Local Favourites: Lara McCall

Lara’s workload isn’t light. Tending to the onsite winery and vineyard, vegetable gardens, farm animals and beehives is round the clock work, but it’s a labour of love in part due to her abundant dedication. When Lara isn’t managing the farm and their sustainable bungalows you’ll likely find her in the surf.

Lara McCall shared some of her favourites with us.

If the surf is good I like to go early and choose a beach depending on the conditions.

I have so many favourites, but I’m always happy if I’m in the ocean. When there is no surf I like to snorkel around the rocks at Gracetown swimming beach.  There is also a pontoon to swim out to and dive off.  My Dad built a beach shack at Gracetown in 1968 and I spent a lot of my childhood walking to the beach. My Mum even walked us down to the beach to “wash” as children.  It was always very cold but made us resilient.  My children learnt to swim at Gracetown beach so the tradition has continued.

We enjoy cooking and entertaining but always book a table at The Margaret River Brewhouse. It is our local.  Ticks all the boxes.  10 minutes from our farm, Karri forest views, great staff, inside/outside tables, consistently good food, great beer and local wine.

Burnside Organic Farm – Farm Tour.  Our new tour takes you on a food, wine and organic farming experience.  Learn how we became self–sufficient, see our highly productive small farm and be inspired to you to grow your own food.  My favourite coffee is locally roasted Red Feather and for a special treat the Voyager Estate degustation lunch is hard to beat.

My favourite wine is our “Burnside Organic Farm” certified biodynamic wine. We grow and make Zinfandel and Vermentino and it is only available farm direct, and at a few select restaurants and liquor stores in Margaret River.  I also highly recommend Windows Estate Chardonnay. Textural, well balanced with minerality and lightness.  Also certified organic.

 The BBQ area at Surfers Point.  Stainless steel gas bbq, a table for six with a view and rock walls for shelter.  Watch the sunset and the surfers.

May. Vintage is finished, the wind stops and the swells come in. I love May so much that Jamie my husband and I have a “holiday at home”.  That means that we prioritise lots of fun things to do and fit them in around our farm work. Beach or surfing if the weather is good.  Connecting with friends over coffee, lunches at wineries and breweries.   Bike ride along the Wadandi track, Cape to Cape walks and a day trip to Augusta.

Sometimes you can tell it’s going to be an amazing sunset.  We suggest to our guests they go to our closest beach Ellensbrook. There is a viewing platform with benches, and often you have it to yourself.  If you want to hang with a crowd head to Surfer’s Point.

Walking a section of the Cape to Cape walk track. It totally immerses you in beautiful nature and our spectacular coastline. It makes you feel alive and to appreciate how pristine our special area is.