Margaret River: Trails, River and Culture

In Margaret River, riverside paths meet longer routes for hiking and mountain biking. There is also a vibrant Wadandi culture, seasonal farmers’ markets and a varied cultural programme. Which of these aspects you want to discover first may also shape your choice of accommodation: do you prefer to spend your days actively on trails, by the water, or making time for art and local produce?

Trails for different kinds of days

North of the Margaret River Town Centre is the Pines Mountain Bike Network, with more than 16 kilometres of mountain bike trails. If you’re planning a ride, you’ll find an extensive trail network here. Another option is the Wadandi Track: this family-friendly, 25-kilometre trail runs from Cowaramup through Margaret River to Witchcliffe. Its route connects these three places; its stated length makes it a different kind of trail experience from a short loop.

Two easy loop trails offer a more direct comparison in terms of distance and scenery. The Chimney Trail in Wooditjup National Park is 3.2 kilometres long and passes the former site of Wharncliffe Mill. At 2.4 kilometres, the Rotary South Bank River Trail is shorter and forms a loop along the north and south banks of the Margaret River. Both are rated easy, so your choice depends more on whether you want to focus on the former mill site or the course of the river.

The Ten Mile Brook Trail can also be explored on foot or by bike and leads to Ten Mile Brook Dam. Day hikers on a section of the Cape to Cape Track will encounter different trail conditions at the Margaret River Mouth: they cross soft sand to reach a river crossing. Local conditions may vary. The Cape to Cape Guidebook by Jane Scott and Ray Forma, as well as official topographic map packs for the track, are available at the Margaret River Visitor Centres. As availability and local service conditions may change, it’s worth checking in advance if you need these materials for your planning.

Riverside scenery and Wadandi culture

The Margaret River is culturally connected to the Wadandi and has been an important source of life for them for tens of thousands of years. The river is therefore not just a landscape feature that trails and experiences follow, but also part of the history and present-day life of the place. At Rivermouth Beach, seasonal fluctuations in the Margaret River shape the surrounding sandbars. The interplay of river and sand changes the landscape there over the course of the year.

At the Margaret River Mouth, children paddle on the river with boogie boards. This specific glimpse of how the river is used adds another facet to the trails and the scenery at Rivermouth Beach. For planning, it helps to consider these different experiences separately: a trail outing, a river crossing and paddling in the river are not the same activity.

Markets and cultural events

The Margaret River Farmers’ Market sells seasonal fresh produce and artisan foods directly from farmers and producers. Its seasonal offerings make the market a way to discover local products; which items are featured depends on the season.

Arts Margaret River is a not-for-profit cultural community organisation and has been the central umbrella organisation for the arts in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River for more than five decades. Its programme includes music, theatre and dance performances, visual art exhibitions and workshops. Events take place at Nala Bardip Mia – Margaret River HEART and other venues in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. As individual programmes may change, it’s worth checking event dates for your travel period.

Margaret River offers a range of different experiences: cycling routes, easy loops, a longer route rated family-friendly, riverside scenery, markets and culture. When choosing your accommodation, consider which of these experiences you want to shape your trip, and use the relevant options to plan the rest of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Bindoon, Dardanup, Yallingup, Lancelin, Wyndham, Herron, Northam, Point Samson.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.