Cape Lodge

Sumptuous country hotel with lake-filled gardens and a top-notch restaurant in the heart of the Margaret River wineries

Three hours south of Perth is Margaret River. It's not just a river: it's an arty gastro-town, a premium wine region (which produces 1/4 of Australia's top wines), and a beautiful coastline stretching 100km between a pair of capes, where fabulous empty white beaches and limestone caves are washed by the cobalt Indian Ocean.

Amidst these wineries and just 3km from the coast, Cape Lodge started out in the 1990s as a luxury B&B, and has been evolving upwards ever since. A $3m injection has seen the completion of luxury rooms and suites and the spacious lakeside restaurant, with a famous 14,000-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar. You enter through working vineyards and native woodland, then the drive sweeps round to reveal 40 acres of gorgeous private parkland, including a tennis court, a free-form swimming pool, manicured lawns and rose gardens set around ornamental lakes. This is top-dollar indulgence for food, wine and beach lovers.

Highs

• Charming setting in landscaped gardens, with 2 lakes, a pool and vineyards
• Secluded lake-view rooms and suites, housed in 6 different buildings
• Also 2 residences for 4-6, set in their own grounds within the estate
• Delicious, innovative menus
• Heaps to do nearby: wineries, beaches, karri forests, fishing, whale-watching, diving, surfing
• Discreet, professional and friendly service

Lows

• A tad pricey in high season, but Margaret River has good weather all year round so it's worth going out of season
• The lodge buildings are varied in style - some are neo-classical, others modern - and some rooms lack character
• No children under 15 are allowed
• Some of the buildings are a long walk from the restaurant (but this keeps them tranquil)