South West WA Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour

Five days, 1,300 kilometres, and the greenest corner of Western Australia. This self-guided loop out of Perth takes in the Swan Valley, Margaret River and the karri forests of the deep south-west.

It starts gently and close to the city. The Swan Valley is wine country on Perth’s doorstep, then Fremantle at the mouth of the river, a port town of 1890s stone buildings that has kept its character better than most. Busselton follows on the way south, with its jetty running almost two kilometres out into Geographe Bay.

Margaret River is the obvious draw, with more than a hundred wineries, serious surf breaks and caves in the limestone ridge behind the coast. Beyond it the forest takes over. Pemberton sits among karri trees that grow to eighty metres, and the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk carries a steel walkway forty metres up into the canopy of the tingle forest, which is a strange and excellent thing to do halfway through a ride.

BikeRoundOz provides the bike of your choice, four nights in three and a half to four star hotels, a detailed itinerary document, digital maps and pre-tour route and riding advice. A pillion stays free on the accommodation. Fuel, meals, park entry and insurance are separate, and the season runs September to May. An eight-day version is also available that adds the Pinnacles to the north of Perth. For a short self-guided trip with wine, forest and coastline in it, this is a very well-judged five days.