Category

Tourism

Feb 02
1

How to spend a weekend in Margaret River

By | Tourism | No Comments

 

Margaret River is, in my opinion, the perfect getaway place for a weekend away, I have been going there 2-3 per year since 2010. It’s about 3.5 hour drive from Perth, and is WA’s wine producing region. To really appreciate this place, I would say that hiring a car is a must and going in a group is better. As a backpacker there are 2 options to choose from for staying in “Margs”, the first is to book in at one of the backpackers Innetown Backpackers or Margaret River Backpackers.

The second, and my personal favourite, is to camp. You can chose from a few sites, but my preferred place to stay at is Contos Campground. For me there is nothing like being able to wake up surrounded by kangaroos, watch possum’s in the trees at night, listen to all of the different bird calls, and hear the sound of the ocean gently in the background. Also as it is further away from town, you can enjoy AMAZING views to the night sky, you can very easily see the line of our galaxy! The one benefit of camping, is that you have more money to spend doing things, rather than having to search for “free things to do in…”. Also by going with a group of friends, it means that you can all take turns driving so that one person doesn’t end up driving the entire time. So here is my itinerary for things to do in Margs:

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DAY 1

  • 8 am, Drive to Margs
  • 11am, how about starting off your day with a BYO picnic (or buy some of what they sell in this food section) and FREE seated wine tasting at Stormflower Winery (3503 Caves Rd, Wilyabrup WA 6280)!? This place is great, I wish last time I went there I didn’t have lunch before I went.
  • After a picnic lunch you can head off to your accommodation (you’ve of course chosen Contos campground), or you can go to Amaze’n Margaret River (9978 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA 6285)!!! Whichever order you decide to do this in, you NEED to go to Amaze’n to take a cheesy tourist photo with their giant sign, play mini golf, get lost in a hedge maze, play some of their games, and take a relaxing walk around the place, or sit and have a coffee and cake.
  • 4pm, After spending a few hours at Amaze’n you should go back into town and spend some time looking at the shops there, particularly Lloyds and Rugs in the Forrest.
  • 5pm, Time for happy hour at Swings!!!!!!!!! (85 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA 6285) They have wine and beer on tap, and if you choose to stick around for dinner their pizza is fantastic!
  • 6pm, If you didn’t stay at Swings for dinner, I would suggest having a BBQ for your first night in Margs, otherwise head over to Settlers Tavern (114 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA 6285).
  • 7pm, Head to Cape Mentelle (331 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River WA 6285) to see if you can get in to watch a movie in their outdoor cinema, if reading this before you go down to Margs, try and pre-book your ticket.

 

DAY 2

  • 5am, Head to the beach early and watch the sunrise. If you don’t want to get up that early, I don’t blame you, I’ve only done it twice in 7 years.
  • For those that don’t want to be awake early, lazily head back into town and go to the bakery (89 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA 6285), or the Sails Too Café (117 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA 6285) for breakfast.
  • 9am, Investigate a cave in the morning, I think this is the best time as the groups are usually smaller. My suggestion is also Mammoth Cave, you can spend as much time there as you want, it’s a self-guided tour, and it’s not as narrow as the other caves.
  • 11am, Eagles Heritage Wildlife Centre. At 11am they have a flying display of their birds of prey, where you can have one sit on your arm! This is a must do as all the money that they make goes into breeding endangered species and rehabilitation of injured animals.
  • 30pm, wineries! Some of the ones I’d suggest are:
    • Xanadu (Boodjidup Rd)
    • Voyager (41 Stevens Rd)
    • Leeuwin Estate (Stevens Rd)
    • Vasse Felix (Caves Rd & Tom Cullity Dr)
    • Redgate (659 Boodjidup Rd)
    • Cape Mentelle (331 Wallcliffe Rd)
  • The best places to visit on your way out of Margs is Barnyard 1978 (12 Canal Rocks Rd, Yallingup), then of course there is Aravina Estate (Wildwood Rd, Yallingup)
  • While in Yallingup stop off at the beach there and take a walk along until you get to a spot that you think is nice to have a picnic dinner while watching the sunset. Maybe bring a bottle of wine with you too.
  • Then it’s your choice if you stay for a third day too, or head back to Perth that night.

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*If you stay an extra day, stop by Busselton Jetty on your way back, it is well worth the stop.*

-Tash

Feb 27
0

Rottnest Island Travel Guide – 5 Things to Know

By | Tips, Tourism, Tricks & Advise | No Comments

Islands off the coast of large cities often have a dubious history. Historically, they are where we send societies undesirables (think Robben Island, Alcatraz, Rikers!). Rottnest is no exception.  Shortly after European colonisation of the island in 1829, Rottnest became a prison island for the indigenous Aboriginal people. Now, it is where Australians send the new undesirables; the tourists!

Recently, I made my first visit to the island via Rottnest Express, the islands foremost ferry operator. It exceeded all my expectations, and probably one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done since living in Perth. Everything is touted as a ‘MUST DO’ these days, but for me Rottnest cannot be missed.

Here are 5 things I learned on my maiden voyage that will make your visit to Rottnest that bit more enjoyable and I think should be added to any Rottnest Island travel guide!

  1. RENT A BIKE: Upon booking you might be suspicious of add ons. Fair enough, if you really don’t want the snorkel or the Subway lunch you can do without. But get a bike. Rottnest Express will have it waiting for you as you disembark the ferry and off you go, free to explore the island at your own pace and as per your own schedule.

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A bike is an essential!

  1. CHOOSE YOUR PATH WISELY: Rottnest is bigger than I thought. A full loop of the island is 22 km (3-5 hours). The roads are well paved and it’s not mountainous, but there are some hills. A 5 hour bike ride in Perth’s glaring sun can quickly turn into a feat of endurance rather than a leisure ride. We went for the 10km route, which loops inland after Salmon Bay and found it perfect for a day trip.

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Pick your route to suit your pace!

  1. WATER, ALL THE WATER: Water fountains are few and far between on Rottnest. Drinking water is mostly centred around the main settlement (Thomson bay, Kingstown Barracks). Don’t get caught out 15 km from a drinking fountain without a bottle. Bring as much as you can. It will make life a lot easier.

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Cycling is thirsty work

  1. FIND YOUR OWN BEACH: There’s some beautiful reef around the island, perfect for snorkelers of any skill level. If you just fancy a swim, the beaches at Parakeet Bay, The Basin and Little Armstrong Bay come highly recommended. However I’d encourage you to be adventurous and find that tiny stretch of white sand behind a rock or in a cove that you can have to yourself. Grab a couple of beers from the general store… paradise.

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Find a quiet spot to relax.

  1. CATCH THE FERRY FROM B-SHED: There is an option to leave from Barrack St. jetty in Perth city, and although the cruise down the Swan River to Fremantle might be enjoyable there are some disadvantages. For one, it costs more. It obviously takes longer too, with a number of stops along the way. And the timetable is limited. I’d recommend grabbing the train (20 minutes) from Perth Stn to Fremantle Stn. From Freo Stn. It’s a 5 minute walk to B-Shed (go right out of the station, follow the tracks, and cross towards the warehouse shed with the large B painted in red on it). Your ferry will now be a direct 25 minute transfer to Rottnest. On your return you will have more timetabled departures to choose from, scheduled right into the late afternoon.

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B Shed is where we recommend to catch ferry from.

If you want more information about Rottnest, or want to book a trip there before you arrive, fill out our contact form or just send us an email to manager@emperorscrown.com.au

– Written by Adam Burke, our weekend manager.