New Experiences This Winter

New restaurants, a stylish brewhouse, abalone packing shed tours, underwater sculptures and 600 million years of stories above an ancient cave – there’s plenty of new experiences in the Margaret River Region this winter.

Here’s a list of 17 superb new experiences to inspire your winter wanderlust.

The much-anticipated Southcamp Brewhouse & Beergarden has opened at last, with coffee, cabins and a continental deli coming soon. It’s a sleek social space centred around an alfresco green, with cabins placed nearer the creek line, dotted amongst the trees. Locals have embraced it already – and we love that they’ve kept the beautiful old marri trees.

The Scullery is a new restaurant by chef Daniel Schoenmakers, with eclectic share plates in the style his family likes to eat at home. “It’s rustic food with flair – a playground for me as a chef,” says Daniel. “Quality local food, sustainable fish and different cuts of meat. Right now there’s cold smoked mullet with Jerusalem artichokes on the menu – it’s sustainable, in season.” It’s a one-chef operation with a small team including Daniel’s mum, and a menu that will change regularly.

Dahl Daddys is a new late night curry canteen by the Margaret River skatepark – West Coffee Co by day, and nourishing south Asian cuisine by night. Corey Rozario has worked with Fervor Food for two years, plating up superb cuisine in remarkable, remote locations, and now brings his Burmese heritage and love of Asian culture to the new venture. “It’s feel-good food, an ever-changing small menu around what we can get from the farmers” says Cory. Dahl Daddys opens Friday 26th May, 3pm-late Thursday to Tuesday. Dine in or take away (BYO containers encouraged).

The Spot Italiano is another new addition to the main street of Margs, serving up handmade pasta, piping hot lasagna and plenty of gluten free options.

Forage Safaris are expanding their foodie farm tours with some tasty new options. There’s a new cooking school experience, teaming up with Wildwood Valley Cooking School and a couple of local producers. And their full day tour now comes with a new option; touring Rare Foods’s abalone packing shed in Augusta with stories of their artificial reef, diver safety and a tasting of fresh abalone followed by foraging on the farm at Glenarty Road.

13 sculptures are being installed under water at the end of Busselton Jetty this month. Made by West Australian artists from a variety of materials, the sculptures create marine habitats and should soon see octopi, cuttle fish and other creatures move in. Swimmers, snorkellers and scuba divers will be able to admire the sculptures from early June, although visibility is better in spring and summer. There are plans for an accessible platform with a ramp to water level, and the jetty will partner with a local dive business to run an accessible scuba dive tour.

Kaya from Two Seas Collective is launching Clay Play hand building sessions on Sunday afternoons, where you might learn to make a cup or mug with a plate and spoon. The sunny Augusta studio showcases Kaya’s creative talents; excellent coffee and cakes, and ceramics adorned with ships, whales and other maritime themes.

Coming in hot, you can now toast marshmallows on the campfire at Forest Adventures South West. It’s the perfect way to rebuild strength after riding flying foxes, climbing and conquering your fears in the treetops near Busselton. Included throughout winter.

Margaret River Organic Farmer’s farm tours proved so popular with specialist groups, that they have expanded the tours to welcome members of the public interested in whole food and ecological agriculture. Tour a genuine working farm learning about food, farming, permaculture and sustainability.

Josh Whiteland’s latest artworks are available as prints, canvases and on giftware at Margaret River and Busselton Visitor Centres, Ngilgi and Lake Cave. A Wadandi cultural custodian, Josh shares his art, culture and stories on his Koomal Dreaming tours, based at Ngilgi Cave and Cape Naturaliste.

The below artwork by Josh depicts the upper reaches of the Margaret River near the Canebrake Pools after a fire had gone through, the animals and families came back to the old campgrounds on the river and pools. View the canvas print of “Wooditijup Bilya” in the Naidoc display at MRVC. Smaller prints also available.

Two sections of Yallingup Galleries’ new Sculpture Trail are open, with superb natural shapes and forms designed to look great in your garden. Featuring works by many Australian artists such as Emily Jackson, Alan Meyburgh and Denise Bending, the trail will eventually wrap around the gallery and up the hill.

Little House Republic have two tiny off-grid cabins in private secluded parcels east of Scott River and Augusta. Aiming to actively regenerate the land, the cabins are solar powered yet luxurious. Their ‘wild weather of winter’ campaign features their little houses along with other experience providers such as Forage Safaris, Cambray Cheese, Chestnut Brae, Timeless Hill Truffles and Pemberton Discovery Tours – showcasing the Scott River region and surrounds.

East Augusta Earthship is now open for short stay accommodation. It’s an off-grid, self-sustainable recycled home. Send them a DM on Instagram for details – @eastaugustaearthship

Andrea, Ferdinando and Alessandro from Bella Napoli are fitting out a fab new Italian restaurant next to Yahava Koffeeworks and Burger Baby, just south of Margaret River town. It’s set to open in September, but in the meantime look out for their mobile van slinging some of the tastiest pizza this side of Naples.

The Goose is scheduled to reopen by July, bringing back their mod-Oz dining with front-row beach and Busselton Jetty views. In the meantime, checkout their food trailer the Gosling – little goose, but still big on flavour.

The Valley in Sebbes Road is set to open their nano brewery and share small batch single vineyard wines when they open this spring.

Ancient Lands at Ngilgi Cave is an accessible above-ground interpretive experience guiding visitors on a journey to discover 600 million years of stories associated with the land and its people. Designed to complement the cave experience, Ancient Lands will be unveiled in July.