The Margaret River Region is the perfect place to celebrate a special soon-to-be-wed.
Your mate is getting married… Now what?
The Margaret River Region, also fondly called ‘Down South’, is the best possible place to celebrate that special person about to get hitched.
We’ve made you look good by curating an extra special list of things to do – here’s what made the cut.
Everyone knows people who do yoga in the morning are slightly ahead in life (right?) – jokes aside, a very good hens or bucks trip should kick off with a nourishing yoga sesh to set the intent of the day.
Amber comes to your accommodation with the props to take up to 16 people through a class that has been specially tailored to your group. If you’re all about serenity, Amber can guide you through a peaceful Yin yoga session with cranio-sacral therapy and sound massage, or a fun yoga session to get the blood pumping. Whatever you choose, Amber will make sure you start the day just right!
Gnarabup Yoga Studio’s dreamy seaside location is just the start, wait until you hear about their private and customised yoga, pilates and healing experiences. Whatever your group’s vibe requires, they cater to you.
Happs Pottery in Dunsborough offers up guided pottery workshops for groups of up to 20 people. You’ll learn how to create your very own piece of pottery, which you can then take home (or drink wine out of later). Myles and his team of potting heroes will take you through the potting process step-by-step. You’ll get to have a go on the wheel and make a tonne of fun memories (just like Demi Moore and the late Patrick Swayze, but with all your friends). Sessions are loaded with fun and can be tailored to your group – this is the perfect pre-lunch adventure.
INARA in Busselton Central does a bottomless lunch on weekends (because every lunch, every day should be like this). For $75 you get free-flowing wine and beer alongside a mouthwatering mezze-style lunch, or add $30 and get cocktails instead. You have 90 minutes, so you’d better get stuck in!
Aravina Estate is another delicious pick for a long lunch with your best people. The venue is stunning, with a beautiful terrace and vineyard views. They have incredible share plates or opt for a set menu that pairs just right with their award-winning wines.
A bit further south, your lunch venue of choice is no doubt Rustico at Hay Shed Hill. Well known as one of the region’s experts for celebrations, you can expect big laughs, flowing wine, and a feast that keeps the party going — this is where hens, bucks, and special occasions turn into legendary celebrations. Top tip: Book their Rustico Ride experience, a return bus service now available to make transport a breeze. No designated driver required!
If smashing a golf ball is your soon-to-be-married friend’s idea of a good time, then book it to Par 3. They have a challenging nine-hole course and an 18-hole mini golf course with two difficulty levels.
The courses are set on beautiful native bushland is almost as beautiful as their beer caddy service – where staff bring you cold beer in a golf cart by the way, so you can battle it out in perfect hydration. After, eat tacos at the Taqueria and top it up at The Neighbourhood Bar. Large and small group bookings are both welcome.
Looking for something a bit quirky? Kick off the weekend by getting lost together in the Yallingup Maze – this is a one-of-a-kind bonding experience guaranteed to bring the group closer for the whole trip (and beyond!). Find your way out as a team and use the supplied water pistols to your heart’s content. After the maze, test your skills on the beautifully landscaped mini golf course, or dive into a mix of puzzles, games, and other fun activities.
MEND is a premium recovery centre and spa in Margaret River, with a traditional (Finnish) sauna, ice bath and hot plunge. Groups of up to eight people can book a session, which gives you access to all of these incredible experiences. The ritual of enjoying a sweltering sauna post-ice bath came from Finland, where people would roll in the snow or dip in icy waters after a sauna. The Scandinavians were certainly onto something, and the invigorating practice has gathered considerable ‘steam’ worldwide. MEND also does massage and bodywork, which makes a cool post-sesh add-on for the bride or groom-to-be.
Margaret River Massage might be just what you need for the celebration’s aftermath. They can accommodate four people for simultaneous massages and up to three people in their infrared sauna. To top it off, they offer customised packages including facials and spa treatments for the ultimate group pampering experience.
Learn the art of the tease, with a burlesque class at your accommodation (for 8 to 30 people). Your lesson will be run by the illustrious Miss Tique, a professional dancer from Suspension Aerial Arts & Burlesque, who knows how to make sure you have the best time. Ever.
Classes can be sultry and seductive or playful and cheeky. Whatever you choose, there will be feathers and sparkling wine for all. If you’d prefer an education in pole dancing, Miss Tique can bring her pole to you, so you can learn how to spin and pose in your accommodation. Classes go for 90 minutes or two hours.
When you spend all day celebrating, it makes sense to get a private chef to prepare incredible food while you drink Muscato, wondering why this can’t be your life full-time. Tiller Dining creates incredible multi-course meals at your accommodation, using produce sourced from their own farm and the freshest local ingredients.
Chef George Cooper has been a guest chef at major local events such as Gourmet Escape, Taste of Perth and the Truffle Kerfuffle, and has worked in some of the best kitchens in England and Australia. He cleans everything up after and can match each course with wine – simply, perfect.
If you don’t want to head back to your accommodation just yet, book a table at Wayfinder in iconic Dunsborough. With its coastal charm, elevated Australian and European wine list, and warm, design-led space, Wayfinder is the perfect stop for a hens or bucks trip with substance and sophistication.
Jump in your 4WD and enjoy a fantastic adventure away from civilisation with your mates before the epic adventure of married life.
Set in the breathtaking wilderness of the D’Entrecasteaux National Park, Yeagarup Hut managed by Pemberton Discovery Tours offers an exclusive and unforgettable venue for bachelor and bachelorette gatherings. With access to pristine beaches, vast sand dunes, and serene forest trails, it’s the perfect spot for an adventurous yet private celebration away from the usual crowds.
Imagine a weekend of 4WD excursions, beach bonfires, and tranquil stargazing—all tailored to your group’s vibe.
For a special aquatic adventure, perfectly balanced with brewery or winery visits, get yourselves into a canoe. Start your day with a canoe trip on the stunning Margaret River with Bushtucker Tours, then get chauffeured to a brewery for lunch and beer tastings.
The South West Beer Alliance has taken the legwork out of finding the best spots to sink a beer in the region. Both The Cave Beer Trail and the Bay Beer Trail are self-guided tours big on scenery and hand-crafted, local brews — so you can’t go wrong either way.
The Cave Trail takes in all-time favourites like Beerfarm and Bootleg Brewery, as well as Cowaramup Brewing Company and other brewing heroes. The Bay Trail hugs the coast, heading to waterside wonders like Shelter Brewing Co., Rocky Ridge Brewing Co. and Eagle Bay Brewing Co. All stops offer iconic sessionable beers and menus perfect for soaking up standard drinks.
Depending on your travel time, beer lovers need to check out Shelter’s answer to the Oktoberfest – Beerhall in October, or the South West Craft Beer Festival at Aravina Estate in May.
There are some great chauffeur services that can be hired to take you and your people on pre-wedding adventures. Kombi Cruz offers retro-cool chauffeur-driven Kombi buses that have been impeccably restored to their sixties-era glory.
For more intel on getting around Down South, head here.
If elegantly styled, luxe accommodation, nestled amidst stunning redgum and marri trees appeals to your bride or groom-to-be, then make Chambré Estate your celebration headquarters.
This three-hectare sanctuary can accommodate up to 34 guests (you can even hire the entire place!). It’s only a few minutes from Margaret River township and an easy amble to Stella Bella Winery, and guests can also enjoy in-house massages and group pampering sessions – which means you will likely never want to leave.
If you think we’re onto something when we suggest you stay close to where you party, The Grove Distillery & Accommodation ticks all your boxes. Book their on-site accommodation and gather your crew for a guided tasting of award-winning gins, rums, and whiskies, then linger over cocktails by the lake. Add a grazing board, snap a few cheeky group shots, and you’ve set the tone for an unforgettable hens or bucks weekend.
Head here for more ideas on where to stay during your hens or bucks adventure.
