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Margaret River
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The town of
MARGARET RIVER
, like the eponymous region, has come to symbolize every stress-worn Perthian's dream to escape the rat race, set up a craft boutique or a sylvan getaway, and claim their share of the Good Life. It's a favourite place for a mix of holiday-makers, partying wave-riders, floral-clad muses and the vanguard of fortunate "mappies" (middle-aged professionals) who moved in ahead of the real-estate boom.
Margaret River is not necessarily the best place actually to stay - prices can be high in summer when the town is busy - but it's handy for shopping, eating out and browsing, while its tourist office (daily 9am-5pm; tel 08/9757 2911, amrta@netserv.net.au ), on the Bussell Highway, represents the whole region. Westrail and South West Coach Lines buses visit daily from Perth; local taxis (tel 08/9757 3444) are used to being taken along on some serious wine-tasting jaunts. Highly recommended are local Bushtucker Tours (tel 08/9757 9084), who run a cave and canoe tour ($33) as well as a winery tour ($44). The range of accommodation is vast, with over sixty sites in the immediate vicinity, but the woodland settings out of town are the ones to go for; the helpful tourist office has big portfolios full of ideas. The Inne Town A backpackers' (free call 1800 244 115; under $50), on the main road at the north end of town, is ideally central but that's the only thing going for it. A better idea for budget travellers is Margaret River Lodge , 2km out of town on Railway Terrace (tel 08/9757 9532, fax 9757 2352, www.mrlodge.com.au ), which also has rooms with en suites (dorms under $20, rooms $50-70) or sample backpacker luxury at Surfpoint Lodge out on the beach. At the other end of the scale, Basildene Manor on Walcliffe Road (tel 08/9757 3140, fax 9757 3383, www.basildene.com.au ; $150 and upwards), built in 1912, is a re-creation of an English manor listed by the National Trust as a significant Heritage property. Both the Margaret River (tel 08/9757 2180; on-site vans $35-50) and the Riverview (tel 08/9757 2270; on-site vans $35-50) caravan parks are just a kilometre out of town.
The whole countryside is dotted with charming restaurants, often attached to
wineries
. In town, the main street has a host of good-quality
restaurants
and
cafAŠs
. Try the
Ark of Iris
cafAŠ; the sesame burgers and veggie breakfasts at
CafAŠ 1 Eleven
; or join the young crowd at
Settlers
, the town's main
pub
, which puts on live music in summer.
CafAŠ FortAŠs
(tel 08/9757 3101) is an upmarket restaurant that uses locally grown produce. There's an
internet cafAŠ
behind the Challenge bank on the Bussell Highway. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Australia,
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