Four days a week, guests of all ages can participate in the
morning animal feeds. Our daughters were soon naturals
with the emus, alpacas, sheep, goats, cows, peacocks,
chickens and ducks. Each freestanding cabin has a fireplace,
fully equipped kitchen, verandah with barbecue facilities,
and a carport. And with more than 23 hectares of unspoiled
land, we ran into more animals than other guests.
We soon fell into a wonderful rhythm: lounge around
the farmstay over a long breakfast while the girls chased
the animals and played in the grounds, lunch at a winery
or brewery, followed by an afternoon activity and a
barbecue dinner back at the farmstay, with the fireplace
roaring as the chilly night took over. Yes, some of the days
were cool and rainy, but we didn’t mind. It was a nice
break to splash in the puddles, or throw on a pashmina
and read by the fire.
Leisurely lunches
Wineries in this region range from bistro-style to high-
end cuisine, and even the most elegant dining rooms
have a casual, friendly atmosphere. Upon our arrival at
the legendary Vasse Felix, with two hungry little girls
bouncing around a packed yet strikingly quiet dining
room, we were welcomed with smiles, containers of
crayons and colouring paper.
Many of the winery restaurants have at least a few
children’s selections and those who don’t were more than
happy to accommodate us. At Vasse Felix, our girls shared
a dish of heavenly gnocchi marinara. This strategy pays
off: happy families tend to buy more wine as they head out
past the cellar door!
Because we were driving, we gave ourselves at least two
to three hours for these lunches. We would order one white
and one red each with our respective meals, taste both, and
then have a taste of each other’s to cover four of the wines
at a given winery. If we liked one, we would buy a bottle for
dinner that evening back at the farmstay. If not, we would
either try more at the tasting counter or move on.
Lunch at Leeuwin Estate was an event in itself, with
its vibey dining room, modern art gallery and lush, open
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