Whilst conducting more wine customer visits, we spent a few day on the road driving what West Australian's refer to as the "Great Southern Route". Leaving from Busselton, via Nannup, Mt Barker, Albany, Denmark and Margaret River we stopped to smell the roses numerous times and to take in the highlights of this facinating region.
Mount Barker:
First stop was Ferngrove Winery in Mt Barker. We visited Kim and Vanessa who are the chief wine makers. They had just completed a great vintage and were extremely excited about the wines they are currently producing.
Mount Barker is located adjacent to the Porongurup Range National Park and within easy reach of the Stirling Ranges and the spectacular southern coastline.
The town is the administrative centre of the Shire of Plantagenet and offers ample shopping and recreational facilities. It services an expansive agricultural area, where there has been successful diversification into viticulture and the cultivation of wildflowers.
Settled very early in Western Australia's European history, Mount Barker boasts a number of lovingly preserved and unique buildings, including St Werburgh's Chapel and the convict-built Old Police Station.
We also visited Plantagenet Winery and were lucky enough to look at some wines in the barrel room. Chief wine maker John Durram showed us some new reislings and chardonnays and an older shiraz and cabernet. Tasty! Keep your eye out on those.
Albany:
We then continued on to Albany and jewell in the south west coast. Long before Europeans considered the possibility of the existence of a Great South Land, the Aboriginal Mineng people had occupied the area which surrounds King George Sound and Oyster and Princess Royal Harbours. Radiocarbon dating of material exposed during archaeological excavation of Aboriginal sites near Oyster Harbour dates this occupation as far back as 18,850 years ago.
The Albany or Great Southern Region, covers approximately 40 000 square kilometres.
The region features some of the most rugged and awe-inspiring scenery in Australia. It extends west to the famous tree top walk at Walpole, to the east as far as picturesque Bremer Bay.
The region boasts some of the finest food and premium wine production and is widely recognised as one of the cleanest and most eco-diverse growing areas in the Southern Hemisphere. The ever changing coast line can be both tranquil and beautiful or intensely dramatic.
It offers superb fishing and also provides protection to pods of Southern Right, Sperm, Humpback Whales and, on occasions, the rare and endangered Blue Whale.
Moving away from the coast, the terrain evolves into a mosaic of contrasts: pastured landscape, vineyards, forests, rolling hills and the towering peaks of the Stirling ranges.
Historic venues:
Strawberry Hill Farm
Old Goal Museum,
The Fort
Amity Replica
The Albany region is blessed by a temperate and comfortable Mediterranean climate. This means beautiful, sunny winter days and cool summer nights. What's more, is that so many of the main attractions are easily accessible to the walker, cyclist or motorist.
The Albany Region offers a dichotomy of experiences, from the spectacular, towering Karri forests, pristine aqua-blue waters of the coast, sandy beaches, frolicking whales, world-class wineries, bird life, bush walks, wildflowers, native wildlife and much more.
On the other hand if you are seeking a quiet romantic interlude, you wont be disappointed. Albany is easily accessible, it takes about 4½ hours by road from Perth, or an hour by air. There are world-class tourist facilities and accommodation to suit every budget, you will be pleasantly surprised at just how affordable Albany is!
Places of interest and other things to do:
Wreck Diving/ Granite Bommies/ Caves and Shore Dives
The Sandalwood Factory
Whale World
Wind Farm
Vancouver Arts Centre
York Street shopping
Dining out
Walk and Cycle trails
Go Taste Albany farm gate experience
Wonders of nature:
Blowholes
The Gap and Natural Bridge
Dog Rock
Torndirrup National Park
William Bay
Greens Pool
Walpole Tree Top Walk
Bibbulmun Track
Wilderness Cruises
Whale Watching
Bush Walks
Bluff Knoll
Karri Forests
Stirling Ranges
Where we ate:
Lunch - fresh unshucked Oysters from Oyster co-op at the harbour.
Dinner - Wild Duck Restaurant
112 York St, Albany, WA 6330
Ph: (08) 9842 2554
food@wildduckrestaurant.com
Andrew, Chef., and Kristy, Matre-de., together have created an elegant, stylish place to relax and enjoy the meals which are more like artists creations than food to eat. The food was fantastic and the service impeccable.
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