Tag Archives: Western Australia

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Food & Wine in Swan Valley

Swan Valley Vineyard

Less than a thirty-minute drive from Perth’s city center lies Swan Valley, not only one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Australia but also one of the premier food destinations in the country. The Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail stretches for 32 scenic kilometers and is where you will find some of the best wineries, restaurants and cafés in the state.

Wine
A large number of the wineries in Swan Valley were among the first to be established in Western Australia, with the region producing wine for over 180 years now. One of the main charms when it comes to the wineries here is the focus on small boutique wineries, and while there are still some big names to be found, it is the smaller, family-owned vineyards that really shine. Since Swan Valley experiences quite a warm and dry climate, it is perfect for producing some of the best shiraz, cabernet and verdhelo varieties that Australia has to offer, and this, combined with advanced wine making technology and equipment, has given the wines that come from this region a level of perfection that cannot be beaten.

Wineries
Carilley Estate is a family-run vineyard in Swan Valley and has been producing wine for over fifty years. With picturesque gardens featuring majestic greenery, this is definitely one of the more scenic of Swan Valley vineyards, and the lush surroundings add a whole new dimension to the wine tasting. Sandalford Wines is one of the oldest and largest family-run wineries in the state, and is also one of the most sustainable in the country, making their techniques well worth viewing. Talijancich Wines was established in 1932, and has quite the reputation for their award-winning wines, with gourmet cheeseboards available to accompany tastings.

Restaurants and Cafés
With over 90 different restaurants and cafés on the Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail to choose from, each of them making use of regional produce and fresh ingredients in their own way, it can be extremely difficult deciding which to visit! Broads Café, which can be found at the Upper Reach Winery, puts their own twist on their fresh, gourmet food by serving it up tapas style, and focussing on a selection of tasting plates that beautifully accompany the wines from their vineyard. Another fantastic restaurant is situated in the historic Valencia Vineyard, with the owner cooking up fresh and delicious homemade food. The Cheese Barrel is another popular spot on the trail, because, as can be guessed from their name, they focus on specialized wine and cheese pairings, making use of both local and international cheeses.

Australia has a number of different regions that are known for their outstanding food and wine, and Swan Valley is at the top of that list. While it is possible to take a day tour of the region and visit a select number of wineries and restaurants, it really is worthwhile to spend a few days here, taking in the unique aspects of each vineyard, as well as the rich natural beauty all around.

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Kings Park and Botanic Garden

Kings Park and Botanic Garden

EA Given / Shutterstock.com

Located on Mt. Eliza, overlooking the Swan River and the city of Perth, Kings Park and Botanic Garden is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, attracting over 6 million visitors each and every year. Spread out across 400 hectares, two-thirds of the park is natural bushland, playing home to over 300 species of native plants, as well as 80 species of wild birds. The remainder of the park consists of cultivated gardens and recreational areas, making the entire park a tranquil green oasis in the very heart of the city.

Western Australian Botanic Garden
The Western Australian Botanic Garden was opened in 1965 and consists of 17 hectares that showcase the best of Western Australia’s natural biodiversity. The Conservation Garden features some of the state’s endangered plants growing in their natural habitat, a sight that most people would otherwise not be able to see, while the Banksia Garden features impressive relics from the super-continent of Gondwana. The Giant Boab is always a popular attraction here, as this iconic tree, weighing 36 tonnes and estimated to be around 750 years old, is the largest mature tree ever to be transported across land, which it was in 2008 when it was moved from Warmun to its current location at Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth.

Bushland
With two-thirds of Kings Park being protected bushland, the park attracts a diverse array of wildlife, and this is always a joy to see when visiting the park. There are two walking and cycling trails through the bushland that visitors can take, one which is relatively easy and only takes 25 minutes to complete, with the other consisting of a few steep sections and taking approximately an hour to complete.

Fraser Avenue
Leading up to the entrance of the Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, Fraser Avenue is one of the most visited sites in Perth, as well as one of the most photographed. Rows of red flowering gums were planted here in the 1800’s, with more being added in 1929, and the result is a magnificent canopy that creates a shaded avenue, and an exquisite entrance to the park.

Synergy Parkland
Situated on the west side of Kings Park, the Synergy Parkland is a recreational area for the entire family. Children absolutely love the playground, which boasts an island fort, a water misting forest, and impressive large-scale replicas of extinct Australian fauna. While the children play, adults can sit back and relax with a bite to eat, and a delicious coffee, from the café located here, while the area proves to be just as popular during the summer evenings, when it turns into an outdoor cinema.

The Kings Park and Botanic Garden works hard to conserve the nature and wildlife that is native to Western Australia, so that generations to come can also experience this. These ongoing efforts have helped the park earn itself quite the reputation, and it is now considered to be one of the city’s best attractions.

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A Night on the Town in Perth

Nightlife

While Perth may be best known for its sandy beaches and magical sunsets, the city is also filled with a pulsating array of nightlife spots. From elegant rooftop bars to sprawling nightclubs, these are the places to head to the next time you are out on the town for the night in Perth.

Conservatory Rooftop Bar
Considered to be the city’s original rooftop bar, the Conservatory Rooftop Bar can be found on the corner of Murray Street and Prince Lane, with its location meaning that the panoramic city views from the bar are absolutely spectacular. The open-air garden is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or a glass of champagne, while the special guest DJs that spin here every weekend always manage to get the crowd on the dancefloor.

Metropolis Fremantle
A multi-level club, the Metropolis Fremantle’s focus is primarily on live music, hosting a wide variety of both local and international bands. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Metropolis Fremantle turns into one of the hottest dance clubs in the city, with its massive dancefloor filled with a mix of tunes, ranging from R&B to tracks from the 80’s. The club’s outdoor bar is also ideal for taking a breather from the dance floor, cooling off with a drink under the stars.

Ginger Night Club
For those who want to tap their feet to tunes that are not as mainstream as those that many clubs in the city belt out, then the Ginger Night Club, with their emphasis on progressive music, is the place for you. True to its name, the club is decked out in multiple shades of orange, with its stylish interior attracting a hip and stylish crowd.

Must Winebar
Situated just a short walk away from Perth’s Central Business District, the Must Winebar is a chic bar that has won multiple awards over the years. Its French theme gives it an elegance that cannot be beaten, with their Provincial-style plates pairing beautifully with the impressive selection of both local and international wines.

Ambar Nightclub
Regularly touted as being the best club in Perth by some of the hottest international DJs, and with a variety of awards under their belt, the Ambar Nightclub has always been one of the most popular spots in town. The club’s focus on the biggest international DJs and the hottest club nights in the city has never waned, and it definitely deserves its reputation as being a club that always guarantees an unforgettable night out. In terms of music, expect to hear the DJs spinning plenty of broken beats and underground tracks, with its unique music putting the club even more ahead of its competition.

Perth’s varied nightlife caters to just about every taste, from those who want an evening of wine and fantastic food to those who would prefer to dance the night away accompanied by the hottest thumping beats. Since many of the city’s best night spots are located within walking distance of each other, it is easy to combine a few different places in one evening, promising a night on the town like no other.

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Australia’s Best Beaches

With some of the longest stretches of sand covered coastline in the world, Australia is home to over 11,000 different beaches, each unique for its own reasons. It would be impossible to explore all of Australia’s beaches in a single trip, or even your entire lifetime, so if you are wondering where to go, take a look at OROGOLD’s picks of Australia’s best beaches.

Boondi Beach, Australia

Bondi Beach, Sydney
While Bondi Beach has made it on the list of Australia’s best beaches, this is not necessarily due to the quality of the beach itself. Bondi Beach is a Sydney icon, if not a beach icon for the whole of Australia, and a visit to Sydney would not be complete without spending some time on Bondi Beach. It is usually exceptionally crowded, but is the best beach to do some people watching and soak up the authentic Australian beach culture. The history of the area, as well as the atmosphere and surroundings, definitely make it worth the visit, even if you don’t intend to do any swimming.

Whithaven Beach, Whithaven Island.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Queensland
The most photographed beach in Australia, Whitehaven Beach is arguably the country’s most beautiful. The silica in the sand makes it extremely soft to the touch, and prevents it from getting too hot, giving it a gleaming white color that contrasts gorgeously with the aquamarine waters. Although this may be a popular beach, its beauty stretches out for over 7km, so even when the tour buses come along to unload their hordes of beach-going tourists, you will still be able to find a quiet area to enjoy some peace and tranquillity.

Cable Beach, Australia.

Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia
Known to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Cable Beach has 22km of pristine white sand, washed clean every day by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Since it sits on the Indian, rather than Pacific, Ocean, Cable Beach is world famous for its spectacular sunsets, which appear as a bright red ball in the sky, casting off amazing warm shades over the water. The Sunset Bar is a great place to relax and take this in, while others opt for a sunset camel ride along the beach. Those who want to soak up the sun au naturel can visit the area of the beach just north of the rocks, where clothing is optional, while those who want to experience some native culture can follow one of the walking trails south of the rocks, which will take you through the red dunes of Minyirr Park, a spiritual location for the Yawuru people.

The beaches in Australia are as varied as the country is. While some may have huge breaks for experienced surfers, others will have gentle waters for children to splash around in. Nature lovers will be able to enjoy the wildlife at the more isolated beaches, while those who want to snorkel or dive have many spots to choose from. Since there are so many options available, OROGOLD recommends researching all of the beaches in the area of Australia that you are in, so that you can be sure that you are picking the best one for your needs.