Margaret River’s Ultimate Yoga and Wellness Adventure

Over the course of four fulfilling days, there’s not only the opportunity to discover Margaret River’s hidden secrets and “locals only” spots; you’ll also discover more about yourself with an abundance of yoga practice, mindfulness and plenty of time in nature.

A yoga newbie? Mind already full enough with work/kids/lunch orders/gym schedules? Never fear, the team at Untamed Escapes have pieced together the ultimate itinerary for all levels of experience. Gentle stretching, salt air strolling and food for the soul; what more could you need for a weekend of rejuvenation. Oh, of course. There’s also wine, cheese, gin-tasting and the option of a good ol’ massage. Yep, it’s pretty hard to think of a box that hasn’t been ticked.

Starting your journey in Perth, the bus trip down is the perfect chance to get to know your knowledgeable guide and fellow retreatees. Stopping off at the Crooked Carrot on the way for a bite to eat and a cuppa, you’ll arrive at Meelup Beach’s aquamarine shores before lunchtime, ready for a stretch of the legs and a smattering of salt air. After a picnic on the white sand, it’s time for the first yoga experience. Keeping to the theme of adventure, it’s not your average class. Swapping mats for stand up paddles boards (SUPs), you’ll be guided through a core-riffic yoga session with local yoga legend Heather Starr. The best bit? If you get a bit hot, simply jump in for a quick dip between downward dogs!

Before setting up camp for the night, it’s time to really start getting a feel for the region with a hike through the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Heading towards Cape Naturaliste, it’s easy to imagine why the Wadandi people have called this part of the world home for thousands of years. Keep your eyes peeled and you might catch whales, schools of salmon or dolphins frolicking in the waves.

Hang on, did you say camping? Setting up a tent is NOT relaxing, and this weekend is all about crafting out some “me time” away from the busyness of everyday life. It’s only sensible to let others do the hard work, so you’ll be thrilled to know that gorgeous glamping bell tents from Wild Goose Camping are already set up and awaiting you at the permaculture camp ground of Fair Harvest, just ten minutes out of the town of Margaret River. And yes, that also means you’ll have lovely hot solar powered showers, and the joy of birdwatching from their compost toilets!

Saturday morning means one thing to a Margaret River local: market day. The early bird catches the worm, so after a nourishing breakfast cooked over the camp stove by your guide, it’s off to explore the local produce on offer. Today’s supplies will become tomorrow’s dinner, so choose wisely. Before the sun rises too high, it’s back on the road to meet with Dan from Southern Fire Wellness at the start of one of the most picturesque stretches of the Cape to Cape track. Walking with Dan from Contos Beach up to Redgate Beach, you’ll see the landscape and experience the sense of place on country from a unique perspective. A local healer, Dan works closely with the cultural custodians of the region, and you’ll embark on a four-hour hiking journey of body, mind and spirit. Encapsulating mindfulness, ritual and ceremony, you’ll finish the walk with a guided Shamanic Light meditation, before a nutritious lunch from the café that Dan and his wife run, Black Sheep Deli in Cowaramup.

The afternoon is at your disposal to do what you like. Nap. Sunbath. Read a good book. Take a walk around the beautiful farm and native bushland at Fair Harvest. Or perhaps up the ante of indulgence and book a massage or take part in a natural perfume workshop. There really couldn’t be a more nourishing way to spend the day. But wait – there’s still dinner to come. Stretch out those tired muscles with yoga in the barn before joining Spice Mistress Sarina Kamini for a spice masterclass like no other. You’ll take a journey step-by-step through the world of spice; learn about the different fats, salts, and flavours, and how to mix them for a complete sensory satiation. This is a wellness adventure, so Sarina will also touch on the healing and Ayurvedic qualities of each spice. Get ready for your mind and your spice drawer to be expanded exponentially. It goes without saying that you’ll sleep like a baby under the canvas canopy of the tent this evening, with a full heart and the soundscape of rustling wind in the trees.

Sunday morning sleep ins aren’t on the agenda this weekend, so you’ll be up bright and early. Adventure doesn’t come from following your usual weekend routines, after all. It’s up to Yallingup this morning, where the lush grass is the ideal spot for a stretch as the waves lap just metres away. Fuel up with a coffee, a nutritious breakfast or take a dip in the ocean as the perfect way to round out your morning in Yallingup.

It’s back to Fair Harvest for a home cooked lunch by Jodie and her team, filled with produce from the farm and lots of nourishing, organic paddock to plate goodness.  With a belly full of deliciousness, frock up and get set for some pampering of a different kind. You’ve walked and talked, so it’s now time to wine and dine. An afternoon of carefully curated wine experiences is on your doorstep, as you’re in Margaret River, after all! Sip world-class wine, taste the delicacies of the South West and explore places that you might not have been to before. Before heading back to one final dinner at the campsite, it’s a gin tasting at Giniversity, where you’ll have the chance for all of your gin-curious questions to be answered at the Margaret River Distilling Co, prior to dinner under the stars.

Never fear, the fourth day is still chock full of special moments made for savouring. Start the day centred and stretched with a yin yoga class in the rustic wooden Yoga Barn at Fair Harvest. With the morning light glowing through the windows and birdsong echoing throughout the gardens, you won’t need your imagination or a guided meditation to take you to paradise. A tasty breaky and a quick pack of bags and it’s back on the road to Perth. No need to worry about the tents of course: this is glamping baby. One last stop before we head back to Perth, we spend the morning learning about paddock to plate and the fine art of making sourdough with One Table Farm.  This lesson in all thing regenerative living culminates in enjoying a delicious lunch where everything you eat has come from right there on the farm.

If there’s one thing better than a yoga and wellness adventure, it’s the knowledge that at just 3 hours south from home, you can do it all again next visit!