Busselton to Augusta drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops on the Busselton to Augusta drive include Discover Deadly, several Margaret River wineries and the Boranup Forest. The Busselton to Augusta drive covers a 95km distance in a driving time of around 1h7m.

The drive from Busselton to Augusta takes you from the biggest town on Geographe Bay to the south-western tip of Western Australia.

Busselton offers a high ropes and zipline course, plus whale-watching cruises and nocturnal wildlife tours. To pick the best Busselton accommodation, look here. For a wide range of Busselton experiences and activities, browse here

Top Augusta experiences include being wowed by Jewel Cave, climbing the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and whale-watching cruises. For the top Augusta accommodation options, look here.

Busselton to Augusta distance and driving time

By car along the quickest route, the distance from Busselton to Augusta is 95km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and seven minutes.

Before taking on the Busselton to Augusta drive, bear in mind that you can do Margaret River wine tours from Busselton. The Margaret River wine region might share a name with the town, but it is a fairly wide region, with Busselton at the northern end of it.

The town of Margaret River is small and loveable, but not all of the wineries are there.

5 Busselton experiences worth booking in advance

See ultra-cute, rare marsupials on an after-dark visit to a private wildlife sanctuary.
Taste wines, beers, ciders and gins on a tour of the Margaret River region.
See whales up close on a whale-watching cruise.
Tackle ziplines and a ropes course in an adventure through the forest.
Discover hidden spots on a coast and wildlife tour.

Top Busselton accommodation choices

The best places to stay in Busselton are:

For resort villas surrounded by parkland: Bayview Geographe Resort.
For a solid quality, relatively cheap motel: Busselton Ithaca Motel.
For more a more luxurious stay with a large pool: Sebel Busselton.
For family-friendly facilities: Big4 Breeze Holiday Park.

Busselton to Augusta drive attractions

After leaving Busselton along the Busselton Bypass, you’ll join the Bussell Highway shortly after the Broadwater Nature Reserve.

You’ll soon go past Discover Deadly, a wildlife park focused on snakes, crocs and other less terrifying reptiles.

The wineries start appearing around Metricup, with Churchview Estate, Karasek and 3 Oceans all next to the highway. You’ll also pass the Margaret River Dairy Company on the way into Cowaramup, should you feel like tasting cheeses and yoghurts.

9 Margaret River experiences worth booking

1. Wine tours. 2. Wine & chocolate tasting. 3. Whale-watching. 4. River canoeing. 5. Cave tours to Lake Cave, Ngilgi Cave, Jewel Cave and Mammoth Caves. 6. Nature and culture tour. 7. Surfing lesson. 8. Stand-up paddleboarding. 9. Coffee discovery experience.

On the way into Margaret River itself, the Bussell Highway passes between the Keenan State Forest and Wooditjup National Park. You can walk a section of the 31km Wadandi Track in the latter.

In the town of Margaret River, you can visit the Margaret River Brewhouse, the Margaret River Distilling Company and the Margaret River Organic Garden.

Busselton to Augusta drive: Bussell Highway or Caves Road?

Upon leaving Margaret River, there is a choice to make. Do you go the quick way or the fun way to Augusta? If the quick way down the Bussell Highway, you’ll go past the edge of Forest Grove National Park and not much else.

The fun way, along Caves Road, brings a wealth of the Margaret River region’s highlights. It also only adds nine kilometres and 18 minutes to the journey.

The Caves Road route from Margaret River to Augusta goes past top wineries including Xanadu and Voyager Estate, then runs parallel to Redgate Beach before reaching a series of spectacular caves. Calgardup Cave, Mammoth Cave, Giants Cave and Lake Cave.

Busselton to Augusta road trip: Boranup Forest

You’ll also pass through the gorgeous Boranup Forest, where tall karri trees reach for the heavens. Pick the Boranup Forest Viewpoint for photos, the Boranup Lookout for views over the forest and Boranup Beach and the Boranup Forest Maze for fun.

A little further along come Hamelin Bay Beach, where stingrays hang out in the shallows, the Margaret River sculpture park and Jewel Cave. Book a tour here to see the spectacular decorations and here tales of how Tasmanian tigers became fossils.

Top Augusta experiences to book in advance

Climb the historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse – and hopefully see dolphins from the top.
Take a tour of the huge and splendidly decorated Jewel Cave – and learn how preserved Tasmanian tigers have been found inside.
Go on a whale-watching cruise – with trained marine scientists as crew.

The best things to do in Augusta include whale-watching cruises, tours of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and swimming at Granny’s Pool.

Best Augusta accommodation options

The best places to stay in Augusta are:

For self-contained chalets on a farm: Sapphire Chalets.
For air-conditioned apartments with full kitchens: Augusta Escape Holiday Units.
For a good value motel: Baywatch Manor.