After being on the road for what seemed like an eternity, (OK, it was only 4 days and 270 kms since we left Perth), we decided to check into Margaret River for the week with the view of checking out the 120 odd wineries (and dozen or so brewies) which make up the Margaret River region.

Unfortunately, we got it wrong in booking a week, as we needed double or triple that time to fully take in all what the area has to offer.

From the Chocolate Company, (where the boys and myself had more than our fair share of samples), to the many wineries with the most amazing gardens and cellar doors (where Bec and myself had more than our fair share of samples), to the breweries, Margaret River is a great area and it is easy to understand why alot of people have it on their must do lists.

Noting alot of time was spent visiting cellar doors, and wine is a personal preference type of thing, will break it up and get some input from the others so that any bais is removed

Bec.......Knotting Hill Winery. Amazing cellar door, and wines aren't to bad either.

Ian..... Colonial Brewing Company. Amazing beer bottle, and beer aren't to bad either.

Cooper....Margaret River Chocolate Company. It has chocolate, especially cookies and cream!!

Hunter....Margaret River Chocolate Company. Chocolate...and you can have heaps, it's free!

Other Margaret River highlights and activities;

- Cape Leuwin Lighthouse. During our stay, we took the opportunity to travel the last few kilometres to Australia's most south western area. It is also where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean (although I found it a bit hard to see exactly where one ocean ends and the other starts, as the waves didn't seem to crash into each other at right angles, nor was there a dotted line on the water as one would expect?) Very rugged place, and windy!

- Margaret River Show. Hmmmm, think Perth show (or Sydney Easter Show) take away 99% of rides, games, attractions and exhibitions, and you have it. Although have to admit that it was our first experience with cow poo lotto. (think checker board type squares on grass, and cows walking around). Winner is who drew the square when nature calls! Only in the country I guess, but they could be onto something. Might just catch on in the western suburbs with rottwellers replacing cows?

- Busselton. During our stay, decided to travel back up the coast, grab some lunch and check out the sea side town of Busselton. Great place, has an amazing jetty which goes for miles. Although you can hop on a train which travels from end to end, decided the right thing to do (from a fitness point of view) would be to soak up the sun and go for a leisurely walk. Happy to report that Hunter missed the leisurely part, being that he ran almost the entire length endeavouring to beat the train back. Others in our party undrstood the key word was leisurely, thus decided to let the train pass and catch up with Hunter a bit later.

- Cowaramup, or the cow town to some. Fantastic little town just outside of Margaret River where everything is themed after....you guessed it....cows. There are dozens of cow statues lining the main street as well as great little shops selling all sorts of craft items. Definitely worth the stop, if only to get a few photos of the boys hugging a cow (yeah, they're real....just ask them!)

Conclusion. Try as hard as we might, just couldn't get to all 120 odd wineries (think we did 30 odd, but a few are a bit blurry), thus on that basis alone, we need to come back.