The South West loop is the most popular trip out of Perth for a reason: roughly 1,300km of sealed road taking in Margaret River’s coast and wineries, Pemberton’s karri forests, and the Great Southern coastline around Albany and Denmark, then home. It works in a week, stretches comfortably to ten days, and you don’t need a 4WD to do any of it.
Quick facts
- Distance: ~1,300km round trip, all sealed.
- Time: 7 days is comfortable; 10 lets you slow down.
- Best time: spring for wildflowers, summer for beaches, winter for whales.
- From: $140/day, WA Parks Pass included. Pickup and return Perth only.
When to go
- Spring (Sep–Nov): mild days and wildflowers, the region carries thousands of species. The all-round best window.
- Summer (Dec–Feb): warm, ideal for the beaches; book campgrounds early.
- Autumn (Mar–May): quiet and comfortable, good for forest walks and the wineries.
- Winter (Jun–Aug): cooler and wetter, but humpback and southern right whales pass Albany, Augusta and Dunsborough.
The loop, day by day
A clean 7-day version, easy to stretch.
Days 1–3: Margaret River region
Down the coast from Perth (about 3 hours to Margaret River). Give it a few days: the cellar doors, the limestone caves (Jewel, Lake, Mammoth), Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet, the stingrays at Hamelin Bay, and the karri of Boranup Drive (a formed gravel road that’s fine to drive carefully). For the full version of this leg, see our Margaret River campervan guide.
Days 4–5: Pemberton and the southern forests
Inland to the tall-timber country. Climb the Gloucester Tree (a former fire-lookout tree; park entry covered by your WA Parks Pass), walk a section of the Bibbulmun Track, and take the Karri Forest Explorer drive. Our Perth to Pemberton guide has more.
One honest note: the Yeagarup Dunes and the beaches of D’Entrecasteaux National Park are soft-sand, 4WD-only terrain and are not permitted in our vehicles, see them on a local Pemberton tour rather than driving in.
Days 6–7: Albany, Denmark and home
To the Great Southern coast. In Albany, Torndirrup National Park’s The Gap and Natural Bridge, and the National Anzac Centre above King George Sound. Around Denmark, Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks, and the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk (a separate paid attraction). Our Great Southern guide covers it in full.
Give Albany more time than most itineraries do, two or three nights if you can. When the weather plays along, it’s arguably the best value in the state: coastal hikes, the wild granite coast at Torndirrup, and some of the clearest water and whitest sand in the country at Misery Beach (named Australia’s best beach in 2022) and nearby Little Beach. Denmark, 45 minutes west, is the quieter base, with Greens Pool and a good food-and-brewery scene. Pack a jumper even in summer, Albany’s weather turns fast, and it can be beach-warm at Middleton and bitter at The Gap on the same afternoon.
Head home on the inland Wheatbelt route for variety, Kojonup’s Kodja Place, Katanning’s Premier Mill Hotel, and the PUBLIC Silo Trail artworks, about 4.5 hours of driving with stops.
Where to camp
Designated sites only, and book ahead in peak season, they fill fast.
- Holiday parks through Margaret River, Pemberton, Denmark and Albany (the RAC Margaret River Nature Park is a handy base, powered sites from around $36/night).
- National park campgrounds via WA’s Explore Parks site.
- The WikiCamps app for the gaps; our beach camping guide covers the coast.
Vehicle and the honest limits
The whole loop is sealed, so a 2WD campervan does it comfortably. A 4WD camper is worth it only if you want the extra beds for a family or gravel-access confidence, not for going off-road.
Our campers, van or 4WD, are for sealed roads and short formed gravel access. No soft sand, dunes, beach driving or river crossings, and none of that is insured. The South West’s famous 4WD spots (Yeagarup, D’Entrecasteaux) sit outside what the fleet can do, plan to see them by tour. The real driving risk is wildlife at dawn and dusk; slow down and avoid night driving, as covered in our outback night-driving guide, worse again through the Pemberton and Walpole forests, which go pitch dark after dusk.
What it costs
Hire starts from $140/day with comprehensive insurance, NRMA-style roadside assistance and the WA Parks Pass included, live pricing for your dates is on each vehicle listing. Beyond that it’s mainly fuel and campgrounds (around $35–$50/night powered), and self-catering from the camper’s kitchen keeps food costs down. The camper excess page explains the insurance excess.
FAQs
How long do I need for the South West loop?
Seven days covers it at a steady pace; ten lets you slow down in Margaret River and the Great Southern. Less than five and you’re mostly driving.
Do I need a 4WD?
No. The loop is sealed throughout. A 4WD camper only helps for extra sleeping space or gravel-access confidence, the soft-sand 4WD spots aren’t permitted in our vehicles anyway.
What’s the best time of year?
Spring (September–November) is the all-rounder, mild days, wildflowers, fewer crowds. Summer is best for swimming; winter is the season for whales along the south coast.
Where should I base myself?
Margaret River for the first few nights, Pemberton for the forests, and Denmark or Albany for the Great Southern. Two nights in each beats one wherever you can, and if you’re trimming nights anywhere, don’t trim Albany. It’s the one that rewards an extra day.
Is the South West loop good with kids?
Very, it’s the family pick. Short drives between stops, Bunbury’s Dolphin Discovery Centre on the way down, beaches and playgrounds right through the Great Southern, and most cellar doors and breweries are set up for families.
Plan your South West loop
It’s the best first WA campervan trip there is, short, sealed and varied. Compare the campervan range, check live availability on the fleet listings, or send Dorian your dates and he’ll match the camper to your plan.