice for the drive
Maxxis has a comprehensive range of tyres to suit most vehicles, so whatever your vehicle, you can be confident there’s a Maxxis tyre that’s perfect to get you where you’re going!
The Maxxis VS5 (designed for a multitude of car and SUV fitments), ticks all the boxes for a superior quality, high performing modern technology passenger car and SUV tyre with exceptional handling and a comfortable, quiet drive all part of the deal! Another great choice is the Maxxis HP5, a modern touring /sport tyre engineered to meet the high standards of safety, handling and grip required by late model cars and SUVs. And of course, if you’re in a 4×4 and want an all-terrain that will perform super well both on- and off-road, the popular RAZR AT811 is cutting-edge in every way. If you’d like some expert advice in choosing a set of new tyres that are best suited to your vehicle, use our handy dealer locator to find one convenient for you.
Where to stop along the way
Mandurah: There are heaps of great places on this road trip to stop and have a beach walk, a coffee, lunch or even explore a vineyard. Just an hour into your trip, stop in at Mandurah. The Visitor Centre is a perfect first port of call, with lots of friendly advice to help you make the most of even a quick pit stop in the town. Have some yummy fresh fish and chips on the foreshore, go on an adventure to find the “Giants of Mandurah” (sculptures by world leading recycle artist Thomas Dambo) and particularly if you have kids on board with you, Lido Beach is perfect for a quick splash.
Bunbury: This is fair dinkum dolphin country, with Bunbury’s Koombana Bay home to wild bottlenose dolphins, so you can’t go wrong with a visit to the bay’s Dolphin Discovery Centre. Or take a stroll through the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery where there’s always an interesting exhibition to view!
Busselton: Walk the jetty which stretches 1.8km across the beautiful aqua waters of Geographe Bay. The new (very recently opened) Marine Discovery Centre on the foreshore shows off the area’s amazing underwater world — another fantastic place to stop in and visit.
Margaret River needs no introduction, and a lunch at one of over 90 cellar doors in the area has to be the ultimate pit stop! The town’s main street is a buzz of character and charm and an awesome place to shop up a storm or settle in for a coffee or lunch. If you’re keen to hit a bike trail, there’s even a bike café (on the banks of the river) where you can both have a coffee and hire a bike – win-win!
What’s there to love about Hamelin Bay?
Hamelin Bay is renowned for its sting rays which frequent the bay’s sparkling, clear water and are often seen close to the shore (especially in the summer months). Plus, it’s also a winner when it comes to swimming, snorkelling and diving, with a nearby shipwreck to explore. The bay is a great place for fishing, with whiting and squid known to be a pretty sure catch in these waters.
The iconic Cape to Cape track, which stretches 135km from the lighthouse at Cape Naturaliste to the lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin, passes through Hamelin Bay. While you may not want to do the whole track (which is another adventure in itself), there’s the great opportunity to join in for a couple of kilometres of the track and see exactly why so many people love it!
A short walk will take you to the Hamelin Bay Observation Deck (which has all the views and more!) with other options such as the loop to Cosy Corner enabling you to encounter the changing landscapes of forests, beaches and coastal scenery.
Another nearby “must do” (just 10 minutes from Hamelin Bay on Cave Rd) is Jewel Cave. Consisting of three huge chambers, the super impressive cave is home to some amazing crystal formations including one of Australia’s longest “straw” stalactites. There’s also a café right on site!
If you’re keen on a bit of whale watching, be sure to put Boranup Lookout (in the Boranup Karri Forest) on your agenda! Not only can you see Hamelin Bay from up here (so the perfect place to spot a whale from a distance), but are you are guaranteed picture-perfect views of the bay and it’s a great environment for bird watching. If you’re towing a caravan (or plan to camp) Hamelin Bay Holiday Park is situated in a stunning location in close walking distance to the beach, and offers both powered and unpowered camping sites as well as cabins with ocean views.
There’s heaps to explore around and beyond Hamelin Bay, with Augusta (situated at the mouth of the Blackwood River) just a quick drive on the Bussell Highway or Caves Road. An absolute beauty of a place to visit, Augusta’s got a lot going for it especially when it comes to spectacular scenery. Take a climb to the top of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse (which is the largest of its kind in mainland Australia), kayak or paddle down the river or just kick back on the beach for some swimming or fishing!
Before you go…
This trip is on sealed roads all the way, but if you’re in a 4×4 and planning to go off-road, including beach driving at Joey’s Nose (Kilcarnup Beach) and Boranup Beach, don’t forget to take your recovery gear with you. Plus, if you’re going to drive on the sand, have a pressure gauge handy to air down your tyres. As always, it’s recommended you do a thorough check of your tyres before setting off – and if you need any assistance with repairs, balancing or tyre replacements our network of Maxxis dealers are always happy to help.
