Yes, we’re back again with another instalment of domestic travel inspiration for you and your clients, courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

This time, we take a look at one of Australia’s premium wine regions, Margaret River, which stands toe-to-toe with the best in the world.

It’s the only region in Australia where your clients can hop from award-winning wineries and restaurants to stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, world-class surf breaks and ancient caves.

Redgate Beach (image source: Tourism Western Australia)

A testament to its diversity of quality experiences and landscapes, Margaret River and southern WA were named by Lonely Planet as the number one travel destination in the Asia Pacific for 2019.

Producing over 15 per cent of Australia’s premium wine, your clients will find the tastings here top notch. Not only are visitors spoilt with the choice of over 100 wineries, but there is also an abundance of local food producers, craft breweries and fine restaurants on offer.

For those travellers wanting to explore a little, they can head underground and discover ancient limestone cave formations. Visitors can join an underground tour at Lake, Jewel, Mammoth or Ngilgi Caves.

Jewel Cave (image source: Tourism Western Australia)

Alternatively, they can walk a section or all of the Cape to Cape track, which runs 135 kilometres from Cape Naturaliste near Dunsborough to Cape Leeuwin near Augusta, with companies offering guided walking tours.

The Boranup Karri Forest, located in Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, is a beautiful scenic drive suitable for most standard vehicles.

Boranup Karri Forest (image source: Tourism Western Australia)

The towering Karri trees, sometimes reaching up to 60 metres in height, will make your clients feel dwarfed as they meander through the forest. This area is also known for its carpets of stunning wildflowers that cover the forest floor during spring.

But wait, there’s more…

Of course, there are plenty of other highlights in the Margaret River region to impress your clients with:

• Visitors can enjoy a long lunch of fresh local produce prepared by award-winning chefs at one of the region’s many vineyard-based restaurants, such as Vasse Felix and Leeuwin Estate.
• They can walk or train to the end of the Busselton Jetty, then meet the colourful fish and sea-life at the Underwater Observatory. At 1.8 kilometres, the jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere.
• Your clients can learn about the Margaret River region on an Aboriginal cultural tour with a traditional owner from Koomal Dreaming and Cape Cultural Tours.
• Visitors can climb the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Australia’s tallest mainland lighthouse, and see where the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean meet. There’s also the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, which has undergone a major upgrade and offers panoramic ocean views from a new observation platform, landscaped lawns, a nautical-themed playground and Lightkeeper’s Inn Café.
• They can jump on a charter boat and watch the whales frolic in Geographe Bay between June and November.
• Your clients can go rock climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, eco quad biking, fat biking, horse riding and canoeing.

Vasse Felix (image source: Tourism Western Australia)

Trip-planning tips

The Margaret River region is an easy three-hour drive from Perth via the coast. Budget travellers can catch the coach that departs daily, or your clients can opt to arrive in style, taking a direct charter flight to nearby Busselton.

When booking your clients in for a Margaret River getaway, it’s important to keep in mind that the South West of WA is a year-round destination, offering a wide range of seasonal activities.

The summer sunshine provides perfect beach weather with an average maximum temperature of around 32 degrees, and winters are pleasantly cool and mild with an average of 14 degrees.

There is a great range of accommodation options available in and around Margaret River to suit every client’s needs and budget.

Luxury options include Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, which is nestled near the crystal-clear-blue waters of Bunker Bay and Smiths Beach Resort, which is positioned just back from the pristine white sands of Smiths Beach.

Pullman Bunker Bay Resort (image source: Tourism Western Australia)

For self-contained options, travellers can try Margarets Beach Resort (which offers a mix of studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments), Seashells Yallingup or Margarets In Town apartments.

To learn more about WA’s Margaret River region, click here.

Featured image: Sugarloaf Rock, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park (source: Tourism Western Australia)