Our Member Famil took place on Wednesday 2nd November with 18 attendees and 9 venue visits. The tour took in a range of businesses in Margaret River and Surrounds with hosts both getting to share updates on their offering to local operators and staff as well as learning more about their neighbours.
Some testimonials from the day :
“Great to get out and about and see the local businesses out there and familiarize yourself again!”
“Re-visiting some attractions I hadn’t been to in a few years and seeing how their business had grown and changed and improved”
“Fabulous day meeting wonderful people and enjoying our region”
Please read on for some more highlights from the day!
The Old Settlement
The day started by taking a step back in time visiting the Margaret River Old Settlement. Viv from the Margaret River & Districts Historical Society guided the group through the attraction, which is a staged Group Settlement-style village depicting the beginnings of the region’s dairy industry in the 1920s. There are a number of relocated buildings on site that have been transformed into a settler’s cottage and washhouse, schoolhouse and classroom, dairy, animal and farm equipment sheds and blacksmiths theatre and story mural. Open to the public 4 days a week, baking scones and/or watching a silent movie are some of the great activities designed for school and private groups.
A Maze’n Margaret River
The next stop was A Maze’n Margaret River which is just that – Amazing! Cathy talked about the unique hedge maze, now 27 years old, over 3 metres high and one of the largest in Australia. This place is great for everyone, whether it’s for a quick coffee stop or light lunch/afternoon tea, or entering the grounds for mini golf or maze or both. The property has an 18 Hole Mini Golf, A half-hectare Giant Hedge Maze and large garden puzzles in the stunning landscaped gardens. There is also plenty of room to BYO picnic/lunch with large shaded grassed areas with tables and chairs and barbecues.
Eagles Heritage
Rob from Eagles Heritage gave an overview of Eagles Heritage by guiding the group through their short native forest trail, talking about the centre’s dedication to caring for and the rehabilitation of injured, orphaned or displaced birds of prey. The trail is self-guided and reveals aviaries housing birds of prey with information signage about each bird along the way.
Tara, Gabi and Josh gave a snippet of their incredible Bird of Prey Encounters which is definitely a highlight of the visit. The encounters are held twice daily, which is a fantastic opportunity to get up close to these raptors and learn how their use their sensory abilities to track and catch their prey. Entry admission to the centre supports the ongoing protection and preservation of birds of prey.
Margaret River Bed & Breakfast
Owners Dirk and Pam welcomed the group to the B&B which is ideally located between the town centre and the beach. Set on 9 acres of native bushland, the B&B has 4 suites that run off the hallway into the large dining/lounge area. The contemporary rooms all have enormous ensuites with double spa baths and private courtyards which create an ambient environment. Breakfast is included with each stay and the group enjoyed morning tea and a taster of Pam’s delicious baked treats !
Gracetown Caravan Park
Park owner Laura showed the group through the grounds and facilities of this exceptional holiday park which suits any camper. Set on 13 acres in a bushy, rural setting, the family park offers a range of spacious shady sites to modern self-contained chalets. This park definitely ticks all the boxes for families with great facilities including a tennis court, basketball/volleyball court, mini golf, outdoor movie cinemas and friendly roaming wildlife. Added bonus, Grace Farm is only a short stroll away!
Cowaramup Brewing Company
Jeremy hosted the group for lunch at this fabulous venue. Before diving into the moreish baked brie and mouthwatering pizza’s, Jeremy introduced their behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery. This tour is a fantastic opportunity to learn the process of turning just four key quality ingredients into their range of tasty craft beers. The group had the opportunity to sample raw malted barley and learn the nuances of various flavours and tastes of their pale ale.
Cape Grace Wines
Next stop was Cape Grace Wines which is a great little gem ! Karen and Rob owners/operators welcomed the group to their winery which is conveniently located in the heartland of Cowaramup. The group were guided through the wine barrel room to do a selection of tastings. Cape Grace’s handcrafted, single vineyard wines are generous with their flavour and character. The vineyard is managed under organic principles and traditional winemaking is used, with their reds gently hand plunged and basket pressed.
Jarvis Estate
Off the beaten track, the next stop was Jarvis Estate which is a boutique award-winning winery. Matt and Ulf welcomed the group and offered the group tasting of their wonderful wines and WTF wine from the barrel. The estate is also a nature-based campsite with 6 approved bays for self-contained campers. All visitors are offered free tastings and vineyard tours.
Firetail Wines
The final stop of the day was Firetail Wines and hosts Rob and Jessica offered the group tastings of their fine wines. The Firetail cellar door is welcoming and tranquil, set amongst the trees and offers close views of the 30 year old vines and local birdlife. The standout wines were their Cabernet Sauvignon highly rated by James Halliday and their Sparking Chardonnay and Dessert Wines.
Margaret River Star Class Tours
A special thanks to Terry from Margaret River Star Class Tours who drove the second bus for the day and shared his wonderful insights into the region.