
Augusta is a remote and stunningly beautiful area of Western Australia. The region is known for its natural attractions and is a wonderful place to spend a holiday with family or friends. Find out all the things to do in Augusta WA, where to stay, and other valuable tips in this travel guide.
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Things To Do in Augusta WA
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
Please note that major restoration works are being carried out on Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse from September 2021 to Sepetmber 2022.
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is located on the headland of Cape Leeuwin, the most south-westerly part of Australia’s mainland, where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.
Opened in 1895, this Augusta lighthouse is the tallest in mainland Australia and is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List. Initially, the lens revolved by a counterweight driving clockwork mechanism but became automated in 1992.
The limestone lighthouse is an excellent place to spot whales during their migration from May to September.
You can take a tour of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, still an essential working lighthouse, but note that you need to be able to climb the 176 steps. Once at the top, learn all about this historic lighthouse, and be amazed at the stunning views.
One of the original lighthouse keepers’ cottages now houses the Interpretive Centre, an interactive experience looking at the history and lives of the lighthouse keepers.
Leeuwin Road, Augusta

Augusta’s Old Waterwheel
This historic water wheel was built just before the lighthouse and used to supply fresh spring water for the construction of the lighthouse and, later, for the keepers and their families.
Over the years, the water, high in calcium carbonate, calcified the wheel, preventing it from turning.

The views of the ocean, giant granite boulders, and the rugged coastline are beautiful here, so don’t forget your camera.
If you want to see more of the coastline, try the one-hour walk from Augusta’s waterwheel to Skippy Rock, using the Cape to Cape track.
Leeuwin Road, Augusta

Jewel Cave
Jewel Cave is the largest show cave in Western Australia and my personal favourite in Australia’s South West region. This cave is popular with tourists and locals and has become famous for its beautiful formations.
The only way to see this spectacular underground treasure trove is on a fully-guided one hour tour.
Read the complete guide on this Jewel Cave WA review.

Whale Watching Augusta
Augusta is one of the most popular places for tourists to go whale watching in Western Australia to see Humpback and Southern Right whales. Whale watching season starts here from late May until the end of August. Up until mid-July, you have the chance to see energetic humpback whales as they migrate north. Southern Right whales appear in July, but the peak season is August when they use Flinders Bay to rest with their calves.
As these tours are during the winter months, ensure you wear appropriate clothing as it can be cold and windy out on the ocean. It’s also advisable to be flexible with dates in case your tour is cancelled due to bad weather or rough sea conditions.
Several whale watching tour operators depart from Augusta, although we haven’t been on these tours. However, we have previously used Whale Watch Western Australia and have been very happy with their service.
Get Your Guide offers the tour at the same price as direct but with the option of free cancellation up to 24 hours prior.
Whale watching Cruises in Augusta:
- Whale Watch Western Australia
- All Sea Charters
- Naturaliste Charters
- Legend Charters

Augusta Beaches
The Margaret River region is home to some of the most scenic beaches in Australia. With pristine sands and crystal clear water, this coastline has it all, and it’s not hard to see why people flock to this destination every year.
Hamelin Bay
My favourite beach near Augusta is Hamelin Bay, where friendly stingrays come up close in shallow waters. You can also fish off the beach, snorkel, dive, or hike one of the trails.
Read this article on things to do in Hamelin Bay for more information.

Grannys Pool
Granny’s Pool, located near Flinders Bay Jetty, is a great place for families as rocks create a calm pool, breaking the southerly swells. Here you can snorkel, hunt for crabs, swim, or relax under the shade of a tree.

Cosy Corner
Cosy Corner is a beautiful coastal area off Caves Road, 17 km from Augusta. You can stop here on your way to/from Hamelin Bay. The sandy beach looked lovely but the flies were dreadful (a very hot December), so we decided not to walk down to it.
There’s a limestone platform left of the car park, which has several blowholes that blow water up to 6 m high on rough days.

Augusta Fishing
Augusta offers a great estuary, beach, and offshore fishing spots.
Try your luck at catching black bream, trevally (skippy), and blue-spotted flathead at the Hardy Inlet, Blackwood, and Scott Rivers. Or head to Cosy Corner from late summer to autumn for herring and salmon.
In calm conditions, Skippy Rock is excellent for tailor, skippy, samson fish, and salmon from late summer to autumn. Pink snapper is in the deeper water offshore.

Hillview Lookout
This scenic Augusta lookout can be found along Hillview Road with 360° views across natural bush and farmland to the ocean. We weren’t that impressed with the views, but the drive through the forest was beautiful. It’s worth a visit to get a perspective of the area.

Visit Margaret River
Margaret River is only a thirty-minute drive from Augusta, making it ideal for exploring on a day trip. The area offers world-class wineries, trendy craft breweries, hikes through forests, thrilling mountain bike tracks, and stunning beaches.
Find out more about the area and what are the best things to do in Margaret River here.

We use Booking.com for most accommodation bookings as they offer free cancellation on most rooms, have a loyalty program (Genius), a price match guarantee, the site is user-friendly and they have great customer support. We also book through Stayz for private accommodation as they are often cheaper than Airbnb.
Augusta Accommodation
Pet-friendly accommodation in Augusta
Turner Brook Chalet
Turner Brook Chalet, a six-minute drive from Hamelin Bay, is on a working farm with pet animals that may be hand-fed, including cows, sheep, goats, and geese.
This three-bedroom house sleeps up to six guests and features air-conditioning, a private bathroom, a dining area, and a flat-screen TV.
The cost for a family of four for 3 nights in February is:
Booking.com A$450
Airbnb A$520
Stayz A$599
As you can see, booking.com has the lowest price for my dates.
Country Comfort Cottage
Country Comfort Cottage is an adults-only retreat near Karridale. This cosy one-bedroom cottage has a wood fire to snuggle up in front of in the cooler months and a lovely outside verandah to watch the local wildlife. There’s a kitchen with a small fridge, oven, and cooktop.
Three nights in March on Stayz is A$644

Private Accommodation, Stayz & Airbnb Augusta
Sapphire Chalets Augusta
Sapphire Chalets offer fully self-contained accommodation set on 80 acres. They feature a patio, two bedrooms, a dining area, a lounge, a fully-equipped kitchen with a microwave and stovetop.
This Augusta accommodation is featured on Stayz and Airbnb, but booking.com had the lowest price. The cost for two nights in May for two people was:
Booking.com A$340
Stayz A$384
Airbnb A$393

Alouarn Apartments
Alouarn Apartments are located a five-minute walk from Augusta town centre. You have the choice of the upstairs one-bedroom apartment with a private balcony or the downstairs apartment with a private courtyard. The modern apartments feature a fully equipped kitchen with a coffee machine, air conditioning and heating, electric blankets, and a range of other amenities to make your stay enjoyable.
The upstairs apartment also features a hot tub.
Booking.com A$452
Stayz A$456
Airbnb A$456
Hamelin Bay “LinRiebie”
This air-conditioned holiday home is situated among two acres of karri forest and is only a two-minute drive to Hamelin Bay. There’s enough parking for a car and a boat.
There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an outdoor bush shower. The modern, fully equipped kitchen includes a dishwasher, coffee machine, and bread maker.
Keep warm in winter with a lovely wood burner and reverse cycle air conditioning.
Family of four for three nights:
Stayz A$944
Airbnb A$1022

Storm Bay View
This renovated 1950s beachfront cottage is in Flinders Bay and features a wrap-around verandah from which you can enjoy the stunning view across the ocean to the marina.
There are two bedrooms, sleeping four guests, where you can fall asleep listening to the sound of the ocean. Small dogs are considered with prior approval.
Booking.com was slightly cheaper for a family of four staying three nights:
Booking.com A$834
Stayz A$840
Airbnb A$840
Augusta Sheoak Chalets
These family-friendly chalets are on Hillview Road, surrounded by the native trees of Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park. There are three or four bedroomed houses to choose from and are suitable for large groups.
Each chalet has a log fireplace, a private patio with countryside views, and a fully equipped kitchen.
Augusta Hotels & Motels
Baywatch Manor Augusta
The highly-rated Baywatch Manor offers excellent value accommodation in Augusta with a wide range of room options (including wheelchair accessibility). Some rooms have a private bathroom or access to shared male and female facilities.
Guests have use of the shared kitchen, laundry, dining area, TV room, and BBQ.
There’s heating in the building but no air conditioning.
Augusta Houseboats
Blackwood River Houseboats have three houseboats that they rent out for a unique holiday experience, and you don’t need a skippers ticket to drive them.
Augusta Caravan Parks WA
Turner Holiday Park
Turner Holiday Park is my favourite caravan park in Augusta as it sits right on the banks of the Blackwood River, close to the river mouth. It’s perfect for those who enjoy fishing, swimming, and kite or windsurfing.
The powered and unpowered campsites are suited for all campers, from tents to RVs.
If you want to stay here but don’t want to camp, Turner Holiday Park also offers a range of accommodation options including three riverfront chalets, an all-access chalet and a two-bedroom chalet.
You often see pelicans and dolphins in the river as well as large stingrays (mainly in summer) that come in looking for fish scraps. Filleting tables are in the water, which is where you are most likely to see them (especially if being used!).
Dogs aren’t permitted at this campsite.

Flinders Bay Holiday Park
Flinders Bay Holiday Park is on the beach and dog-friendly. It offers private powered and unpowered sites in a relaxed atmosphere.
Where is Augusta?
Augusta is a small town in Western Australia’s South West, located in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.
Getting to Augusta
International and domestic visitors will fly into Perth Airport. Find details about visas, prohibited items, currency, and safety in this Australia Travel Guide and tips on arriving into WA and other essential travel information in this Western Australia Travel Guide.
There are car hire booths at Perth airport, but it’s best to pre-book your car rental. Choose from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Enterprise, and Thrifty.
To compare rental car company prices, I use Discover Cars, an award-winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are have a high rate of customer satisfaction. Another option is Rentalcars.
Drivenow is a good resource to compare campervan hire in Western Australia as it includes all the large companies like Britz, Maui, Jucy as well as smaller ones.
Perth to Augusta
You can drive from Perth to Augusta in just under four hours along the main highways.
TransWA runs buses from East Perth to Pemberton that stop in Augusta, taking around five and a half hours.
Margaret River to Augusta

Margaret River is 43 km from Augusta, taking around 35 minutes by car.
The only public transport option is the Trans WA bus that comes through Margaret River on the way to Pemberton, stopping in Augusta.

The Ultimate Western Australia’s South West Road Trip
This bucket list road trip takes in the very best of Western Australia’s South West region and is a must for first-time visitors to WA. See a detailed itinerary and plan your route today with tips on where to stay and what to do.
Augusta Weather & Forecast
Summer in Augusta is usually a lot milder than Perth, cooled by the southerly winds. The average maximum temperature is 23°C with minimums of 17°C. Flies can be a nuisance during warm weather!
Winter is generally wet but warmer mornings than Perth, with maximum average temperatures of 16°C and minimums of 11°C.
The Bureau of Meteorology provides 7-day forecasts.
How Long to Stay in Augusta
How long you stay in Augusta depends on your activity level. If you just want to explore the area, a long weekend is plenty. However, if you’re going to fish, kayak, or have a relaxed family holiday, I’d recommend five days.
Augusta Restaurants
As Augusta is a small town, restaurants and food options are limited. Most places receive mixed reviews.
Try one of these restaurants/take aways in Augusta:
- Augusta Hotel – typical pub fare with lovely views over the Blackwood River
- Augusta Fish & Chips (previously Blue Ocean) – our fish and chips were tasty
- The Ragged Robin – didn’t eat here but looks cute
- The Colour Patch – didn’t eat here either but a popular place overlooking the inlet
- Augusta Bakery – enjoyed the jam doughnuts but didn’t like the taste of the sausage rolls
- Drive out to Karridale Tavern

Augusta Shops
Augusta IGA
Augusta IGA is open from 8 am to 6 pm seven days a week for your shopping needs.
It’s a Jem
It’s a Jem is a cute gift shop, worth a browse for any gifts or souvenirs.
For more shops and Coles or Woolworths, you will need to drive into Margaret River.

Western Australia’s South West Travel Guide
This detailed travel guide provides information on all the regions that make up Australia’s South West. Read about the destinations, including what to do and where to stay.
Western Australia Travel Guide

For other ideas on where to visit in Western Australia along with the best things to do, where to stay, how to get around, and other essential information, click on the link below.
Save money planning your holiday
Click on the links which will take you direct to the website.
Flights: We use different sites to get the best possible price for flights. Check matrix.itasoftware.com to get an idea of the cheapest dates, but you can’t book through this site. Compare the cost of flights with Kiwi.com and try different routes.
Travel Guides: As well as using online resources, like other travel blogs, I like to flick through a paper travel guide too. I either rent them from our local library or buy them from Bookdepository if I want to take it with me.
Accommodation: We mainly use Booking.com for accommodation as they consistently have the lowest rates with free cancellation on most properties. We also book through Stayz for private accommodation as they are usually cheaper than Airbnb.
Car Rental: To compare rental car company prices, we use Discover Cars, an award winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are highly-rated. Another option is Rentalcars.com
Campervan Rental:Drivenow is a good resource to compare campervan hire in Western Australia as it includes all the large companies like Britz, Maui, Jucy as well as smaller ones.
Tours: We use third-party sites Viator, Get Your Guide & Klook due to their free cancellation policies, instant confirmation, price guarantees, and mobile ticketing. We occasionally book through Red Balloon too.
Travel Insurance: Cover-More protects the travel dreams and experiences of more than 15 million people worldwide every year (including us!). Part of Zurich Insurance Group, they cover 22 countries across five continents with leading positions in the USA, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Ireland, India and New Zealand. Protect your trip against several COVID-19 scenarios during the current coronavirus pandemic.
FAQ
What oceans meet at Augusta?
The two oceans that meet at Augusta are the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean.
How many steps does Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse have?
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse has 176 steps.
If you found this guide on things to do in Augusta helpful, please consider booking through one of our links. It won’t cost you anything but will help towards the cost of running this site. Thank you.
Lovely charming place in WA, which I wouldn’t have heard of if I hadn’t read your post. Thanks for sharing your tips. The water wheel is pretty cool and I would love to explore the rock pools and the cave nearby. It’s also interesting to read more about the south part of WA as usually, most tourist parts tend to be in the North or East. Let’s hope international travel will resume soon as I’d love to continue my Australia trip and explore WA.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
I’m trying to showcase Western Australia as, like you say, most tourists just head to the East Coast.
So much to see & do, and all of it looks wonderful! I cannot wait to visit someday 🙂
Hope you both make it to Western Australia one day 🙂
Augusta looks like a really beautiful place to visit, the coastline in particular is spectacular. Whale watching would be an activity we would absolutely love to do. It’s nice that you can see the whale migration from the lighthouse too. It would also be lovely to snorkel with stingrays at Hamelin Bay. Thanks for all the practical information.
Thanks Mitch, it’s a lovely town to visit, especially during the whale migration. A visit to Hamelin Bay to see the stingrays are a must!
There’s so much to see and do in Augusta Wendy. For me, whale watching has always been a dream of mine so this would be my first activity. The beaches and caves nearby are also so beautiful too.
I definitely recommend whale watching in Augusta Lisa and Jewel Cabe was interesting and beautiful.
Lovely beaches, some whale watching and tie in a trip to the Margaret River for some wine that’s what I’ll be doing.
Great guide Wendy
Thanks Richard. That sounds like the perfect combination to me. The wines in Margaret River are so good!
Western Australia continues to beckon! This sounds like my kind of trip. I am not big on beaches, although these do look beautiful, but whale watching and exploring caves are real draws. I can see why Jewel Cave is a favourite. I love that lighthouse too and the history of the area. There is something really magical about lighthouses and I would have to brave the steps to get to the top!
I love lighthouses too Jane and the view from the top is beautiful. Caves fascinate me too and Jewel Cave was no exception.
I love those pictures of the rocky coast. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse would be worth it for the views. We’d love to go a little farther afield for the wineries and breweries, too!
The wineries and breweries in Margaret River are worth the drive from Augusta.
Love this travel guide to Augusta in Western Australia. This coastal area is stunning! Would love to visit one day.
Thank you Karen, glad you enjoyed learning about the small coastal town of Augusta.
The Karri Forest in Jewel Cave and those eagle rays at Hamelin Bay look amazing. Whale watching would also be high on my list, because Ellie & I have always missed the whale watching season in Sydney so far.
You’d both love the whale watching from Augusta Stefan, it’s just incredible to witness the giants in the ocean.
What a pretty area! Whenever I hear of a lighthouse I’m like sign me up. Love both taking photos of them and going up if possible. I would want to spend plenty of time swimming at Hamelin Bay, Granny’s Pool, and Margaret River!
I love lighthouses too, just something mysterious about them. You’d enjoy the snorkeling around Augusta and Hamelin Bay Vanessa.