Margaret River

Article by: Jay
Last updated: Tuesday, 11-Jul-2006 00:00:00 CEST

Margaret River is a beautiful wine growing region set just inland from the pretty south west coast of Western Australia. The surrounding landscape is made up of deep forests, spectacular beaches, and a number of limestone caves. Several good swimming beaches include Gracetown and Prevally, although much more popular are the many surfing beaches near Margaret River. Great surfing beaches include Gnarabup, Margaret River Mouth, Redgate and Suicides, although many of the coastal bays and beaches in this area offer fantastic surf.

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Also popular around Margaret River is a trip to the spectacular limestone caves of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Caves. The area is covered with about 350 caves, although not all of them are accessible to the public. The main ones to visit are all along Caves Road, including Jewel Cave, Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave and Moondyne Cave. Many of the caves also feature fossilised creatures from years ago.
Margaret River - Wine Region. Margaret River Vineyards.
One thing that shouldn't be missed on a visit to Margaret River is, of course, a trip to its many vineyards. There are a number of tours which you can join out to the vineyards, where you get to taste some of the delicious wines of the region as well as a number of other attractions.

Margaret River - Accommodation. Margaret River
There is a wide range of accommodation in Margaret River, with a couple of campsites, hotels, a hostel and a number of lodges and bed and breakfasts. There are also a range of eating places, mainly situated along Bussell Highway.

The Margaret River region is a superb blend of good living and stunning nature just three and a half hours' drive south of Perth.

Visitors to the area, one of Western Australia's most popular destinations, should be prepared to indulge in the gastronomic delights of worldclass wineries and gourmet vineyard restaurants.

Responsible for producing less than one percent of Australia's wine but over 15 percent of Australia's premium wine, the 60 or so wineries in the region open for cellar door sales and tastings offer the visitor an impressive selection. Boutique beer breweries, exquisite cheese product, jam and condiment producers, a marron (freshwater crayfish) farm, olive groves and even chocolate and fudge factories enhance the gourmet experiences. Couple this with an immense array of art and craft galleries, and the area offers visitors a fabulous opportunity to experience the work of local producers and artists.

Dining out in the Margaret River area is a gastronomical delight. Many acclaimed chefs have been drawn to the area by the high quality fresh local produce and the worldclass wines of the region. There is an abundance of different styles of cuisine with every taste catered for.

Margaret River is host to The Margaret River Wine Region Festival held annually in November.

Wine and food aside, the area is blessed with an abundance of natural attractions including a myriad of underground caves (open for public tours), pristine white beaches, pockets of beautiful forest and a multitude of bush and coastal walk trails. The rugged coastline is an example of nature at its finest and ocean views can be enjoyed from many lookout points. Other activities include canoeing along the Margaret River, adventure activities such as abseiling and rock climbing, whale watching off Augusta and great fishing in the ocean and river.

Massive surf has long been a major draw for the area and watching the local surfers take on the ocean is a spectacular sight. Every year the world class surfing competition, the Salomon Masters Margaret River Classic, gets the town buzzing with excitement and visitors.

The region is highly accessible, with flights to both Margaret River and Busselton airstrips, regular bus services from Perth, and a train to bus link running through Bunbury.

Luxury guest houses, bed and breakfasts, beachside apartments, selfcontained chalets, hotels, motels, resorts, farm stays, caravan parks, back packer hostels and camping grounds cater for everyone's accommodation needs.