GIN IN A BOTTLE
If you love gin, put the Giniversity Blending
Experience at the award-winning
Margaret River Distilling Company
on your itinerary. Giniversity distiller
Katie Lovis takes a two-hour class in which
you will work with a range of botanical
distillates to craft your own unique gin
recipe. Best of all, you get to carry away
your bottle of bespoke gin ( 0 0 - 61- 8 - 9757-
9351; http://www.distillery.com.au; Maxwell
Street, Margaret River; blending
experience: ` 7, 3 0 0/ person).
FOR THE LOVE
OF OLIVE OIL
Thereis a wonderful smell in the air
atVasseVirgin Margaret River
- they’vejust finished making a batch
of soap. The ‘virgin’ here refers
to virgin olive oil – a common
ingredient that runs through
the wonderful skin care and
soaps beautifully arranged
around the showroom
that overlooks the actual
making area. Word has
it that the family began
making their own
concoctions because
the children had eczema
and psoriasis. Word spread
and,today, it’s a 25-year-old
business, with test-and-try stations,
workshopsin making your own lip
balmandnatural perfume, and olive oil
masterclasses. You’ll want everything
in this sweet-smelling shop; the lemon and
chamomile balm is a best-seller, and don’t
forget to check out the gourmet foods at
the back of the store; there are excellent
deli-style products here, including the
macadamia pesto ( 0 0 - 61 - 8 - 975 5 - 6111;
http://www.vassevirgin.com.au; 135, Puzey Rd,
Wilyabrup; soap bars from ` 270).
Startthedaywith breakfast in the historic
CavesHouse Hotel Yallingup ( 0 0 - 61- 8 -
9750-1888;www.caveshousehotelyallingup.
com.au;18,Yallingup Beach Rd), before driving
10 minutesto Smiths Beach for the start of
theCapeto Cape Walk (pictured bottom
andbelowleft); this will add four days to your
itinerary.Otherwise, make your way to
theInjidupNatural Spa via the car park
at theendof Wyadup Road (30 minutes); wear
swimmersand prepare to experience a “fresh”
sideof theocean. Enjoy lunch (and a brew
atEagleBay Brewing Co, a 25-minute drive
away(picturedright;00-61-8-
9755;www.eaglebay
brewing.com.au;Eagle
BayRd;EagleBay),
beforemaking
thethree-
hourdrive
backto Perth.
Breakfastin yourroom(Seashellsis
self-catering) or have a bite in any of
Margaret River township’s cafés (33km),
then drive 20 minutes to Lake Cave.
After a tour of the cave and the interpretative
centre, take a vineyard tour at Voyager
Estate (15 minutes away), ending with lunch.
Spend the afternoon blending your own
gin at the Margaret River Distilling
Company’s Giniversity (pictured above;
see box on this page). An hour’s drive takes
you to an experience with Josh Whiteland
at the Ngilgi Cave; on a clear day, you
could take the Kaya Cape Experience
in the Cape Naturaliste precinct where
you will be surrounded by oceans on three
sides and have the landscape interpreted
through the eyes of an indigenous custodian.
Return to base to rest awhile before dining at
your favourite restaurant, or at Cape
Lodge, a 10-minute drive away, known
for French-influenced country fare that
showcases local produce ( 0 0 - 61- 8 - 9755 -
6311; http://www.capelodge.com.au; 3342
[Lot 26], Caves Rd; Yallingup).
DAY 2
DAY 3
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