Western Australia Family Motorhome Road Trip

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Julie’s WA Family Motorhome Trip: Why the Maui Cascade Was the Perfect Fit

A first-hand family road trip through Perth, Margaret River, Augusta, Walpole and Albany.

Hi, I’m Julie from DriveNow Reservations. I’ve been working at DriveNow for over 10 years, and to say I know campervans and motorhomes inside and out is probably understating it just a little. So when it came time to take my own family on a road trip in July 2025, I knew exactly what I wanted… and just as importantly, what I didn’t.

This trip was with my husband and our two girls, aged 10 and 12. We spent three nights in Perth before collecting our motorhome, which I highly recommend. It gave us time to settle in, stock up properly and ease into holiday mode before hitting the road.

If you’re planning something similar, start with our Perth city guide before heading south.

🚐 Why I Chose the Maui Cascade

Family of 4Drop-down bedCompact motorhomeWA road trip ready

For this trip, I chose the Maui Cascade, and honestly, it was spot on for where our family is at right now.

Highlights

The drop-down bed was a game changer. The girls shared it happily and treated it like their own little cubby house on wheels.
It felt roomy without being too big. That matters when you’re driving winding roads, pulling into holiday parks or finding a good picnic stop.
It had everything we needed. Kitchen, bathroom, storage and comfortable sleeping space, without feeling like we were driving a bus. See below the daytime and night time layouts.

If the girls were older or needed more personal space, I would have chosen something larger, like the Cruisin Discovery. In fact, that’s the vehicle I’ll be travelling in later this year in Queensland.

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Cascade vs Discovery: Which Would I Choose?

Both are great family motorhome options, but they suit slightly different travelling styles. For this WA trip, the Maui Cascade was the right fit. For older kids or a longer trip, I’d look closely at the Cruisin Discovery.

Feature	Maui Cascade	Cruisin Discovery
Best for	Families with younger kids or kids happy to share	Families wanting more sleeping space and room to spread out
Why Julie picked it	Drop-down bed, smaller size and easy handling	Would suit older or larger kids better
Driving feel	A little more compact and manageable	Larger vehicle, but more internal space
Family comfort	Great for Julie’s girls at 10 and 12	Better choice as kids get older
Julie’s verdict	Perfect for this WA trip	My pick for our next Queensland trip

We loosely followed DriveNow’s Perth to Augusta and Albany self-drive route, but we didn’t treat it like a strict itinerary. I’ll include a map with the blog, because that makes the route easier to understand at a glance.

You can also see the suggested route here: Perth to Augusta and Albany self-drive itinerary.

🌊 Perth to Bunbury: Easing into Road Trip Mode

Leaving Perth felt like a proper “we’re on holiday now” moment. The drive to Bunbury was easy, which made it a perfect first leg while we all got used to the motorhome.

We spent time near the water and, yes, the dolphins are very real. Seeing them close to shore was one of those moments where the kids suddenly forgot screens existed. Small miracle, really.

🍷 Margaret River: Where We Slowed Things Down

Margaret River was where the trip really found its rhythm. It’s one of those places where you don’t need to over-plan. A cave in the morning, a forest drive in the afternoon, maybe a winery lunch somewhere in between.

Mammoth Cave was a big hit with the girls. It’s fascinating, a little bit spooky, and just adventurous enough without needing hiking boots and a survival whistle.

🌅 Augusta: Where the Oceans Meet

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse was one of those quietly powerful moments. Standing where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet, with the wind doing its best to rearrange everyone’s hair, felt like reaching the edge of Australia.

🌳 Walpole: The Unexpected Favourite

If I had to pick a surprise standout, it would be Walpole. The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is incredible. Walking high above the forest floor gives you a completely different view of the south-west, and it works beautifully for families.

Albany: History, Coastline and Room to Breathe

Albany gave us a bit of everything: history, dramatic coastline and plenty of space for the kids to just be kids.

The National Anzac Centre is well worth allowing time for, even with children. It gives real context to Albany’s place in Australian history, without feeling like you’re dragging everyone through a dry museum visit.

💡 Julie’s Honest Takeaways

Don’t automatically choose the biggest or smallest motorhome. The right layout matters more than size.
Build in buffer time. The best moments are often the ones you didn’t schedule.
Holiday parks make family travel easier. Power, showers, laundry and room for kids to move are all worth it.
Spend time in Perth first. Three nights before pick-up made the whole road trip feel calmer.

Ready to plan your own WA road trip?

Keep it simple. Pick the right vehicle for your crew, give yourself time, and let the road do the rest.

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When you road-trip in Australia don't forget to pay your respects to the traditional custodians of the land on which you travel, their elders past, present and emerging. The natural environment of Australia is fragile and should be left as you found it — take only photos and leave only footprints.

Shelley Richardson

Shelley has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years, in aviation, for tour operators and since 2016 for DriveNow. Having travelled extensively worldwide, alone, as a couple and with her family, Shelley has experience to share about how to make the most of your holiday, especially road-trips to amazing destinations.

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