New experiences this winter

Stylish new cellar doors/restaurants, sustainable dining, pirate sculptures, life-size ocean art and truffle hunting experiences are just some of the new offerings in the Margaret River Region.

Here’s a list of 11 exciting new experiences to guide your winter wanderings.

Wayfinder is a welcome addition in Dunsborough, a hybrid cellar door/wine bar/restaurant, perfect for drinks and snacks or more substantial wining and dining. They take a light-touch approach to grape growing and winemaking, caring for their vines organically and sustainably to make “clear conscience wines” both here in Margaret River and in Tasmania. Taste a range of wine at the bar, cellar door-style, then relax with a favourite and some shared plates.

De’sendent and its moody interiors and shimmering granite slab separating chefs and diners is Margaret River’s newest refined dining experience. Owners Ann Spencer and Chef Evan Hayter, previously of Arimia Estate, continue their quest towards sustainable dining, carefully sourcing organic produce from local farmers. High-end ingredients including abalone, Waygu, marron and sea urchin plus an extensive international wine list make for an exceptional experience.

Rajiforms and reef fish is the inaugural exhibition at the brand-new Ian Daniell Art Studio & Gallery in Cowaramup. Celebrating marine life in glorious colour and life-size scale, the exhibition features Ian’s favourite muse – rajiforms; part stingray, part shark with beautiful ornate markings. Take a look behind the scenes, see Ian at work painting and browse the print collection.

Artist Georgia Zoric just delivered a mutiny of pirates to the Old Courthouse Complex in Busselton – beautiful hand-sculpted seafarers made from clay. Each piece has a story, such as Chancy and his mousing tomcat Tripod, who can be found “traveling the coastlines of the far south west in search of solitude and good fishing.” Many local artists are represented in the artistic hub, with year-round exhibitions, workshops and a gallery shop.

The Margaret River Truffle Farm is opening its farm gates for the first time for exclusive truffle hunt experiences. Stroll the orchard with the farmer and his expert truffle-sniffing companions (dogs) and dig for the prized ‘Tuber melanosporum’, then return to the farm shop with a delectable tasting session. This winter experience awaits you from June to August, and bookings can be made through Forage Safaris and Go In Style.

Former chef, cellar door manager and outdoor education guide Mo Ashton-Dean uses his extensive network to create brilliant private touring experiences for guests of The Journey Margaret River. Want to meet the winemaker, have the best table at a restaurant or (as per a recent request) meet Kelly Slater at the WSL Margaret River Pro? Mo will do his utmost to make it happen (and yes, they met Kelly Slater, GOAT!). Available for bespoke tours or as a private driver.

Short on time but keen on food and wine? Harvest Tours have brought back their Half Day Wine Tour, an affordable way to get a snapshot of the region and still be ‘home’ for siesta time. You’ll visit three boutique wineries, but the focus is on the delectable food of the region, including chocolate tasting, lunch with a backdrop of jarrah and karri forest and a barrel room tour.

Bus About made a name for their private experiences and just added a daily wine tour to their offering. Perfect for couples happy to join in the merrymaking of a small group, you’ll have a relaxing day out visiting boutique family establishments plus newer trending wineries, too. There are tastings of premium wine, superb scenery and gourmet produce along the way. Chin chin!

Don your sequinned Flapper dress and step back to the roaring ‘20s with Chariot Charters and their 1927 replica Charabanc. They’ve just launched a new Busselton & Surrounds tour, where they can suggest locations or you can design your own adventure. There’s also a karaoke limousine winery tour of Busselton, plus sunset tours and private charters in Bunbury.

Edge Luxury Villas is a new adults-only retreat nestled in the heart of Wilyabrup wine paradise. Four villas – including one accessible villa – are cantilevered over a lake, surrounded by vineyards and peppermint trees. Committed to biodiversity and sustainable practices, the estate participates in the Land For Wildlife scheme through tree planting and protecting 20 acres of old-growth forest. Snuggle up by the wood fireplace after a day exploring Margaret River’s first wineries – Cullen, Woodlands and Moss Wood are all nearby.

Embark on an immersive and interactive voyage through Australia’s offshore marine parks, including the Geographe Marine Park, the South-west Corner and the Perth Canyon at Busselton Jetty’s Marine Discovery Centre. Set to open in July on the Busselton foreshore, the wheelchair and pram-accessible experience will let us delve into the ecosystems that thrive beneath the waves, from bustling open seas to enigmatic underwater trenches.