Geographe - Margaret River, Western Australia, accommodation, tours and comprehensive tourist information

The Geographe region is a rich blend of maritime history, green and fertile pastures, brimming orchards and sparkling coastal waters with opportunities to interact with the marine life up close. Visitors are offered a wide variety of experiences in a region that is within easy reach of Perth for pleasant day trips or for a short getaway. It’s also the gateway to the Margaret River Wine Region and the Blackwood River Valley.

The heart of the Geographe region is the cosmopolitan City of Bunbury. Located on the coast, its character architecture is reminiscent of its maritime origins. Bunbury is dolphin country, with the Dolphin Discovery Centre offering the opportunity to interact with these enchanting creatures. The town is only a short drive away from the pretty hills, forests and wineries of the Ferguson Valley and the orchard town of Donnybrook, originally home to the Granny Smith apple and now producing Pink Lady and Royal Gala among others.

The Geographe area is especially popular because of its fresh local produce: dairy, beef and orange juice from Harvey, crabs from Bunbury and Australind, and crisp apples from Donnybrook. Itis also home to the Geographe Wine Region.

Harvey is nestled on fertile, irrigated plains beneath the rolling hills of the Darling Scarp, in the heart of dairy country. This thriving town has unique Italian heritage and has developed a fine reputation for its high quality orange juice, beef and increasingly its wine. Visitors can explore the jarrah forests surrounding the town which come alive with wildflowers during spring. The Harvey Dam makes for a scenic picnic spot with barbecues, an amphitheatre, walking trails and playground. Trout and perch fishing are also popular here between September and May (license required). North of Harvey the historic town of Yarloop houses a fascinating Museum and Steam Workshop that offer insights into the history of the district.

The golden beaches of the small towns of Myalup and Binningup offer a secluded beach escape. Myalup lies at the southern end of Yalgorup National Park and its long sandy beach is accessible to four wheel drives. Binningup beach is protected by an offshore reef and provides swimming, fishing and snorkeling.

The drive into Collie along the top of the Darling Scarp offers spectacular views of the surrounding jarrah forest, hills and farmland. In addition to its natural beauty, this historic town, nestled on the banks of the Collie River, has a rich coal mining history that can be explored through a tour of the replica underground coal mine or a visit to the Coalfields Museum. Collie’s Australiana style pubs reflect the optimism and prosperity of the early mining days and the distinctive All Saints Anglican Church, built in 1915, is a fine example of Italian style architecture. There are plenty of options for bushwalkers and mountain bike enthusiasts as the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail pass close to Collie. Further walk trails and mountain bike rides can be found throughout the Collie River Valley which is also a great spot for rafting, swimming or just relaxing. For canoeing or picnicking try Minninup Pool, Potters Gorge or Honeymoon Pool and water skiers can enjoy Stockton Lake.

The historic town of Dardanup marks the beginning of the Ferguson Valley and is a 15 minute drive from Bunbury. Fifteen heritage sites can be found in the township, including the church and post office. The Ferguson Valley offers fertile farmland, sensational views over rolling hills, galleries, wineries and magnificent native bush. It’s also a great place for bushwalking and viewing wildflowers in season. Try the Wellington Discovery Forest or Crooked Brook Forest.

The majestic tuart trees surrounding Capel are part of the last remaining naturally occurring tuart forest in the world. Enjoy the serenity of the short drive through the forest to Peppermint Grove Beach, a quiet seaside hamlet ideal for a secluded getaway. The clear waters of Geographe Bay are perfect for swimming, diving and fishing. Capel is known for its high quality production of wine and dairy products and is part of the Geographe Wine Region. Visit a cellar door or enjoy the local produce at a winery restaurant.

A picturesque country town situated on the banks of the Preston River. Enjoy a picnic on the banks of the river, or meet the locals at the country pub. Regular farmers markets give you the opportunity to indulge in the local fresh produce, whilst the art galleries will give you an insight to the local culture and talent.

Best known for its apple and stone fruit orchards, Donnybrook also produces excellent wine, cider and fruit wine, making it an important part of the Geographe Wine Region. The main street offers numerous cafés that are perfect for a relaxing cappuccino or tasty meal after a visit to the town’s shops and galleries. It is also home to the Apple Fun Park Children’s Playground. Donnybrook’s rich pastures, scenic waterways and native forests are a favourite with tourists. Glen Mervyn Dam is situated to the east of Donnybrook, and is popular for water-skiing and swimming from September to January, depending on rainfall. Donnybrook was once the focus of a gold rush when gold was discovered in 1897, mining ceased abruptly in 1903 after just 6 years.

Bunbury is a cosmopolitan regional city that is full of life and offers a diverse range of holiday experiences. Situated on a peninsula, Bunbury is known as the City of Three Waters and is an aquatic playground. The rumbling surf of the Indian Ocean, the calm waters of Koombana Bay and the tranquil Leschenault Inlet provide a range of water based activities.

Bunbury is renowned for the wild but friendly dolphins that interact with people in Koombana Bay. These gentle creatures that visit the shores of the north facing bay delight visitors from around the world. Getting up close to the bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat is a highlight for all who experience it.

The Lena dive wreck offers a fascinating view of its marine life, and is suitable for snorkeling and diving. Caught fishing illegally the vessel was sunk as a dive wreck just 3 nautical miles off Bunbury in 2003.

Visit the prehistoric basalt rock, which resulted from lava flows thousands of years ago. At Mangrove Cove you can take a trip along the boardwalk to get close to the 25,000 year old Leschenault mangroves. There is also a walk trail and viewing platform at the Big

Swamp Reserve, which allows interaction with a diverse range of wetland flora and fauna, including over 30 species of birdlife. The Maiden’s Reserve is a must if you enjoy scenic walks. Here you will discover natural tuart forests where kangaroo paws, tuart spider orchids, ringtail possums, bats, echidnas, bandicoots and kangaroos reside.

Bunbury is a community steeped in culture. The area has a number of significant historic buildings worthy of a visit. Venture into the King Cottage Museum (1880), Rose Hotel (1865), and St Mark’s Church (1842) - the second oldest church in Western Australia. Admire the 1860’s architecture and workmanship evident in the Old Post Office and Courthouse. Bunbury is known as the cultural and entertainment hub for the region with a comprehensive program of local, state and national performances at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. Housed in a distinctive pink historic building, the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries is the largest and only a class regional gallery in Western Australia. It houses international and local exhibitions of sculpture, painting, woodwork and blown glass along with a wide range of arts and craft. There is also an extensive public art collection scattered throughout the city.

With over 80 cafés and restaurants, Bunbury boasts excellent coffee, fine dining and a number of Gold Plate winning restaurants. You can enjoy the spectacular views and ambience with a meal on the waterfront, or a casual coffee and cake on the cappuccino strip. There is also great choice when it comes to pubs, clubs and late night bars.

As the shopping capital of the South West, Bunbury offers the quality, variety and value of city shopping in a relaxed setting. In addition to the larger retail chains, there are a number of specialized stores and boutiques.