Australia is famous for its diverse and beautiful landscapes. But nowhere is this put on display more beautifully than in Western Australia. From the towering tall trees of Pemberton to the majestic heights of Mount Shadforth, WA is a state that knows how to reach for the skies. And that’s only the beginning of the allure here. Wine country, wildflowers and an utterly beautiful and unbroken coastline make it an even more enviable place to visit.
Best of all, there is no shortage or top-rate tarmac to take advantage of in WA. If you’re out to see the country, then a driving tour is the best way to make that happen. And with the selection of self-drive minibuses and coaches available from Fleetspec Hire, you can fully equip yourself to move groups of friends, family, colleagues or even clients across expansive WA.
You set the itinerary, and we’ll supply the wheels. But with so much to see, do and admire in this part of the country, we thought it might help if we offered a little bit of our own experience gained from equipping drivers to tour the state. With that in mind, we’re going to cover a few of the most unforgettable sights and attractions you can visit on a road trip of Western Australia.
The Rolling Vineyards of Margaret River
By far one of the most popular road trip destinations in Western Australia, Margaret River is an undisputed highlight of the south-west. We’ve already discussed some of the coastal scenery and majestic forests you’ll encounter in this part of the country. But in the Margaret River valley, the premier attraction is undoubtedly the region’s wineries.
This is a great place to travel with groups, as everyone will appreciate the freedom that comes with visiting wine country without having to do any of the driving. And there’s much more than beautiful rolling vineyards and wine-tasting tours. Margaret River also features unrivalled beaches, rare plant species and breath-taking limestone caverns.
You can see it all when you organise a driving tour of this area. It’s only two and a half hours’ drive from Perth, so you can spend less time getting here and more time enjoying the sights and attractions.
Denmark: Where the Karri Forests Meet the Sea
It may take its name from a land over the sea, but there’s nowhere else in the world quite like Denmark, WA. Once a timber-milling town, Denmark is famous for its ancient Karri tree giants, which flank the scenic country roads and eventually give way to white, sandy beaches.
Denmark is a great place to visit on a road trip. It takes about five hours to drive here from Perth – with some great scenery along the way. And once here, your entire group can enjoy wine tours, forest tours and more. And from Denmark, you can easily embark on the Mount Shadforth Scenic Drive, which takes about one hour to complete.
Great Forest Trees Drive
Part of Shannon National Park, the Great Forest Trees Drive is not to be missed. The road stretches for 48 km and takes you through a scenic Karri forest. With these giants towering above, you’ll find many scenic viewpoints and lovely places for picnics, hikes and other excursions. One particularly well-worn trail takes you to the national park’s spectacular dam.
Another attractive feature of the Great Forest Trees Park is that it has its own FM radio channel, which broadcasts stories and commentary about the national park. Your passengers can tune in and get even more from their experience as a result. Great Forest Trees Drive is found in Pemberton, about four and a half hours’ drive south of Perth.
Monkey Mia
At nine hour’s drive, Monkey Mia is a fair distance from Perth, but following the coast here is half the fun. Monkey Mia has a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere, as it lies on the veritable edge of the great Australian Outback. And here, where the arid landscape meets the sea, you’ll find one of the country’s most memorable resort towns.
Monkey Mia is best known for its dolphin encounters. They teem in the crystal waters just off the coast here. And with about 320 days of sunshine per year, there’s hardly a bad time to visit. Your group can join a dolphin tour and even enjoy the chance to feed these amazingly gentle creatures. And after that, you could even rent a few quad bikes and explore the coastline at Shark Bay.
Karijini National Park
Monkey Mia may feel a long way from the more cosmopolitan parts of Western Australia, but you can keep heading north. Another 1,000 km north-east of Monkey Mia, you’ll find Karijini National Park, where the coastal scenery gives way to ochre-red rocks and sparkling pools.
This national park is desolate, to say the least – but it’s also absolutely beautiful. Plan walking tours that take in bizarre rock formations, and you’ll see plenty of wildlife along the way. Dragons, dingoes, kangaroos and rock wallabies are all on the agenda. Just remember: if you’re planning to do much hiking in Karijini National Park, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of drinking water stored under your coach. You’ll need it out there on the trail.
Getting to Perth Is Only the Beginning
In Perth, we like to think of our city as one of the most isolated – but accessible – places in the world. It’s far from just about anywhere else in Australia, but that doesn’t make it hard to get to in the least. The local airport is well-serviced by 18 international airlines, with regular flights to and from destinations across the Asia-Pacific region and even Europe.
And once your group has arrived, you’ll be delighted by the local transport infrastructure. Whether you’re renting a 12-seater minibus or a 46-seater coach, you’ll find that the roads are well-equipped to handle your group’s transportation needs.
Ready to start planning? Contact Fleetspec Hire to arrange coach hire in Perth, and start planning an epic, once-in-a-lifetime road trip through Western Australia.
