Explore EVerywhere: A Weekend Away

Approx. driving time: 30mins
Key EV stop: Fremantle (if needed)

Make your way out of the city and spend the day exploring Fremantle (Walyalup). This port town is an easy stop to navigate by electric vehicle, with much of the city’s heritage, dining, and cultural offering within walking distance.

Start in Fremantle’s historic West End with a stroll along High Street, taking in its beautifully preserved heritage buildings, before continuing towards South Terrace and the famous Cappuccino Strip. Stop for coffee and breakfast at one of the many cafés, then take a wander through the Fremantle Markets, where stalls brim with local produce, handmade wares, fashion, gifts, and plenty of distinctly Freo finds.

With many of Fremantle’s highlights clustered around the city centre, this is a great opportunity to park the EV and explore on foot. If you need a top-up, public EV charging is available at several City of Fremantle car parks, including Car Park 16 near Fremantle Oval, Marine Terrace Car Park 11 near the Esplanade Reserve, and Parry Street Car Park 1. Plug in, then head out to explore while the car takes care of itself.

If you have the time, step inside the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison to uncover stories from the city’s convict past, or spend some time delving deeper into Western Australia’s seafaring history at the WA Maritime Museum on Victoria Quay, where exhibitions explore the state’s enduring relationship with the Indian Ocean.

On the waterfront at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour stop for a leisurely seafood lunch overlooking the water. Or seek out a local craft beer in one of Fremantle’s heritage pubs or breweries.

Approx. driving time: 30mins
Key EV stop: Rockingham (if needed)

Continue south from Fremantle to Rockingham, swapping heritage streets for turquoise water, white-sand beaches, and one of the most remarkable marine environments on Perth’s doorstep. The relatively short drive makes this an easy leg by electric vehicle, with public charging available around Rockingham if you’d like to add some range while you explore.

Start your morning along the Rockingham Beach Foreshore, where cafés, parks, and calm waters, are a gentle introduction to the city. Grab breakfast or a coffee overlooking Cockburn Sound, then stretch your legs with a walk along the waterfront and jetty before continuing towards Shoalwater.

If your EV needs a top-up, Rockingham offers several public charging options, including a 24-hour Exploren charging station at 11 Council Avenue, close to the city centre. Plug in while you explore, or check the South West Edge charging map for other stations along your route.

From here, leave four wheels behind and discover the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, a protected marine environment spanning more than 6,000 hectares. It is home to dolphins, Australian sea lions, little penguins, and an extraordinary variety of seabirds.

Join a wildlife cruise through the marine park, or head out on a kayak with a guided paddling tour to experience the sheltered waters at a slower pace.

Allow some time to explore Penguin Island itself, wandering its nature trails, finding a quiet stretch of beach, or stopping for a swim or snorkel before returning to the mainland. Once you return to Rockingham, settle into one of the foreshore restaurants for a late lunch or afternoon drink with views across Cockburn Sound.

Approx. driving time: 1.5 hours, excluding stops
Overnight: Bunbury
Key EV stop: Bunbury

Continue south to Bunbury, where city life meets the coast and your Explore EVerywhere road trip officially enters Australia’s South West. Arriving later in the day means tonight is about checking in, finding something good to eat, and settling into your weekend away.

After checking into your accommodation, leave the EV parked for the evening and head into the city for dinner. Bunbury’s compact city centre makes it easy to explore on foot, with restaurants, bars, and casual eateries dotted through the CBD and around the waterfront. Stroll around the lights of the bridge or lookouts near Koombana Bay and the Leschenault Inlet, or simply call it a night — tomorrow there’s plenty more to discover.

The next morning, plug in and explore. Bunbury is one of the easiest places on the route to combine charging with sightseeing, with fast-charging options close to the city centre and additional chargers available as part of the WA EV Network. Even if your battery doesn’t strictly need it, this is a worthwhile place to top up before turning inland towards the Ferguson Valley.

Start the day with breakfast and coffee perhaps at the Bunbury Farmers Market, where you can also stock up on to delicious fresh fruit and vegetables, local produce, baked goods, and ready-made treats.

From here, head towards Koombana Bay and the Dolphin Discovery Centre, where Bunbury’s resident bottlenose dolphins take centre stage. Explore the interpretive centre, join a dolphin eco-cruise or, depending on the season and the dolphins themselves, you may even be lucky enough to spot them close to shore. Remember, these are wild animals, so encounters are always on their terms.

There’s plenty to discover beyond the bay, too. Follow the waterfront around the Leschenault Inlet, wander through the mangroves on the inlet’s boardwalks, or spend some time exploring Bunbury’s streets and colourful public art. Or visit the Bunbury Wildlife Park for a little bit of cuteness in your day.

With the battery topped up, it’s time to swap the coast for rolling green hills, country road,s and the next chapter of your Explore EVerywhere adventure: the Ferguson Valley.

Approx. driving time: 20 mins,
Overnight: Ferguson Valley
Key EV stop: Ferguson Valley (if needed)

With your EV topped up in Bunbury, turn inland and watch the scenery change. City streets give way to winding country roads, rolling green hills, farms, and forest as you make your way into the Ferguson Valley.

Your first stop has to be Gnomesville, one of the region’s most curious roadside attractions. What began with a handful of garden gnomes has grown into a sprawling community of thousands tucked among the trees. Wander through the collection, find a favourite, leave your own, and embrace one of the South West’s wonderfully unexpected detours.

From here, spend the afternoon exploring the valley at your own pace. Dotted with boutique wineries, breweries, cellar doors and places to linger over a long lunch, it's the definition of picture perfect, no matter the time of year. Choose what interests you, leave some room for spontaneity and enjoy having a well-charged battery from your Bunbury stop. This is exactly the kind of wandering an EV road trip is made for.

As afternoon turns to evening, make your way to Evedon Lakeside Retreat, tucked among jarrah forest beside a tranquil lake. Check in for the night, settle beside the water and watch for black cockatoos moving through the treetops as the last light disappears. In winter enjoy smores round the fire, or indulge in pizzas at the onsite restaurant.

The next morning, take the adventure deeper before you head home. Make your way towards Wellington National Park, where jarrah, and marri forest surrounds the iconic Wellington Dam. Stop to see the enormous Reflections mural painted across the dam wall, before heading out on an e-bike tour. Alternatively seek out wildflowers during spring, or make your way to the water at spots such as Honeymoon Pool and Potters Gorge for a refreshing dip.

The benefit of spending the night in Ferguson Valley is that today doesn’t need to feel like a detour squeezed between destinations - it's part of the holiday itself.

When you’re ready to wind up your weekend away, return to your EV and begin the journey homewards to Perth. After two nights in the South West, you’ve conquered coast, city, farmland, and forest, making an incredible adventure out of just two nights away.