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

MARGARET RIVER & THE SOUTHWEST 457
Tips Taking Wine Home with You
The place to buy wine if you want to take it out of Australia is the Margaret
River Regional Wine Centre, 9 Bussell Hwy., Cowaramup (& 08/9755
5501), because most wineries don’t deliver internationally. It stocks about
every local wine, does daily tastings of select vintages, sells maps, visitor
guides, and winery guides, and has an expert staff to help with your purchase,
and even tailor your day’s foray. It is open Monday through Saturday
from 10am to 7pm, and Sunday from noon to 6pm (closed Christmas,
Good Friday, and sometimes New Year’s Day). Order off its website at
www.mrwines.com.
A car is close to essential. Avis (& 1800/679 880 within Australia for reservations
in the Southwest, or 08/9757 3686) and Hertz (&13 30 39 in Australia,
or 08/9758 8331) have offices in Margaret River.
Margaret River Tours (& 0419/917 166) and Milesaway Tours (& 1800/
818 102 in Australia, or 08/9754 2929) run sightseeing, adventure, and winery
tours from Margaret River.
TOURING THE WINERIES
Fans of premium wines will have a field day in the Southwest. Cabernet sauvignon
and merlot are the star reds, while chardonnay, semillon, and sauvignon
blanc are the pick among whites. Most wineries offer free tastings daily from
10am to 4:30pm.
The “big three” are Cape Mentelle, 4km (2 1 ⁄2 miles) west of Margaret River
on Wallcliffe Road (& 08/9757 3266); Leeuwin Estate , Stevens Road, Margaret
River (& 08/9430 4099); and Vasse Felix, Caves Road at Harman’s Road
South, Cowaramup (& 08/9756 5000). Leeuwin Estate has a towering reputation,
especially for Chardonnay. It does winery tours three times a day. A relative
newcomer, Voyager Estate, Stevens Road, Margaret River (& 08/9757 6354),
has exquisite rose gardens around a South African Cape Dutch-style cellar, and
does a highly drinkable shiraz grenache. Other labels to look for are Arlewood
Estate, Cullen Wines, Evans & Tate, Fermoy Estate, Lenton Brae, Pierro, and
Sandalford Wines.
WHAT ELSE: CAVES, BUSH TUCKER & MORE
Six of the Southwest’s 350 or so limestone caves are open to the public, some
with elaborate stalactite formations. Before or after you visit, call at CaveWorks
eco-interpretive center at Lake Cave, Caves Road, 15km (9 miles) south of Margaret
River’s Wallcliffe Road (& 08/9757 7411), open daily except Christmas
from 9am to 5pm. Entry is free if you tour Lake, Jewel, or Mammoth caves, or
else A$3 (US$1.95) for adults and A$2 (US$1.30) for children ages 4 to 15.
Lake Cave, right outside CaveWorks and 300 steps down an ancient sinkhole,
contains a tranquil pond in which exquisite stalactites are reflected. Four
kilometers (2 1 ⁄2 miles) north along Caves Road is Mammoth Cave, where you
can see the fossilized jaw of a baby zygotaurus trilobus, an extinct giant wombat.
Jewel Cave, 8km (5 miles) north of Augusta on Caves Road, is the prettiest.
Tours of Lake and Jewel and self-guided tours (using a CD audio system) of
Mammoth cost A$14 (US$9.10) for adults and A$5.50 (US$3.60) for children
4 to 15. A 7-day Grand Pass to all three plus CaveWorks saves you money.