Days spent in Australia’s South West consist of soaking up the sun on secluded beaches, exploring the unique carvings of longstanding caves, sipping on glasses of the finest wines among the vineyards, settling in for a pub lunch in the country breeze, and sampling the finest produce from farm to plate.
We’ve got a massive soft spot for a relaxing South West getaway, jumping in the car and heading from the city whenever we get the chance. These are eight of our favourite places to frequent when we get down.
Frui Momento
If you enjoy a combination of fine dining, superb wine, and tranquil views, then Frui Momento should be on your list of places you must experience next time you’re in the southwest.
Situated next to Cherubino Wines, Frui Momento is a recent addition to the southwest dining scene and doesn’t disappoint at all. If you decide to stop by and dine here, ensure you allow enough time to sit back and enjoy the experience. The succulent Shark Bay scallops and Margaret River Wagyu rump both come as highly recommended.
Cherubino Wines
What’s a South West getaway without a visit to one of the best wineries in the region?
You’ve probably heard of Cherubino Wines before. Whether you’ve visited the winery, tasted their wines, or frequented their City Cellar wine bar in Subiaco, you’ll know they strive to be the best at everything they do. And that is something they’ve achieved with their wines.
Tried and tested favourites in the collection include the Riversdale Cabernet Sauvignon and Laissez Faire Chardonnay.
Simmos Ice Creamery
With more than 60 flavours in Simmos’ repertoire, it’s hard to choose just a few scoops for your cup or cone.
The ice creamery is a long-standing Dunsborough local and favourite stop-off for a post-beach treat. You can’t go past a classic double-scoop waffle cone (there’s a gluten-free option, too) in the blistering heat of the South West summer. If you’re making a winter pit stop, spice things up with a hot waffle topped with apple pie ice cream and a healthy drizzle of maple syrup.
Sat on spacious parklands, Simmos encourages families to while a little longer. Bring a football and let the kids burn off the sugar kick with some friendly kick-to-kick, or book the family in for a fun 18 holes on the mini-golf course.
Shelter Brewing
As far as stellar South West pints go, Shelter Brewing is among the best.
Born and brewed on-site in Busselton, the team at Shelter has perfected their unique selection of craft beers and seasonal menus to enjoy beachside on a sunny day. They’re just a step away from the iconic Busselton Jetty and are open seven days a week from breakfast to dinner.
Pop in for a coffee and feed after a salty beach swim, perch up in the afternoon sun for a couple of cold beers overlooking the bay and stay through to the evening to catch a striking pink sunset over the water.
Bina Maya Yallingup Escape
When in the South West, we take our trip to the next level by staying somewhere truly luxurious.
Enter Bina Maya Yallingup Escape.
This luxe minimalist home in the heart of the Margaret River Region is what dream stays are made of. Set among seven and a half acres of native bushland, this self-catering retreat is our top pick for relaxing and unwinding away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Spend your days here indulging in in-house massages and facials, finding your zen at personalised yoga, or during a sound bowl massage. Later in the day, you can light up your tastebuds with private chef degustations, then robe up and sit by the fire with a book in hand. In the morning, wake to the sound of chirping birds and watch the kangaroos grazing before heading off to explore the surrounding wineries and attractions.
There are three nature-based stays in total: The Residence, Luxury Villa One, and Luxury Villa Two.
We recently stayed in Luxury Villa Two for a few nights, which certainly beat all expectations. From the moment you walk in, you know you’re in for a spectacular getaway. After the long drive from Perth, sitting on the balcony overlooking the native bushland was the calm we needed, giving us the feeling that there was nobody else around, just nature. The addition of the complimentary wine and locally sourced cheese platter really made us feel at home.
Despite staying in the middle of winter, the cold evenings (not ‘sub-zero temperatures and snow’ cold, but ‘Australia’s South West’ cold) were no issue, with a roaring fireplace keeping the villa cosy.
If you’re looking for that perfect stay for your next trip, look no further than Bina Maya Yallingup Escape.
Gralyn Estate
This one is for wine connoisseurs.
Gralyn Estate is one of the smaller wineries in the South West; however, that doesn’t stop them from producing some of the best premium wine in the region. Gralyn was the first cellar door in the area in 1978, and since then, they’ve perfected the art of storytelling over wine.
Book in for their premium wine-tasting experience and spend the next few hours taking a journey through their history, a quick tour of their wine cellar, and tasting a selection of their best wines.
Meelup Farmhouse
Bypass the bakery croissants and head for an indulgent brunch at Meelup Farmhouse. The hobby-farm-turned-high-end-eatery sits within the bounds of the Meelup Regional Park, shrouded by fragrant Peppy trees and Meelup Mallees. Pre-book a packaged hamper to graze on beneath them, or share some mimosas over sweetcorn fritters with blue swimmer crab on the sprawling deck.
While the calibre of food head chef, Dean Williams, serves up might suggest this is an adult’s only kind of place, this couldn’t be less true. Young ones are welcomed to the farm with open arms and are encouraged to interact with the animals. They can visit the resident alpaca heard in the citrus orchard, feed the silky hens (with bags of feed purchased from the cafe), and meet Lizzy and Sir Raymond, the photogenic highland cow couple.
Juniper Estate
Small but mighty, Juniper Estate winery is quietly producing savourable premium drops from the Wilyabrup area.
They’re one of the five or so founding vineyards of the region, so you can be sure they know what they’re doing when it comes to winemaking. Their bottles are produced in small batches, grown in one of their three vineyards with organic practices.
The Wilyabrup vineyard is the longest standing, planted in 1973 and still thriving today. It’s the birthplace of their flagship range of Wilyabrup Cornerstone wines — Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon — distinct for their depth and power. Tastings are available seven days a week, and the experienced team will ensure you leave with a head full of wine knowledge and, more than likely, a few of your favourite bottles.
This article was originally published on So Perth
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Lead image: Tourism Australia | Scott Slawinski
