When our eldest daughter said she was heading to Australia for a ‘gap year’, we immediately thought that she would make her way to the East coast. However, her first stop was to Perth, Western Australia. When the accolades started to flow about how beautiful it was in Western Australia, we decided to visit, planning a family road trip from Perth to Esperance, around the South West region of Western Australia. Find out what this road trip route can offer you…
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Why take a family holiday to Western Australia?
The question should be, why not take a family holiday to Western Australia (WA)?
If you live in Europe, the answer might be “because it’s on the other side of World”. However, with a new direct long-haul flight with Qantas, you can reach Perth from London in just 16.5 hours – it sounds a lot but it’s not much longer than some of the flights to South America, and it’s 4 hours closer than Sydney!
Alternatively, break your journey with a stopover along the way, such as in Singapore, if you have the time.
Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you’ll see that a trip to Western Australia is well worth the effort of getting there.
As the largest State in Australia, covering around one-third of the country’s landmass, then it offers both vastness and civilisation in equal measure.
Platinum Travel Planning Roadmap for A Family Road Trip in WA
Companions - Perfect for older children and teenagers
Whilst anyone can benefit from taking this road trip route, I am writing this blog from the perspective of travelling with family members. By family, I really mean older children and those who are happy being passengers in car (or campervan) for fairly long periods of time; not to mention, those being able to cope with the long flight.
We undertook this family road trip from Perth to Esperance (and back) with two of our children who were teenagers at the time (16 and 19 years). They were happy to amuse themselves on the longer driving days.
If you and your kids love the outdoor activities and incredible scenery then Western Australia makes an unbeatable destination. On this family road trip route, you can keep everyone happy with: surfing, kayaking, wildlife spotting (including orcas, in the right season), wine tasting, shopping, plus art trails, caves to explore and enormous trees to enjoy. The list of what’s available goes on…
Coupled with easy driving roads, Western Australia makes the perfect place for a family road trip.
Type of trip - Road trip
When planning our trip to Western Australia, we could have kept things simple and stayed in and around Perth, just taking a couple of day trips out of town. However, in the run up to our trip (as a fluke of timing), I watched two TV programmes featuring road trips around Western Australia:
- Comedian Bill Bailey’s Australian Adventure, and
- Chef John Torode’s Food Trip Down Under with his wife Lisa.
Both programmes opened my eyes to sights and locations in the State which I was previously unaware of, and the idea of a road trip was born. With a wish list of places to visit, and experiences to seek out, in Western Australia, I set to work planning our family road trip.
Reality check – as soon as you start looking at the driving distances involved in Western Australia, you realise that some prioritising is required as the State is vast and distances between places can be long. If you don’t have ‘all the time in the world’ for your trip, then you will not be able to see everything that the State has to offer in one go.
Different seasons – Western Australia spans 25 degrees of latitude across its 1,500 miles (2,400 km) distance from the northernmost point of WA to its south coast. This means that when it’s good weather in one part of the State, it might not be be best season for travel in another. This is something to bear in mind when deciding which part of Western Australia to visit on our family road trip.
South West Region – driving distances and seasons (as above) were the main reasons that we decided to restrict our road trip to the South West Region of Western Australia. This felt manageable and still offered incredible variety for the family.
The South West Region is therefore the main focus of this blog.
When to go on a family road trip in Western Australia (WA)?
Restricted to school holidays?
If you’re organising a family road trip then it’s possible that you will be restricted to travelling in the school holidays in December, April or July and August (UK school holidays for the purposes of this blog).
The advice is to plan according to the seasons at the time of year you want to travel, for example:
- April school holidays – plan a road trip around the South West Region from Perth in sunny weather as Summer transitions to Autumn.
- July & August holidays – plan a road trip north from Perth up to Exmouth or beyond to Broome and the Kimberley during the dry season in the north.
- December school holidays – caution here as it is the hottest time to travel and the heat can be difficult to manage. Stay coastal in the south to catch any available breeze. It’s the start of the topical wet season ‘up north’ so not the ideal time to travel north.
South West region road trip in April
Our road trip from Perth to the South West region of Western Australia was in April (Australian Autumn). At this time of year we enjoyed perfect weather on our road trip – no rain for 2 weeks and temperatures in the mid-20s every day which was perfect for a family road trip.
Note – it can still be very hot at this time of year and only a couple of weeks before our trip, Perth had been in the grip of a heatwave with temperatures up to 40 degrees. Be prepared for extreme temperature variations and weather which disrupt typical seasonal weather.
Where to stop on your road trip from Perth, WA?
How long do you have for your trip?
To some extent, where you stop on your road trip from Perth depends on how long you have for your trip.
We were restricted to travelling during the UK school Easter holidays and so only had 2.5 weeks to play with, which is one of the reasons that we decided to concentrate largely on the South West region of Western Australia for our road trip from Perth.
If we’d had longer, it would have allowed us to stay longer in some of the stops along the way – Esperance and the Cape Le Grand National Park were calling out for more time.
2-3 weeks is perfect for this family road trip from Perth around the South West Region, including time in Perth itself.
Trip research
As well as watching the two TV programmes named above to get some ideas for your plans, I also recommend the following guide books:
- Lonely Planet Guide – West Coast Australia
- Bradt Guide – Western Australia (my favourite one and the guide I took with me on the trip)
From my reading and research, I chose 6 destinations for our family road trip from Perth to give us a variety of stops. I was mindful of driving distances and looked for pit-stops on days with a longer drive.
We made a Holiday Playlist of Australian bands and singers to listen to in the car and just accepted that the car journeys were all part of the experience – watching the landscapes and looking for wildlife along the way.
Allow time to recover from jet lag
If you are travelling a long way to get to Perth, then start by allowing yourself time in the city whilst you recover from the flight and any jet lag – 3 or 4 nights is advisable. This will help you get ready for your road trip.
During our ‘recovery time’ in Perth, we took a day trip north to Namburg National Park as I wanted to see the Pinnacles but geographically they didn’t fit in with the South West Region itinerary.
Suggested itinerary:
A suggested itinerary, based on our family road trip from Perth, is as follows:
- Perth (State Capital) and Cottlesloe Bay – 3 nights
- Day trip north to The Pinnacles
- Drive to Fremantle (only 15 minute drive from Cottelsoe)
- Fremantle – 3 nights
- Day trip to Rottnest Island
- Drive to Margaret River (3 hour drive)
- Pit-stops at Shoalwater Islands Marine Park (kayaking), and Busselton Pier
- Margaret River – 2 nights
- Drive to Denmark (3.5 hour drive)
- Pit-stops at Hamelin Bay (stingrays), Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse (where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet), Pemberton (lunch) and Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
- Denmark – 1 night
- Drive to Bremer Bay (2.5 hour drive)
- Pit-stops at William Bay National Park (Elephant Rocks and Green Pools), Albany and Torndirrup National Park
- Bremer Bay – 2 nights
- Day trip on Killer Whale expedition
- Drive to Esperance (4 hour drive)
- Pit-stop at Ravensthorpe (grain silos and world’s tallest lollipop!)
- Esperance – 3 nights
- Day trip to Cape Le Grand National Park
- Drive to Perth (7.5 hour drive)
- Pit-stops at Ravensthorpe and Wave Rock
- Perth – 1 night before return flight home
Note – once you reach Esperance, you have a choice about how to return to Perth, which are:
- fly back to Perth from Esperance (the quick route) or
- make a long 7-hour drive inland – a big day’s drive, but with the advantage of visiting the iconic Wave Rock en route.
In our case, the decision was made for us by the luggage allowance – on the domestic flight from Esperance to Perth the luggage allowance was less than our international baggage allowance, which meant we had too much luggage for the first option. So that settled that!
Budget and bookings - Flights, car hire and accommodation
International flights
There are many different flight options to transport you to Perth, Western Australia, and so you should easily be able to find something which suits your budget, location, preference.
As members of the British Airways Loyalty Scheme, we looked at flights with British Airways and its Alliance partners as our starting point.
Book a BA Holiday to earn double BA Tier Points
For those looking to maximise airline reward points, you can earn extra British Airways Tier Points by booking a BA Holiday comprised of – flights and car rental, and/or flights plus hotel.
In the end we flew from London Heathrow to Doha, and then from Doha to Perth, with Qatar Airways (an Alliance Partner of BA). In total, the flying time was 18 hours – 7 hours London to Doha, and then and 11 hours from Doha to Perth.
We found that changing flights in Doha broke up the journey nicely, allowing us to get off the first plane and stretch our legs for a couple of hours.
My flight strategy was to be active on the shorter flight (eating meals, reading, watching films) and then try to sleep on the longer one (just eating light and avoiding the in-flight entertainment and distractions) which seemed to work well in managing tiredness.
Car hire
If you do choose to book a BA Holiday to make the most of the British Airways Loyalty Scheme, car rental tends to be with AVIS wherever it’s available.
The AVIS car hire depot at Perth Airport, Western Australia, was efficient and easy to access just outside the terminal building.
Accommodation options
As we were travelling as 5 people, then AirBnBs were the most cost-effective option for us – much cheaper than booking 3 separate rooms in a hotel. So, apart from booking one hotel in Perth on the night before our flight home, all our accommodation bookings were through AirBnB on this trip.
We enjoyed the assortment of AirBnB accommodation including: a ‘Neighbours’ style 1980s bungalow in Denmark, a flat with ocean views in Cottesloe Bay, a modern concrete block in the trees in Margaret River, a cabin strictly for Vegetarians only (for my daughter!) in Esperance, and a remote shack on a beach in Bremer Bay. They all had character and added to the surprise of what we were going to find at the next stop.
That said, if you would prefer to book hotel rooms or apartments, then check out the options on Booking.com
Booking activities in advance
As we were travelling at the end of the Summer, then most activities were available to book. However, the exceptions which needed booking were:
- Killer Whale Expedition boat trip from Bremer Bay.
- Lunch in a vineyard in Margaret River (because it was Easter weekend).
- Kayaking trip to the Shoalwater Marine Park, Rockingham.
At this time of year you can be flexible about your activity choices and go with the flow to some degree. Just be alert to whether you are travelling on any public holidays or at high season when it might be busy.
What to pack for your family road trip
Here are some tips for this trip:
- Casual is King – unless you decide to book any high end restaurants (perhaps unlikely if travelling with the kids), Australia is very casual. So shorts and flip flops are almost all you need.
- Pack layers – for this time of year, the weather should be mainly warm (even hot) but the evenings can cool down quickly. Pack a couple of sweatshirt or jumpers for cooler evenings. Also, in case of the ‘Freo Breeze‘ around Perth which can cool things down.
- Sun protection – sun damage in Australia is a real danger so make sure that you follow the government advice to ‘slip, slop, slap’ and use suncream at all times. Also, pack a hat and sunglasses, and rash vest for any waterspouts.
- Cagoule or Umbrella – in case of rain showers, at any time of the year.
Travel in Confidence
Essential documents for Australia
Before booking your road trip from Perth, Western Australia, check the entry requirements to Australia related to your nationality and the length of your stay.
Passports – at the time of writing, passports need to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. Make sure there’s enough time left to run on your passport before it expires, in line with entry requirements.
Visas – as a British Citizen with a current valid passport travelling to Australia for a two-week holiday, you need to apply for an eVisitor visa ahead of travelling. You can apply for these on-line and they generally come through quickly, but don’t leave it to the last minute, just in case of any issues.
If you are planning to travel for a longer period, then check whether this eVisitor visa would still be applicable for you, or whether other requirements apply.
Driving documentation – for driving in Western Australia, we were able to hire a car with AVIS on the provision of a full UK driver’s licence (an international driving licence was not required), but again, its worth double checking with your car hire company in advance of travel.
Driving in the South West region of Western Australia
What are the roads like in the South West Region
Most of our driving was on the roads south from Perth, although we did make a day trip north from Perth to the Pinnacles.
Overall, it was a pleasure to drive in the South West region of Western Australia, which offered long, open roads and very little traffic outside of the cities. In fact, on some legs of our journey we hardly saw any other vehicles at all – just a handful of cars, lorries, or long road-trains (a string of lorries hooked together).
Driving is on the right-hand side of the road.
I was worried about being able to find fuel on the more remote sections, but this was unwarranted and there were plenty of gas stations along the way. Some were unmanned stations which took a bit of working out but once we’d mastered the process, they were fine, and the gas was a reasonable price.
Guide to using an unmanned station – go into the booth, select pump, enter your chosen amount, put your credit card in, take your credit card out, go outside to pump and fill up with fuel, go back inside, put your credit card back in and the machine adjusts the amount in line with what you have used, remove credit card and off you go!
Note – rather than bugs on the windscreen, we found that the car got very dusty whilst driving in Western Australia, red dust which we needed to washed off periodically.
Navigation tools for your road trip
We used the inbuilt sat nav system in our hire car without issue, even in the more remote parts of our journey. I did take a paper road map of the South West region of Western Australia just in case it was needed, but didn’t have cause to use it on this trip.
Hazards of driving in the South West region of Western Australia
Tiredness
One of the biggest hazards of driving in the South West region of Western Australia is tiredness. Some of the driving distances are lengthy and, because the roads are long, straight, and largely empty, the driving can become a bit hypnotic if you don’t take preventative action, such as:
- Switch – switch drivers regularly if you can, to give your eyes and mind a rest
- Breaks – plan pitstops and take regular rest breaks along the way, considering where the toilet stops might be
- Entertainment – prepare a lively music playlist for entertainment to sing along to. I prefer music to podcasts and audiobooks which tend to make me feel sleepy.
- Snacks – play the ‘What’s in the glove box?’ game, which we inherited from John Torode’s Food Trip Down Under TV series – secretly stock up on local Australian snacks for the glovebox so that you can surprise your passengers and top up sugar levels as required
Wildlife
Another real hazard of driving in the South West region of Western Australia is from animals suddenly running out into the road, mostly at dawn or dusk, but not always. This happened to us twice…
The first time was in daylight when a kangaroo hopped out of the bush beside the road and promptly stopped right in front of the car, seemingly without a care in the world. Luckily, there was nothing behind me, and no on-coming traffic, and so I was able to swerve safely to miss it. Under Australian driving rules, it is illegal to swerve out of the path of an animal, so I couldn’t have done this if there were any other cars coming.
The second time was at dusk when a kangaroo hopped slowly onto the road in front of the car, but far enough ahead that we were able to slow down and stop.
Other drivers
Like at home, whilst driving in Western Australia, there is always the risk of danger from other drivers, for example, jumping red lights or speeding. So, just take it easy, know the local rules of the road and be extra vigilant.
In addition are the drivers of lorries and road-trains making their way backwards and forwards across Australia. In this case, it’s their tiredness (rather than yours) to be aware of. Just be as careful as you can when passing these long vehicles if you feel the need to overtake.
How to prepare for your road trip
Travel Insurance
Use travel insurance which covers you well for medical emergencies, breakdowns and driving incidents, and for any activities you are thinking of doing whilst in Australia (such as, surfing, kayaking etc).
Pack essential items in your car
As well as double checking the road worthiness of your car when you collect it from the car rental, if you are driving to remote locations, then it’s a good idea to:
- Take plenty of water and snacks in the car for emergencies.
- Let someone know your destination, route and expected time of arrival.
- Take warm clothes in case of a breakdown.
- Pack a first aid kit for dealing with immediate medical emergencies.
Consider the weather
The weather was kind to us on our April road trip from Perth, Western Australia, but you should be aware of the potential hazards for the time of year you are travelling – forest fires and floods are perhaps the most likely hazards you might face.
Health considerations for Western Australia
On land – Snakes, spiders and scorpions!
The main thing I was worried about before our road trip from Perth, Western Australia, was encountering snakes or spiders, and knowing what to do if one of us was bitten by them.
Luckily, we encountered neither snakes nor spiders, but my husband did stand on a scorpion when it was dark and got a nasty sting – the scorpion itself was tiny but packed a real punch. After some googling in the middle of the night we treated it with regular pain killer tablets (ibuprofen) until the waves of pain subsided, which was several hours after the sting.
In the water – Sharks, jellies, and rip tides
So many hazards to be aware of but some highlights include:
Sharks
Yes, there are sharks in Western Australia, it is their home, and not all sharks are dangerous!
Be reassured that there are plenty of protective measures in place, such as, shark nets, shark spotting helicopters, shark Apps, electronic shark tagging systems, shark alert sirens. However, it is best to be prepared yourselves, so:
- Always follow the local guidance – stay vigilant and follow the locals’ advice to stay out of the water if it becomes relevant.
- Swim in-between the flags where there are lifeguards on the beach, or within shark nets if they are available.
- Use a Shark Tracker App to see if there is any dangerous shark activity in your area and keep an eye on the local news.
Jellyfish
Be aware that there are jellyfish in Western Australia, many of which can administer a painful sting.
- There will be signs on the beaches telling you if it is jellyfish season for the more harmful ones, and if you need to take protective measures.
- Be vigilant and wear ‘stinger suits’ if advised to do so.
Rip tides
If you are planning on swimming or surfing whilst in Western Australia then know:
- how to spot a rip tide (strong underwater current) which could potentially pull you out to sea, and
- how to get out of a rip tide if you find yourself in one.
In general, you should pay attention to the signs on the beaches informing you of any potential hazards and know what the flags mean on the beaches – yellow and red is good and means that the beach is patrolled by lifeguards!
Don’t be put off by the hazards, just be prepared!
Final thoughts...
We thoroughly enjoyed our family road trip from Perth, Western Australia, and were only disappointed that we did not have longer to spend more time in Margaret River, Denmark, Esperance and Cape Le Grand National Park.
Interestingly, Western Australia wasn’t even on our holiday radar until our daughter decided to travel there, so we feel lucky to have discovered it at all.
Put Western Australia on your travel wish list, you will not be disappointed!
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