Here's our pick of experiences for a five to six day itinerary starting in Perth and road tripping three hours south to Margaret River. And, if you'd like to stay a little longer and create your own gourmet escape in WA, there's plenty more to explore.
Wishing you delicious travels….
Plating it up in Perth
Sitting pretty on the Swan River, it seems like every other week a tantalizing new restaurant opens in Perth, so if you're finding it hard to choose where to dine, head for the beautiful State Buildings. This historic site has been revitalised to accommodate world-class restaurants including Wildflower, Petition Kitchen and Long Chim.
The State Buildings is also home to award-winning, luxury hotel, COMO the Treasury. Thanks to a recent hotel boom, Perth also has plenty of other new and recently refurbished hotels to suit all budgets such as The Westin, QT, InterContinental Perth City Centre, DoubleTree by Hilton, Crown Towers, The Alex, The Melbourne, Peppers, or the recently opened Quay overlooking the sparkling Swan River.
To explore Perth's new entertainment and cultural precincts such as Elizabeth Quay and Yagan Square, including small bar hotspots and hidden laneways, join one of the city's guided walking tours, such as award winning Two Feet and a Heartbeat. If sport and big concerts are more your thing, head to Optus Stadium where good food is also on the menu at The Camfield.
Make sure you catch a famous Indian Ocean sunset while you're here, only 15 minutes from the city by car or public transport, Odyssea at City Beach offers ocean front dining at one of Perth's best beaches.
Savour the Swan Valley
The Swan Valley is buzzing, and that's not just the bees making the local award-winning honey. A short 25 minute road trip from Perth CBD will have you savouring every stop.
Sip on Shiraz at Sandalford Wines, before tasting the freshly produced flavours at The Cheese Barrel. From there, cleanse the palate with a wine tasting at family-owned Olive Farm Wines just next door. Then, drop in for a drizzle of House of Honey's finest, before breaking off a piece of bite-sized bliss at Whistler's Chocolate Company. And, there's plenty more to explore in Perth's very own pantry.
Self-drive the 32 kilometre food and wine trail, or join a tour; there's also some speciality food and drink trails that weave through the Swan Valley including the Cider and Ale Trail and the Sweet Temptations Trail.
Rottnest Island
Home to 63 stunning beaches, 20 beautiful bays and the world's friendliest animal - the quokka - Perth's idyllic island playground of Rottnest is just a short ferry ride from Perth city, the eclectic port city of Fremantle or the northern beaches suburb of Hillarys. You can also travel by helicopter or plane if that's more your style!
Rotto - as the locals affectionately call it - is car free - so riding is the best way to get around, with bicycle hire available, including electric bikes, and a hop on and off bus to take you to all the secluded beaches and surf breaks.
Make sure to check out Rotto's newest accommodation located at picturesque Pinky Beach. Discovery Rottnest Island is a beachfront glamping resort that also offers incredible food by Executive Chef Karl Wulf.
Pour yourself into Margaret River's Natural Wonders
An easy three hour's drive south of Perth is the renowned Margaret River region. Home to 20 per cent of Australia's premium wine, it's also the only wine region in Australia, where you can hop from award winning wineries and restaurants, to breweries and distilleries, art as well as local providores, and art galleries, while surrounded by stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, remarkable surf breaks and ancient caves.
The region deserves at least two nights to enjoy a few foodie highlights. Or, to savour the experience, stay a little longer and intersperse your gourmet adventures with experiences that are closer to nature. There's plenty of accommodation dotted throughout the region, but if you're looking to indulge head to Cape Lodge, Injidup Spa Retreat or Empire Spa Retreat.
The Cape to Cape Track in spring - surrounded by wildflowers and with views of humpback whales ocean-side - is a fantastic spot to walk off wine tastings and indulgent lunches at one of the region's founding wineries such as Voyager, Leeuwin, Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle and Cullen.
Minutes away you'll find white sand beaches, shallow turquoise waters, and naturally shaded coves, perfect spots for swimming and snorkelling, and picnicking spots to indulge in some of the cheeses, wines and chocolate you've picked up along the way. Coastal cafes such as Bunkers Beach House and the White Elephant Café are the perfect locations for a leisurely breakfast.
Drive or quad bike through Boranup Forest's towering Karri trees – some 60 metres high or go beneath the surface and explore the underground wonderlands of Ngilgi Cave. Josh Whiteland, a local Wardandi custodian, runs several cultural tours in the region including a special Twilight Didgeridoo Cave Tour as well as a coastal experience where you'll learn to fish, discover and forage.
Time your visit to coincide with one of Western Australia's premium wine and food festivals and you'll get to savour many of these flavours in one hit. The upcoming Western Australia Gourmet Escape has expanded this year with events in the Swan Valley, Perth and its spiritual home Margaret River over ten days from November 8 to 17.
Attracting more than 50 of the world's and Australia's top culinary talent, and over 50 events – festival-goers will enjoy a range of extraordinary food and wine experiences set in breathtaking and world-renowned locations throughout WA.
Website: www.westernaustralia.com
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