Margaret River sits about 275 km south of Perth, roughly a three hour tow on sealed road. Base yourself in one caravan park for five to seven nights and day trip out from there. Cellar doors, caves, capes and surf beaches all sit within about an hour. Book well ahead for Easter and school holidays.
Where is Margaret River and how long do you need?
Margaret River is in the far south west corner of Western Australia, about 275 km from Perth on the sealed Bussell Highway. Give the region five to seven nights. The wine district alone runs roughly 100 km, from Cape Naturaliste at Dunsborough down to Cape Leeuwin at Augusta.
The area people call Margaret River is bigger than the town. It takes in Busselton and Dunsborough in the north, Yallingup and Cowaramup in the middle, Margaret River town and the Prevelly beaches, and Augusta on the Blackwood River at the southern tip. Two roads run the length of it. Bussell Highway is the quick way through, and Caves Road is the scenic way, winding through vineyards and karri forest.
Three nights is enough for a taste. Five to seven lets you do the capes, the caves, a cellar door day and a beach day without repacking the van. If you have longer, add Pemberton and the karri forests inland, or push east to Denmark and Walpole.
275 km
Perth to Margaret River
3 hours
Typical tow time from Perth
110 km
Caves Road, Busselton to Augusta
5 to 7
Nights for a comfortable stay
Which town should you base in?
Pick one base and day trip from it, rather than moving the van every second night. Busselton and Dunsborough suit calm swimming water, Margaret River town suits cellar doors and food, Prevelly and Gnarabup suit surf and sunsets, and Augusta suits quiet, river fishing and whales.
| Base | Suits | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Busselton | Calm bay swimming, the jetty, easy access | Busiest in summer, furthest from the southern capes |
| Dunsborough | Cape Naturaliste, Meelup beaches, coastal walks | Compact town, books out early over holidays |
| Margaret River town | Cellar doors, produce, restaurants, central | Town sites fill fast, the beach is about 10 minutes west |
| Prevelly and Gnarabup | Surf breaks, sunsets, beach walks | Smaller sites, exposed to weather, limited shops |
| Augusta | Cape Leeuwin, Blackwood River, whales | Quietest, about 45 minutes south of Margaret River |
What kind of caravan park should you look for?
Most South West stays are in commercial caravan parks on powered sites, because free camping in this corner is limited and many national park campgrounds are too tight for a full size van. Look for a site long enough for van plus tow car, and check the access road before you book.
- Site length that fits van plus tow car, so you are not unhitching onto a road
- Powered sites, because shady karri country cuts solar output badly in winter
- A drive-through bay, or a generous reversing bay, if your van is over about 20 ft
- Sealed or well formed internal roads, which matter after winter rain
- Distance to town, since you will use the tow car every day from here
- Whether the park takes dogs, if one is travelling with you
When is the best time to tow the South West?
There is no bad season here, only trade-offs. Spring, from September to November, suits most touring couples: wildflowers, settled weather, whales off the capes and far fewer people than summer. Summer is warm and dry but busy. Winter is green, wet and quiet.
| Season | What it is like | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, September to November | Mild, wildflowers, whales off the capes | The best balance of weather and crowds for most couples |
| Summer, December to February | Warm and dry, beach weather, peak season | Book months ahead, and expect a strong afternoon sea breeze |
| Autumn, March to May | Warm days, vintage in the vineyards, quieter after Easter | Easter itself is one of the busiest weeks of the year |
| Winter, June to August | Green, wet and cool, log fires and quiet cellar doors | Whales off Augusta, and the lowest site rates of the year |
How do you visit cellar doors with a caravan in tow?
You do not tow to cellar doors. Set the van up at your park, leave it there, and use the tow car for the day. Most cellar door car parks are not built for a rig, and tasting and driving do not mix. Plan a nominated driver, a tour, or a shuttle.
The practical version looks like this. Pick a cluster of three or four cellar doors that sit close together, so you are doing short hops rather than criss-crossing the region. Book lunch at one of them and treat that as the anchor of the day. If you both want to taste, use a local wine tour operator or a shuttle from your park, and leave both vehicles where they are.
The same logic applies to the show caves, the Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses and the Boranup karri forest drive. All of them are easy in a car and awkward in a rig. Day trips from one base is what makes this region work.
What does a week in the South West look like?
Tow in on day one, set up once, then work north to south across the week. That order keeps the daily drives short, spreads the cellar doors out, and leaves you fresh for the run home.
Tow down and set up
Leave Perth mid morning, break the drive at Bunbury or Busselton for lunch, and be on site by mid afternoon. Set up, unhitch, and do nothing else.
The northern capes
Cape Naturaliste lighthouse, the Meelup and Eagle Bay beaches, and a stretch of the Cape to Cape track. Calmest water at this end if you want a swim.
Cellar doors and produce
Three or four cellar doors in one cluster, lunch booked, and the produce shops around Cowaramup on the way back. Nominated driver or a tour.
Caves and forest
One or two of the show caves, then the Boranup karri drive along Caves Road. Cool, quiet, and a good option if the weather turns.
Beaches and surf
Prevelly, Gnarabup and Surfers Point. Worth watching the surf even if you are not getting in, then sunset from the beach.
Augusta and Cape Leeuwin
Run south to Augusta, the lighthouse where two oceans meet, and the Blackwood River mouth. Whales offshore in winter and early spring.
Pack and tow out
Hitch up early, top up fuel and water in town, and take the Bussell Highway back rather than Caves Road.
What does your van and car need for this trip?
Nothing exotic. This is sealed road, powered site touring, so a standard on road or semi off road van suits it well. What matters most is that your car is comfortably inside its limits, because the hills through the South West are long rather than steep.
Tow match confirmed: your car's braked capacity against the van's ATM, and ball weight against the towbar rating
Loaded weights checked at a licensed weighbridge rather than estimated from a brochure
Tyres and pressures checked on both car and van before you leave Perth
Awning and pegs suited to wind, since coastal sites get an afternoon blow
A jacket and closed shoes even in summer, because evenings cool off fast near the coast
Firewood rules checked, as bans and local sourcing rules apply in some shires
Enough water on board for a night or two if you plan a stop on the way down
If any of that is new to you, start with what can your car tow and caravan weights explained. If you are arriving in WA overland, crossing the Nullarbor covers the run in.
Which New Age suits couples touring the South West?
For most couples doing this trip, a couples layout on road or semi off road van is the right shape: a fixed bed, a proper ensuite, a good outdoor setup, and enough payload for a week of food and wine. The Manta Ray is the natural fit, with the Oz Classic as the value alternative.
The Manta Ray is built for couples who tour regularly on sealed roads and gravel. In this part of the country that means a comfortable base you set up once, your own ensuite rather than a walk to the amenities block in July, and the outdoor kitchen and awning space that make a five night stay feel like a holiday rather than a camp.
The Oz Classic covers the same trip at a lower price point. It is an on road tourer, which is exactly what the South West asks for, and it suits buyers who want the couples layout and the comfort without paying for off road capability they will not use here. If your plans later stretch to remote gravel, that is the point to look at the tougher end of the range.
Layouts, specifications and weights vary by model and build, so check a specific van's plated ATM and ball weight against your car before you commit. Which New Age is right for me walks through the shortlist, and caravan layouts explained covers the couples floorplans.
Before you leave, stop in at New Age Perth to walk the floor and lock in the tow-match.
