Although Australian wine can stand on its own, many food artisans peddle their wares around Margaret River, providing samples of their own to accompany any vintage. Begin your behind-the-scenes culinary quest at Olio Bello, which produces an impressive line of organic extra virgin olive oils, including a delicious range of citrus varieties. During pressing season (Apr.-June), visitors can watch the pressing. Olio’s restaurant is also a treat—all food is $13-18 and includes delicious house-made fettuccine. (☎08 9755 9771 or 1800 982 170; www.oliobello.com. Off Cowaramup Bay Rd. on Armstrong Rd. Open daily 10am-4:30pm; kitchen open 11:30am-3:30pm.) The Margaret River Chocolate Company will entice you with free tastings; it’s a great place to find discount chocolates and fudges. (Corner of Harman’s Mill Rd. and Harman’s South Rd. ☎08 9755 6555; www.chocolatefactory.com.au. Open daily 9am-5pm.) Find the perfect cheese to complement your wine at the Margaret River Dairy Company, which has free tastings daily at their store just north of Cowaramup on Bussell Hwy. (☎08 9755 7588. Open daily 10am-5pm.) A popular—though distant—spot is The Berry Farm, southeast of town off Rosa Glen Rd. It offers samples of jams and fruit wines, and has a reasonably priced cafe with a mouth-watering menu. (☎08 9757 5054; www.berryfarm.com.au. Open daily 10am-4:30pm.)
There are also several breweries in the region. Bootleg Brewery off of Johnson Rd. is one of the most well-established, famed for its Raging Bull stout. To complement the brews, the restaurant has platters (veggie platter $23.50), meals, and sweets at reasonable prices. (☎08 9755 6300; www.bootlegbrewery.com.au. Open daily 10am-4.30pm; lunch noon-3pm.)
The beaches and surf along the coast are stunning, and Caves Road south of Margaret is one of the area’s most spectacular drives. It runs through karri forests, beside verdant pastures, and past hundreds of hidden caves, six of which are open to the public. Biking is a good way to get around, and there are many rewarding trails. One of the best hiking and biking trails is the 15km round-trip walk east to 10 Mile Brook Dam along the Margaret River. (Trailhead less than 1km north of Margaret River on Bussell Hwy. at the Rotary Park.)
Spanning much of the coast from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park encompasses beaches with jagged rock formations rising from the water, imposing forests, yawning ...more
Encircled by national parks, massive trees, and boutique vineyards, the sleepy hamlet of Pemberton (pop. 800) manages to have a fair bit going on year-round. Though it was once filled with timber mills ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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