How long is the Perth to Bunbury drive?
The distance from Perth to Bunbury is 168km, meaning a Perth to Bunbury drive time of 2h10m. Possible stops along the way include Rockingham, Mandurah, Dwellingup and Waroona.
Bunbury, to the south of Perth, is the second largest city in Western Australia. For visitors, the main Bunbury attraction is the Dolphin Discovery Centre, which runs Koombana Bay dolphin-watching cruises and swimming with dolphins experiences.
For visitors doing a self-drive holiday around south-west WA, Bunbury is also a logical staging post on the Perth to Margaret River drive.
Before leaving, Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises.
Driving distance from Perth to Bunbury
Going the direct route through Perth’s southern suburbs, the drive from Perth to Bunbury is 168km long. That makes for a Perth to Bunbury driving time of about two hours and ten minutes, although it can be quicker if you get lucky with traffic.
5 great day trips from Perth – make your visit special
- Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
- Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
- Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
- Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.
The best places to stay in Perth
You can check out deals on a wide range of Perth accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- The swankiest address in town: COMO The Treasury.
- The cool, fun one in the centre of the action: The Alex.
- For quality apartments next to Kings Park: Quest Kings Park.
- For quality apartments by the beach: Seashells Scarborough.
- On a backpacker budget: Spinners Hostel.
The vast bulk of this Perth to Bunbury drive time is spent on State Route 2. The route skirts the edges of Rockingham and Mandurah before heading through the largely forested and somewhat dull Peel region.
5 fantastic experiences to book in Rockingham
- Go swimming with wild dolphins in Shoalwater Bay.
- See dolphins, penguins and sea lions – on a Shoalwater Bay islands cruise.
- Get closer to the wildlife – on a kayaking tour.
- Try flying with a jetpack – or flyboarding.
- Take a guided sunset hike to Point Peron – with a glass of sparkling wine as a reward.
Where to stay in Rockingham, WA
The best Rockingham accommodation options are:
- For a quality apartment hotel: Quest Rockingham.
- To be close to the wildlife cruise departure point: Island Villas Accommodation.
- For beachside location: Spinnakers by Rockingham Apartments.
- For a pool: Nautilus by Rockingham Apartments.
If you’ve got time to spare, however, it’s possible to turn the drive from Perth to Bunbury into a full day’s outing. Hug the coast, and you can pay a visit to the penguins of Penguin Island from Rockingham. Perth Wild Encounters also runs cruises to see dolphins and Australian sea lions.
Alternatively, go see the thrombolites in the Yalgorup National Park near Preston Beach.
What to book in Bunbury – 5 fabulous experiences.
- Koombana Bay dolphin-watching cruise – the dolphins live in the bay, so you’ll definitely see them.
- Geographe region wine tours – explore boutique wineries in the up-and-coming region.
- Swimming with dolphins. They’re wild – this is not a dodgy aquarium experience.
- Forest, wine and brewery day tours.
- Dolphin Discovery Centre entrance tickets.
The inland Perth to Bunbury drive
Alternatively, you can veer inland, and string a series of beauty spots together. Go via Serpentine Falls in the Serpentine National Park, and the Perth to Bunbury driving time doesn’t increase much. Google Maps reckons it’s about two hours and 23 minutes.
Other options requiring minimal detours include Lane Poole Reserve near Dwellingup. There are several good walking trails here, but the hour-long Island Pool Walk Trail does a nice job of exploring the tall jarrah forest.
From Lane Poole Reserve, it’s easy to loop through to Lake Navarino near Waroona. There’s some more jarrah forest bushwalking here, but it’s a good spot for fishing too. But if it’s beaches you’re after, try Binningup Beach in Binningup, plus Belvidere Beach or Buffalo Beach in Australind.
DON’T MISS OUT! 9 fabulous Perth experiences to book today ✅
- ✅ See the Rottnest Island quokkas the smart way – with a ferry and bike package.
- ✅ Be amazed by the abundant wildlife – on a dolphin, penguin and sealion cruise.
- ✅ See clear night skies in a moon-like desert – on a Pinnacles stargazing experience.
- ✅ Indulge in chocolate, cheese & premium wines – on a Swan Valley food and wine tour.
- ✅ See the city sunset from the water – on a Swan River dinner cruise.
- ✅ Watch gold being melted and poured – on a Perth Mint gold tour.
- ✅ Combine nature with imperious city views – on Kings Park Segway tour.
- ✅ Face your fears and get the thrill of your life on a – on a 15,000ft skydive.
- ✅ Find all the best hidden hangouts – on a small bar and street art tour.
Top Bunbury accommodation choices
The best places to stay in Bunbury are:
- For Koombana Bay location, near the Dolphin Discovery Centre: Discovery Parks Bunbury Foreshore.
- For good quality apartments on the coast: Bunbury Seaview Apartments.
- For affordable rates in a city centre location: Rose Hotel and Motel.
More Western Australia travel
Browse the stalls at the Wanneroo Markets in Perth’s northern suburbs.
Take part in the Busselton Jetty Swim around Busselton Jetty.
Hang out by the Gascoyne River in Carnarvon.
Climb the Matagarup Bridge in Perth.
Explore Charles Knife Canyon on the drive from Coral Bay to Exmouth.