Local Favourites: Vanya Cullen

Gracetown. It’s a bay with so many facets to it. You’ve got north point and south point which are great for surfing, but there is also a gorgeous fishing jetty, and you’ve also got main beach which is swimmable. There are about three or four different beaches in the bay that you can go to which all have a different feeling and character. You can also go around a bit further and you’ve got the creek which flows in winter. Gracetown is also unique because it faces north, not due west, so you get the moon-set and the sunset, and you just get that nice protection from the weather.

Generally people aren’t big wave surfers so I tend to take them for a swim at Gracetown and a walk along the ridge where you can see the wildflowers. If I don’t have visitors I try and go for a swim every day, even if it’s just in and out of the water. I’m not a lying around the beach person but I usually try and get a half hour swim or go for a beach walk. The Indian Ocean is very healing and wonderfully cleansing because there’s nothing between here and Reunion Island. It’s just such clean water that you don’t get in many places.

Settlers Tavern because it’s a wine and food experience. You get those freshly shucked oysters, and it’s great to support a local pub. Settlers support the rest of the community so well and they’ve got the best wine list so on a number of levels they’re great. Also Miki’s Kitchen in terms of fine dining, and Blue Manna for great seafood because I don’t eat meat.

Definitely the Kevin John and Diana Madeline, and I love the wine that has got my name on it. But aside from Cullen, I love wines from Mosswood or Woodlands as well as other biodynamic wines. Windows Estate organic wines, things like Stormflower, Rosalie, and Burnside Organic who make a really nice vermentino. And McHenry Hohnen have got a nice chardonnay.

Go to the beach. Go for a swim. Go for a surf.

Autumn. You have harvest of the grapes, all the fruit – the peaches and plums and the orchards here are just full of dark berries. And the vegetable garden does so well with the tomatoes and zucchinis and I just love that because it’s sort of like the whole year’s work  comes to fruition and the energy lifts right up and then everything starts going back into the earth again for winter. You also get those beautiful still Autumn days which is unusual down here and feels really special.

I like Gracetown but if you want the full sunset you’ll need to go to a west facing beach and I’d say Gallows beach.

Visiting the beaches and visiting the wineries.

Vanya wanted to formally acknowledge the original custodians of the land, the Wadandi people, in this interview.