Food & Wine Lovers

Family-owned cellar doors, paddock-to-plate breweries and the long lunches Geographe quietly does better than anyone.

Drive
~1.5 hrs from Perth
Days
2 days
Activity
Food & Wine

The trip

The Ferguson Valley is Western Australia's most diverse wine region — 36+ varietals across small cellar doors where the maker is usually the one pouring. Add the Harvey Region's farm gates, paddock-to-plate breweries, and long winter lunches beside the vines.

Less commercial than Margaret River — and quieter, too.

Day One

Perth to Bunbury

Perth Forrest Hwy Bunbury Harvey Ferguson Valley

Down the Forrest Highway to Harvey

Start your trip from Perth and drive south depending on what time you leave stop at the Crooked Carrot on the Forrest Highway for a coffee before heading on to Bunbury or check out the Old Coast Road Brewery for lunch and a quick round of mini golf. This family-friendly brewery has a menu full of tasty hearty dishes, lighter bites, and a selection of twelve brews, two ciders, and an olive grove. Continue on to the Bunbury Farmers Market and stock up on local produce and goodies before heading to Harvey town and visit GeoVino for a wine tasting and to pick up some more local produce, meat, and cheeses for snacks or dinner in your accommodation. Just a short drive away is Harvey River Estate, a great place to stop for a guided wine tasting and to see the famous Big Orange.

Brugan Brewery & your Ferguson Valley stay

Just up the road is the historic Wokalup Tavern and Brugan Brewery, where beer tasting is taken to the next level with a selection of brews including a vanilla porter, dark lager, and citrus sour. Just 25 minutes from here you'll reach the Ferguson Valley, where you can choose from various accommodation options. Evedon Lakeside Retreat, situated on a vast 320-acre property, boasts cabins and an on-site restaurant, but book ahead to secure your spot. Alternatively, the Peppermint Lane Lodge B&B offers a charming and intimate stay.

Cabins on the lake at Evedon Lakeside Retreat
Photo · Bianca Turri
Day Two

Ferguson Valley

Wellington Dam King Jarrah Willow Bridge Bush Shack

Wellington Dam Wall

Begin your adventure with a scenic drive to Wellington Dam Wall. Take a stroll and witness the remarkable work of public art — the world's largest dam mural, titled 'Reflections'. For the best view, head to the WaterCorp lookout.

"Reflections" mural across the Wellington Dam wall
Photo · Virat Shah

King Jarrah

Next, a 16-minute drive takes you to King Jarrah — a majestic 36-meter-tall tree estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old. Take a walk through the nearby Wellington Discovery Forest, where you might even spot a friendly kangaroo.

Willow Bridge Estate

Visit Willow Bridge Estate for some wine tasting. Book ahead online to avoid waiting to sample their range of wines, including young and exceptional value to preservative-free and sparkling varieties, all produced with fruit from their vineyard established in 1997.

Lunch at Green Door Wines or Hackersley Estate

For lunch, you have two options: Green Door Wines or Hackersley Estate. Green Door Wines, a family-run winery, is where you can indulge in Spanish/European wine varietals and enjoy stunning views of the Darling Scarp and the coast. Alternatively, Hackersley Estate, offers a fixed three-course feast with a menu that changes every eight weeks.

Gnomesville

After lunch, head to Gnomesville, a short drive down Wellington Mill Road, where you can find thousands of gnomes living happily ever after in one of the world's largest gnome communities. Be sure to check out the 'Gnoman Empire'.

St Aidan Wines & Bush Shack Brewery

Your next stop is St Aidan Wines, just a short drive away. This family-run boutique winery, restaurant, and events center is a perfect place to taste their wine, which they describe as "art in a bottle." One minute away is the Bush Shack Brewery, specialising in all-natural, unfiltered beers, ciders, and flavoured alcoholic drinks. Try their unique selection, including chili beer, chocolate milk stout, and twisted lemon lager.

Ferguson Valley winery and bushland country
Photo · Dylan Alcock

The route, mapped

Each day, in colour

Day by day, stop by stop — coloured lines show the order you'd travel and the time of day for each leg.

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There are quieter, richer food trips in Western Australia than the famous ones. This is one of them — book ahead where you can, then let the rest happen at the pace of a long winter lunch.

Stops along the way

14 places mentioned

  • Café
    Crooked Carrot
  • Brewery
    Old Coast Road Brewery
  • Market
    Bunbury Farmers Market
  • Wine
    GeoVino
  • Wine
    Harvey River Estate (Big Orange)
  • Pub
    Wokalup Tavern
  • Brewery
    Brugan Brewery
  • Stay
    Evedon Lakeside Retreat
  • Stay
    Peppermint Lane Lodge
  • Wine
    Willow Bridge Estate
  • Wine
    Green Door Wines
  • Wine
    Hackersley Estate
  • Wine
    St Aidan Wines
  • Brewery
    Bush Shack Brewery
Perth · Forrest Hwy · Bunbury · Harvey · Ferguson Valley · Wellington Dam · King Jarrah · Willow Bridge · Bush Shack