EASY SIDE TRIPS
Margaret River
Combining stupendous wine, fabulous food, tall-tree forests, epic surf breaks, people-free beaches and tiny wildflowers, Margaret River is undoubtedly Western Australia’s most breathtaking region.
WHAT TO DO: You could drive the three-hour southern journey, but why not jump aboard a seaplane that departs from the Swan River and flies you over raw wilderness before arriving at your destination just one hour later? SWAN RIVER SEAPLANES (swanriverseaplanes.com.au) offers threeand four-day retreats.
WHERE TO STAY: PULLMAN BUNKER BAY RESORT’s (pullmanbunkerbayresort.com.au) bush apartments immerse guests in the local experience; boardwalks lead to a beautiful deserted beach.
WHERE TO EAT: Restaurant meals are included in the Swan River Seaplanes retreats; guides get you into the best spots around.
Swan Valley
A hop-on, hop-off bus whisks visitors easily between the Swan Valley’s many wine and foodie-oriented attractions. The SWAN VALLEY EXPLORER (swanvalley.com.au) costs less than $15 for a day pass and stops at more than 20 venues on a loop circuit. There are departures every 30 minutes from Guildford train station, an easy 20-minute journey from the city center.
WHAT TO DO: If you’re aching to feed kangaroos, get an up-close pic with a koala or watch a sheep dog muster, hop off at CAVERSHAM WILDLIFE PARK (cavershamwildlife.com.au). Continue on to see Aboriginal art at MAALINUP ABORIGINAL GALLERY (maalinup.com.au), savor excellent chardonnay at UPPER REACH WINERY (upperreach.com.au), taste beefy beers at FERAL BREWING COMPANY (feralbrewing.com.au) and nibble on dreamy macarons at MAISON SAINT HONORE (maisonsainthonore.com).
WHERE TO STAY: THE COLONY AT MANDOON ESTATE (mandoonestate.com.au) is a row of hotel-style apartments with sweeping bucolic views.
WHERE TO EAT: The restaurant at SANDALFORD WINES (sandalford.com) serves polished modern-Australian dishes.
Rottnest Island
White, sand-rimmed Rottnest Island winks from Perth’s horizon line, beckoning to locals who adore escaping to the car-free isle with its sleepy pace and simple pleasures. Look out for the island’s star, the cute quokka, a marsupial that pulls comical smiles.
Take the 8:45am ferry
WHAT TO DO: along the Swan River for a scenic, 1.5-hour cruise en route to the island. Hire a bike or take the bus around to the bays and beaches – is GEORDIE BAY particularly popular for its shallow and still crystalline water.
WHERE TO STAY: What could be better than setting up digs in a luxury safari tent – complete with en suite and a deck overlooking the beach?
DISCOVERY ROTTNEST ISLAND (discoveryholidayparks.com.au) will make the vision a reality when it opens in March this year; bookings are now open.
WHERE TO EAT: The historic HOTEL ROTTNEST (hotelrottnest.com.au) – once the Western Australia governor’s summer residence – is the place to eat fresh seafood overlooking a yacht-dotted bay.