Top 5 Driving Roads in the South West

Top 5 Driving Roads in the South West

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Posted 2013-02-02 by Tomfollow
Old Coast Road
The old access route to the south west may not be the quickest way down south anymore but it's still the best. carving it's way through state forest between Mandurah and Bunbury, Old Coast Road is full of picturesque sights and fantastic local cuisine.

The one and a half hour stretch of road is bordered by native forests, idyllic farmland, streams, estuaries and large inlets meaning there's always a new sight around the corner.

The road is also home to some of best quality food and drink around. The list includes Cape Bouvard Brewery , Brew42 and the very famous Miami Bakehouse - arguably the best bakery in Australia.

Caves Road
Caves Road is my favourite drive in WA. As the main artery connecting Geographe bay together, Caves road is dotted with many of the South Wests most famous towns and landmarks.

You get a great mix of adrenaline and beauty as dense forest comes right up to the roads edge only broken by the occasional farm or ocean view. Along the road you have the popular tourist towns of Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Augusta and Margaret River.

Between these towns are the wineries and breweries that make the South West so famous. And of course there's plenty of natural landmarks such as Jewel Cave, gourmet food makers and historical sites along the journey as well.

Ferguson Road
Ferguson Road starts 20 minutes east of Bunbury in Dardanup and winds it's way through the beautiful Wellington State Forest in the Ferguson Valley . This old scenic trail can be quite hair-raising for your average city driver so is best left for confident drivers.

A great feature of Ferguson Road is it's many small off shoots sprouting off deep into the forest, following them can lead you to some quite remarkable views over the rolling hills of the valley and the impressive Wellington Dam. There's even a brewery on Pile Road - one of the side roads near the centre of the track.

For those with powerful spotlights night time on Ferguson Road is an absolute treat. The eerie silence and vastness of the forest beneath the night sky gives you a strong sense of isolation, daring and adventure - what one would assume the original explorers felt on their voyages of discovery.

Yelverton Road
Yelverton Road is a perfect example of a proper country road. Barely wide enough for two cars, the road is flanked by overhanging trees and farmland turning it into a natural version one of those picturesque tree flanked roads we see in Hollywood romances.

By modern standards it is considered dangerous, but it's this perceived 'danger' that makes it unique. The short stretch features many dog legs and chicane style turns which when coupled with the scenery give you that much sought after ultimate driving experience. This road is a perfect pin up for the governments "slow down and enjoy the ride" motto.

Oh, and coincidentally the road starts at two of the best businesses in town; Bootleg Brewery and Bahen & Co Chocolates , perfect for a pre/post drive treat!

Coalfields Road
The aptly named Coalfields road is the main drag connecting the historic mining town of Collie to the South-Western Highway. From the turn off 15 minutes east of Bunbury all the way to Collie the landscape is a photographers dream.

The road passes through the same forest as Ferguson Road but makes better use of the undulating terrain. After driving up the first hill climb it is almost a necessity to stop by the side of the road, the view out over the farmlands with the coast in the background is simply awe inspiring.

Further along the road pushes into the Wellington state forest where several side roads can take you on a little adventure. If you follow the main road you end up in Collie, passing old steam engines , train lines and even a decommissioned tank in the city centre!

#western_australia
#outdoor
#mandurah
#escape_the_city
#day_trips
#busselton
#lists
%wnperth
100417 - 2023-06-12 08:59:18

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