Finished off yet another year in ‘living to work’ mode? It’s time to reverse that and embrace life again! Celebrate new beginnings and a new year ahead by letting loose at one of these sublime coastline getaways, where spectacular landscapes, soothing sea air and tantalising experiences await.
Get off the beaten track in Margaret River, WA
It’s a hot summer afternoon. The cicadas are buzzing, the scent of eucalypt hangs heavy in the still air and Hamish Gibson, from Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, knows exactly where he wants to be. “Plunging into Chapman Pool and then resting in the shade of a tree is a beautiful feeling,” he says.
Never heard of Chapman Pool? There’s good reason. Hidden away in the Blackwood National Park, about 20 minutes inland from the townships of Margaret River or Augusta in Western Australia’s South West Coast, this bush-fringed waterhole is something of a local secret – and it’s not the only one. Few visitors realise that the tall forests of Margaret River are interlaced with a web of waterways that offer the perfect summer playground. The still waters of the Margaret River itself are the perfect place to try your hand at canoeing – not least because motorised craft are banned from these waters. “Particularly in the morning, when the water is often super still, the reflection of the treescape in the water is a wonderful thing to see,” Hamish says.
Whether you opt for splashing about in the water or something a trifle more adventurous – the area’s limestone ridges offer some amazing places to go rock climbing or abseiling, including Brides Cave with its glorious forest setting – you’ll be doing yourself good simply by breathing in the forest air. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that time spent among the trees is a sure-fire way to bring your stress levels down and boost your wellbeing.
Exploring Margaret River’s bushscapes also lets you expand your understanding of our First Peoples. Take Cape to Cape Explorer Tours’ range of day hikes and multi-day trips, which include the iconic 125-kilometre Cape to Cape Track, stretching between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. “The walking tracks in this part of the world are often the paths used by the Wadandi and Bibbulmun people,” Hamish explains. “They understood the area’s micro-climates and knew the best places to gain shelter, to hunt, to perform ceremonies.”
They also understood the rich variety of the plant life around them – the area is known for its biodiversity, including an extraordinary array of wildflowers, as well as the strong native wisteria, which they used like twine, and the banskias, which were used to carry fire safely.
More things to do in MARGARET RIVER
EAT: Bush tucker is known for containing lots of nutrients and flavour. Taste indigenous savours like wattle seed, rosella fruit and kangaroo on a tour with the Aboriginal-owned Koomal Dreaming.
DO: With plenty of surf and swimming beaches to choose from, you can always find a welcoming stretch of sand. Ask a local to recommend their favourite swim spot.
STAY: Fall asleep to the sounds of the wind whispering through the leaves at Olio Bello olive farm, which also offers lakeside glamping.
Cut loose in the Shoalhaven, NSW
As our lives get busier, we all too often forget to make time for the things that used to bring us great happiness. How long has it been since you enjoyed a fiercely fought game of netball with colleagues, spent the evening with your friends dancing to your favourite tunes, or climbed on the back of a horse for a canter?
If the latter has piqued your interest, then the Shoalhaven, on the South Coast of New South Wales, has a special treat in store – the chance to thunder down a beach on horseback. “So many people have that experience on their bucket list and they get so excited when they learn they can do it in the Shoalhaven,” says Michelle Bishop, owner of the sumptuous Bangalay Luxury Villas.
This exhilarating equine adventure – you’ll feel the salt spray flying past your face as the horses’ hooves drum on the sand – is one of the highlights of a stay in the Shoalhaven, but there are plenty of others. Sitting between the Illawarra to the north and the Sapphire Coast to the south, the Shoalhaven has a range of diverse landscapes in which you can get out and get active. “You have the beaches, but you also have green hills rolling down to the coast and steep escarpments – the scenery here is just incredible,” Michelle says.
Got a head for heights? There are unbeatable views to be had when you go rock climbing or abseiling on the Nowra escarpment. Climbers come from around the world to experience these crags; if you want a really memorable experience, you can book a ‘cliffnic’ – feasting on local produce while suspended from a clifftop – with Outdoor Raw.
For less extreme activities that’ll still put a smile on your face, try paddling down the magnificent Shoalhaven River or stretching your legs on one of the region’s many tracks and trails. Some of the loveliest can be found at Bundanon, the estate that was the former home of painter Arthur Boyd, where the breathtaking views inspired some of his most famous works.
When it’s time to zen out, a spot of birdwatching is the answer. “There’s an estuary here that’s like an international bird airport – birds nest there; some have come all the way from Siberia,” Michelle says. “Just sitting and watching them leaves you feeling so calm and relaxed.”
More things to do in THE SHOALHAVEN
EAT: It’s hard to beat the health benefits of oysters, which are packed with protein, vitamin D, copper, zinc and manganese. Stop in at one of the Shoalhaven’s oyster farms to enjoy a fresh-from-the-sea treat.
DO: Part of the joy of a trip to a coastal region is embracing the slower pace of life. Spend a day or two hopscotching between pretty townships, such as Callala Bay, Huskisson, Vincentia and Hyams Beach, browsing the stores and stopping to chat with the locals.
STAY: Set back from the beach, the chic Bangalay Luxury Villas at Shoalhaven Heads offers an elegant escape from the everyday.
Explore the big blue at Mornington Peninsula, Vic
It’s the speed that surprises you. Fur seals may look sweet, with their doe eyes and long whiskers, but when they’re on their way somewhere, they move at an extraordinary pace. Even more impressive is their grace: the way they flip, corkscrew and somersault through the gin-clear water.
Few things will put a smile on your dial as quickly as a close encounter with a fur seal or a playful bottlenose dolphin. At Mornington Peninsula, located south-east of Melbourne, you can do both. Port Phillip Bay is home to resident populations of these wild creatures; a number of companies, including Polperro Dolphin Swims, will take you out for an unforgettable experience.
There are many other ways to have an adventure on, or in, the water, too. “The Mornington Peninsula has been a favourite seaside getaway for decades for good reason,” says Adam McDonald, general manager of the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula. “You’ll never run out of things to do here.”
If you want some more underwater action, head to Portsea Pier with a snorkel to discover weedy sea dragons, soft corals and sponges, puffer fish and more. If you enjoy catching a wave, there are plenty of options for surfers (Point Leo is great for beginners; Gunnamatta Beach is famous for its wilder waves), but there are also an array of calm bays to explore. An early morning stand-up paddleboard safari also offers the chance for a little wildlife spotting – keep an eye out for kangaroos grazing on the dew-dappled grass.
And if all that fresh sea air works up your appetite, the Mornington Peninsula is packed with farm gates selling fresh produce and with artisan producers offering a range of goodies to sink your teeth into: everything from olive oil to preserves and cheeses.
More things to do on THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
EAT: It’s true what they say – food tastes better when you’ve picked it yourself. A number of local farms let you pick your own – the strawberries at Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm are famously good.
DO: Spend a day soaking in the natural, mineral-rich heated pools of the Peninsula Hot Springs, where you can also enjoy a range of rejuvenating spa treatments.
STAY: The seaside village of Sorrento is home to a glam new base, with the opening of the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula.
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