Margaret River Bakery Road Trip
The Ultimate Bakery Road Trip: Dunsborough to Augusta
The Margaret River bakery road trip from Dunsborough to Augusta is one of the tastiest ways to explore the region. There’s a particular kind of road trip that doesn’t care about wineries, beaches, or caves — it cares about pastry. Stretch the Margaret River region out into one long line from Dunsborough down to Augusta, and you’ve got yourself one of the best bakery trails in the country. Grab a thermos, loosen the top button, and let’s go.
Total drive time (without stops): around 1 hour Recommended time to allow: half a day, longer if you’re stopping for coffee at every spot
Stop 1: Dunsborough Bakery, Dunsborough
First stop, old favourite like the Dunsborough Bakery. This is the kind of bakery where the pie warmer never empties and the jam donuts taste exactly like they did when you were a kid. Grab a steak and mushroom pie and eat it on the walk down to the beach — non-negotiable. Order: Steak and mushroom pie
Stop 2: Merchant & Maker, Dunsborough
Just down the road, a different vibe entirely — slow-fermented sourdoughs, Danish rye, and a cinnamon scroll baked fresh every morning. Worth the stop just for the smell when you walk in. Order: Cinnamon scroll, fresh out of the oven
Free Stop: Meelup Beach, near Dunsborough
Before you press on, it’s worth the short detour to Meelup Beach — calm, clear water and one of the prettiest picnic spots in the region. Free, and a good place to eat Stop 2’s cinnamon scroll properly.
Stop 3: Yallingup Woodfired Bread, Yallingup
Heading toward Yallingup, this one’s for the bread purists. Loaves are baked in a genuine woodfired oven, with bread typically ready mid-to-late afternoon — so time this stop accordingly. The white wheat and fruit loaves both have a loyal following. Order: Fruit loaf (dates, figs, sultanas)
Stop 4: Yallingup Gugelhupf, Yallingup
A short detour off the highway but worth it. Croissants, quiches, and brownies in a genuinely charming little setting. Best enjoyed sitting down rather than taken to go. Order: Chocolate croissant
Free Stop: Canal Rocks, Yallingup
Just minutes from both Yallingup bakeries, Canal Rocks is one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in the region — granite boulders carved into channels by the ocean. Free to visit, and a great leg-stretch before the drive into Margaret River.
Stop 5: Carbunup / Wilyabrup pit stop
No single bakery here, but if you’re driving this stretch, it’s a great spot to pull over at a lookout and actually eat what you’ve bought so far before the car fills up with crumbs.
Stop 6: Your Margaret River Bakery Road Trip at a Glance
The institution. European-style, on the main street, baking since the 1960s. If you only stop at one bakery on this whole trip, this is probably the one locals would point you to. Order: A fresh croissant with your coffee
Free Stop: Margaret River Foreshore & Rotary Park
A short, flat riverside walk right in town — the perfect way to digest between the bakery and the farmers market. Free, shaded, and an easy spot to let the kids run around.
Stop 7: Dusty Buns, Origins Market, Margaret River
Everything made from scratch, onsite, by hand. Think croissants, cronuts, sourdough and sausage rolls. Smaller and more boutique than the big bakery in town, with a real “made with heart” feel to it. Order: Sausage roll
Stop 8: Margaret River Farmers Market (Saturdays)
If your trip lines up with a Saturday, this is worth building the whole itinerary around. A rotating cast of local bakers, including biscotti, duck pies, and gluten-free treats from the region’s smaller producers — many of whom don’t have a permanent shopfront. Order: Whatever the stallholders recommend that week
Stop 9: Witchcliffe village stop
Witchcliffe isn’t really a bakery town, but its little cafes are worth a quick coffee stop and a stretch of the legs before you press further south.
Free Stop: Boranup Forest Drive
Between Witchcliffe and Karridale, take the Boranup Drive turnoff for one of the most beautiful free experiences in the whole region — towering karri forest, dappled light, and almost no traffic. Slow down here.
Stop 10: Glenarty Road, Karridale
Technically more cafe/farm than bakery, but the bread program here is excellent and the farm setting makes it a nice slow-down point before Augusta. Order: Whatever bread is on the board that day, with the farm butter
Free Stop: Hamelin Bay
If you’ve got 20 minutes spare and don’t mind a short detour, Hamelin Bay’s resident stingrays glide right up to the shallows most afternoons. Free, surreal, and one of the most photographed spots in the south west.
Stop 11: Augusta Bakery, Augusta
The final stretch. Warm, country charm, hearty pies, and bread baked fresh throughout the day. A proper community hub and the ideal place to refuel before — or after — Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Order: A pie and a strong coffee, sat outside
Stop 12: Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse lookout
Not a bakery, but the natural finish line. The grounds and lookout are free to visit (the lighthouse tour itself has a fee). Eat your last pastry of the day looking out at the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Trip complete.
Tips for the trail
- Start early — some bakeries (especially the woodfired ones) sell out by early afternoon
- Bring an esky if you’re buying bread to take home; the heat in the car will not be kind to it
- This works just as well in reverse, Augusta to Dunsborough, if that suits your accommodation better
- Not every stop needs a full sit-down — some are best as a quick grab-and-go between the bigger ones
Ready to plan the rest of your trip around this route? [Browse accommodation in the Margaret River Region] to find somewhere central to base yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your Road Trip
A: Allow a full day to do it justice — roughly 6 to 8 hours including driving, stops, and a couple of the free scenic spots along the way. The drive from Dunsborough to Augusta without stops is only about an hour, so the time is all yours to spend eating.
A: Any time of year works, but autumn and winter (March to August) are particularly nice — the region is quieter, the weather is cool enough to enjoy warm pies and hot coffee, and the karri forest at Boranup is especially beautiful after rain.
A: Most bakeries are walk-in only, but timing matters more than bookings. Arrive early — especially at the woodfired spots like Yallingup Woodfired Bread — as popular items often sell out by early afternoon. Saturday visits should factor in the Margaret River Farmers Market as an early morning priority stop.
A: Absolutely. The free stops — Meelup Beach, Canal Rocks, the Margaret River foreshore, and Hamelin Bay’s stingrays — are all great for kids, and most bakeries have outdoor seating. It’s an easy, flexible day out with plenty of natural breaks built in
A: Yes, it works just as well in reverse. If you’re staying in Augusta or the southern end of the region, simply start at Cape Leeuwin and work your way north. The scenery and stops are equally good in either direction.
