Scenic Margaret River is one of Australia’s most beautiful locations and can be visited year round. However the best time to visit is during the late spring, summer or early autumn. During this time days are generally warm and dry, the countryside full of colour and there are lots of different events on. The warm days mean you’ll be able to make the most of the many fine beaches in the area, while the grape harvest of the surrounding vineyards falls across the latter part of this period. In this guide we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the best time to visit from a climate, cost and events perspective. Read on to find out when the best time to visit Margaret River is for you.
Where is Margaret River?
Margaret River is a town in Western Australia, located south of the state capital, Perth. The 270 km distance between the two locations takes around 3 hours to drive. The town of Margaret River also form part of the wider Margaret River Region, which stretches from Busselton in the north to Augusta in the south. Both the town and the region are popular tourist destinations on account of the spectacular coastline, world famous vineyards and art scene.
Best Time to Visit Margaret River for Good Weather
Margaret River enjoys a maritime temperate climate with 4 distinct seasons. Each of the seasons is to different to the others, so you should tailor the timing of your trip to suit the activities you want to undertake. To help inform your decision, we’ve summarised the seasons as follows:
Winter (June, July, August) – Temperatures are mild to cool without ever getting too cold. Overnight temperatures will often fall to single digits, which presents a good opportunity to get the log fire on. Winters are typically wet with an average of 13 days of rainfall per month, which accounts for 80% of the areas annual rainfall.
Spring (September, October, November) – Spring in Margaret River is a story of two halves. The first half is largely a continuation of the winter months with mild days and plenty of rainfall. However the second half sees temperatures rise and rainfall notably decline. The spring months also tend to be the windiest.
Summer (December, January, February) -The summer months in Margaret River are warm and dry with temperatures averaging in the early 20’s and with very little rain. It’s the ideal conditions to explore the region and make the most of the amazing coastline. The summer months aided by the weather and the school holidays is the areas busiest season.
Autumn (March, April, May) – The autumn is a fine time to visit, especially in the early part of the season. Days remain warm and largely dry with little to no wind. This contrast favourably with the spring months and keeps the weather feeling warm. The latter part of the season becomes increasingly wet and mild.
So overall the best time to visit Margaret River for good weather is during the late spring, summer months or early Autumn. The days are warm and dry and allow you to make the most of the many attractions in the area.
Month | Maximum Temp | Minimum Temp | Days of Rain |
January | 24°C | 16°C | 1 |
February | 25°C | 17°C | 2 |
March | 24°C | 16°C | 3 |
April | 21°C | 15°C | 6 |
May | 19°C | 13°C | 9 |
June | 16°C | 12°C | 12 |
July | 15°C | 11°C | 14 |
August | 15°C | 11°C | 12 |
September | 16°C | 11°C | 11 |
October | 18°C | 12°C | 7 |
November | 21°C | 14°C | 4 |
December | 23°C | 15°C | 2 |
Best Time to Visit Margaret River for Events and Festivals
Margaret River has a rich arts and culture scene, which means there’s plenty going on throughout the year. Here are some of the highlights in the Margaret River annual calendar:
Australia Day – An annual celebration on 26th January, there’s plenty of ceremonies and community events to mark the occasions. From BBQ’s to street parties and live entertainment, there’s plenty of good vibes on this day.
Festival of Busselton – Held each year since 1964, this festival runs throughout the month of January. Focused on family friendly events and live entertainment, there’s a daily schedule of activities and events. Popular events include outdoor cinemas, night markets, live bands and even water fights!
The Margaret River Pro – An annual fixture in the World Surfing League, this is an opportunity to see some of the finest surfers do their thing. The event is held at Surfers Point and is popular with locals and visitors alike.
Cabin Fever Festival – This winter festival celebrates all the great things in winter. Discover events centred around hearty food, log fires and bottles of red wine. There’s also plenty of entertainment with cabaret, live bands and comedians.
CinefestOZ – An annual event held across 5 days in August, this is Australia’s premier film festival. Often described as the ‘Cannes of Australia’, you can see independent movies in Margaret Rivers cinemas, wineries, breweries, bars and galleries.
Margaret River Region Open Studios – One of the stalwarts of Australia’s art scene, this 2 week long event is the largest of its kind. Celebrating visual arts, you’ll get to see countless pieces of art from a wide range of artists.
Fine Vines Festival – A relative newcomer to the annual festival scene, the Fine Vines Festival is a celebration of the areas wine. Set across 10 days in October there’s plenty of different events, many showcasing small independent vineyards. It’s a great time to visit if you like to enjoy a glass or two.
Cheapest Time to Visit Margaret
Margaret River is one of Australia’s more expensive locations. It’s a year round destination with a great arts scene, plus beautiful countryside and an amazing coastline. The proximity of so many attractions understandably make it a popular destination, which in turn makes the cost of visiting higher. However that being said, there are still times when you can visit at a considerable discount to peak season. The peak season runs through the summer months and hotel costs spike at this time. While prices reduce during the shoulder months of late spring (November) and early autumn (March), they’re still elevated.
To get the best bang for your buck, the best time to visit is typically from April through to October. The wet winter months in particular have some good discounted options. There’s still plenty to see and do at this time of year, particularly if you’ve come for the vineyards, winter walks or the arts scene. There’s also far fewer visitors meaning you can enjoy the beautiful scenery without the crowds.
Related Content
Best Time to Visit Uluru
Best Time to go to Broome
Best Time to go to Cape York
Best Time to go to Darwin
Brisbane to Byron Bay Road Trip
Cairns to Cape Tribulation
Can you Drive to Australia?
Latest Blog Posts
Best Time to Visit Margaret River
Scenic Margaret River is one of Australia’s most beautiful locations and can be visited year round. However the best time to visit is during the late spring, summer or early autumn. During this time days are generally warm and dry, the countryside full of colour and there are lots of
Best Time to Visit Uluru
Uluru or Ayers Rock is one of Australia’s most iconic sights. Situated in the heart of the Central Australian Desert, it’s a very long way from anywhere else. While it might take a herculean effort to get here, the amazing sight of the huge sandstone structure rising above the surrounding
Best Time to go to Broome
Beautiful Broome in northwest Australia is best visited during the dry season, which runs from May through to October. During this time the town enjoys warm, dry days with low humidity. It’s perfect conditions to enjoy Broome’s famous 22 km long Cable Beach as well as the other nearby attractions.
Best Time to go to Darwin
The best time to go to Darwin is typically during the dry season that runs from May through to October. During this time the days are warm and dry with little to no rainfall and lower humidity than during the summer months. This time of year also compares favourably with
Can you Drive to Honduras?
You can drive to Honduras from any of the 3 countries with which it shares a land border. There are multiple crossing points between Honduras and neighbouring Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. These border crossings are open to both local and international travellers with and without vehicles. It’s also possible
Best Time to go to Cape York
The best time to go to Cape York is during the dry season, which runs from May through to October. During this time days are typically warm, dry and bright with relatively low humidity. Temperature hover around 30°C throughout the period, although it is cooler during the evenings and at
The post Best Time to Visit Margaret River appeared first on Amazing Trip Ideas.
