Castle Bay is framed by the striking formations of Sail Rock to the west and Castle Rock to the east, making it a very picturesque spot for a beach picnic on the white sand and a refreshing swim in the clear turquoise waters.
The bay is an easy six-minute drive, or a pleasant 50-minute coastal walk north from Dunsborough – a popular holiday escape within three hours’ drive from Perth. If you’re visiting neighbouring Meelup Beach, Castle Bay is just a 500 metre stroll along the coastal track, passing a string of tiny beaches framed by granite rocks.
This stunning coastal landscape is also a great subject for keen photographers. Early morning or late afternoon are the best times to capture the rocks changing colours from vibrant orange to rust red and cool purples.
Fill your picnic basket with sensational flavours from the surrounding producers of fine gourmet goodies, or head for one of the nearby wineries and breweries for a lazy lunch.
Located on the east side of Cape Naturaliste, this calm, turquoise bay is protected from the westerly winds and ocean swell. Perfect for swimming, fishing and relaxing, Castle Rock is located at the end of Castle Bay, accessed by a meander along the beach or via the Meelup Trail. A climb to the top will offer spectacular views.
It is a picturesque spot for a picnic with gas barbecues, picnic tables and wheelchair access.
If you're a lover of wildflowers, this is the place to come - head east on the coastal track towards Castle Rock and the whale lookout or head west towards Meelup Beach and you find several varieties of Spider, Mustard, Jug, Donkey and possibly the rare Cape orchid. Native Rose, Pimeleas Hooded Lily and Acacias (Wattles) can also be spotted here.
It is also a great surf break if you venture off the beach. When the swells are big and dangerous along the coast head to Castle Rock as it is protected and holds good swell, with great long rides.
Country Life Farm is a great day out for the whole family. You can hand feed all the friendly farm animals any time of the day.
Rabbits, guinea pigs, kangaroos, llamas, alpacas, goats, sheep, donkeys, ponies, cows and Stan their Highland Steer.
Upon entry into the farm, the staff will give you a personalised run down of where everything is and what's included.
Next Level Monkey Business is a fun attraction in the Dunsborough part of the Margaret River region, suitable for all ages four and above. With zip lines and ropes courses situated in a beautiful valley with a lake, tall trees and next door to Clancy's Fish Pub.
Next Level Monkey Business is an adrenaline-based activity that promotes hand-eye coordination, pushes personal boundaries and enhances your well-being. Suitable for family fun, group activities, lots of smiles, laughter, and some tears, Next Level Monkey Business has something for all ages.
Families will love the pure white sand and gentle rolling waves of Meelup Beach, near Dunsborough. Meelup Beach has been a favourite for family holidays for generations.
Here, the protected bay offers ideal swimming conditions.
This calm bay is a popular place for yachts and sailing boats to drop anchor and enjoy an afternoon of swimming and relaxing.
Barbecues and picnic tables sit under leafy gum trees on large grassy areas, making it the perfect spot for a picnic all year round.
Meelup is surrounded by beautiful natural bushland – take one of the coastal walk trails that wind through Meelup Park.
The bushwalking is easygoing and suitable for families.
You’ll be rewarded with amazing views over the ocean and colourful wildflowers during spring.
In late winter and spring, whales are often spotted on their migration along the coast.
Those in the know head to Meelup Beach on summer evenings when for a few nights each month, the full moon rises over the Indian Ocean horizon.
Meelup Beach is about a ten minute drive from Dunsborough.
You can drive to Dunsborough in about three hours from Perth.
A celebration of surfing history throughout Western Australia, the WA Surf Gallery is the first and only official collection of surfing memorabilia in Western Australia, ideally located in one of the nation’s most iconic surfing spots.
Just minutes from the world-famous breaks of Yallingup, Margaret River and Grace Town, the surfing history of these areas has a large part to play in the evolution of the region to its current stronghold as one of Western Australia’s leading destinations for food, wine and nature.
For the first time, a collection of rare and never-before-seen memorabilia will be on display including historical surf photographs from renowned surf photographers such as Ric Chan and Greg Woodward.
See surfboards from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s along with images from legendary West Australian surfers in their days before being launched onto the world stage and be inspired by the trophies from the winners of the famous Pipeline surfing event.
A peek-a-boo strip of white sand that comes and goes with the tide. Red ochre rocks that tumble out of scrub and into the blue. This is Point Picquet, striking and architectural.
Swimming is accessible, though it does require a clamber to shore. There is small surf off the point.
Boats are attracted to the inlet, as are fishing enthusiasts keen to cast from shore. Marine health is prized, with this stretch of beach forming part of the protected Eagle Bay Special Purpose Zone.
Whale watch in near isolation through the migratory months of June through to November. Rock pool hop in summer.
Appreciation of Point Picquet is best accessed via quiet enjoyment of its diverse appeal.
Eagle Bay Olives is the place to visit if you're looking for premium extra virgin olive oil, table olives and farm-made gourmet products.
The Eagle Bay Olives olive grove has been going strong for over 20 years. Over 1,200 trees planted in 1998 by its original owner, and they're still thriving today.
Home to a beautiful, temperate Mediterranean climate. Eagle Bay gets those crisp, cold winters, warm springs, and the baking summers that olives love. The rich, well-drained soil gives their olive groves a powerful feed.
Just quietly, they reckon it makes for some of the best-tasting olives around!
Their Farm Shop offers a gourmet tasting experience with samples of all their olive range and seasonal small batch produce. Offering a variety of table olives, tapenades, high quality evoo, pestos, dukkah, jams, and other locally produced cheeses and fresh bread, there really is something for everyone!
After you've devoured the samples, they highly suggest you build your own picnic platters or indulge with a takeaway picnic box. With picnic tables, rugs, grab a table and chairs or a picnic rug and relax amongst the grove. Watch the kids play on the playground and listen to the birds chirp. Wander through the grove to see the olive evolve through the seasons.
John Miller Design can be found in the dramatic coastal forests of Yallingup, in the spectacular Margaret River Region. It celebrates over 50 years of creative excellence, designing and making unique distinctively Australian handcrafted jewellery.
This studio enjoys a hard-earned reputation as one of the most creative jewellery workshops in Australia. Here you can discover everything from timeless classic elegance to jewellery with attitude. Art to wear - Stories to share, made to last a lifetime. With galleries in both Yallingup and Margaret River, there is something to suit everyone.
John Miller Design began in 1973 with just an idea to make beautiful and wearable silver jewellery designed to last. Now, 50 years later, John Miller Design is still making unique handcrafted beautiful silver and gold jewellery that can be found on countless fans all over the world.
A breathtaking journey through time begins above ground along the Ancient Lands Experience, a pathway that winds through native bushland, where a series of interactive installations bring the creation of this remarkable place to life.
As you wander the Ancient Lands Experience, you'll learn about the cultural connections to the land, the local flora and fauna, and the formation of the pristine caves beneath the Leeuwin-Naturaliste limestone ridge.
The path leads you to the entrance of Ngilgi Cave, where you can descend and explore its majestic stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, and beautifully coloured shawls at your own pace.
Guides are positioned throughout the experience and are on hand to assist you and share their knowledge.
The entire above- and below-ground experience takes around 1.5 hours. If you opt for above-ground exploration only, allow around 30 minutes. There is also a nature-based play area for children at the final stop.
Go surfing and swimming at popular Yallingup Beach near the Margaret River wine region.
Yallingup Beach has it all – from big waves offshore, to a sheltered lagoon perfect for safe family swimming. It’s also a popular place to learn to surf. Sign up for a learn-to-surf course and soon you could be mixing it with the best of them on those big Margaret River waves. Spend some time there and you might even spot world-class surfers like Taj Burrows who hails from this pristine part of Western Australia.
Yallingup Beach is a popular place for a family holiday. There’s a campground nearby and plenty of other accommodation.
Yallingup Beach is roughly 30-minutes drive west of Busselton.
It takes around three and a half hours to drive from Perth to Yallingup Beach.
Yallingup Maze and Mini Golf is a great place to spend a few hours in Western Australia's magnificent southwest. It's a place where all ages can be entertained, making it the perfect destination for any generation to have fun.
Challenge yourself, your family, your friends! There is a timber maze with towers and bridges and an 18-hole award-winning mini golf course.
There is a spacious air-conditioned cafe, comfortable all year round with plenty of seating and free-to-play puzzle games on the cafe tables. The cafe menu includes light lunches local craft beer and Margaret River wine. There is alfresco seating with views of the nature playground and the dam beyond. Relax on the deck enjoying freshly ground coffee, smoothies, milkshakes and treats.
There is also an amazing puzzle shop with an extensive range of puzzles, brain teasers, board games and educational games for sale and make great gifts.
Be enchanted in the nature playground and log maze. There is plenty of space to run, kick a ball and enjoy the natural surroundings.
