Dunsborough has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the 10 best holiday destinations in the world. You’ll love this pretty seaside town of Dunsborough with its beautiful beaches, award-winning vineyards and gourmet fresh local produce.
The Beach House at Dunsborough is a feast for the senses. Relax on the Beach House verandah overlooking a green lawn that rolls onto a white sandy beach with brilliant shades of blue sea. The sheltered white beach is dreamy. Your beach faces north, protected from the afternoon sea breeze and it has no waves. It’s so calm, you can just walk in shallow water to the white sand bars that can be your own personal island.
A visit to this delightful region 2 ½ hours south of Perth will reveal stunning beaches and coastline. Drive along the famous Caves Road wine route down the coast from Dunsborough in the north, to the town of Margaret River 30 kilometres south.
The Margaret River wine route down Caves Rd from Dunsborough is full of award-winning wineries and restaurants, like Bordeaux in France and Stellenbosch in South Africa. Plenty of great Margaret River wine region winery tips are below.
One of the world’s best beaches is near Dunsborough at Bunker Bay, where you can sit at the wonderful Bunkers Beach House on the sand dune with panoramic ocean views.
It’s open for great breakfasts and delicious lunches including sustainable seafood, overlooking this stunning white beach. Look for the long lunches including the Seafood and Chardonnay lunch.
Other beautiful beaches just 5 minutes from Dunsborough include pretty Meelup and Eagle Bay. Between them is the delightful beach at Point Picquet, which could be in the Caribbean. Or for your own personal beach, just relax on the beautiful white sand with blue water that’s all yours, right in front of you here at Beach House Dunsborough.
Only 10 minutes from Dunsborough is the famous Yallingup beach at the start of the Margaret River wine region route on Caves Rd. This is both a famous surf beach with a beautiful calm lagoon, safe for children and families as you watch the surfers. The Hollywood movie The Surfer is currently being shot here, starring Nicolas Cage.
Five minutes south of Yallingup beach on the Margaret River wine region route is Smiths Beach, then Gracetown, down to Prevelly Park at Margaret River.
Also on top of your list of things to do in the Margaret River wine region is to visit famous wineries including Voyager, Vasse Felix and Moss Wood in the Margaret River Wine Region, as well as emerging brands including Watershed.
These gracious wine estates also have wonderful restaurants for lunch with a view, with quality local produce including fresh local sea food. Some of the prettiest cellar doors and restaurants are at the start of the Margaret River wine region around Dunsborough. Some delightful wines are now being made here at wineries including Aravina, Wise and Wills Domain.
Lunch on the verandah at Aravina is a must, looking out over the lovely vineyards. And nearby Happs Winery makes a range of preservative-free wines that help you have a clear head in the morning. The Margaret River wine region’s rich, earthy red wines age very well – mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. And the white wine from award-winning wineries including Leeuwin Estate are among the world’s best.
Margaret River only produces 3 per cent of Australia’s wine grapes, but that includes 20% of Australia’s premium wine. This comes mostly from the Margaret River region’s boutique wine producers – which makes the area a perfect holiday destination to explore and enjoy, close to Perth.
The stand out restaurant in Dunsborough is Blue Manna, with its signature whole local crispy fish with tamarind sauce. Head chef Coby came from Palmer’s Winery with his culinary excellence.
Lady Lola Bistro is next to Blue Manna, the love child of co-creator Michelle, who’s worked at the Ritz Carlton in Sydney and Rockpool in Perth. This is a sophisticated European-style bistro and wine bar with excellent reviews. And good things come in threes – right next to Lady Lola is Yarri Restaurant, the loving creation of Aaron Carr, the award-winning chef who came from beautiful Vasse Felix restaurant after 25 years. These 3 restaurants are stand outs.
Only 5 minutes from Beach House Dunsborough near beautiful Meelup Beach, the white-washed Meelup Farmhouse has a great atmosphere and good food, as does the adjoining Wise Winery Restaurant with its new menu.
For a great breakfast and good coffee, try the new café nearby on Cape Naturaliste Rd at Eagle Bay Olives. Next stop is stunning Bunker Bay with Bunkers Beach Café and its glorious view from the dunes over calm Bunkers beach.
At Yallingup beach, historic Caves House Hotel has a nice casual lunch, dinner and drinks, only 10 minutes from Beach House Dunsborough. Caves House is such a stately building dating back to 1903, with beautiful gardens and a historic trail down to Yallingup beach.
Also try Studio Bistro and Art Gallery at Yallingup, Lamonts at Smiths Beach, or for a fine dining experience, nearby Cape Lodge is superb on the Margaret River wine route down Caves Rd.
Amelia Park Restaurant is another wonderful stop on the Margaret River wine route to dine and try their quality wines. Owners Renee and Blair came from Piari and Co in Dunsborough, and we remember their excitement at creating their own purpose-built restaurant in the Margaret River wine region. Amelia Park supplies its own lamb and the lamb shoulder here is a must. Also try their sister restaurant Amelia Park Lodge as you come into Dunsborough near the roundabout – lovely dining, casual outdoor area and very family friendly.
Winery lunches: It’s a much-loved institution in the Margaret River wine region to have a long, lazy lunch at the dozens of wineries on the Margaret River wine route, which aren’t usually open for dinner.
First up, try Aravina near Beach House Dunsborough, with rolling manicured lawns and an elevated view across lush vineyards. Palmers Winery in Dunsborough has more of a Tuscan feel, and the lunches there are legendary.
Or try the degustation lunch at Rustico Café inside Hayshed Hill winery. Wills Domain has a classy lunch in a covered alfresco area, or Cullens Winery has casual, quality dining inside or out, complemented by their award-winning wine. Vasse Felix is a quality winery owned by the well-known Holmes a Court family, with an excellent upstairs restaurant that looks across stunning vineyards in the Margaret River wine region.
Robert Oatley is a beautiful French-style vineyard recognisable from Caves Road by its golden Lady of the Lake, known by locals as “Chick on a stick.” Further south, you’ll find nice winery restaurants near Margaret River at the famous Voyager Estate and at Leeuwin Estate, with its world famous concerts, where James Taylor recently played to a sell-out crowd.
Nearby, pretty Watershed is the emerging premium winery here. It has a modern, elevated restaurant overlooking the lush green vineyard. The cellar door shop is also lovely with some wonderful artefacts to take home as a memory of a wonderful stay.
Wine tasting here in the Margaret River wine region near Dunsborough is still mostly free, unlike many parts of the world.
Dunsborough has many trendy shops, bars and cafes within 5 minutes walk of the Beach House, to spend a pleasant day walking around. Just head down the beach path to your right, or walk left if you want to see the pretty beach in old Dunsborough as well.
European chefs have come to Dunsborough. Try the Yallingup Wood Fired bread you can buy from shops or direct from the German baker as it comes out of the oven off Biddle Road after 4pm.
The German fruit bread is superb.
Simmo’s Ice Creamery in Dunsborough is legendary, with ice cream flavours including apple pie and salted caramel.
The Margaret River Chocolate Factory is in the bush and gives out free samples of chocolate. The new chocolatier Temper Temper Fine Chocolate is on Bussell Highway and has many varieties of dark chocolate as well.
Next to the Margaret River chocolate factory, you’ll find a great gourmet food deli called Providore in a lovely bush setting.
And Goanna Gallery on Hayes Road is now run by a former London chef who serves delicious breakfasts and lunches.
Dunsborough has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the 10 best holiday destinations in the world. It is recognised as one of the world’s best places for stunning coastline, gourmet produce and quality wine.
Beach House Dunsborough
House 5, 3 Lecaille Court Dunsborough, WA 6281
Phone: 0402 882244
Phone International: + 61 402 882244
info@dunsboroughbeach.net