'I just discovered the perfect Aussie road trip that feels like you're in Europe.'

There's something about a road trip that hits different — that pure freedom when you have no timetables, no waiting for Karen from accounting to board the tour bus… just you, your Spotify playlist, and the open road. And it turns out, Margaret River in Western Australia was made for this kind of adventure.

It's the kind of place that makes you ask yourself questions like:

Why am I not road-tripping every second weekend? 

And, why do I live anywhere else? 

The beaches are endless, the wineries are world-class, and the landscapes are so ridiculous they look like someone went ham in Photoshop.

Given I'm a Sydney gal and wanted to launch straight into the action (without the 40-hour drive from my hometown), my partner and I flew to Perth, booked a car on sharing app Turo and hit the road.

Watch: Taking a toddler on a road trip? Here are some ideas to keep them entertained. Post continues below.

Where to stay in Margaret River. 

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After arriving in Perth and picking up our Range Rover (a process that was suspiciously painless — no rental counter queues, just meeting the friendly car owner at the airport), we headed south toward wine country.

Pulling up to the Pullman Bunker Bay Resort like a baddie in our luxurious car was an elite way to kick off the trip — and I cannot overstate how perfect this place is for a Margaret River escape. Our room opened directly onto lush gardens leading to the pristine beach, and the infinity pool overlooking Bunker Bay was just the cherry on top.

The hotel offers spacious villas with full kitchens, though we barely used ours after discovering the on-site restaurant's breakfast buffet. Better yet, the resort's location puts you within easy driving distance of the region's best attractions, which we enthusiastically explored each day.

What to do on a Margaret River road trip. 

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Travelling in this area felt low-key like being on the French Riviera, and having a car was the ultimate. With the flexibility to go wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted, we ticked off several must-see spots.

Busselton Jetty. 

Our first stop was Busselton Jetty — the perfect spot for that "yes, I'm on holiday" pic.

At 1.8km, it's the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. You can walk it, take the train, or do what we did: drive right up to the entrance, grab an ice cream, and take those essential Instagram shots without breaking a sweat.

Cape to Cape Track.

Did we hike all 135km of the Cape to Cape Track? Absolutely not. We did see it though, driving between sections of the trail to get our fix of those jaw-dropping coastal views. We even managed to get in a few impromptu dips along the way.

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Where to eat in Margaret River.

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The Margaret River region takes its coffee seriously, and we visited approximately a million cute cafés that'll make your city coffee spot look bleak.

Meelup Farmhouse is a must-visit and possibly my favourite of all our stops. Nestled in bushland near Meelup Beach, it's the kind of place influencers would sell their firstborn to shoot content at. The vibe is "rich aunt who left the city to start a hobby farm but still gets Botox" — stylish yet somehow laidback. We sipped local wines on Mila's lawn while farm animals wandered freely.

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Leeuwin Estate Vineyard also deserves special mention. If you're a foodie, you'll have heard of Leeuwin Estate's Art Series Chardonnay; if not, prepare for it to change how you view wine. I normally avoid white wine like the plague, but this chardonnay has me reminiscing each and every sip, and explained exactly why everyone makes a beeline for this vineyard the second they hit Margaret River.

Returning to Perth.

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After soaking up Margaret River, we made our way back to Perth, where Kings Park was a non-negotiable stop. Seriously, if you leave Perth without seeing those city views from the Botanic Garden, did you even visit?

We then hit Cottesloe (where the beautiful people brunch), Scarborough (where the surf crowd hang), and Fremantle (where we spent way too much money on delicious food) all in one day. And watching the sunset at Cottesloe with takeaway sandwiches and chips was the perfect finisher.

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So I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Margaret River is the perfect destination for a road trip. Whether you grab your bestie, a partner or travel solo, driving around this part of Australia is an experience unlike any other.

Have you visited Margaret River? Tell us in the comments below.

Mamamia was a guest of Turo. All opinions are the author's own. 

Feature Image: Supplied.

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