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Cape Lodge hotel, Margaret River, Australia

Cape Lodge

Margaret River, Australia[view map]

Local restaurants

Inspired by his father's pharmacy, chef Simon Beaton and his partner Flip Boreham have created The Food Farmacy (+61 (0)8 9759 1877; www.thefoodfarmacy.com), a cool eatery where water is served in a conical flask and test tubes of salt, pepper, sugar and oil hang in wooden racks. The menu is equally quirky, doffing its cap to new wave, organic cuisine. Find it at Shop 9, Dunsborough Park Shopping Centre, Dunn Bay Rd, Dunsborough. The Margaret River region may produce excellent wines but the coffee is somewhat lacking, until you come to Bathers Cafe Restaurant (+61 (0)8 9750 1288; www.smithsbeachresort.com.au) that is. Located in the stylish Smiths Beach Resort, on Smiths Beach Road in Yallingup, 10 kilometres from Cape Lodge,  this breezy beachfront diner has an excellent breakfast, lunch and diner menu.

Local bars

Also at Smiths Beach Resort, check out Bouzy The Champagne Bar, next door to Bathers Cafe Restaurant. It's a 30-minute drive from Cape Lodge, but a trip to winebar Must Margaret River (+61 (0)8 9758 8857; www.must.com.au) is worth it. With wall-to-wall racks of top local bottles snaking around the chic, minimal space, this is a great place to come for a drink, but its bistro is also strong on meat dishes, and is open for lunch and dinner from noon till midnight daily. Another draw card is its impressive choice of spirits. Find it at 107 Bussell Highway in Margaret River.

For a full list of eating and drinking recommendations in Margaret River, check out our Margaret River eating & drinking guide

Worth getting out of bed for

As well as expert cooking classes and wine tastings at Cape Lodge itself, the Margaret River wine region beckons beyond the hotel's gorgeous grounds, with vineyards to die for. Respected wine estates in the neighbourhood include Vasse Felix (www,vassefelix.com.au), Moss Wood (www.mosswood.com.au), Cullen (www.cullenwines.com.au) and Pierro (www.pierro.com.au), all of which offer tastings and the chance to buy fine local wines at the cellar door (Cullen also offers a tempting restaurant overlooking its vineyard). The hotel can also point you in the direction of local gourmet eco tours and wine tours along the cape, which allow you to sample the best regional wines as well as cheeses, chocolates and more (you can even opt to tour in a vintage Bentley or Rolls Royce).

If you find you've overdosed on pricy vintages, then the pristine beaches nearby are the perfect hangover cure, whether you fancy a refreshing dip or a relaxed walk along a coastal trail. The hotel is only three kilometres from the sparkling Indian Ocean and its rugged coastline, which enjoys a mild, sunny Mediterranean climate. The area is considered a surf paradise, with great waves for every level between Capes Naturalise and Leeuwin, including nearby Yallingup beach (with breaks left and right). The Yallingup Surf School dispenses advice and lessons (www.yallingupsurfschool.com). There are some beautiful walking trails between here and Smiths Beach as well as striking cave formations, such as the Ngilgi Cave between Dunsborough and Yallingup. Sunset canoeing up the Margaret River is another way to see the area in style.

Diary

March-April Surfers do their thing at the Margaret River Pro (www.drugawarepro.com). April Winemakers do theirs during the Margaret River Wine Festival (www.margaretriverfestival.com). June and September sees humpback and southern right whales pass the coastline.

For a full list of recommended activities in Margaret River, check out our Margaret River destination guide


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