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Boutique hotels in Margaret River

Margaret River, Australia

Margaret River Overview

Australia

Countryside
Coastlines, Cabernets and culture
Country Life
Wine tasting and wave riding

If Margaret River didn’t exist, someone would have to make it up. Just three hours south of Perth, the region combines natural beauty with phenomenal dining and over 120 wineries that produce a quarter of Australia’s top wines.

Your options here are endless; the empty coastline offers clear waters and world-class surfing, the cellar doors are always open and the area’s arty heritage is displayed in the many galleries. As far as holiday destinations go, it’s near perfect.

Marvellously Margaret River

Despite being one of the great wine-producing regions of the world, the first vines were only planted in Margaret River in the late 1960s. In 1967 Dr Tom Cullity successfully planted his first acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Malbec and Hermitage on his property resulting in the birth of the Vasse Felix vineyard (www.vassefelix.com.au). Just four years later the vineyard won its first award and subsequently released its first commercial wine, and with that the Margaret River wine industry was born.

Local knowledge

Taxis
You’re more likely to catch a ride on The Bommy (Margaret River’s fast, peeling right hand surf break) than flag a cab down on the street. Better to book one in advance through the Margaret River Taxi & Tour Service (+61 (0)8 9757 3444).

Tipping culture
A 10 per cent tip for waiters is customary if you're happy with the service.

Siesta and Fiesta
Most wineries open their cellar doors between 10am and 5pm daily. The shops in the region's towns keep standard 9am to 5pm hours.

Packing tips
A picnic rug and corkscrew for al fresco ploughman's lunches, a snorkel and mask for exploring the waters and a camera (for snapping the surf gods!).

Recommended reads
The Australian Wine Annual 2009, by one of Australia's foremost wine writers and presenters Jeremy Oliver, will help you tell your Semillons from your Sauvignons. Ray Jordan's WA Wine Guide 2009 rates and reviews the state's best wines and wineries.

Regional specialities
It's only been just over 40 years since the first vines were planted in this region but already the Margaret River wineries are producing world-class premium wine. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends are the region's most celebrated wine varieties but you’ll also uncork splendid Shiraz and more unconventional varietals like Sangiovese and Viognier.

Currency
Australian dollar (AU$).

Time zone
GMT +8.

Dialling codes
Country code for Australia: +61; Margaret River: (0)8.

Do go/don't go
The Mediterranean climate makes the Margaret River an ideal destination year-round. In summer temperatures rarely rise over 32°C and in winter average around 18°C during the day, although it can be a touch chilly at night. This is a popular holiday destination and so gets very busy at Easter, Christmas and during major events, so be sure to book well ahead at prime times.

Don't go home without

Visiting a local winery. Big names such as Leeuwin Estate, Xanadu and Voyager are here but it’s worth exploring the smaller cellar doors too. If you’re unfamiliar with the region’s wines, the Regional Wine Centre (www.mrwines.com) can point you in the right direction. Some of our favourites include Cape Mentelle (www.capementelle.com.au), which offers a superb ploughman’s lunch to accompany your Viognier or Sangiovese, Windance (www.windance.com.au) which produces one of the best Semillon Sauvignon Blancs in the region and Amberley Estate (www.amberleyestate.com.au), worth visiting for the views alone.

Margaret River Hotels

€ £ $

Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and romantic boutique hotels in Margaret River


Cape Lodge

Margaret River, Australia

Style
Country club chic

Setting
Gardens and vines

Surrounded by vineyards, lawns and native woodland, elegant boutique hotel Cape Lodge feels like an intimate country manor, with an award-winning lakeside restaurant and famed wine region Margaret River on its doorstep.

View hotel
Doubles from:

(AUD 325)

A gift pack of Cape Lodge Estate wine on departure Member offer

Book now


Getting there

Margaret River, Australia

Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.

Planes
Perth Airport is the gateway to the Margaret River. Australia West Air (www.auswestair.com) run charter flights to the region.
Trains
TransWA (www.transwa.wa.gov.au) run daily trains to Bunbury from Perth, which connects with the Westrail bus service that takes passengers south through Margaret River.
Automobiles
The Margaret River is a three and a half hour drive (272 kilometres) south from Perth along either The Coast Road or the South Western Highway, neither of which are particularly inspiring routes. However, a car is invaluable when exploring the region and touring the vineyards. Southwest Coach Lines (www.southwestcoachlines.com.au) operates a daily service between Perth city and Margaret River departing at 1.30pm (5 hours). TransWA buses also operate a service departing from the East Perth Terminal.

Boutique hotels in Margaret River

Margaret River, Australia

Margaret River Activities

Highlights the best Margaret River has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.

Worth getting out of bed for

Margaret River itinerary
More…

Viewpoint
It’s a bit of a drive but the view from Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest on mainland Australia, is worth it (www.margaretriver.com). This is where the Indian and Southern oceans meet and the area is teeming with incredible wildlife including sea lions, dolphins and whales.

Arts and culture
All that wine is obviously proving inspirational as the region is peppered with some great galleries representing local and Western Australian artists. Yallingup Galleries (www.yallingupgalleries.com.au) and Gunyulgup Galleries (www.gunyulgupgalleries.com.au) are both excellent and exhibit paintings, prints, ceramics and glass. For contemporary fine art head to the Purist Gallery (www.puristgallery.com).

Something for nothing
This area is a fisherman’s dream so the options for catching your own dinner are endless. Cast your rod from a boat, jetty or riverbank and you’ll find bream, herring and yellowfin whiting snapping at your line. Beach fishing along the coast is also an option.

Shopping
If there's room in your case after visiting the vineyards then head to the amiable town of Margaret River for its galleries and boutiques. At the Natural Olive Oil Soap Factory (www.oliveoilsoapfactory.com.au) you can watch soap being made on the factory floor and trial their feel-good body products.

Daytripper
Several hundred caves lie within the craggy limestone coastline but only a handful are open to the public. Of these the most famous is the multi-chambered Mammoth Cave that was first discovered in 1850 and the enormous Jewel and sparkling Lake Caves (www.margaretriver.com).

Best beach
Margaret River’s sublime beaches should tempt you away from winery-hopping. Eagle Bay offers kaleidoscopic snorkelling opportunities, Yallingup Beach has a sheltered lagoon and Meelup, near Dunsborough, is another great swimming spot. Diving here is also excellent and the purposely-scuttled HMAS Swan Wreck is a highlight.

Perfect picnic
Pack your picnic hamper with Brie and Camembert from the Margaret River Dairy Company (www.mrdc.com.au), grab a bottle of your favourite wine and get set for some al fresco dining either on the beach or near the vines.

Walks
The spectacular coastal and forest Cape to Cape Walk (www.capetocapetrack.com.au) might be a trample too far at 135km but there are plenty of access points along the way meaning you can join the track for as little or long as you like; maps are available from the visitor centre (www.margaretriver.com).

Children
A handful of wineries such as Xanadu (www.xanaduwines.com) and Cape Mentelle (www.capementelle.com.au) have play areas to keep the kids occupied and you in the cellar door. The Yallingup Shearing Shed will have everyone oohing and aahing at the baby lambs (www.margaretriver.com) and at the Wonky Windmill Farm & Eco Park (www.wonkywindmillfarm.com.au) the little ones can hang out and feed pigs, ponies, alpacas and emus. Lose the kids – temporarily – in new attraction the Yallingup Maze (www.yallingupmaze.com.au), which promises to be kid heaven.

Activities
Margaret River is the surfing capital of Western Australia, so why not learn to cut some waves? The coastline between Capes Naturaliste and Leeuwin offers clean waters, world-class waves and year-round powerful reef breaks (mainly left handers). There are a number of small beach breaks perfect for inexperienced and novice surfers too. Yallingup Surf School is a good port of call, offering group, private and couples classes, as well as three-day courses (www.yallingupsurfschool.com).

And...
For an alternative view of the area, canoe up the Margaret River, while exploring Aboriginal culture and teasting on wild foods, with Bushtucker Tours (www.bushtuckertours.com). Tours costs AU$80 for adults, and depart from Prevelly Beach at the river mouth, running from 10am to 2pm.

Diary

January-March Look out for open-air concerts at Leeuwin Estate (www.leeuwinestate.com.au). 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 Humpback and southern right whales pass the coastline during this time. November Leeuwin Estate celebrates the end of pruning season with their annual Burning of the Vine Cuttings celebration.

Boutique hotels in Margaret River

Margaret River, Australia

Margaret River
Eating, drinking and dancing

We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Margaret River.

Cafés

(+618 9750 1288)

Bathers Cafe Restaurant

The region may produce excellent wines but the coffee is somewhat lacking, until you come to Bathers that is. Located in the stylish Smiths Beach Resort, this breezy beachfront diner has an excellent breakfast, lunch and Modern Australian diner menu, and boasts Bouzy The Champagne Bar next door.

Smiths Beach Resort, Smiths Beach Rd, Yallingup

Restaurants

(+618 9759 1877)

The Food Farmacy

Inspired by his father's pharmacy, chef Simon Beaton and his partner Flip Boreham have created 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.

Shop 9, Dunsborough Park Shopping Centre, Dunn Bay Rd, Dunsborough, Western Australia, 6281.

(+618 9756 5000)

Vasse Felix

Considered by many to be a Margaret River essential dining experience both for the views from the upstairs balcony restaurant and the innovative local-produce-meets-French-Master-Chef menu.

Cnr Caves Road and Harmans Road South, Cowaramup, Western Australia, 6284

(+618 9755 6250)

Flutes Restaurant

This highly acclaimed restaurant sits in the Brookland Valley Winery with serene views over the lake. The 'Flutes Trio' of barramundi, Pemberton marron and salmon is tremendous.

Brookland Valley Winery, Caves Road, Wilyabrup, Western Australia, 6280

Bars and clubs

(+618 9756 7650)

The Cape Wine Bar

Wine bottles line the walls of this lively bistro where the Mod Oz menu changes with the seasons. There’s an excellent tapas menu to complement the live music at weekends.

239 Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough, Western Australia, 6281

Pubs

(+618 9755 5822)

Cowaramup Brewery

Have a break from the vineyards and head to this family-owned microbrewery. There are five beers on tap including their signature India Pale Ale and the popular Pilsner – you can taste all five for just AU$12. There's also a low-key restaurant serving up Pilsner-battered fish and chips and other pub fare.

North Treeton Road, Cowaramup, Western Australia, 6284


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