Western Australia’s Margaret River Region has a legendary reputation for its wineries, food, scenery and surf, but where to stay to take it all in?
Stretching from Busselton, about two and a half hours south of Perth, and extending to 138km to Augusta which is four hours south, the places you’ll want to see are all within easy reach once you are in the area.
Staying at the ‘top’ of the region at Pullman Resort Bunker Bay, gave us a chance to relax in beautiful beachside surroundings and access the northern end of the region with ease. And because we were only there two days, that was a perfect solution.
Cascading down towards the ocean, this resort certainly has wow factor. My partner said to me when we checked in ‘You did well’.
The resort offers studio and one, two or three bedroom villas positioned in groups heading down the sloping site to the sea. From our room right at the back there wasn’t much hint of the beach but the up side was that it was only a short distance to the car park. The resort is designed so cars are all left in a central car park at the top and you walk to your rooms. There are also golf buggies to take your luggage around.
It’s a fair walk to the bottom of the hill but I think that’s where some of the best rooms lie, positioned around the resort’s lake. They seem to be a combination of three bedroom and studio villas but I would definitely try to book one of these next time.
Of course a resort of this standard has a lovely pool that you could spend plenty of time lying by, but with the beach just a short walk away it’s a hard choice to make.
The Other Side of the Moon is the resort’s formal dining area which sits adjacent to the casual Lounge bar. It’s an elegant dining space and you’ll need to book for lunch and dinner. There were plenty of people enjoying dinner in both venues and I was very pleased with my meal and the waiter’s wine match suggestions. It’s a great way to try some of the local wines which you can easily go out and buy the next day.
The closest town is the small centre of Dunsborough which is just 12km away. That’s not far in the daylight but at night, judging by the number of kangaroos on the side of the road, things get a little scarier. It has everything you need and more with some interesting clothing shops, a supermarket, cafes and a bottle shop.
Our room was outfitted with a great mini-kitchen with a stove top, dishwasher and fridge, plus pots and pans and plenty of crockery. This gives you the option of eating in your room and relaxing rather than dressing up for dinner.
I particularly enjoyed the large bath in the spacious bathroom. It was really roomy and great for a long soak with the complimentary bath wash.
The resort is just a short drive to Cape Naturaliste where you can walk to the lighthouse and take a tour if you like. There are some beautiful bays and beaches that are wonderful to explore as well.
Sugarloaf Road is another diversion that’s well worth the effort for stunning views, particularly at sunset.
If you want to fully explore the whole region it would be great to also stay some days close to Augusta in the south.
Next time I will make sure I have at least three full days to explore the top end of Margaret River Region, just on its own. And I will be back, you can count on it.
Pullman Resort Bunker Bay, Margaret River Region
Kerry Heaney
Disclaimer: Ed+bK was a guest of Pullman Resort Bunker Bay.