The south west

Here is the South West

Journey through more than 150 wine producers and 90 cellar doors, where the forest meets the ocean and where friendly, passionate locals welcome you in — and it’s all just 2.5-hours’ drive south of Perth / Boorloo.

Winemakers, farmers, surfers and creatives have congregated on Wardandi Noongar Country, inspired by nature's beauty in the Margaret River Region.

Renowned as Australia’s most premium wine region, Margaret River produces a quarter of the country’s fine wines. Here boutique breweries abound, perched on lakes, adjacent to rolling farmland and many with treetop views.

Hike or mountain bike along forest trails that hug the stunning coastline. Surf world-class breaks, watch migrating whales and be awed by wondrous nature at every turn.

Take an Aboriginal bush tucker tour or feel the thrill of rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, horse riding or sky diving. Slow down and discover the stillness of an ancient cave, stroll along the longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere or just relax on some of the world’s best beaches. Here, you’ll also find mainland Australia’s tallest lighthouse, where two oceans meet, at Cape Leeuwin.

Add in fine restaurants, distilleries, art galleries and an abundance of fresh produce from beef and venison to chocolate and cheese, and it’s easy to see why the Margaret River Region is a dream destination.

The Margaret River Region is the only premium wine region in the country – dare we say, the world – that combines stunning beaches, towering forests, jewel-like caves and unique flora and fauna with world-beating wines and culinary excellence. Australia’s South West must have been kissed by the gods. Feel that intangible magic as you walk underwater or wander through treetops. See it in the dolphins frolicking in the ocean and whales breaching near the shores. Hear it in the waves crashing against rugged rock formations and the soothing sounds of an ancient culture. Taste it in the glorious food and wine. No, you’re not dreaming.


1. Submerge in culture

Deep in the exquisite Ngilgi Cave, natural acoustics amplify the ethereal sound of the didgeridoo, as Wadandi man Josh Whiteland welcomes you to his country. Bask in the beauty of the illuminated formations of this ancient sanctuary, learn about the six Noongar seasons, forage for bush tucker, and make fire the traditional way. Follow in the footsteps of the Wadandi and Bibbulmun people on an enchanting expedition with Koomal Dreaming.


Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup

Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup


2. Feast in the forest

Indulge all the senses with a feast of premium food and wine in a luxuriously laidback setting. Surrounded by native bush and within walking distance of three of the Margaret River Region's celebrated wineries, Walk Talk Taste Margaret River offer a perfectly private but totally gourmet glamping experience. Soak in the outdoor bath with a cacophony of native birds and a glass of chilled white for company. A heavenly honeymoon, perhaps?


3. Walk under water

For a dreamy experience akin to walking on the Moon, take a Busselton Jetty Undersea Walk. Fitted with a SeaTREK helmet, wetsuit and backpack, you’re as weightless as an astronaut stepping on to the seabed under the 15-year-old jetty. Breathe normally as you wander the watery wonderland, marvelling at stingrays, admiring colourful coral and soaking up the otherworldly wonders. With no need for specialist training, this undersea journey is out of this world.


Truffle Hill, Manjimup

Truffle Hill, Manjimup


4. Unearth black gold

Their noses are second to none, and world-class chefs begg for a piece of their treasure. The canny canines at Truffle Hill, home to Australia’s first commercial truffiere, know their black gold from any ordinary fungi. Grasp the rare opportunity to join a winter truffle hunt on the Manjimup farm and watch as the dogs sniff out a prized Perigord. Sample the bounty and be smitten by the versatile flavour of truffles. 


5. Connnect with killer whales

Raw and visceral, an orca kill is nature at its most powerful, an unsuspecting whale no match for surging pods of orcas. Bremer Bay provides one of the best vantage points in the world to see these incredible creatures in action. Led by marine biologists, Naturaliste Charters runs daily Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expeditions from January to April, bringing greater understanding along with the most extraordinary sights.


Orcas swimming off the coast of Bremer Bay

Orcas swimming off the coast of Bremer Bay


6. Walk from cape to vine

Stretch your legs along awe-inspiring limestone cliffs and down into peaceful bays. The Cape to Cape Track is as diverse as it is divine, with wildflowers blooming in season and whales swimming off the shore. As if that wasn’t reward enough for the exercise, Cape to Cape Explorer Tours finishes with a private tour of stunning Vasse Felix and a five-star menu matched with the founding Margaret River winery’s finest drops.


7. Dance with the dunes

As sands swirl gently but surely around you, the dreamy landscape makes you blink. Is that really water beyond the shape-shifting Yeagarup Dunes or a mirage? You’ll have to keep moving to find out. Pemberton Discovery Tours takes you from surreal to secluded, into the beating heart of tall timber country and old-growth karri inaccessible to most visiting D’Entrecasteaux National Park. Slow down and look up. It’s sublime.


Vasse Felix, Margaret River

Vasse Felix, Margaret River


8. Taste the difference

Surrounded by vines and manicured gardens, a stately manor looms over the lake, as if bestowed from above. Fraser Gallop Estate is as decadent and dreamy as its award-winning wines. Explore this serenely beautiful property by solar-powered buggy. Create your own mystical moments as you enjoy a superb flight of wines and learn about the distinctive Wilyabrup terroir. You may even meet the winemaker and score a barrel taste of the next vintage.


9. Walk tall among giants

Feel like you’re floating on treetops as you weave through 600m of forest, 40m above ground. Stop and breathe, filling your lungs with fresh air, as you see the world from a distinct perspective. So, this is what it means to be alive. The Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk is in Walpole-Nornalup National Park, the only place you’ll find the majestic tingle tree. Living up to 400 years, they will certainly give you the tingles.


Valley of the Giants, Tree Top Walk

Valley of the Giants, Tree Top Walk


10. Mind the glorious gap

Seas heave below, the might of the Southern Ocean crashing against 40 metre granite ramparts, white foam spraying upward. It’s an imposing sight (and sound) but one you can appreciate from the safety of platforms anchored over The Gap, a spectacular natural channel, and adjacent Natural Bridge, as you inhale the dramatic coastline. The sensory overload is part of an exhilarating journey through Torndirrup National Park with Busy Blue Bus Tours.


The Gap, Torndirrup National Park

The Gap, Torndirrup National Park


Published September 2022.