6 Ways To Get Back To Nature In Spring

It’s the ultimate time to enjoy exactly what has made Margaret River a world-renowned destination – the great outdoors.  Whether it’s mountain biking or gourmet garden picnics that get you in touch with nature, the region has plenty to offer those looking for their springtime re-tune.

Once a hidden secret, Margaret River’s mountain bike trails are quickly earning a reputation as some of the best in the country, if not the world.  And rightly so!  There is something for everyone: from hard-core dirt jumps and challenging trail rides, to smooth family-friendly tracks through the bush and by the beach.

If you haven’t got your own wheels, Fat Duck Cycles in Busselton offer a great range of hire bikes, including the latest e-bikes.  Their espresso bar is also a great place to grab a coffee and some post-ride carbs, and their knowledgeable staff are always more than happy to share some of their favourite spots with you and help you find a trail best suited to your needs.

Dunsborough Bike Shed on Clark Street also offer a huge fleet of hire bikes, and are conveniently situated within a short ride from the new Meelup Trails. Or, if you’re in Margaret River, Life Cycle Bikes is your go-to. They’re located right near the entrance to some of the area’s most immersive bush tracks, and they’ve got bikes to cater for all.

Spring is a great time to be a surfer, and surfing a great way to remain connected with nature. The swells have still got plenty of winter grunt to them, but with the benefit of cleaner spring conditions. You might find waves where you wouldn’t usually too, because all the winter storms have scoured plenty of sand off the beach and deposited them in an offshore sandbank. Do a bit of exploring and you might find a perfect peak all to yourself.

Or, if you need a bit of guidance, try a surf lesson at the Yallingup or Margaret River surf schools.

Margaret River is the food basket of picnic produce.  With world-class wines, gourmet cheese, and plenty of fresh fruit and veg, it’s as if this growing country was designed with a picnic basket in mind.

And what better way to enjoy a picnic than out in the fresh air in which it was grown?

But we know organising a picnic can be a basketful at times, and Eagle Bay Olives and Happs Winery are a couple of local businesses who eliminate the stress of preparation with their beautiful picnic hampers made entirely of local produce.

They’ve been producing extra virgin olive oil at the Eagle Bay Olive Farm for 16 years. Pair some of the golden liquid with a selection of their naturally processed olives and carefully chosen produce from other local producers and you’ve got yourself an afternoon spread fit for kings. The hampers take just a few moments to prepare and you can enjoy them right there in the garden or take them away to have at the beach or wherever you are heading!

At Happs, rather, it’s a make-your-own-hamper situation. You’ll be faced with a fully stocked counter of local cheeses, olives, charcuterie, crackers, chocolates, dips and much more – spend what you like, and take what you want, all to be devoured on location. Opt for a shaded picnic table outside or grab one of the supplied picnic rugs and settle in to admire the bush setting.

Spring brings a renewed lease on life for everyone and everything.  Flowers, wildlife, humans, and, of course, marine life is no exception.

With Indian Ocean slower warming up, thousands of whales are making their annual pilgrimage south to breed in Antarctic waters.  Find somewhere up high and keep a close eye on the ocean, and you’ll be sure to see the tell-tale spout of water somewhere out in the ocean.  You’ll be surprised by how close they come!

For the best vantage points, try Sugarloaf Rock, Yallingup Beach, Injidup Beach, Gracetown, Flinders Bay, or the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

Ever tried an emu plum?  Smelt a spider orchid?  Lolled about in firebush?

Western Australia has the most diverse array of wildflowers of anywhere on earth, with over 12,500 different species.  Sixty percent of those are endemic to the state, and you’ll find a fair whack of them in Margaret River.

Come in October or November, and you’ll see the country has literally changed colour, with iridescent carpets of flowers stretching to the horizon.

To gain a deeper understanding and discover some of Margaret River’s greatest wildflower secret spots, take a tour with Margaret River Discovery Co. Experienced guide Sean Blocksidge hosts one of the region’s only dedicated wildflower tours, where the region’s illustrious wildflower season along the Cape to Cape Track is explored in detail.

Or, head out with Edgewalkers, who run a variety of guided Cape to Cape walks – from half-day, to full-day, to in-depth explorations of particular parts of the track like the Wilyabrup Cliffs. Guide Erika Jacobson grew up in Margaret River and, channelling her other role as a university lecturer on creativity and innovation, loves to share the power of walking and reconnecting with nature with others. Wildflower season seems like a particularly good time for such an experience!

What better way to experience a piece of the beating heart of the Margaret River Region than to stay on a local farm?

Enter the Big4 Taunton Farm Holiday Park.  Their self-contained cottages are set right in the midst of Margaret River’s caves, surf breaks, and wineries, and overlook a picturesque working farm and natural bush.

Get your gum boots on and feed the farm animals each afternoon, or kick back with a glass of Margaret River’s finest around a cosy log fire.  The full farm experience should have you back in the rhythm of nature in no time.