7 Day Western Australia Itinerary: The Perfect First Trip
If you have one week in Western Australia, the hardest part is deciding what not to include.
WA is enormous, and one of the biggest mistakes I see first-time visitors make is trying to squeeze Perth, Margaret River, Esperance and the Coral Coast into the same short trip. You can technically cover a lot of kilometres in seven days, but you’ll spend far too much of your holiday in the car.
For a first visit, I recommend concentrating on Perth and the South West.
This 7 day Western Australia itinerary gives you time to experience Perth, visit Rottnest Island, explore the Margaret River Region and see some of the beautiful coastline around Dunsborough and Yallingup without rushing from one place to the next.
7 Day WA Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Overnight | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Perth | Perth, Kings Park & the coast |
| Day 2 | Perth | Rottnest Island |
| Day 3 | Margaret River | Perth → Busselton → Margaret River |
| Day 4 | Margaret River | Margaret River wineries & attractions |
| Day 5 | Margaret River | Dunsborough & Yallingup |
| Day 6 | Perth | Margaret River → Perth |
| Day 7 | Perth | Fremantle & Perth |
Best for: First-time visitors
Distance: Moderate
Car needed: From Day 3
Ideal time: Allow seven full days, excluding international arrival and departure days if possible.
Day 1 – Discover Perth
Start your Western Australia itinerary in Perth.
If you’ve arrived after a long flight, I wouldn’t plan too much for your first day. Spend some time getting your bearings and enjoy a relatively relaxed introduction to the city.
Start at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, where you’ll get some of the best views over Perth and the Swan River. It’s a perfect spot for a picnic.
From there, explore the city before heading towards the coast later in the afternoon.
If the weather is good, finish your first day at one of Perth’s beaches. Cottesloe Beach is my choice for a first visit – I particularly love it around sunset.
Day 1 highlights
Kings Park • Perth CBD • Elizabeth Quay • Cottesloe Beach
Stay: Perth – See my guide on the best hotels in Perth →
Read next: Things to Do in Perth →
Day 2 – Rottnest Island
Today is for one of my favourite day trips from Perth: Rottnest Island.
My tip is to catch an early ferry so you have as much time as possible on the island.
Rottnest is bigger than many first-time visitors expect, so decide beforehand whether you want to explore by bike or use the island bus.
Spend the day discovering the beaches and bays, and of course keep an eye out for the island’s famous quokkas.
Depending on your pace, stops could include The Basin, Little Salmon Bay, Parker Point and Wadjemup Lighthouse.
Return to Perth in the late afternoon or evening.
Day 2 highlights
Quokkas • Beaches • Snorkelling • Cycling • Coastal scenery
Stay: Perth
Read next: Rottnest Island Guide →
Day 3 – Perth to Margaret River via Busselton
Pick up your hire car this morning and begin your South West adventure.
Rather than driving directly to Margaret River, I like to stop in at Busselton along the way.
My tip is to walk along the famous Busselton Jetty and, if you have enough time, visit the Underwater Observatory. Book tickets in advance as it can sell out during peak times.
Have lunch in Busselton before continuing towards Margaret River.
Once you’ve checked into your accommodation, keep the rest of the afternoon fairly relaxed. Explore Margaret River town, have dinner and get ready for a full day tomorrow.
Day 3 route
Perth → Busselton → Margaret River
Highlights
Busselton Jetty • Geographe Bay • Margaret River
Stay: Best Accommodation in Margaret River →
Read next: Perth to Margaret River →
Day 4 – Explore Margaret River
I recommend giving yourself a full day for the Margaret River Region rather than treating it as an overnight stop.
Wine may be what Margaret River is best known for, but there’s much more here than wineries.
Choose a few experiences rather than trying to visit everything. Depending on your interests, you could combine wineries with a brewery, local produce, chocolate, caves or some of the region’s spectacular coastline.
If you’re planning on visiting several wineries, I’d consider joining a tour rather than driving yourself.
Day 4 highlights
Wineries • Local produce • Caves • Breweries • Margaret River town
Stay: Margaret River
Read next: Best Things to Do in Margaret River →
Day 5 – Dunsborough & Yallingup
Today, concentrate on the northern part of the Margaret River Region – this is my favourite part of the area.
Head towards Dunsborough and Yallingup, stopping at beaches and viewpoints along the way. My tip is to drive along Cape Naturaliste popping into the beaches along the way – you could also visit Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.
Spend some time around Yallingup Beach and visit Canal Rocks before continuing along the coast. I love the aquarium – a beautiful swimming spot along the cape to cape track.
This is one of those days when I wouldn’t pack the schedule. The coastline is the attraction, so leave yourself time to stop when somewhere catches your eye.
Day 5 highlights
Dunsborough • Yallingup • Canal Rocks • Cape Naturaliste • Beaches
Stay: Margaret River
Read next: Best Things to Do in Dunsbourough→ and Best Things to Do in Yallingup→
Day 6 – Margaret River to Perth
It’s time to head back towards Perth, but don’t treat today simply as a driving day.
Use the journey north to visit somewhere you missed on Day 3.
You could spend more time around Busselton or stop in Bunbury. There are several experiences at the Dolphin Discovery Centre with the Interaction Zone, Interpretive Centre, Eco Cruise, and Dolphin Swim.
Alternatively, stop at Mandurah if you missed it on your way down.
Aim to arrive back in Perth by late afternoon.
Return your hire car if you don’t need it for your final day.
Stay: Perth
Day 7 – Fremantle & Perth
Finish your week in Fremantle.
Fremantle feels quite different from central Perth and deserves at least half a day rather than being squeezed into another sightseeing day.
Explore the historic streets, cafés and markets if they’re operating during your visit. Depending on your interests, you could also visit Fremantle Prison or the WA Maritime Museum.
Have lunch around the harbour before spending your final afternoon wherever you most enjoyed during the week.
If you didn’t make it to the coast on Day 1, this is another opportunity for a final Perth sunset.
Day 7 highlights
Fremantle • Fremantle Prison • Markets • Fishing Boat Harbour • Perth coast
Where to Stay on This 7 Day WA Itinerary
You only need two accommodation bases, which is deliberate.
Perth – 4 nights
Stay centrally if sightseeing is your priority, or closer to the coast if beaches are more important to you.
Margaret River Region – 3 nights
Margaret River town makes a convenient base for wineries and attractions, while Dunsborough can work particularly well if beaches are your priority.
Where to Stay in Margaret River →
When Is the Best Time for This Itinerary?
This itinerary can work throughout much of the year, but conditions in Perth and the South West change significantly between seasons.
Read: Best Time to Visit Western Australia →
Can You Do This WA Itinerary Without a Car?
You don’t necessarily need a car for the Perth part of the trip.
For the South West, however, I recommend having one. Attractions, wineries, beaches and towns are spread across a large area, and having your own transport gives you considerably more flexibility.
I’d therefore hire the car on the morning of Day 3 rather than paying for it while you’re exploring Perth and Rottnest.
There are car hire booths at Perth Airport, but it’s best to pre-book your car rental.
To compare Australian car hire prices, Discover Cars is an award-winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are highly rated.
Compare Rental Cars Here.
Have More Than 7 Days?
Have 10 days?
Spend longer in the South West and continue towards Denmark and Albany.
Have two weeks?
You have several options, including exploring more of the South West or choosing a completely different route along the Coral Coast.
10 Day Western Australia Itinerary →
2 Week Western Australia Itinerary →
Prefer a Road Trip?
This itinerary is designed around what to see and do during a one-week holiday. If you’re looking for detailed driving routes, distances and stops between destinations, head to my Western Australia road trip guides.
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