Itinerary: Perth & South West, WA in a week

Exploring South Western Australia with my best friend in tow has been high on my list of things-to-do, but always seemed unlikely given the distance between where she lives {New York City} and Perth. I was so delighted when Ashley told me she quite spontaneously booked a last minute trip to visit me and would be in Perth a month from when she booked her flight. It’s no secret that annual leave from a busy New York City job is sacred, as most New Yorkers treat themselves only to long weekends every now and again, so I wanted to ensure each day Ashley was in Western Australia was filled with a balanced combination of adventure, relaxation, fun and of course plenty of wine. I’ve put together this itinerary which captures most things I love about South West W.A in only one week. 

Arrival day: Luckily, Ashley’s flight arrived in the early afternoon which gave her enough time to drop of baggage, wash, change & feel human again, enjoy a cup of coffee and get to Leighton beach just in time for an afternoon glass of wine & nibbles at Bib & Tucker before enjoying what I love most about living in Western Australia – walking along the beach and watching the sun set into the Indian Ocean. 

{other recommended sunset-watching spots: King’s Park, South Perth Foreshore, Crawley boat shed, Matilda bay, North Mole Lighhouse}

First full day – Rottnest Island: this was my favourite day of the whole week. Cycling around Rottnest with a backpack full of snacks and cold beer, stopping every few hundred meters to take in the beauty of the island and finding secret, secluded beaches to stop and soak in the sun. 

Second day: We set off early for our three-day road trip to Margaret River making a stop to walk along the famous Busselton Jetty. This broke up the drive {and Taylor Swift on repeat} nicely, giving us the opportunity to walk the 2 Kilometer Jetty, get some sun and stretch our legs. 

In the afternoon I booked us on a Kangaroo Safari tour. A visit to Australia is not complete without seeing Kangaroos hopping around freely and happily in their natural environment. Even after living here for 3+ years, I never tire of seeing kangaroos, I think they are beautiful animals and so vital to experiencing Australia. 

Third day: Wineries, wineries & more wineries! Need I say more? I think not. Our favourites were Laurance Wines, House of Cards & Wise Wine. 

Fourth day: We visited Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse to take in the beauty of the rugged coastline and deep blue colours of the ocean. Cape Leeuwin marks the intersection of the Indian Ocean with the Antarctic Ocean, one of my favourite spots along the South West coast. After this we drove into Augusta to enjoy some tasty fish & chips in the small but quaint seaside town. 

Fifth day: clear blue skies and higher temperature than the previous days meant a day at the beach. In the morning we went to Meelup beach to enjoy the calm turquoise waters. After a few hours we headed to Dunsborough, stocked up on picnic supplies and enjoyed a beach picnic and a swim at Dunsborough beach before driving back to Perth in the late afternoon. 

Sixth day – Fremantle: Spent a leisurely day exploring the markets, admiring the colonial architecture and relaxing at Bather’s Beach. 

Departure day: After a busy non-stop week, we decided to spend the last few hours in a more relaxed mode. We went to one of my favourite places for breakfast in Perth, Little Bird Café, and then took a stroll through Hyde Park where we picked a nice, sunny, grassy spot to take in the last of the sunshine before Ashley embarked on her 30+ hour journey back to the Big Apple.