PARADISE FOUND
A PLEASANT THREE HOUR DRIVE south of Perth, Western Australia’s premier holiday region (attracting 1.5 million visitors a year) offers a range of natural attractions, premium wineries and craft breweries, fine restaurants, handmade arts and crafts, unspoiled beaches, towering karri forests and friendly locals. Blessed with a mild Mediterranean maritime climate, the four seasons meld into each other in this relaxed corner of the country.
With recent runway and terminal upgrades to the Busselton Margaret River Airport, a new domestic service route from Melbourne direct to the region with Jetstar was due to launch on March 25, but was postponed due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
With the airport now capable of supporting wide-body aircraft including the Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, it has also been recognised as an alternative international airport to Perth with the ability to support flights from international gateways such as Singapore.
Margaret River is the name of a river, a town and a region. Surrounded by ocean on three sides, the region has an extensive coastline with 110km of beaches, bays and rocky points from north to south. As the region gains in popularity, two of its less well-known towns are also earning their place in the sun.
Yallingup, with about 1,000 residents, nestles atop a ridge overlooking its pristine main beach with views to the west over the Indian Ocean A famed surfing spot, the town has bred some of the world’s greatest board riders. The tranquil lagoon at the beach is perfect for snorkeling and swimming.
The inspiring landscape has made Yallingup a hub for artisans, with more galleries, studios and craft workshops than anywhere else in the Margaret River Region. Given such attractions, it’s no wonder that Australian Traveller magazine placed Yallingup No 1 at the top of its 100 Best Towns in Australia list in 2019.
Meanwhile, the larger town of Dunsborough (population about 6,000) located on the banks of Geographe Bay and the Ngari Marine Park enjoys one of the most tranquil locations in the country. Sparkling clear water and sandy beaches are linked to the town by shaded paths. There’s a bustling cafe atmosphere and plenty of boutiques. At night, there’s a great vibe, with brewpubs, wine bars and venues with live bands.
Cape Naturaliste forms the top end of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, which is one of Dunsborough’s many attractions. The area is home to the district’s working lighthouse and the starting point of the 135km Cape to Cape walking track.
Named the leading Asia-Pacific destination by Lonely Planet for 2019, the spectacular Margaret River Region – noted for a relaxed lifestyle built around superb beaches and some of the country’s finest wineries – welcomes travellers from around the world like no other destination in Australia