Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - 7-Day Campervan Loop Tour Ex-Perth: Too Much?

My wife and I would love some perspective from anyone who knows Perth / Margaret River and vicinity as we map out a driving holiday for next year.

I would like to head south from Perth to Bunbury, through Margaret River and Albany; head east to Cape Le Grand, then north to Kalgoorlie; then back to Perth on the Great Eastern Highway. We would hire a campervan, stop at powered sites in caravan parks along the way, and allot one week -- probably speeding right through the last (Kalgoorlie-Perth) leg in express fashion.

Too much? Or should we abort the loop at Albany and just head back to Perth up the South West Highway?

Obviously I don't mind driving a few hours each day, but we want to make time for stopping off and seeing things, not just race across the landscape, and after our last RV experience in the Blue Mountains in '06 I know I'd like us to be in and parked by sundown.

Any views on a reasonable length driving itin (or alternate routes) much appreciated.

Thanks!

From maps.google.com directions:

Perth - Bunbury 180km 2:44
Bunbury - Margaret River 99km 1:47
MR - Albany 378km 4:50
Albany - CL Grand 541km 6:52
CLG - Kalgoorlie 450km 5:51
Kal - Perth 605km 7:53

I've driven some of these 'sectors' and the times are a reasonable reflection (driving a sedan, and not dawdling - though not speeding "much") of my experiences. So it depends how you break it up. MR is worth an overnight, as (I'm told) is Esperance. Kalgoorlie or somewhere nearby would have to be an overnight. The last 3 'sectors' are virtually all day drives - easily doable but not too much time to stop and smell the flowers.

I think it's doable, the times given above are quite conservative. No way in the world it takes 1hr 47 to drive from Bunbury to Margaret River. Still, a better use of the 7 days would be to drive directly to Albany via Albany Highway and work your way back up to Perth via the southern forests and Margaret River.

Thank you. Kalgoorlie sounds like a lot of fun but I don't want to run us ragged getting there. Would you recommend making an extra effort to go see it?

Thank you. Kalgoorlie sounds like a lot of fun but I don't want to run us ragged getting there. Would you recommend making an extra effort to go see it?

I've only stopped briefy at Kalgoorlie a couple of times (once by car, once by train) so I'm probably not the best qualified person to answer your question.

The only things of interest I'm aware of (yep, I imagine there are others) are the huge (and I'm told it is very big) open cut mine - which I didn't see, and the Hay St brothels - which I did. They are a string of narrow connected 'rooms' which reminded me a little of starting stalls used in a horse race. This was many years ago...don't know what the current situation is.

I'm sure your trip will be great whether you include Kal or not.

I think on reflection we are going to be less ambitious and just loop through Bunbury / M River / Albany for a week, beginning and finishing at Perth. If anyone has suggestions on places to park the campervan or attractions to visit, we are all ears. Thanks very much.

What time of the year?

Looking like late June / early July, as soon as our son finishes his school term. We're also visiting family in Surfer's Paradise, but this bit of the trip comes first.

we did a four day loop in 2006 - here's how it went...

day 1: southeast past the Fire Watch Karri tree "diamond lookout" near manjimup. dh climbed it, the rest of us followed the signed nature trail.

evening 1: camping at Peaceful Bay campground - there were kangaroos in the campground.

day 2: Valley of the Giants and the Ancient Empire in the morning, Denmark Dinosaur World Bird and Reptile Park. we were captivated by having the birds given to us to ride on our shoulders. the dinosaur skeletons and live reptiles were remarkable, too

evening 2: continued to stay at Peaceful Bay. it is just a three minute walk from the coast

day 3: to Cape Leeuwin and Jewel Cave

we can't remember where we stayed near margaret river!

day 4: Margaret River

evening 4: back in perth

then we spent a day at rottnest island
and a day at Kings Park in Perth...

but if i had only seven days out of perth, i think i would go north - north is desert and ocean, south is trees and wine ; )

day 1: Lake Thetis Stromatolites and The Pinnacles (this is a very short driving day - if you decide to go to coral bay, then it might be worth driving farther that first day, after stopping at the pinnacles...)
evening 1: campground at Cervantes or ??

day 2: to Hamelin Pool stromatolites and telegraph station
evening 2: campground at Hamelin Pool

day 3: Monkey Mia (dolphin feeding, camel riding, sailing cruise to pearl farm, shell beach)
evening 3: campground at Monkey Mia, or dry camping on the peninsula (get permit at tourist info)

day 4: then, there is a choice to make...

if you love driving, i would head north to coral bay, and camp there and go snorkelling and see the coral... its amazing... i'd stay as long as we could and then do a long two day drive south....

whatever you do, it will be great....

Looking like late June / early July, as soon as our son finishes his school term. We're also visiting family in Surfer's Paradise, but this bit of the trip comes first.
Well you're looking at the worst time of the year weather wise. This year June/July had a lot of bad storms, we're talking nasty weather here, strong winds and rain. On the other hand it's the off-season so accom will be cheaper. If you're in a camper-van then that might not be important. The South-West has 2 major attractions as I see (being born and bred there). In the summer it's the beaches, absolutely spectacular, in the winter it's the forests, unique in all the world. If you can handle bad weather go for it otherwise I'd go with what faerieloch said. Go north, beautiful at that time of year. Get a 4WD camper, go north from Perth and work back to Kalgoorlie. The desert is as spectacular as the coast/forests imo.

we did a four day loop in 2006 - here's how it went....
As a native of this part of the world this sounds like awesome advice. You went to some great places.

Well, that is outstanding advice, valve bouncer and faerieloch, and I thank you both very much -- especially for the weather advisory, valve bouncer.

Our dates have crystallzed around June 26-July 2. I think given the weather caution we will head north from Perth instead. Our rough plan is to take four or five days to get up through Pinnacles Desert and Kalbarri to Monkey Mia and the dolphins, then take two days to drop back down with possible side trip to Mt. Magnet if time permits. Given your advice and what I've read about the weather patterns, it seems to me we'll be driving away from the rain rather than possibly into it... also, with 15-year-old boy in tow, whale-watching boat tours can be had ex-Kalbarri, and the dolphin interaction will appeal, possibly more than wine tastings around Margaret River.

At one end of the trip or the other, too, I am going to pull rank on the family and fulfill a long-held ambition... to relax with some pints in an open-air pub on the South Terrace in Fremantle and watch the sun set... just once. :)

Any other advice, I am all ears... thanks again.

We're planning a similar trip to Perth/Margaret River area for early April, though without the camper (just a car). We've got 6 full days between arriving and departing Perth, and I have a few questions about how to make the most of it but not over-do it.
So far, I've got this much set:
Day 1: Arrive PER on redeye, spend day in city, meandering Kings Park, etc, and overnight in city

Day 2: Leisurely drive down to MR area, perhaps doing lunch in Freemantle before heading down, maybe checking out Bussleton and/or Cape Naturaliste in late afternoon. Stay near MR.

Day 3: Would like to spend day on some combination of wine tour, seeing caves, the Capes, etc. Staying at least this night still in MR, but 1st question: How long do we need to see these highlights? Is one day (plus part of the previous afternoon and/or the next morning) enough? Or should we plan on a 3rd night at same accom in MR? Note we are not planning to just relax on the beaches, so we don't need to build in time for that. I assume the weather this time of year will be getting a little chilly for that, anyway? But a little walking along the coast, or scenic points, etc, would be nice.

Day 4 or 5: We then would like to drive toward Albany and see the forests, tree-top walk, etc. I figure a one day driving tour, ending at Denmark/Albany should be enough for that, right? The next question is, is there anything worth seeing at this time of year along the drive from Albany back to Perth. Or can we safely just catch a flight from Albany back to Perth this evening or next morning? Are there any other highlights in this area that we should devote an extra day to?

Day 5 or 6: If we fly back to perth by morning of Day 5, we'll have an extra day to either see more of the city & area, or else take a day tour up to Pinnacles, or even Kalbarri if we can squeeze in an overnight. Overdoing it? Too hot/dry this time of year? Stick with the extra day in MR instead?

In either case, we'll be back in perth for (probably) night of Day 5, and (definitely) most of Day 6 to wander the city until our redeye flight back out that evening.
Thanks for any suggestions you might have!

If you can possibly avoid Easter, I'd recommend it, the area heaves then.

we'll be there the week leading up to Easter, but we'll be gone before Easter weekend itself, and (I think), before the school holidays. At least, I haven't had too much trouble finding accommodation for our dates, so I hope we're just missing the crush.