7. Swans escape to the Avon - Perth to York and back!
The Perth region covers two lovely valleys named after the rivers that run through them - the Swan Valley and the Avon Valley - and there is a great deal you could do on your Swans escape to the Avon Escape - so it requires careful planning. You could just laze around and relax with a great meal and a beaut Australian wine or beer - alternatively there are many things (perhaps too many) that you could do. So we will provide some tastes of the Valley for you to assess.
Now neither the Swan not the the Avon are particularly large rivers and are not the massive watercourses that some of Western Australia's mighty northern rivers become in the wet - but the Avon drains about 121,000 square kilometres of WA's agricultural region and reaches beyond Southern Cross. It changes it's name to the Swan River at Woorooloo Brook and then flows down into the Swan Valley and on to the lovely capital city of Perth (see photo) before flowing out to the sea at the famous port city of Fremantle.
The Swan Valley is the closest to Perth and the Swan Valley begins about 30 minutes drive from Perth. It has been a grape growing area for many years but over the last two decades has developed a substantial number of tourist attractions serving Perth visitors and locals alike. So of course it is busy on weekends and in many ways the best time to go (if you want the place pretty much to yourself) is midweek - just check that the things you want to do are available as they are not all open all of the time. Some of the better tours like Sandalfords Winemaker for the Day are only available on weekends and that one is only available on Saturdays.
There are some excellent wineries, restaurants, micro breweries, chocolate and cheese factories and other attractions for you to chose from here .
Now if you think you can only escape the clutches of the Jailors for a couple of nights the Swans escape to the Avon is a nice simple escape for you to trial your escape procedure with.
There are so many alternatives available to you in these lovely valleys that it can be difficult to select just a few so we have recommended just a few for you to consider - if you want to consider others have a look around our site and to gain a more complete understanding of what is available another good option is the Swan Valley Tourism Association website the URL for which is:
http://www.swanvalley.com.au/
and the Swan Valley Visitor Centre address is at the Historic Guildford Courthouse c.1866 Cnr Meadow and Swan Streets GUILDFORD Mail: PO Box 196 MIDLAND WA 6936 Phone: +61 8 9379 9400 Fax: +61 8 9379 9477 Email: visitorcentre@swan.wa.gov.au
The Visitor Centre is the starting point of our Swans escape to Ningaloo package and so for more information about that you could have a look at that itinerary and the early parts of day one of the first episode in our exciting DriveWA series with IPTV and Loco TV which will be on the website soon. Come back soon and see if it is available perhaps. You will enjoy it.
We recommend that you make a leisurely start to the day on day one and drive to the Sandalford Winery via the Swan Valley Visitors center - just to see if there is something else you might like to consider and also because the centre and the historical area around it is a great place to wander around.
Sandalford gets our recommendation as they are so professional, their product is first class and they have been great to deal with in compiling these escapes and information for them. We would recommend you do their winemakers tour:
http://www.sandalford.com/Cellar-Door/winemaker-for-a-day.html
In this excellent tour you learn how to blend wine and get the opportunity to blend some of your own which some of their wine experts will blend and then emjoy a sumptuous meal in their lovely restaurant. Its a great morning and early afternoon entertainment from 11am to 2pm Saturdays.
Bookings are essential to ensure that you do not miss out. We would recommend lunch there on day 1 anyway and an hour or so browsing their retail area and lovely tasting room.
They also run winery tours every day of the week at 11am and 2pm so even if you are not there saturday or cannot get into the winemaker for a day tour there is another tour you can take wrapped around a lunch in the restaurant.
When we were there filming the Swans escape to Ningaloo footage we sampled a number of their wines and the food and it was all very very good - the Sandalford red we purchased was divine and their sticky (desert wine) was outstanding.
Hillside Country Retreat
A large secluded country retreat surrounded by gently rolling hills and picturesque farmland, 'Hillside' is ideally suited to a romantic getaway where you can escape the bustle of city life. more
Quellington School House
York is situated in the Avon Valley and this farmstay provides a unique opportunity to share in the region's history. The school house is located on a wheat and sheep farm which also features pet kangaroos and emus. The brick school has been fully restored and tastefully furnished in the elegant style of yesteryear but with all the comforts of today. Children welcome, but no pets. Barbeque facilities are available. more
Lancelin Lodge YHA
Lancelin Lodge offers a huge well equipped kitchen, 15m pool, log fire and comfortable beds. The Lodge is a short walk from the town, beaches and dunes. Enjoy the sunset at the dunes or the beachfront pub! more
Ledge Point
Ledge Point is a small coastal town of 257 with great beaches for swimming is 120km north of Perth. Ledge Point was established to service the local fishing industry, which is predominately crayfish. more
New Norcia
New Norcia is truly unique. Located just two hours north of Perth, prepare to be introduced to a new kind of Australiana; the Australian bush with a hint of old Spain. The most fascinating aspect of New Norcia is its monasterial history. For the past 160 years Benedictine monks have inhabited the area, living simple lives of prayer and devotion. New Norcia is truly unique as it is the only monastic town in the whole of Australia. The town is embedded with fascinating architecture, European and contemporary Australian art, and the Nyoongar Aboriginal culture; making it one of Australia’s most prominent heritage sights. more
Kookaburra Dream Travellers Overnight
Located in the main street of York, WA's oldest inland town, Kookaburras offer both private rooms and dormitory sleeping arrangments and the provision of a shared kitchen, bathrooms, lounge and laundry facilities. It also offers value added services like internet access, tour booking, meal provision, pick up and forward booking services. more
Jolly Frog Cafe - Restaurant
Watch the sunset over the water as you feast on a meal of local seafood. more
Araluen Botanic Park
Nestled deep inside jarrah forested valley, Araluen Botanic Park is a natural heaven for relaxation. Its tranquil setting, in the Darling Ranges, allows visitors to experience the peace and beauty throughout all four seasons. The garden encompasses a combination of native and exotic species, many of which are over 60 years old. Native wildflowers can be viewed throughout the year; combining with the beautiful streams and grassy areas to create perfect barbeque and picnic spots. more
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