• Duration: 3 to 7 Days

The Cape to Cape 'tour' starts in Busselton (about 230km south of Perth – three and a half hours driving time)... there might be dolphins in the bay and the best spot to view is from the 2km long wooden jetty. There's a little tourist train that can take you out and back between 10:00am and 4:00pm.

Cape to Cape is only about 90 minutes driving time so you have a lot of time to explore. Margaret River is 45 minutes from Busselton. From here, take the Bussell Highway and turn right onto Caves Road to Dunsborough and from here right again to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse (open 9:30 - 3:30pm) - great scenery and a good chance of spotting whales heading back to the Antarctic.

Drive back along Cape Naturaliste Road and left onto Eagle Bay Road for a short detour and coastal scenery. Back to Dunsborough and right again on Caves Road to Ngilgi Cave (largest limestone cave in the area with self-guided tours and access to a guide in the main chamber). Just past here, it's a short drive to Yallingup for some great surf beaches - the surf can really pound here (the beaches have names like Guillotines, Gallows and Suicides). Back on Caves Road, a km south is another turn right that takes you to Canal Rocks (canal-like rock fault that goes out into the surf) there's a lookout or you can take the boardwalk (but you may get wet).

Further south on Caves Road takes you into the Margaret River wine region. 6km after the turn off to Gracetown, another right takes you to Ellensbrook Homestead (wattle and daub home of the Bussells in 1857 - open 10:00 - 4:00), Meekadarribee Waterfall and a grotto that, according to Aboriginal legend is the 'moon's bathing place'. Back on Caves Road, more wineries and left onto Wallcliffe Road to Margaret River township.

There are around 40 wineries in the region, some with fine restaurants (the Margaret River Regional Wine Centre is in Cowaramup, north of Margaret River on the Bussell Highway (the inland road that links Augusta to Busselton). If you only want to drop in one one, Cape Mentelle is near the turn off from Caves Road on Wallcliffe Rd.

Heading south from Margaret River, as you leave town take a right along Boodjidup Road to Eagle's Heritage - it's basically a hospital for injured birds of prey with free-flight displays from 11:00 to 1:30 in a delightful bushland setting. Heading on towards Caves Road again you'll see signs to Voyager Estate and Leeuwin Estate wineries that have cellar door tastings/sales. Back on Caves Road for a few kms takes you into Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and Mammoth Cave on the left (self guide with CD headset tour and the remains of an extinct wombat like animal) - on the right Lake Cave (guided tours and a reflective stream as well as CaveWorks interpretive centre (9:00 - 5:00). Mrs Bussell found the cave in 1851 when out looking for lost cattle. A further 3km south, take a right onto Boranup Drive - the road isn't sealed but it's fine unless there's been heavy rain, and it takes you through 14km of karri forest and back to Caves Road. The place was heavily logged early last century but the 50m trees are still magnificent. Good views from the Boranup lookout.

South on Caves Road for 6km and another turn right takes you to Hamelin Bay. No Pied Piper but a windswept beach and limestone cliffs. There's the remains of an old jetty that was used to ship the jarah and karri timber to England and South Africa - if you take a paddle here, watch out for stingrays. Back on Caves Road and south - if you're not 'caved out' you'll come across Jewel Cave (longest straw stalactite of the five caves) and Moondyne Cave for an 'adventure' guided tour with helmets, lamps and overalls. You then join the Bussell Hwy just north of Augusta, one of WA's oldest settlements with an excellent museum in Blackwood Avenue (10:00 to Noon and 2:00 to 4:00).

From Augusta, south to Cape Leeuwin - perhaps some whales here - just before the lighthouse on the right you'll see an old wooden waterwheel that is slowly turning to stone - minerals from the spring soaking into the wood are giving it a limestone coating. The limestone lighthouse overlooks both the Indian and the Southern Oceans - if you don't mind the steps and the wind you can climb to the top for the view (9:00 - 4:00).

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