The oldest building in the state – an old jail house – dates back to 1831. Today, most of the population lives in the southwest, around and to the south of state capital Perth, leaving swathes of untouched wilderness.


w WINE The Margaret River region, a three- hour drive south of Perth, is famous around the world for its top-notch cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. A newcomer to the wine scene, it’s been producing commercial wines for only 50 years, and yet happily competes with many more established wine regions, and a few days exploring some of its 150 cellar doors would be well spent. Most wineries will give visitors a


complimentary taste of a selection of their wines and vintages, but for a behind-the-scenes tour (about £14), suggest Cape Mentelle Vineyards. They gave us a solid introduction to the art of making an award-winning wine, from choosing the best location for a particular vine, pruning and picking, through to pressing, mixing and ageing the wines. You can stay at Cape Mentelle


for a food and wine pairing, but we moved on to Vasse Felix, the oldest winery in Margaret River. Stunning grounds surround this handsome building, which houses the cellar door (tastings are free), an art gallery that is home to rotating exhibitions, a


Margaret River may be a newcomer to the wine scene, but a few days exploring its cellar doors would be well spent


restaurant, and The Vault, where row upon row of wines, some dating back to the 1970s, line the walls. The Cellar Experience, which gives access to The Vault, a taste of the vineyard’s vintage cabernet sauvignon and a three-course meal paired with wines, costs £133 per person. To avoid the need for a designated


driver, and still get to sample a selection of wineries, a brewery and a distillery, we opted to take a Bushtucker Tour from local operator Bushtucker River and Winery Tours. The complimentary pick-up and drop-off at our hotel were certainly necessary: after eight stops, including chocolate and cheese factories, driving home would not have been an option. Day tours start at £61. Further inland, the colder climate


around Pemberton makes this area better suited to growing pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay grapes. We spent a delightful afternoon at


the Woodsmoke Estate and Jarrah Jacks brewery, sipping a glass of chilled white as the sun set over the picturesque vines. A final stop at Mountford Organic Winery offered an interesting insight into the growing trend for natural wines.


w WALKING The mix of coastal and inland tracks in southwestern WA provides an almost unlimited number of options for hiking, regardless of your time frame or level of ability. In Margaret River, the Cape to Cape


hike hugs nearly 70 miles of rugged coastline from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste, and can be walked as smaller sections if clients don’t fancy taking on the entire route. We spotted dolphins skimming through the waves just metres off the beach, and paused along the clifftop to watch whales and their calves out at sea, as the sun set over the water. For a change of scenery inland, the


LEFT:


Cape Mentelle Vineyards


72travelweekly.co.uk10 January 2019


three-day walk from Pemberton to Northcliffe offers an opportunity to walk through the towering karri forest and past the famous Gloucester Tree,


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