Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 9 . PERTH & WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Like wine regions the world over, the Southwest has its fair share of B&Bs,
arts and crafts galleries, and some super restaurants. Plan to stay at least 2 days.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE It’s a 3 1 ⁄2-hour drive to Margaret River from Perth; take
the inland South Western Highway (the quickest route) or the tad more scenic
Old Coast Road to Bunbury, where you pick up the Bussell Highway to Margaret
River.
Air Australia (& 08/9332 5011; www.airaustralia.net) operates charter
flights from Perth’s Jandakot airport and a Busselton-Margaret River air taxi
service twice a day on weekdays for A$140 (US$91) per person one-way.
Leeuwin Estate winery does charter flights from Perth. Contact the Fremantle
office (& 08/9430 4099; www.leeuwinestate.com.au) for details.
Southwest Coachlines (& 1800/800 530 in Australia, or 08/9324 2333)
runs a daily service, and two on weekends and public and Western Australian
school holidays, to Margaret River from Perth for about A$25 (US$16). There is
no train, but government rail organization WAGR (& 13 10 53 in Western Australia,
or 08/9326 2000) runs a coach service from Perth, twice daily every day
except Saturday. It takes over 5 hours, and on some services you transfer by local
bus (which does not run Sun or public holidays) to a different coach in Bunbury.
You could also connect to this coach service in Bunbury by taking WAGR’s
twice-daily Australind train from Perth to Bunbury—it shaves travel time down
to a bit over 4 1 ⁄2 hours. Fares are A$28 (US$18) with either mode. WAGR schedules
can differ on a public holiday or during Western Australian school vacations.
VISITOR INFORMATION You will pass many wineries before you get to
Margaret River township, but it’s worth heading first to the Margaret River Visitor
Centre to pick up a winery guide. It’s at 100 Bussell Hwy. (at Tunbridge
St.), Margaret River, WA 6285 (& 08/9757 2911; www.margaretriverwa.com).
It is open daily from 9am to 5pm, closed Christmas.
GETTING AROUND Nine kilometers (5 1 ⁄2 miles) past Busselton, which
marks the start of the Southwest, the Bussell Highway makes a left and heads
south among the wineries through Vasse, 25km (15 1 ⁄2 miles) on through the village
of Cowaramup, 11km (7 miles) farther through Margaret River proper, and
43km (27 miles) on to windswept Cape Leeuwin and the fishing port of Augusta.
Tips
Special Events in the Southwest
Every February or March, Leeuwin Estate Winery (& 08/9430 4099; www.
leeuwinestate.com.au) stages an outdoor concert starring some leading
showbiz light (in 2003 it was K. D. Lang; past performers include Shirley
Bassey, Julio Iglesias, and Diana Ross) and usually a major orchestra,
attended by 6,000 picnicking guests. Tickets are A$105 (US$68). This is a
big local event, so book months ahead.
The Margaret River Wine Region Festival (& 08/9759 9990; www.mr
winefest.org.au) runs over 4 days each November, with more than 40 wineries
and restaurants taking part. Wine and food events for both the enthusiastic
novice or the wine connoisseur are matched with jazz, blues, classic,
and headline concert acts (usually in the vineyards), celebrity chef cooking
classes, and tours of art studios, regional cheese farms, and olive groves.