Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region in Australia [In-Depth Review]

My son and I found ourselves with 2 surprise bonus days ahead of a planned spring break trip from our home in Doha, Qatar, to Perth, Australia. The friends we were visiting had the perfect place in mind for a quick getaway. The text went something like, “Hey, how would you feel about being driven 3 hours away at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday for a night? Bunker Bay. Margaret River winery/lunch. Caves.” Say less. When she shot me the name of the hotel she wanted to book, I immediately looked up ways to make this a great value with points or miles.

Here’s how our quick midweek getaway to Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region unfolded.

Booking Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region

Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region is an Accor hotel participating in the ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty program. As I had no ALL Reward points to redeem, I looked for alternative ways to decrease the stay’s cost.

When looking at late-March 2025 rates on 4 days’ notice, the studio villa (capacity for 3) was available directly for AU$390.45 ($245), and the 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom villa was available for AU$707.75 ($444). Since our group needed 2 rooms (2 adults and 2 kids), the larger, cheaper 2-bedroom villa seemed the way to go.

Because my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 10x miles on hotel purchases at Capital One Travel, I looked at the rates there. This site has become my go-to when booking hotels when I’m not interested in earning hotel points or using elite benefits, especially for its price match guarantee.

At $458 per night, the Capital One Travel rate on the villa was just $14 higher than the direct rate, and I could utilize my Capital One Venture X card’s annual $300 Capital One Travel credit to heavily reduce the rate (and price match to all.accor.com).

After applying my travel credits (which included $13 from a previous price match), my out-of-pocket cost was $144.87, and I earned 1,449 miles (worth $26 according to our valuation of Capital One miles).

Hot Tip:

Even though ALL is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards (3:2), Capital One Miles (2:1), and Citi ThankYou Rewards (2:1), I wasn’t keen to transfer points. ALL Reward points have a fixed redemption value of €20 ($23) off for every 1,000 Reward points you redeem, for a value of 2.3 cents per point. This $458 reservation would have required 21,000 ALL Reward points to erase the nightly rate. Since I only had Capital One miles to work with, I would have needed to transfer 41,000 miles, bringing the value of those miles down to 1.1 cents per mile.

Location of Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region

The Pullman is located 164 miles (a 3-hour drive) from Perth Airport (PER) and 28 miles (a 40-minute drive) from the smaller Busselton Margaret River Airport (BQB). The hotel is not technically in Margaret River, which is about 50 minutes further south by car.

Although the hotel is fairly isolated, it is near area attractions such as Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience. Dining and shopping are readily available in nearby Dunsborough.

If you’re arriving by car, look for the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sign on the road. We had to do a quick turnaround as we missed our turn.

If you don’t rent a car, consider the South West Coachlines express bus from Perth Airport and the Perth CBD to Dunsborough, then a taxi from Dunsborough to the Pullman with Dunsborough Taxis.

If you’re living your best life, Scenic Helicopters can take you straight from Perth Airport to the Pullman’s private on-site helipad.

Hot Tip:

If you want to earn or redeem Hilton Honors points in the area, consider the Hilton Garden Inn Busselton or Smiths Beach Resort, an SLH Hotel.

Checking In

After making the proper turn, our arrival was confirmed when we saw the small Pullman sign.

When arriving by car, the main reception area is to the left, with the parking lot off to the right. Since we only had light baggage for 1 night, we parked the car and walked to the front desk with our bags. Golf carts are available for guests with more luggage or who need assistance.

I immediately liked the hotel’s vibe, with a plank walkway over a water feature.

The lobby had vaulted ceilings and views of Bunker Bay in the distance. The design had a mix of dark woods, grey stone, and warm earth tones.

We arrived around 2:30 p.m., just ahead of the 3 p.m. check-in time. We were swiftly accommodated and offered a welcome drink of sparkling wine or apple juice.

The man checking us in mentioned the times for breakfast and provided 2 wooden key cards and a welcome letter. Because my reservation was prepaid through Capital One Travel, I was not eligible for ALL benefits. Still, the welcome letter noted that if you signed up at the property, you could choose from a round of drinks, early check-in, or late checkout as a benefit.

A laminated property map was at the front desk to show how to navigate the property. Our villa, 105, was in the middle of the first row of rooms closest to the resort entrance (the row is indicated on the map with the red Three Bedroom Villa).

Lobby

The concierge desk is next to the main front desk. Team members can assist with bookings for wine tastings, whale-watching tours, local caves, and golf courses.

There wasn’t much seating in the lobby area. Closest to the entrance was a 2-seater sofa and 2 armchairs.

Next to this were another 2-seater and an armchair with Aboriginal art on display.

2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Villa

The 2-bedroom villa has an open kitchen and living room with a rear terrace, a king-size master bedroom with a spa bathtub, and a secondary bedroom with 2 twins and a bathroom with laundry machines. This villa type is also available with 2 king-size beds. The villa can accommodate an additional person in a rollaway bed for AU$100 ($64) per night, which includes breakfast.

A small pathway led from a main path to the villas. The resort grounds were not well-lit at night, and I used my phone’s flashlight to navigate around safely. Even so, it was so dark that I got lost returning to the room after realizing I was walking myself out to the main road.

The entrance to the villa had a gated front entrance, and the screens were thatched for privacy.

Living Room and Kitchen

While we stayed just for a night, this villa would have been ideal for an extended break. The living room had a dining table for 6, a full kitchen, and a large living room. The space had a cathedral wood ceiling accented on one side by a limestone wall and extended windows leading to the rear patio.

The firm L-shaped sofa had plenty of room. My son and his friend immediately positioned themselves here to watch YouTube on the TV.

The full-size kitchen had a cooktop, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator. Smaller appliances included a kettle, a toaster, a Nespresso machine, and a milk frother. All the needed glassware, silverware, and crockery were available. The fridge had 2 containers of milk and a refillable carafe of water. The carafe could be refilled with the Purezza machine in the Other Side of The Moon restaurant, or we were encouraged to refill using the flavored water at reception.

Hot Tip:

There were some ants throughout the unit, and insect spray was provided under the kitchen sink, but I understood this more to be a daily hazard of life in Australia than a reflection of the cleanliness of the hotel.

The back terrace had a dining table for 4 and an ashtray. The landscaping provided enough privacy that it did not feel exposed to other villas.

King Bedroom

The bedroom with the king-size bed had large windows out to the landscaping.

The wooden nightstands with drawers had identical lamps, and one had a clock with a phone.

Across from the bed was a long table that functioned as a stand for the large flat-screen TV and a desk.

The desk had a wireless charger built into the lamp, which was a cool feature.

Next to the bathroom entrance was a closet with sliding doors. The left side had a spare blanket, an iron, and a safe. The right side had robes, hangers on a rod, a folded luggage rack, and an ironing board.

The right door had a poorly touched-up blemish, and there was a water stain on the wall next to it.

King Bathroom

I liked the open bathroom, with its jetted spa tub and a walk-in shower. My son had fun relaxing in the tub, but he realized that he kept turning it on by mistake when the tub was empty.

The vanity had plenty of room, with large mounted bottles of liquid soap and body lotion from C.O. Bigelow at the sink. Other amenities were limited to a shower cap and cotton buds.

The walk-in shower had a rainfall showerhead, and I appreciated the controls being located at the entrance to the shower instead of right under the showerhead. C.O. Bigelow shampoo, conditioner, and body gel were mounted on the wall, though I had a lot of difficulty using one of the pumps and maneuvered the bottle out of the mount to use it. Though there wasn’t a door, the water stayed within the confines of the shower space.

Twin Bedroom

The room with 2 twin beds was near the front entrance and had a window view of the small entrance courtyard. Similar to the room with the king bed, the wooden headboard was flanked by 2 identical wood nightstands with drawers and lamps. An alarm clock with 2 USB-A ports was on one nightstand. Unlike the other bedroom, this room did not have a TV or a desk.

I’ve had a streak of weak, thin pillows at recent hotel stays, so I appreciated the heft and fluff of the larger pillow.

The sliding-door closet was similar to the one in the other room. It had a robe, hangers, a blanket, and a folding luggage rack on one side, and additional pillows and shelving on the other.

Secondary Bathroom

This unit was prepped for extended stays, with a washer, dryer, and laundry sink in the secondary bathroom.

The vanity area was a bit smaller than in the other bathroom, but the amenities were the same.

The walk-in shower (this time with a door) was on the other side of the sink and had a handheld wand.

The room was clean for the most part, but there were some details, like this moisture build-up on the bathroom wall, that could easily be remedied with an occasional deep cleaning.

Amenities

Pool

The easiest way to reach the pool from our room was up a small set of stairs from the main path to the beach. It is also reachable from within the reception building, though exiting through the restaurant was awkward.

The pool is touted to be heated to 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit) year-round, but let me tell ya, it was cold. Shade was abundant with loungers and tables underneath.

The property is over 20 years old, and I’m sure when it opened, this pool had a stellar view of the ocean. Today, vegetation has grown up over much of the view. The pool was also quite deep, and due to its depth, it was not what I’d consider a great pool for kids.

Hot Tip:

The pool is not wheelchair accessible, but the resort does offer a guide to what is accessible on the grounds here.

Towels for use at the pool or beach were available next to the changing rooms, which were essentially large single bathrooms. During our visit, the women’s changing room was out of order, but we were told we could use it to change so long as we didn’t flush the toilet.

Also in the pool area was an outdoor grill. Utensils could be retrieved from the reception desk.

Beach

A short walkway through the grounds leads to the Bunker Bay Beach.

Signage near the lakefront villas warned guests of snakes in the area.

The path finished through a grove of trees, and it was a pleasant walk.

The beach is public, but it is fairly remote. There are no services at the beach, though a restaurant (Ilma Beach House) has a public parking lot and a public toilet nearby. The restaurant closed at 5 p.m., before sunset, which was disappointing when we were thirsty for a drink.

The sand quality and waves were fantastic, even though the water was frigid (which I’m told is standard for this area).

Unfortunately, the hotel doesn’t provide chairs, umbrellas, or food and beverage service, which would have elevated the experience. However, complimentary pool and beach toys are available at reception.

We walked left on the beach to explore the Shelley Cove area, which had fantastic scenery. The path that leads there is a bit rocky, so I’d suggest bringing footwear.

On our return from the beach, I noticed this outdoor shower, which was great for getting the sand off.

Gym

The small fitness center was open 24 hours a day. When I first visited in late afternoon, it was very busy, which was awkward since the entry door opens right onto a treadmill. Later that night, I was the only guest there.

The gym had 2 treadmills, an elliptical, a rowing machine, and a stationary bike.

It also had medicine balls, a multi-function weight machine, and dumbbells. A water dispenser, TV, and boombox were also available.

Hot Tip:

The hotel offers a complimentary yoga class on Saturdays from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Guests can also request a free Pullman Fitness Bag delivered to their room for up to 4 hours of use.

Tennis Courts

The resort has 2 tennis courts in the parking lot near the spa. The courts are open during daylight hours, and rackets and balls are available from reception. Advance booking is advised.

Vie Spa

The spa is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bookings are by appointment only. A menu of treatments can be found here. An infrared sauna could also be booked for 45-minute private sessions starting at AU$50 ($32).

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi was easy to connect to and stayed connected throughout the property. I achieved speeds of 35.5 Mbps download and 28.9 Mbps upload.

Business Center

I struggled to call this space a business center, but there was a small room around the corner from the reception area with 2 desks and a lending library.

Parking

Complimentary parking was readily available, and reserved parking for ALL members was closest to the reception building. If needed, buggy transportation could take you and your luggage to your villa.

Event Spaces

The hotel has several rooms to accommodate events and conferences. More details can be found here. The property is also available for weddings.

Food and Beverages

Other Side of The Moon Restaurant & Bar

The hotel’s primary restaurant serves breakfast daily from 7 to 10:30 a.m., and a menu can be found here. If the buffet is not included in your room rate, it is AU$42 ($27) for adults and free for kids under 12.

A lunch menu is served from 12 to 5 p.m., and a dinner menu is served from 5 to 9 p.m.

There are 2 primary indoor dining rooms, with additional seating on the outdoor terrace. The space has lovely views out to the ocean.

The outdoor terrace had some sun umbrellas, but most of the available tables were exposed to the sun.

The hot buffet included frittatas, hashbrowns, pork sausage, bacon, waffles, and pancakes. A server could also take orders for poached, scrambled, fried, or boiled eggs or omelettes.

My son and his friend got creative with the juicing station, though juice dispensers with traditional favorites were nearby. Cut fruits and whole fruits were on an adjacent table.

Hot Tip:

Complimentary sparkling wine is available at breakfast; just ask your server.

Baked goods included croissants, pastries, scones, and toast. A display of spreads had Vegemite, butter, jams, and peanut butter. Gluten-free toast, brownies, and banana cake were also available.

A station beside this had yogurt, chia pudding, muesli, cereals, and fruit and nut toppings. Milk and milk alternatives were near the coffee station.

I was a fan of the smoked salmon, which was displayed next to a charcuterie area with cheeses and smoked meats.

And love it or hate it, dessert for breakfast is now apparently a thing. The sweets corner had a variety of cakes, cookies, and chocolates.

Coffee was self-service from an industrial Nespresso machine with the same pods as those featured in the room.

Pool Bar

The Pool Bar is open seasonally in warmer months from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. A menu can be found here.

In-Room Dining

Breakfast is available from 7 to 10:30 a.m., an all-day menu is served from 12 to 10 p.m., and an overnight menu is served from 10 p.m. The menu can be found here.

Hot Tip:

The hotel also lists recommended restaurants within driving distance (available here). We can recommend the nearby kid-friendly Eagle Bay Brewing Co, where we had lunch on our day of arrival. Sushi Sushi, next to the Dunsborough Woolworths, was also an affordable stop for takeaway hand rolls.

Checkout

I called the front desk the morning of departure to ask for a late checkout and was told that it wasn’t possible because the hotel was at capacity for the weekend. This meant that after breakfast and a quick trip to the beach, I rushed to pack our bags and check out of the room on time. We then spent an hour or so at the pool and used the changing facilities before our departure.

Service

I did not have many service interactions with team members outside of checking in and out, and at breakfast. Everyone I spoke with was professional and helpful.

Final Thoughts

While I’m typically the one who plans what hotel my family stays at, I was happy to be a mere passenger on this journey south of Perth. My friend knew exactly where she wanted to stay, and Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region was a great getaway for the night. The beach was beautiful, and the 2-bedroom villa was perfect for 2 families — I only wish we could have stayed a little longer!

I walked away with minimal complaints. However, for a more premium stay, I would have loved shaded loungers at the beach. The grounds are also quite dark at night, yet the lack of light pollution meant the sky was flooded with stars … something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Was it so dark that we almost got run off the road by a kangaroo on the way to dinner? We sure did, and the experience was one for the books!