introduction
SeanMack: The Rivermouth of Margaret River, Western Australia, 15 January 2006
Margaret River is a town and river located in the South West of Western Australia, about 277 kilometres south of Perth. It is at the centre of the Margaret River region, which is renown for its wineries, food and surf beaches, attracting an estimated 500,000 visitors annually.
In earlier days the area was better known for hardwood timber and agricultural production.
surfing
Bram Souffreau: Leeuwin - Naturaliste, WA; 2007
One of the true jewels in the Australian surfing crown. No finer colelction of reefs, points and big wave spots exist in such close proximity anywhere else on the entire continent.
The whole coast here is ideally placed to take full advantage of SW depressions and swell trains spraying out from the Antartic and peppering the coastline. May to September will be your prime season for these swells with rarer NW swells courtesy of descending Indian Ocean cyclonic systems more common from Dec-Feb. Onshore winds courtesy of the enormous inland deserts are very common in summer and sometimes there is just no beating them, no mattter how early you get up. Winter is better with morning offshores common but it is rare not to see some onshore activity late in the afternoon. Enjoy the reefs and relish the points, easily some of the best Australia has to offer.
where to stay
Red wine grapes; Fir0002; 09.05.2005
This is a hugely popular corner of Australia for many reasons, firstly and most relevently, is the surfing, but thats not all it has to offer the traveller. It also happens to be home to some internationally acclaimed Vineyards, exquisite restaurants, tasty dairy products such as cheddar cheese and yogurt and chocolate! So if the surf is flat you can gorge yourself stupid!
As for where to stay, such a popular place is forced to have accommodation to suit every kind of traveller for which ever reason they choose to visit the region. There are backpackers hostels with a friendly and sharing vibe. These are based upon dorm style beds with shared bathroom, kitchen and common room facilities - usually with a full range of surf DVD's to wind down to in an evening with a local red - or slab of beer - whichever floats your boat.
You can also find self contained apartments for weekly rent, rustic cottages, lodges, motels and top end hotels aimed at city slickers down here for some wine quaffing - or flush surfers who require a super comfy stay.
top rated spots
- Redgate
- Conto Springs
- Boodjidup Beach
- Grunters
- Gas Bay
- Boat Ramps
- The Bombie
- Southside
- Surfers Point
- Lefthanders
- The Womb
- Cobblestones
- Noises
- Honeycombs
- Hussa's
- Big Rock
- The Window
- Mufflers
- Moses Rock
- Supertubes
- Smith's Beach
- Smith's Point
- The Three Bears
- Yallingup Beach
- Augusta Rivermouth
- Deepdene
- The Quarries
- Lighthouse
- Main Break - Surfers Point
- Meelup
- Rocky Point
- Boneyards
- The Farm
- Other Side of the Moon
- Windmills
- Gallows
- Guillotines
- Margaret River
- Boranup Beach
- Three Bears
- Shallows
- Rabbits
- Smiths
- Inji Carpark
- Moses Rock
- Honeycombs
- North Point
- South Point
- Cow Bombie