Augusta: Coastal Trails, Whales and History

Augusta brings together coastal trails, nature experiences on the water and insights into the town’s history. At the tip of a peninsula in Augusta, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse stands where the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean meet. The Lightkeepers’ Museum is located in one of the original lighthouse keepers’ cottages. Alongside the Cape’s distinctive location, a historic building is one of the town’s notable features.

History in Augusta and at the Cape

The Augusta Historical Museum presents exhibitions about the history of Augusta and the surrounding districts since European settlement in 1830. It is located at the corner of Blackwood Avenue and Green Street in Augusta. Visitors interested in the development of the town and its surroundings will find a distinctive way to explore the area here: the focus is on regional history exhibitions, not on a nature experience on the water. The Lightkeepers’ Museum offers a different perspective through its location in an original lighthouse keepers’ cottage at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

Coastal trails and tours on the water

The Whale Trail follows the coast from Flinders Bay to Augusta Boat Harbour. It is paved and has a very gentle gradient. If you’re looking for a coastal trail with these features, it’s an option for a walk. The Leeuwin Biddi Trail connects Dead Finish with Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and includes approximately 3 km of accessible track for walking, using mobility aids or cycling. It is a shared trail for people of all ages and abilities. The Leeuwin Trail currently runs from Augusta Boat Harbour to Dead Finish. You can distinguish between these trail options when planning your day by considering their respective routes and purposes.

Whale-watching cruises are also among the experiences Augusta has to offer. Naturaliste Charters’ whale-watching cruises depart from Augusta Boat Harbour on Leeuwin Road and last approximately 2.5 hours. The tours give visitors the opportunity to see humpback whales, southern right whales and rare blue whales on their northward and southward migrations. The focus is on encounters with different whale species during their migrations; the approximate duration also provides a useful guide for planning your day.

Augusta River Tours offers a different perspective on the landscape on the lower Blackwood River. Tours travel along the river aboard the Dolphin Discoverer, with a guided tour through the pristine Blackwood River wetland ecosystem. Augusta thus offers several distinct kinds of experiences: a coastal trail, whale watching on a cruise and a guided river tour. Which of these you’d like to make a highlight of your holiday may play a part in choosing Augusta as a destination.

Choose Augusta for your holiday

If you’re looking for holiday accommodation for your stay, you could first consider whether you’d prefer to spend your time on coastal trails, whale watching, history or a river cruise. Augusta offers specific points of interest for all of these interests, without needing to combine them into a single itinerary. If you’d like to discover more than one side of the town on your trip, Augusta is a great destination to start your search for holiday accommodation.

Discover more destinations in Gnarabup, Cowaramup and Witchcliffe.

For the broader travel overview: Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.