Let’s cut to the chase. For the past few years, Western Australia has often felt like its own little island. A nirvana of wine, cheese, no lockdowns, wine… did I mention the wine? The borders are wide open and the wineries are too, so it’s time to head west for a wine lovers honeymoon that will leave you wanting more of Western Australia than ever before, in “Wine In The West: A Romantic Margaret River Wine Honeymoon!” with Lisa Perkovic.
Wine At The Ready
Boutique, blockbuster, big brands, baby brands – take your pick from all different types of wineries in the Margaret River region. You could spend weeks sampling some of the best the state has to offer but when time is short, here are three different ways to dive in:
Okay, so you’re probably thinking ‘hang on, I just went to the chapel and got hitched’, but this chapel is actually Howard Park’s private tasting space. Looking out over the rolling vines of the heavy-hitting producer’s estate, the chapel is certainly big enough to host an intimate wedding, but when you book in for one of their private wine tastings, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience. The Art of Sparkling is a two-hour tour of the family of brands’ bubbles, with a locally-sourced charcuterie board, but there are also broader tastings that will allow you to dig into the different vintages and blends.
Images: Paris Hawken
Want to truly immerse yourself in all things wine? How about a true taste of this marvellous region? Earn Your Vino’s small group five-day tours are your one-stop-shop for a seriously special few days where you’ll not only wine and dine, but go behind the scenes with winemakers, chefs, and local producers. Led by local wine and tourism experts Cassandra Charlick and Stepan Libricky, each tour caters to the time of year and stage of the vintage, so in Autumn you might do ‘Stir and Swirl’, sipping the first wines of the new season, and in July you’ll be down in Pemberton hunting truffles by day and devouring them with paired wines by night. Later this year, sign up for From Italy with love, where you’ll learn about the region’s Italian inspiration and spend your nights in the lush Cape Lodge.
Images (T-B): Sean Hsu Ovis Creative / Sean Hsu Ovis Creative / Samira Damirova
Arlewood Chocolate and Wine Tasting
Walk towards Arlewood’s cellar door and you’ll hear the strains of an Italian playlist before you see a red checkered tablecloth but you’ll quickly gather it’s all about la dolce vita here. The family’s Italian roots run strong, and have influenced the winemaking in a very, very good way – we can’t leave without a bottle or two of the Villagio or an extra special La Bratta. Settle in for a normal tasting and you won’t be disappointed, but you’ll take things up a notch if you opt for the wine and chocolate pairing. The winery pair their drops with local chocolates from Temper Temper. Now we’re talking!
Images: Arlewood
Where To Stay
The Margaret River region might be well known for its wine, but it’s also got quite the pedigree of places to stay. Whether you want to go all out, bliss out or spend a night by the billabong, you’re covered.
Kookaburras and cicadas are the soundtracks when you’re swaying in a hammock under the gum trees at Olio Bello. The tents might be decked out with electric fireplaces, kitchenettes, big cosy beds, and jute rugs, but the hammocks seal the deal. Olio Bello is an olive oil farm and orchard, with an award-winning restaurant on-site – pre-order your dinner before the kitchen closes in the afternoon, heat it up in the microwave, bust open a bottle of wine, and head down to the outdoor table by the billabong. It’s already set with hurricane lamps. What more could you need? Oh, and in-tent massage can be rustled up. Now we’re talking!
Image: Frances Andrijich Photography
Ten private villas tucked into the dramatic Yallingup coast sounds picture-perfect enough. Did we forget to mention the plunge pools? Each villa has its own heated pool looking out over the Indian Ocean. You will arrive, and never, ever want to leave. And you don’t really need to, with the BODHI spa on-site, you can spend your days hopping between pool and pampering.
Coming Soon To Yallingup:
The BODHI spa is legendary for being the best spot to bliss out down south, so we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the brand’s very first standalone retreat outside Perth, BODHI Yallingup. If it’s anything like BODHI’s latest Cottesloe spa, the 12-treatment spa will be a study in white lines, scandi wood, and gold accents. With two private chalets on site, this is definitely going to be one to watch for September.
Images: Honeymoon Suite at Injidup Spa Retreat
Where To Wed
This might be a honeymoon piece, but we couldn’t help but do a quick nod to Big Love, Western Australia’s first tiny chapel on wheels!
Images: Big Love Tiny Chapel
About Lisa Perkovic: About Lisa Perkovic: Lisa has spent the past decade travelling the world writing for Australia’s leading newspapers, magazines, and blogs about all things travel. Her own honeymoon was her pièce de résistance – an epic journey to the Maldives and South Africa. Now she loves nothing more than sharing destinations and tips to help other newlyweds work out how to have the honeymoon of their dreams.
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