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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Western Australian

16 replies

Orquid · 12/09/2023 07:08

We are planning to go to Western Australia next August, for about 9 nights.

The initial idea is to flight to Perth, spend 2 nights in Perth, then rent a campervan and drive to Ningaloo reef, spend 3 nights there, drive back to Perth, then fly to Margaret river, spend 3 nights there, then fly back to Perth and then Sidney for 8 nights to ser family. Then Japan for 8 nights, then London.

Any thoughts on the Western Australian part? Al ready sounds like a lot to me with the camparvan.

And last buy not less, what about sharks snd jelly fish, will we be able to to in the water? What the weather like that time of the year there?

Thank you

OP posts:
KillingMeDeftly · 12/09/2023 08:13

It's a good 12 hour drive from Perth to Ningaloo so unless you're planning to leave at the crack of dawn, I'd factor in an overnight stay halfway there and back.

Margaret River by contrast is only about 3-4 hours south of Perth. If I was you I'd fly to Ningaloo and drive to Margaret River.

KillingMeDeftly · 12/09/2023 08:15

Weather-wise it should be warm in Ningaloo in August but Margaret River might be chilly.

Afraid I can't answer your questions on sharks and jellyfish but I'm sure the tourist board will be able to!

Original poster
Orquid · 12/09/2023 08:17

Thank you. Yes, we are planning one or 2 overnight stays, DH said there are some nice things to see on the way to NR hence the campervan idea.

It seems it may be a bit cold on Margaret river that time of the year so wondering if it is too much/worth it going there too

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TheIsleOfTheLost · 12/09/2023 08:31

Possibly a bit early thst far south, but it should be wildflower season. The drive to Ningaloo would be a great way to see them. I did Margaret River in September and it was perfect weather. I don't like too much heat though!

TheWestIsTheBest · 12/09/2023 08:43

Its the middle of winter so likely to rain a lot in Margaret River, and be pretty chilly. Ningaloo obviously will be warmer but not much, maybe topping out at mid 20s. For what its worth when I had my folks over visiting from Ireland (I live in Perth) they preferred going North and thougth Margs was nice but a bit like home, whereas North of Perth was much more 'Aussie' (deserts/bush etc). If going North I'd make sure to see Pink Lake, the Pinnacles and Karajini (Nature's window and skywalk). As for swimming, its not really swimming season here (winter!) so can't advise. Couldn't you go a bit later, weather will be much nicer in October, and still not too hot. We get most of the annual rainfall here in winter, and it can rain a lot!

Original poster
Orquid · 12/09/2023 09:09

Thank you. We have to travel in August due to school holidays.

Think we give Margaret river a miss. Went to Melbourne that time of the year and did great ocean rd but was raining cats and dogs. Sydney was nice though.

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Asiatoyork · 12/09/2023 10:42

I went in July ish straight after lock down and we had a great few days in Perth (although it rained a lot) then we went north as far as Kalbarri then back down to fly out (different stops to make it more fun). Kalbarri was warm, Perth was not. We took our time and do not do any really long drives.

Have heard amazing things are Marg River, but we skipped it because of weather concerns.

Asiatoyork · 12/09/2023 10:44

I do sort of wish we pressed on to the Ningaloo but it is a very long way for a round trip.

Yeagarup · 12/09/2023 11:25

Missing out Margaret River means that you won’t have an excuse to visit the Crooked Carrot.

Original poster
Orquid · 12/09/2023 12:53

Thank you all. It is a tricky time if the year but the only one we can travel at the moment

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orangelotus · 12/09/2023 13:08

we did the trip to Perth and then down to margaret river in April. we had really nice daytime weather but even then it was too chilly to sit out in evenings .
It was beautiful and we are planning to head back and make it as far as Broome. you'll have a great time such a beautiful country

MargaretRiver · 12/09/2023 13:12

Not enough time to go both North & South in my opinion, so at that time of year I’d go North only and do 1-2 overnights in each direction
I’d also do some days out from Perth eg Rottnest Island, Swan Valley Wineries, swimming with wild dolphins at Rockingham.
No need to travel huge distances to do a variety of things

TeamGeriatric · 12/09/2023 13:48

I concur with others, 9 days is not enough time to do Margaret River and Ningaloo. We used to live in Sydney, when we did Ningaloo we flew to Geraldton (via Perth) which cut out 400km of driving, and then looped from there to Monkey Mia, up to Exmouth and the across to Karijini national park and then flew back to Perth from Paraburdoo. That took us 9 days, there were some long driving days, but it wasn't too crazy. If you are driving from Perth to Exmouth then ... approx 200km north of Perth you have Nambung national park and the pinnacles, worth a visit. Kalbarri national park is 360km north of Nambung for nature's window and pink lake. Not been to this one, still on my list. Then from Kalbarri it's another 360km to Monkey Mia, for the dolphins and stromatolites and there are (or at least were) tours with an aboriginal guide on offer for a cultural experience. Then another 350km from Monkey Mia you reach Carnarvon, there are some blow holes there which we stopped at, maybe just to break the journey and finally another 240km to Coral Bay for Ningaloo, but if you want to see and swim with the Whale Sharks (which I highly recommend) then you need to go all the way up to Exmouth which is 360km from Carnarvon. We went mid-June and I went in with the whale sharks in a wetsuit, it was fine. People went in without and also seemed to manage. I remember people snorkelling off the beach in Coral Bay so it can't have been that cold. I didn't try that though. We did a separate trip to Margaret River, we went for a whole week and toured around as we had had a baby by then, as it's much closer to Perth it's possible to visit for 3 for 4 days and see most things. If I had to choose though, I'd go north every time!

jay55 · 12/09/2023 15:04

Monkey Mia is the only clear memory I have of Western Australia. The emus wondering around and the dolphins. It's been 15 years though.

There was a shark in the water when we went snorkelling at Ningaloo reef. But it just swam under us and carried on. No jellyfish there that i remembered (had to wear wetsuits due to those tiny jelly fish a couple of places on the east coast).

It's a tough drive, roads are pretty barren and the giant lorries quite intimidating.

Original poster
Orquid · 13/09/2023 08:50

Thank you everyone, that’s very helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orquid · 13/09/2023 16:29

TeamGeriatric · 12/09/2023 13:48

I concur with others, 9 days is not enough time to do Margaret River and Ningaloo. We used to live in Sydney, when we did Ningaloo we flew to Geraldton (via Perth) which cut out 400km of driving, and then looped from there to Monkey Mia, up to Exmouth and the across to Karijini national park and then flew back to Perth from Paraburdoo. That took us 9 days, there were some long driving days, but it wasn't too crazy. If you are driving from Perth to Exmouth then ... approx 200km north of Perth you have Nambung national park and the pinnacles, worth a visit. Kalbarri national park is 360km north of Nambung for nature's window and pink lake. Not been to this one, still on my list. Then from Kalbarri it's another 360km to Monkey Mia, for the dolphins and stromatolites and there are (or at least were) tours with an aboriginal guide on offer for a cultural experience. Then another 350km from Monkey Mia you reach Carnarvon, there are some blow holes there which we stopped at, maybe just to break the journey and finally another 240km to Coral Bay for Ningaloo, but if you want to see and swim with the Whale Sharks (which I highly recommend) then you need to go all the way up to Exmouth which is 360km from Carnarvon. We went mid-June and I went in with the whale sharks in a wetsuit, it was fine. People went in without and also seemed to manage. I remember people snorkelling off the beach in Coral Bay so it can't have been that cold. I didn't try that though. We did a separate trip to Margaret River, we went for a whole week and toured around as we had had a baby by then, as it's much closer to Perth it's possible to visit for 3 for 4 days and see most things. If I had to choose though, I'd go north every time!

Thank you. It sounds like a lot of driving

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