Six senses of the west

If all Margaret River had to offer was its wines, it would still be a stellar destination. There are almost 200 wineries in Western Australia’s most famous wine region, including premium producers such as Cape Mentelle, Vasse Felix and Cullen Wines – all of which have built international reputations for excellence. 

The Margaret River Gourmet Escape presented by Audi, has grown in a few short years to be considered one of the world’s great food and wine events, attracting not only guests from all over the globe, but also the most renowned chefs and food experts.

But, as rich as the wine and food culture of the Margaret River region has become, its appeal is many layered and it offers all manner of enticements to brings guests from all over the country and around the world to revel in its wonder.

Diverse, engaging and enriching, the Margaret River has its own very special magic.

Dimensions of the bush

The Australian bush has an allure that attracts international travellers and locals alike, but seeing it through the eyes of the indigenous Wadandi and Bibbulman peoples within this region, brings a dimension to the experience that changes the very way the country is perceived. Where most of us see plants and naturally occurring land formations, these descendants of the ancient people of the land see so much more.

The Koomal Dreaming tour allows guests to see and experience the landscape, with guide Josh Whiteland introducing a world which is governed by six seasons rather than four, a place where natural medicines such as pink myrtle, a quick-fix for digestive problems, spring straight from the ground. 

Whether it be the Twilight Didgeridoo Cave Tour, which takes you to Ngilgi Cave, revered as the home of a powerful spirit, or sampling the natural delicacies  that grow in abundance if you know where to look, these are experiences unique to the area. Listen to Dreamtime stories born in this ancient place or the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo and be transported back thousands of years. 

www.koomaldreaming.com.au

Tastes of the west

Fine food is not in short supply anywhere in this region and a leisurely long lunch at one of the area’s wineries is a Margaret River tradition. But while superb examples of local fare are in abundance, perhaps the area’s most exciting culinary offering is a secret that the locals like to keep to themselves. 

Tucked away at the back of a typical suburban shopping plaza, Miki’s Open Kitchen may not have the most scenic surrounds, but its Asian-influenced degustation dinners are simply stunning. Without doubt the best seats in the house are at the counter, where you can watch chef Mikihito Nagai and his team turn out poised dishes such as a flawless Gracetown pink snapper tempura and a fish and egg congee, served with a kick of sesame oil and the crunch of gyoza crisps. A dazzling combination of flavours, textures and aromas that will live long in the memory – no small accomplishment in a region that impresses with its culinary excellence. 

facebook.com/mikisopenkitchen 

A tipple of a different kind

The Margaret River region is fast building a name for another drink that takes a long-established tradition and taste and adds a special local twist to what is a classic.

The drink is gin and the Margaret River Distilling Co. is creating its own with a unique sweet, earthy taste that is winning fans at the rate of knots. Its products use ingredients and indeed techniques from the area to produce the distinct tastes. Whether it be a delicate, pink tinted gin aged in pinot barrels or the peppy Botanical Gin, featuring true-blue botanicals such as boronia, lemon myrtle and eucalypt, the flavours infuse beautifully with the celebrated spirit. 

Of course those with more traditional tastes such as sandalwood and juniper are also catered for, or you might even be tempted by a different blend – say, one that you come up with yourself. If creating something truly your own appeals, then sign up for the distillery’s four-hour distillation class, which takes you through the entire process of creating a spirit. At the end of the class, you will leave with a bottle of your own bespoke gin, flavoured with a blend of botanicals that appeals to your tastebuds. 

www.distillery.com.au

The art of fine wine

Not many people realise that Margaret River has its very own world-class art gallery, located on the grounds of acclaimed winery, Leeuwin Estate. Leeuwin is famous for its Art Series, wines that feature works by some of Australia’s best artists on their labels. The Leeuwin Estate gallery displays the original works, a collection that now includes over 150 examples by master artists such as Arthur Boyd, Fred Williams and Albert Tucker. 

Look for John Olsen’s cheeky frogs, which grace the Art Series Riesling bottles, and Sidney Nolan’s striking Dolphin Rock, which appears on the Cabernet Sauvignon. Nolan originally turned down the invitation to provide an artwork; once he tried the wine, however, he apparently changed his mind very quickly.     

www.leeuwinestate.com.au 

A walk in the wild 

The Cape to Cape Track is one of Australia’s great walks, stretching 140km from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin. Long-distance hikers can spend up to a week walking from one end to another; however, a half-day or full-day walk is enough to give you a taste of its varied landscapes. Cape to Cape Tours offers a range of walks; you might find yourself traversing limestone cliffs with sweeping views across sparkling seas, or wandering through shady forests where karri trees soar 40 metres into the sky. Along the way, you will learn more about this complex eco-system, regarded as one of the world’s bio-diversity hot spots. 

Informative and a superb way to take in the natural beauty, the Cape to Cape walk also serves to silence those internal voices if you have overly indulged in the local produce.

www.capetocapetours.com.au

A place to lay your head

When it comes to indulgent hideaways, the adults-only Empire Retreat and Spa ticks all the boxes in this western paradise, which is not short of beautiful and secluded accommodation options. Each of the 10 elegant suites is designed as a haven to curl up in, complete with fireplaces, four-poster beds swathed in the finest linen, and generously-sized bathtubs. The main farmhouse, all natural stone and timbers, is equally inviting: settle yourself in one of the lounges and kick off your evening with a glass of Empire’s own cabernet merlot. The ultimate treat is a session in the Asian-influenced spa, where soothing facials use products from local skincare company, Sodashi –an experience that suggests that this is perhaps not the ‘wild west’ afterall, but the very indulgent and civilised west.

www.empireretreat.com