From wineries and air-borne adventures, to water sports, biking and food, this ultimate summer bucket list has got you covered.
Memories are the currency of summer, and making good ones is a whole lot easier when the bucket list you’re working with is a “no-miss” affair.
From wineries and air-borne adventures, to water sports, biking and food, this ultimate summer bucket list has got you covered. Here are 50 different ways to make the most of the Margaret River Region this summer.
1. Head to Lagoon Yallingup in the iconic little town of Yallingup and enjoy a sunset dinner of local seafood and native ingredients – January only, bookings essential. If you can’t make it for dinner, pre-order one of their divine Seafood Boxes or oysters by the dozen and enjoy at your favourite picnic spot. Or arrange for them to come to you at home and enjoy a private dining experience.
2. Establish an historical connection on a unique Margaret River town-based walking food tour. Host Kellie Tannock is passionate about telling the stories of the town, alongside a progressive dinner of some of the best gourmet treats.
3. Meet the people behind your favourite drop with a self-drive trail of these small, family-run wineries, and get an intimate insight into the region’s winemaking culture. Peek behind the scenes at Whicher Ridge Wines‘ brand new Join the Winemaker tour.
4. If it’s hot outside, cool off in the Gralyn Estate underground cellar with a premium wine tasting experience. It includes a look behind the scenes and the chance to try some of their rare museum wines.
5. Scale the famed Wilyabrup cliffs with the help of expert guide, Mick Dempsey of Margaret River Climbing Co – an experience like no other!
6. Or challenge yourself on the high wires at Forest Adventures. With 77 different activities over 6 courses, it’s likely you will need a couple of visits to clock them all. Further south in Dunsborough is another fantastic high ropes and adventure course Next Level Monkey Business, now offering Twilight Sessions!
7. While you’re up in the region’s north, visit the nearby Busselton Jetty for a sunset walk with a difference. Keep your eyes peeled for the aquatic wildlife, including dolphins, octopus and sea lions. Or join in a sunset Underwater Observatory tour to see beneath the waves in a different light.
8. Arrange for a private chef to come to you and treat yourself to a five-star meal by acclaimed chef George Cooper of Tiller Dining, without having to leave your living room (or do any of the washing up!)
9. Give yourself the gift of a Koomal Dreaming experience, and let local Indigenous custodian, Josh Whiteland, give you a unique viewpoint into Country at his brand new Meeting Place located at beautiful Ngilgi Cave.
10. Experience life at the edge of the Cape at the award-winning Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Interp Centre, and get a feel for the hardships that helped form this community.
11. And then toast to the beauty of Augusta with a local glass at nearby Colourpatch Café.
12. Or dangle for whiting in the Blackwood River.
13. Match your fresh-caught fish with a glass of Margaret River Region chardonnay. Take your pick! There are ample award-winning wines to choose from.
14. Continue the nautical theme with a chartered boat tour with Sailing Charters WA that’ll take you on a tour of our pristine waters around Cape Naturaliste, and all the hidden bays along the way. Or for a more hands-on experience, learn to sail a traditional vessel around beautiful Geographe Bay with Adventure Sailing. You’ll leave feeling refreshed and invigorated, with a new set of skills.
15. Escape to the seaside locality of Gracetown in this family-sized abode with direct beach access.
16. From here, make the ten-minute drive to Cape Mentelle and its open-air evening cinema, replete with a glass of Margaret River’s finest from the on-site bar.
17. Get a taste of farm-fresh Rosa Glen at The Berry Farm.
18. While you’re out this way, discover the region from the top of a saddle at Jesters Flat and ride your way to a different perspective.
19. Stop for a refreshing tasting paddle at Beerfarm. The kiddos won’t be able to get enough of their epic slip and slide.
20. Then enjoy sweetness of a different kind at the nearby Margaret River Chocolate Company. Free tasters included!
21. Pack the perfect picnic and immerse yourself in the region’s natural beauty – don’t forget to include a loaf of this fresh, hot, organic woodfired bread which comes out of the oven at 3pm. You’ll be lucky if half the loaf makes the drive there!
22. You’ve got the bread – now grab some fresh, cold-pressed, locally grown olive oil. It really is a superfood!
23. Head to Meelup – one of the region’s many beaches that are ideal for rolling out the picnic blanket. It’s calm, protected and excellent for swimming, paddle-boarding, or skurfing over summer.
24. After a swim at Meelup head to Wise Wines, the only winery in the region with ocean views. Settle in for a tasting of their wines or premium small batch spirits or book a table for lunch and enjoy the fresh ever-changing menu.
25. Lace up your walking shoes and tackle one of these walks in the Yallingup and Dunsborough area. Take plenty of water, and avoid the hottest part of the day.
26. Drive a couple of minutes out of Witchcliffe to the idyllic Arlewood Estate. With an ancestral connection to Italy there is a strong sense of family and place, plus the chocolate and wine pairing is out of this world. Keep the wine tastings going? The artisan small-batch winemakers from South by South West is just around the corner.
27. Take your new perspective on a walk of the Cape to Cape track and see the region’s wild landscape with fresh eyes.
28. Chuck the kids off the jetty at Gnarabup Beach and race them to the pontoon.
29. Or why not try something new? Canoe the Margaret River, or discover bushtucker by kayak in a range of intimate tours that connect you to people and place.
30. Then connect further to the region’s namesake river with a few night’s stay at Waterford, where 12 acres of land lead down to direct river frontage.
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31. Uncover Yallingup’s secrets. Not only is it home to some beautifully remote beaches, this little hamlet was once ground zero for early cave explorers. The recently opened Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience adds a whole new level to the iconic cave experience.
32. Take the kids to burn off some steam at one of these great playgrounds, bonus points for coffee nearby.
33. Indulge your inner artist with a tour of the local galleries, open studios and artisan shops stretching the length of the Cape, from Busselton down to Augusta.
34. Meet the producers at a range of markets that run year ‘round and give locals and visitors the opportunity to buy directly from growers and local artisans – including the award-winning Margaret River Farmer’s Market. Or check out Origins Market in Busselton, a thriving indoor market complete with local producers, growers, makers and great food trucks.
35. A self-drive paddock to plate experience can also be on the holiday agenda. Prefer to leave the experts in charge? Join the Forage Safaris Sunset Wine Experience, which includes a visit to a local farm or producer, and gourmet two course picnic in a vineyard.
36. Pool, spa, beach, repeat – Pullman Bunker Bay Resort has everything to make summer perfect, including cocktails served straight to your pool lounge, an enticing day spa menu, a restaurant and bar with a bay view, and direct beach access. Book a Day at Bunker Bay pass for a day of serious summer indulgence.
37. Don some flippers and explore the incredible underwater scenery of the region, with these great snorkel and dive spots.
38. Or for a different view catch a stunning aerial perspective of the region on a Scenic Helicopters flight, with Chief Pilot and Margaret River local Jackson Mcleod. Organise in advance for the adventure of flying in for a gourmet lunch at Leeuwin Estate.
39. Speaking of wineries … check out the region’s lo-fi and organic wineries to round out your Margaret River Region wine experience. Back to basics winery Amato Vino in Witchcliffe would be an excellent start.
40. Beer lovers can happily also find their own brand of heaven. Tour a few of the region’s incredible craft breweries. You’ll also find a range of local brews at Settler’s Tavern, where your coldie will pair brilliantly with the state’s best steak sandwich.
41. Get back to nature with a sunset at Surfer’s Point, home to the Margaret River Surf Pro and an epicentre for local surfers. Keep an eye out for the local fish and chip food truck and enjoy the spectacle.
42. Take a walk along the Cape To Cape Track from the Margaret River Mouth heading north towards Cape Mentelle.
43. Take a scenic lap of Gnarabup Bay via Stand Up Surfing or by the Busselton Jetty with SUP Life Busselton (while also getting in a pretty decent workout), or join a lesson at one of the surf schools to experience the adrenaline and joy of catching a wave. Try Yallingup Surf School, Margaret River Surf School, or Margaret River Surfing Academy.
44. End a day of deep-water excitement by bunkering down at the Tempest. If the stunning outdoor desk and alfresco doesn’t grab you, the eucalyptus trees and visiting kangaroos will.
45. Take in the region’s mountain bike trails in Dunsborough and Margaret River, and get an appreciation for why these towns are becoming Mecca for MTB enthusiasts in the southwest.
46. Leave paddle power behind and go on a quad-bike eco-adventure!
47. Get off the beaten track, and detour to view Hamelin Bay’s stunning stretch of white sand and azure water. Divers will love exploring the shipwreck just off the coast.
48. Finish your holidays with a true wind down at any of these spa retreats.
49. Let the kids loose among nature one last time with a visit to any of these animal farms and wildlife parks.
50. Do a last round of the region’s wineries for wine to take home, and start planning your next trip to the Margaret River Region – there’s always plenty more to explore.