Frankland River Retreat

It’s all about the wines in these parts, and there are numerous cellar doors open for tours and tastings – so why not spend a couple of days nosing around local vineyards? You can hop in the car and soon be tasting fine vintages at Alkoomi Vineyard (ask to sample their olive oil too), Ferngrove Wines (call ahead) and Lange Estate Winery (all 15 minutes’ drive). Fancy a trip to the coast? Take a dip off the beaches in Albany (90 minutes), catch a few breaks on your surfboard or join a cruise with the chance to see migrating whales. If you’re keen to learn more about the city, there are displays at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station (an hour and 45 minutes) and world-war exhibits at the National Anzac Centre (an hour and 35 minutes). For a real away-from-it-all outback experience, boot up for hikes up craggy Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range National Park (an hour). Remote Porongurup National Park (an hour and 20 minutes) has spectacular driving routes past ancient granite domes, and you can see the forest canopy from above at The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk (90 minutes).