Margaret River Adventure Co., Margaret River, WA © Margaret River Adventure Co.
Outdoor adventures in Margaret River
Not only a place for phenomenally fine wine, Margaret River also offers plenty to the nature lover, thrill seeker and adventurer – sometimes all at once.
By Fleur Bainger
Imagine sweeping in to one of Australia’s most highly regarded wine regions aboard a seaplane, abseiling down a rugged cliff face or zip lining through forests to the sound of native birdsong. Margaret River combines the good life with equal shares of buzz and excitement.
Arrive via a scenic seaplane journey
Margaret River’s world-class wines are just one flight away. Strap into a seaplane floating on Perth’s Swan River for a bird’s-eye view tour of Perth, Fremantle, Busselton Jetty and your final destination, Margaret River. Swan River Seaplanes will have you there in about one hour and on touch-down, you’ll be whisked away for four hours of boutique wine and cheese tasting and lunchtime feasting. This luxury experience rates high on the excitement metre – particularly when you land on the water at day’s end.
Abseil and rock climb around the coast
If cliffs, rock faces and adrenaline rushes are your things, then your pulse will quicken with Margaret River Climbing Co. Feel the chill of the wind as you abseil 10-40m (33-130ft) down the rugged seaside cliffs at picturesque Wilyabrup (the heartland of the region’s premium wine). Step over the edge on a half-day abseiling and rock climbing experience.
Take a chopper ride to a winery degustation
Feel like a celebrity as you helicopter to a winery for lunch with Flying Corkscrew. You'll see Margaret River’s stunning coastline before landing at your choice of the region’s best cellar door restaurants for a long, lazy lunch. Before your degustation begins, you’ll be dropped off at three charming wineries for a personalised tasting. The private experience is available from October to April; a maximum of six people can relax in the chopper’s window-wrapped cockpit.
Conquer the coastline
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Take adventuring to a whole new level on a coasteering tour (the only one of its kind in Australia) run by Margaret River Adventure Co. Over two hours, you’ll meander along the coastline, but rather than walking beside it, you’ll hop, jump and float while watching whales and sea lions frolic nearby. This aquatic adventure is open to everyone who can swim 25m (82ft) independently.
Float through the forest on a zip line
Test your strength with a new high ropes course and fly like a bird through the tree canopy while hooked onto a zip line. Multi-level courses at Forest Adventures South West will see all family members swing and climb on flying foxes, suspended bridges and Tarzan ropes. Zoom along for more than 150m (500ft), conquer a 13m (43ft) base jump, tackle a bike on a wire and dangle on rope spider webs.
Go off-road on a quad bike adventure
Quad bikes are often associated with farming life in the Australian outback, but you can also jump onboard one of these high-revving beasts in Margaret River – with a significant difference. Eco Adventures use locally engineered eco bikes, which run on electricity and use low inflation tyres, so they’re quiet and kind to the sensitive national park tracks you explore. Drive through tall-tree forests, learning about their natural history and the furry and scaly creatures within.
Canoe upriver and dine on bush tucker
Fancy savouring smoked kangaroo, the twang of lemon myrtle, marinated emu and bush tomato? “Bush tucker,” as it’s called, is on the menu during a canoe tour run by Bushtucker Tours. Paddle along the picturesque Margaret River, passing Aboriginal sites, native wildlife habitats, caves and cliffs while learning about the region’s Aboriginal culture. Finish the morning with a well-earned bush tucker picnic.
Surf some of the world's best waves
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned specialist, there’s nothing like getting out into Margaret’s waves. Take a private or group lesson with the experienced coaches at Margaret River Surf Academy for two hours of wave-riding fun at a location hand-picked to suit your ability.