TRAVEL TOPIC Sept 08

• September 5, 2008
• General
• Editor

Geographe Bay and Margaret River Wine Region…Barbara O Neill

Looking for a holiday with a difference right here in Australia?  Then get yourself over to Western Australia and visit Geographe Bay and Margaret River.  There is a lot more to it than just wineries. 

The area is packed with natural experiences, inspiring landscapes, adventure activities and of course gourmet delights.

I have just recently returned from a trip that saw me wading in the Indian Ocean, canoeing up the Margaret River, sampling bush tucker, visiting a lighthouse, whale and fur seal watching,  walking along the longest wooden jetty in the southern Hemisphere as well as sampling all the wonderful wines and foods that this area has to offer.

Busselton was my first stop after Perth.  It’s a wonderful seaside town famous for its 1841-metre wooden pier.  If you are brave enough to walk its length you are rewarded by a fabulous underwater observatory which is situated at the end of the jetty.  Here you can view vibrant coral, schools of fish and many marine creatures.  You can also descend eight metres below sea level and view the underwater marine environment.

I then moved on along the coast taking time to stop off at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.  The lighthouse offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Indian ocean and the surrounding Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.  The friendly guide here will provide fascinating commentary on the lighthouse as well as retelling many ghost stories that will leave you wondering…  This area is also a vantage point for whale watching from September to December.

Geographe Bay is also famous for its limestone and has many caves which you can explore.  The more adventurous can get involved in rock climbing and be rewarded with the amazing views of ancient formations. 

The next day I took off  to the Margaret River mouth to take in the scenery and to partake in a canoeing and bush tucker tour.  This was a great way to explore some of Margaret River at a slow pace.  We explored the caves along the river as well as taking the opportunity to taste a variety of bush tucker.  Learning about the medicinal properties of plants found within this area was particularly interesting.  And the canoeing wasn’t too bad either.

And last but certainly not least I was lucky enough to visit a few of the many wineries that are located all throughout the Margaret River area.  There are new wineries opening up each year and a visit to at least a few make a visit to Margaret River complete.  So go on over to Western Australia and enjoy the wine, food and everything else in between.

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