Margaret River Tours

Margaret River tours range from a 30-minute lighthouse tower tour to a 6-day adventure from Perth that links Margaret River with Esperance, with cave tours, wine tasting days and seasonal whale watching in between. They sit under the wider things to do in Margaret River hub, and this page sorts them by how you want to spend the time.

Cave tours in Margaret River

Caves are the signature Margaret River cave tours, and each one suits a different pace. The guided Jewel Cave tour is a 1-hour tour through three large chambers of crystal formations, past one of the longest straw stalactites in any tourist cave in Australia. The guided Lake Cave tour goes down a staircase into a sunken forest and a reflective underground lake. If you would rather wander at your own speed, the Mammoth Cave audio tour plays in English, French, German, Malay or Mandarin.

Ngilgi Cave at Yallingup adds a walk above ground. The Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Adventure follows a pathway through native bushland past interactive installations on the cultural connections to the land, then heads into the cave. The Twilight Didgeridoo tour returns to Ngilgi in the late afternoon for a guided bushwalk with a cultural custodian, then a didgeridoo performance inside the cave after hours.

Lighthouse tours at Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste

Each cape has its own tour. The Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse tower tour is a 30-minute guided climb up a limestone lighthouse built in 1895, the tallest on mainland Australia, with the Southern and Indian oceans meeting below and access to the Lightkeepers' Museum. The Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse guided tour is also a 30-minute tour, with an easy climb of 59 steps to a balcony over Geographe Bay and stories of the ships wrecked off the coast.

Wine tours and tasting days in Margaret River

The right wine tour depends on the size of your group. At Evoi Wines, the small group winery tour is a 1-hour tour for up to six people, finishing with tastings straight from the barrel. For a day built around your own interests, the private wine tasting tour has no set itinerary, runs in a luxury Mercedes, and picks you up and drops you off at your Margaret River location. It is booked for 2, or for a group of 3 to 4.

The canoe, cliffs and winery small group tour mixes a 40-minute canoe paddle, a 40-minute 4WD drive along the Cape to Cape Track and a 40-minute nature walk with a barrel-room lunch at Fraser Gallop Estate. It starts at 10.15am from the Margaret River Visitor Centre on Bussell Highway.

Whale watching tours from Augusta

The 2-hour Augusta whale watching cruise runs from May to early September, with a marine biologist on board and humpbacks heading north, and endangered southern right whales and their calves often sighted. Cruises from Dunsborough and Busselton run later in the year, and they are covered on the Margaret River whale watching page.

Multi-day tours from Perth

The 6-day Esperance and Margaret River adventure tour leaves Perth at 6am from the Beaufort Street Tourist Stop. It covers a section of the Cape to Cape Track, Wave Rock, the rainforests around Walpole, the coastline of Albany and kangaroos at Cape Le Grand National Park, with swag camping, national park entry fees and meals included. Walks run from 3 to 12 kilometres on some days, so a moderate level of fitness helps.

How to choose between Margaret River tours

Start with the time you have. A lighthouse tower tour fits in around other plans, guided cave tours take about an hour each, and the wine days and canoe tour take up most of a day. Then think about who is coming: a private tour works for a couple or a small group, a small group tour puts you with a winemaker, and the caves and lighthouses suit anyone who can handle stairs. Whale watching is the one choice tied to the calendar, so check the season for your departure point.

Frequently asked questions

How long are Margaret River tours?

The Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouse tower tours are 30-minute tours, the guided Lake Cave and Jewel Cave tours are 1-hour tours, the Twilight Didgeridoo tour is a 1.5-hour tour and the Augusta whale watching cruise is a 2-hour trip. The Esperance and Margaret River adventure is a 6-day tour from Perth.

Do Margaret River tours include pickup?

Most Margaret River tours meet at the venue, such as the cave, lighthouse and winery tours. The private wine tasting tour picks up and drops off at your Margaret River location, and the 6-day Esperance tour departs from the Beaufort Street Tourist Stop in Perth.

Can kids go on Margaret River tours?

Child tickets on the Lake Cave, Jewel Cave, Mammoth Cave and lighthouse tours cover ages 4 to 16, children must be with an adult on the Lake Cave and Jewel Cave tours, and children under 4 are not permitted on the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse tour. Wine tasting tours such as Evoi Wines are for guests aged 18 and over.

What is the difference between a Lake Cave and a Jewel Cave tour?

The Jewel Cave tour is a guided 1-hour tour of the largest show cave in Western Australia, with three big chambers and one of the longest crystal straws in a tourist cave in Australia. The Lake Cave tour is a guided 1-hour tour that descends a staircase of about 300 stairs each way into a sunken forest and a reflective underground lake.

Is there a Margaret River tour from Perth?

Yes. The 6-day Esperance and Margaret River adventure tour departs Perth at 6am from the Beaufort Street Tourist Stop, with swag camping and a section of the Cape to Cape Track.

Choose the tours that fit the time you have, then book them online with Experience Oz. If you are still deciding what to do, see the wider Margaret River region.