Awaken Your Taste Buds at The Swan Valley, Perth

Being one of the word’s most remote cosmopolitan cities, Perth is located on the western corner of Australia. For some people, Perth is often characterized as a rather dull city, but people in Perth enjoys a peaceful laid-back lifestyle that no-one would complain about. For many overworked Malaysian, a long weekend getaway to this city of lights is simple blissful as one can enjoy the wondrous cool climate and just chill out in the beautiful serene bush land.

Perth’s Swan Valley is only a short 25 minutes scenic drive away from the city, it is Western Australia’s oldest wine region. For wine lovers, this Valley of Taste will truly awaken your taste buds. There are the infamous fortifieds such as Muscats, Ports, and other unique liquor wines direct from the cellar door and not produced anywhere else. If you’re not one for drinking, there are still lots to see and enjoy as you wonder along the award-winning Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail. This trail stretch to form a 32 kilometer loop, lining with centuries old wineries, lively breweries, classy restaurants, lively cafes, formal distilleries, eccentric shops, rich culture, blend of arts and crafts, homely accommodations and humble roadside set-ups selling freshly picked farm produce. The list goes on with plenty more for you to explore.

Visitor Centre, Guildford

To begin this journey, make your first stop at the Swan Valley Visitor Centre in Guildford. There, you can pick up some of the guides and maps to help you plan and navigate your way through the vast area of Swan Valley. I find the map really helpful as they are labeled and sign-port carefully in detailed so you know where exactly everything is and you can pick your choice of places to visit.

Though the things to do on the various trail available are endless, I think by picking one from each category will work perfectly. Pick a winery, be warmed by the hospitality shown by the winemakers and vineyard owners themselves as they greet and serve you more than one of their specialty. You can either visit the larger wineries such as Houghton and Sandalford or the smaller boutiques. Besides wineries, grab the opportunity to sample the local beers and spirits at the breweries. There you’ll find traditionally made ales, stouts, lagers, wheat beers, German-style beers and more, all made from the best local produce.

the grapes are ripe for harvest

Being in a winery region, you can’t get away from a visit to The Great Northern Distillery. Trying the Canefire Rum is certainly a must as it is a spirit brewed longer than others using sugar and not molasses like other rums. If planning your visit through random wineries and breweries sounds daunting on a holiday, you can always book one of the many tours operators who will take you away on a relaxing, fully arranged journey to explore the trail.

Wine tasting

A visit to the Swan Valley in Perth is incomplete without a stop at Whiteman Park. Take a nice long stroll and catch sight of the rare species found only in this continent such as the koalas, dingo, flying fox, cassowary, wallabies, tammar and also native flora species. If you’ve bought some fresh produce at one of the roadside stalls, there’s also coin-operated gas and electric barbeque pits for you and your travel buddies to have a picnic while you enjoy the park with a glass of wine.

picnic by the lake

Let’s make a toast to a splendid time at The Swan Valley in Perth!