Discover the wild wonders of Australia’s South West
You may already know about Margaret River wine but there’s more to explore in this patch of paradise.
It’s a land of sublime beauty where you can take in the sea air on a dramatic coastal walk, bathe in nature’s swimming pools, decompress in ancient forests and indulge in gourmet produce just footsteps from where it’s grown. Here are eight reasons to add Australia’s South West to the top of your travel to-do list.
Take in the view from the top of a bush skyscraper
Set your heart pounding by climbing more than 150 steel pegs set into a giant, 250-year-old karri tree for a unique vantage over the lush forests surrounding Pemberton. Or head to the Valley of the Giants, where a wheelchairfriendly walkway suspended 40 metres in the air takes the hard work out as you walk above, around and even through gargantuan tingle trees that grow nowhere else on earth.
valleyofthegiants.com.au
Swim among the fish in a natural sea pool
Be prepared to gasp when you first see Greens Pool, a serene cove of glassy turquoise water ringed by sugar-white sand. Catch your breath and you’ll discover a vibrant underwater world filled with schools of iridescent fish. With a protective ring of giant granite boulders providing shelter from the force of the Southern Ocean, every day is a good day to swim.
parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au
Toast the sunset at a boutique winery
Breathe in the fragrance of peppermint, jarrah and eucalyptus leaves as you walk through a tract of dense vegetation right in the heart of Margaret River. Then bury your nose in a glass of Passel Estate’s zesty sauvignon blanc and enjoy a private twilight tasting while a chorus of birds serenades you from the neighbouring bush.
passelestate.com
Stay in a former flour mill
Mural-covered silos rise high above golden fields of grain in Western Australia’s wheatbelt and at Katanning you can spend the night inside a luxuriously refurbished 19th-century flour mill. Sleek design and moody lighting showcase the Premier Mill Hotel’s industrial heritage, while the country hospitality means you’ll receive a warm welcome after a day exploring the Stirling Range or the Great Southern region’s wineries.
premiermillhotel.com
Taste world’s best whisky
In laid-back Albany, limestone-filtered water, golden grain and hand-collected peat from the region make exquisitely complex small-batch Limeburners whisky. Tour the distillery and see how the rich flavours develop in each barrel, then pour out a dram of the lightly spiced liquid gold and see for yourself why it has been named best in the world (more than once).
distillery.com.au
Befriend a truffle dog
Manjimup’s truffle dogs spend years in training before they’re ready to sniff out the elusive fungus. Fortunately you only need a single afternoon. Follow the hounds on a truffle hunt and celebrate when the cold winter air is filled with the intense, heady aroma of the freshly unearthed treasure, before enjoying a meal of local produce and wine.
australiantruffletraders.com
Sit down to a sustainable feast
Forget food miles – at Arimia you can measure how far most of the ingredients have travelled in metres. Down an unsealed road north of Margaret River, this entirely off-grid restaurant in the bush has limited phone reception. That means you can devote your full attention to the subtly perfumed estate wines and dishes that make the most of homegrown trout, pork, honey and vegetables. Learn about Arimia’s sustainable farming on a tour of the olive groves, vineyards and organic gardens.
arimia.com.au
Hike through nature’s art gallery
Gaze out to sea from atop sheer cliffs, wander through stands of mystical old-growth forest and watch friendly stingrays play in the shallows of powdery white-sand beaches on the Cape to Cape Track. You can spend up to a week doing the entire 123-kilometre trail or tackle a smaller section, such as a leisurely day walk past the rocky outcrops south of Hamelin Bay’s stunning beach. Visit in spring and you’ll see the landscape erupt with colour as thousands of wildflowers bloom and southern right whales track your progress along the coast.
capetocapetrack.com.au