The South West region is renowned for gourmet produce – wine, cheese, seafood, and more. It’s an industry that brings food-curious people in from around the world to fill their bellies and their suitcases. A region with such a thriving high-end industry needs the up-market stays to match, and there are a host of accommodation providers bringing the goods.
A Home Cook’s Dream
Tim and Sara Greay built Bina Maya Yallingup Retreat with foodies and families in mind. Sara, inspired by the produce in the Margaret River region, loves to cook; and the main residence’s kitchen has been informed by this passion. The result? A full-sized entertainers kitchen complete with a stocked butler’s pantry and two-zone wine fridge. Even more dreamy than the kitchen itself is watching a chef whip up a feast for you in there – just one of the in-house services available to guests.
Booking the Yallingup four-bedroom residence and both of the two-bedroom villas makes for the ultimate group trip, with entertaining centred around the spacious kitchen and dining or the roaring outdoor firepit. Relax with a local bottle of wine, converse, and watch the kangaroos grazing on the lawn in the fading light.
A Unique Boutique Stay
It’s not every day that you wake beneath remnants of an industrial enterprise of centuries past. At Katanning’s Premier Mill Hotel, there’s no escaping it. Each of the hotel’s 22-rooms tells a different story of the building’s previous flour-milling occupant; some through the abraded timber-clad walls and others through the gently turning machinery in the vaulted ceilings.
Rotating mechanical arms and Bose sound systems don’t sound a styling match made in heaven, but the Premier Mill Hotel shows they can be a harmonious pair. Owner, Nigel Oakey, has meticulously combined high-end and industrial touches to create a warm space without losing any of the colonial Katanning character of the building. Even the whopping steam boiler still has a place, creating a focal point in the otherwise pared-back lobby.
Book in for dinner at Cordial Bar and an overnighter on your way through to Albany, or stay longer and make use of the bespoke ‘experience’ book provided in the rooms. They detail the many day trips from the town, most of the hints and tips known only to the locals that work at the hotel.
A Glamper’s Delight
There are hundreds of metres between you and other guests at Bridgetown’s Serenity Gully; just the right amount of space to slide into your bubble-filled outdoor tub in complete comfort and privacy. Each of the eco-glamping tents here has one, as well as a king-sized bed, private firepit, and unobstructed views out over the surrounding jarrah forests.
It’s this view and the serenity that sold owners Susan and Franco on the property, despite it being much bigger than they were initially intending to buy. At 478 acres, Serenity Gully is almost half the size of Perth’s Kings Park. Follow the trails through the forest to see abundant native flora and fauna, and you might run into the resident lawn-mowing sheep flock, too.
Susan and Franco keep most things pretty natural here, opting to make the tents 100% off-grid for the benefit of both the guests and the environment. With just solar power, the electrical system isn’t equipped to handle your hair straighteners and dryers, nor TVs, wifi, or any other digital distraction.
Beachside Bliss
With a view out over the cerulean Indian Ocean, Smiths Beach Resort at Yallingup is easily one of the most glamorous stays along the famed Cape to Cape Track. Book a stay at the beachfront property as a treat to yourself for completing the 130km-long trail or ‘just because’. You deserve it.
The cosy villas are the perfect place to settle in and unwind, boasting all of the amenities of a luxury hotel without forgoing the creature comforts of home. There’s a full laundry and kitchen for a spot of DIY cooking or Lamont’s Gourmet Deli and Restaurant downstairs for dinner with considerably less labour. In summer, walk the few metres down to the idyllic Smiths Beach for a dip or take the car and go exploring some of the beaches and bays a little further afield.
