This wine region in southwestern
Australia has all the right
ingredients for a foodie family’s
holiday, writes
Jill Mortensen
.
W
e desperately needed to chill out. Not just
from the hectic year we were having with
work; the heat and humidity were getting to
us. Ideally, a place for foodies without any
jetlag. And with two toddlers to consider, fresh air, easy
flights and plenty of fun activities would ultimately dictate
our choice. Then we heard the magic words during a pre-
school bake sale:
family-friendly wine region
.
Bingo! Margaret
River, here we come.
Dominated by boutique wineries and award-winning
restaurants, the Margaret River wine region produces
about 20 per cent of Australia’s premium wines. Reached
by an easy three-hour drive south of Perth, the region
attracts foodies, artists, honeymooners, families and surfers
to this scenic southwest corner of Western Australia.
Holiday hideaway
Our trip began with a few days in Perth after a seven-hour,
non-stop flight from Hong Kong. The capital of Western
Australia, Perth is beautifully interspersed by the Swan
River and is a quiet city all year round, with loads of parks
and things to do with kids. King’s Park took up a whole day
with its wonderful playgrounds, walking paths, restaurants,
historical monuments and views of the city. The kids
also loved the Perth Zoo and the sights and sounds of the
stalls and entertainment at Fremantle Market. And even
though August is wintertime in Australia, Scarborough and
Cottlesloe beaches were lively and full of active families
enjoying the sun and sand, with daytime temperatures
ranging from 18 to 21 degrees Celsius.
In Margaret River, we stayed at the Margaret River
Hideaway, a four-star, self-catered deluxe farmstay, which
was a huge hit with our daughters, aged four and two years.
travel-writing
contest winner
34
Playtimes