9 Best Sights in The South West Wine Region, Western Australia

Sheltered from wind, this soft-sand haven makes for a gorgeous coastal escape. Its aquamarine blue waters attract many a visitor. Bring food with you because there are barbecue facilities and picnic tables. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

What's not to love about this 1.3-km (1-mile) beach at the hillside town of Yallingup? Picture-perfect views; transparent water; clean, sun-baked sand; and a gentle pool of ocean at the southern end that protects you from the waves beyond. On any given day you'll see a tribe of surfers riding the waves, while wannabes and newbies take lessons (yallingupsurfschool.com) in the lagoon. There are limited food and drink options nearby, so come prepared. Amenities: lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; surfing; sunset; swimming; walking.

High waves and rips increase north of the parking lot.

The view from the top of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia and only a 10-minute drive south of Augusta, allows you to witness the meeting of the Southern and the Indian oceans. In some places this alliance results in giant swells that crash against the rocks; in others, you'll spot whales surfacing (in season: May–September). While the ocean can be chilly, small coves are blessed with calm waters ideal for swimming. The lighthouse precinct is open daily 9–5 (last entry 4:30 pm, includes self-guided audio tour; A$8). Guided tours to the top of the lighthouse (via a lengthy stairway) cost A$20 and run daily every 40 minutes. The last tour is at 4:20 pm.

At the northern end of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, a 13-minute drive from Dunsborough, stands Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. From the lighthouse keeper's cottages (now a gift shop, tour desk, information center, and café) take a 15-minute walk to the whale lookout, a purpose-built deck that overlooks the Indian Ocean. If you want to go inside the 75-foot tall lighthouse, you'll need to book a guided tour (every half hour from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm), where you learn everything there is to know about the history and operations of the lighthouse. You'll also get to climb the stairs to the top and stand on the outside balcony to take in the spectacular seascapes of this rugged coastline. Migrating whales are often spotted along this stretch from September through December. This is also the start of the coast-hugging 135-km (86-mile) Cape to Cape Track.

Centered around a tranquil, eerie-looking underground lake, Lake Cave is the deepest of all the open caves in the region, and there are tearooms on-site.

This eco display center at Lake Cave gives a good introduction to the whole cave system and how it was formed. There's a simulated cave tunnel called a cave crawl for kids to safely experience tight spaces.

Sheltered from wind, this soft-sand haven makes for a gorgeous coastal escape. Its aquamarine-blue waters attract visitors and locals alike. You can bring food with you if you like and use the barbecue facilities and picnic tables. Meelup Beach Hire (meelupbeachhire.com) offers heaps of beach and water-play rentals, including stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, bodyboards, umbrellas, and snorkel sets. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Picture perfect views, transparent water, clean, honey-color sand, and a gentle pool of ocean that protects you from the waves beyond: what's not to love about this wide beach, out the front of the hillside town of Yallingup? Parts of the ocean have soft seaweed growing thick on the bottom, making for interesting snorkeling. Surf breaks are near but elsewhere, at Smiths, Three Bears, Super Tubes, Injidup, and Rabbits. Ask the locals for directions as only some are signposted. There are limited food and drink options nearby, so come prepared. Amenities: lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming; walking.