Busselton to Margaret River drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops on the Busselton to Margaret River drive include Discover Deadly, several wineries and the Margaret River Dairy Company. The Busselton to Margaret River drive covers a 52km distance in a driving time of around 40 minutes.

The drive from Busselton to Margaret River takes you from the biggest town on Geographe Bay to the centre of Western Australia’s most revered wine region.

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.

Margaret River is wine tourism central. But along with the wine tours you can also enjoy canoe adventures, surfing lessons and coffee safaris. For accommodation in the town, hunt here. For a diverse range of tours to choose from, go here.

Busselton to Margaret River distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Busselton to Margaret River is 52km. That makes for a 40 minute drive.

Before taking on the Busselton to Margaret River 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 Margaret River 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.

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.

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.

Rotary Park in Margaret River, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

Why you should stay in the town of Margaret River

There are plenty of great places to stay in the Margaret River region. But stay in the town itself has one massive advantage – you can walk to the bars and restaurants in the evening after a day’s wine-tasting.

If you’d like to avoid driving in the evening, these are the best accommodation options in the town of Margaret River.

For apartments with a pool (honestly, this is the best choice): Margarets In Town.
For chalets by the river: Riverview Tourist Park.
For a centrally-located motel: Margaret River Motel.
For a bit more style: Prideau’s of Margaret River.