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.
1. Ground yourself with a visit to Margaret River Artisan Store and browse a beautiful selection of locally made products, from homewares to handbags to homemade soaps. You may even be lucky enough to meet the maker during your visit.
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 tour to these small, family-run wineries, and get an intimate insight into the region’s winemaking culture.
4. And then retreat to this private Redgate oasis and it’s incredible architecture, with an outdoor dining space where you can watch the sun set over the ocean with a glass of something delicious in hand.
5. Chuck the kids off the jetty at Gnarabup Beach and race them to the pontoon.
6. Or challenge them 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.
7. While you’re up in the region’s north, check into Private Properties’ Out of The Blue, and visit the nearby Busselton Jetty for a sunset walk with a difference.
8. Treat yourself to a five-star meal 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.
10. Experience life at the end of the world 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 these pioneers’ efforts with a local glass at nearby Colour Patch Café.
12. Continue the nautical theme with a chartered boat tour that’ll take you on a tour of our pristine waters around Cape Naturaliste, and all the hidden bays along the way.
13. Or dangle for whiting in the Blackwood.
14. 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.
15. Escape to the seaside locality of Gracetown in this family-sized abode with direct beach access.
16. From here, make the five-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. Get up close and personal with nature’s honey makers at The Colony Concept and discover life inside the hive.
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. Retire to the evening at nearby Bunker Bay, with a stay at the house of your dreams.
25. Or head to Eagle Bay for the ultimate in beachfront luxury.
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.
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. Scale the famed Wilyabrup cliffs with the help of expert guide, Mick Dempsey – one guy who can talk anyone off a ledge.
29. If heights aren’t your thing, why not take to the water? Learn to surf, 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.
32. Settle into sophisticated luxury in this dazzling Eagle Bay home.
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.
35. A self-drive paddock to plate experience can also be on the holiday agenda.
36. While you’re out and about, take a detour to explore a little of Gracetown. The beaches are beautiful, uncrowded, and the general store smashes a mean coffee with ocean views.
37. Step into the Gracetown vibe with a stay at the ‘70s chic Bluebelle – the hot summer holiday spot for sand-lovin’ beach bunnies.
38. Catch a stunning aerial perspective of the region on a Scenic Helicopters flight. Organise in advance for the adventure of flying in to 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.
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.
42. Stay at Whitehorses – named for the big-wave whitecaps that form part of the regional renown.
43. Hire a 4WD complete with rooftop tent and all the essentials, then hit the road to find one of the many beautiful campsites in the region. There’s nothing like waking up to the sounds of birdsong and enjoying your morning coffee completely immersed in the serenity of nature.
44. End a day of deep-water excitement by bunkering down at Balmoral. If the home theatre doesn’t grab you, the billiard table and visiting kangaroos will.
45. Take in the region’s mountain bike trails in Dunsborough, Busselton and Margaret River, and get an appreciation for why these towns are becoming Mecca for MTB enthusiasts in the southwest.
46. Leave peddle power behind and go on a quad-bike eco-adventure!
47. Get off the beaten track, and four-wheel-drive along the beach at Boranup, where you’re near enough to detour to view Hamelin Bay’s stunning stretch of white sand and azure water.
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.
Image Credits: Dylan Dehaas, Paul Pichugin, Private Properties – Matthew Moyes
