Culinary Experiences: Must Do Foodie Tours

Owner of MYDRIVER, Rob Dewar, tailors every tour for his guests. He’ll ask about your previous tour experiences because he wants to show you something different. Rob has lived and worked in the Margaret River Region for 21 years and has watched its culinary experiences on offer evolve.

‘I try to slow my clients down, stop the rush, create an immersive experience for them where they can connect with the region, the producers, the people,’ Rob said.

A tour with MYDRIVER might include a regenerative farm visit at One Table Farm where guests can interact with the farm animals, have a chat with Spotty the pig, then harvest vegetables for a cooking class with owners Cree and Tim. Or a visit to Rob Gherardi at Mr Barval, a small meticulous producer making low intervention wine the traditional Italian way using an old press, with behind-the-scenes access and a tasting from the barrel.

‘I’ve created a High Cheese afternoon that included house made cheeses from Yallingup Cheese with wine matching at Marri Wood, House of Cards, Goon Tycoons and Skigh Wines.

‘We have special access to Skigh Wines, it’s situated in a green valley and we go to a woodman’s shack that has a big wooden stove and sit with the winemaker and taste his wine together, it’s quite artisanal.’

Other stops might be the sensory garden at Whicher Ridge Wines, a degustation lunch at Voyager Estate, or a meal cooked over the coals at Glenarty Road winery.

‘It’s not always high end, expensive and exclusive dining. I have a lot of requests for breweries and lunch at Cheeky Monkey which is hugely popular, especially with families.’

It’s no surprise that Cheeky Monkey draws big crowds. The brewery has panoramic views over a lake and vineyard. Their beers come packed with flavour and enthusiasm and the food is as integral to the experience as the crafty pints.

Overall, it’s a pleasant way to spend a day, being driven about on leather seats in a spacious Kia Carnival listening to Rob’s English accent as he talks passionately about the good people, fantastic produce and the pristine environment of the Margaret River Region.

This immersive tour is for those who enjoy food and wine while expanding their knowledge of the region and its offerings. The Indulgent Tour is just that, a tour that stops at a select collection of unique cellar doors, all of them of the highest calibre.

Limited to eight participants, the tour is intentionally small to keep it intimate and allow participants the time to chat with cellar door staff and winery owners. The emphasis is on relaxation and education.

Stopping at some of Margaret River’s finest local food producers, guests of the Star Class Indulgent Tour can sample exquisite olive oils, chocolate and locally made cheeses. Save room, there’s a deluxe three-course lunch at Vasse Felix after a sophisticated seated wine tasting. There’s amuse-bouche tastings paired with wine at Thompson Estate, wine and cheese pairing at the quaint cellar door of organic winery Marri Wood, and the day ends with sampling gin and sitting back to take in the stunning view.

The pandemic offered Zimbabwean born Jan Stewart the chance to reset and launch her new farm gate tour, Forage Safaris. The tour embraces the paddock to plate food philosophies of the region, and allows visitors to meet the farmers and food producers.

‘It took time to find the right farmers, and since we started in December (2020), the response has been really positive. Many places we go to are private farms you couldn’t otherwise visit, and while we have exclusive access, it doesn’t mean it’s expensive,’ Jan said.

‘I love seeing visitors make a connection, be it with farmers, animals or a place, and I love that our tour supports local farmers too.’

There’s a full day or half day tour, both leaving from Busselton, and both designed so you don’t spend any more than 35 minutes in the car at any one time. Everything is included, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea.

Forage Safaris tours go to Nannup, Whicher Ridge and Chapman Hill, most of it off the tourist trail. They are also licensed to go into any national park, where you might enjoy a picnic or a quick stretch of the legs with a short nature walk.

Walk Talk Taste’s small group evening tours return this spring after a hiatus during winter. The tour is a terrific way to experience the delicious offerings in Margaret River township. Limited to 12 people, guests sit down with the local venue operators, walk along secret bush paths and learn much more about the people and produce while having a good amount of fun along the way.