Hidden Gems: Boutique Full-Day Wine, Farm & Lunch Tour

Feed an emu before your first wine. That unusual start helps make this seven-hour Margaret River outing more than a standard cellar-door run. I like the small maximum group of 11, which keeps the day personal, and I like the mix of animals, chocolate, coastline, olive oil, lunch, and three boutique wineries. The main drawback is simple: there is a lot packed into one day, so anyone wanting long, quiet visits at each winery may find the schedule full.

The tour costs $136.28 per person and includes pickup around Margaret River, morning tea, lunch, wine tastings, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Guides such as Dani and Ziggy are repeatedly praised for their local stories, easy manner, and ability to keep the group together without making the day feel hurried.

The best parts of the day at a glance

• Feed alpacas and emus at a private farm: The day begins with hands-on animal encounters, scones with jam and cream, and locally roasted coffee or tea.
• Taste more than wine: Chocolate, coffee, tea, olive oil, condiments, and a farm-to-plate lunch give the day useful variety.
• Visit three boutique wineries: Ashbrook Estate, Brown Hill Estate, and Redgate Wines each add a different stop to the wine portion of the outing.
• Take a short Indian Ocean break: Gracetown brings a coastal view, local stories, and the chance to spot dolphins or migrating whales.
• Travel in a small group: With no more than 11 people, you get a better chance to ask questions and chat with the guide.
• Enjoy strong value for a full day: Pickup, food, tastings, and transport are included, though drinks with lunch and purchases cost extra.

A relaxed start at Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay

Pickup begins at 9:00 am, either at 1 Tunbridge Street or from an in-town Margaret River location. The air-conditioned vehicle then heads to Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay, where the morning begins in a much less formal way than a typical wine tour.

You can hand-feed alpacas and emus, then sit down to scones with jam and cream. Locally roasted coffee and tea are included. This is a useful first stop because it lets you settle into the group before the wine tasting begins.

I like this opening for families and for anyone who does not want to spend seven straight hours drinking. A teenage child, in particular, has something to enjoy here, rather than simply waiting outside cellar doors.

The farm visit lasts about 55 minutes. That is enough time for the animals, morning tea, and a little conversation, but it is not a full farm tour. The animals are part of the welcome and the local feel, not the whole focus of the morning.

One practical detail: children under seven must sit in the provided child seat. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. If you have mobility concerns or need a specific seating arrangement, it is sensible to check before booking, since the supplied details do not explain the vehicle layout or farm surfaces.

Temper Temper brings a quick hit of chocolate and coffee

The next stop is Temper Temper Fine Chocolate, reached after the farm. The visit lasts about 25 minutes and combines fine chocolate tasting with a look at a coffee roaster and tea selection.

This is a short stop, not a long workshop. Some visitors may spend only a few minutes tasting before browsing the shop. That can feel brief if chocolate is your main reason for booking, but it works well as a palate change between morning tea and the wineries.

I see this stop as a small bonus rather than a headline attraction. You get a taste of Margaret River’s wider food scene, and you can buy gifts if something catches your eye. Purchases are not included, so keep that separate from the tour price.

Ashbrook Estate begins the winery portion

Ashbrook Estate is the first of three boutique wineries. The visit lasts about an hour, giving you time to taste and hear more about Margaret River wine styles.

The value here is not simply the number of pours. Boutique wineries can give you a closer look at the people behind the bottles, and the tour is designed around producers with different approaches and wine styles. You are not left to work out the region from a single large tasting room.

The exact wines served can change, so I would not book this expecting a fixed list. Instead, think of the three winery visits as a broad introduction to the region. One day may provide around 21 or more tastings, while another account described tasting close to 30 wines across the day. That is a substantial amount, so use the spit bucket when you want to stay clear-headed.

An hour is a good working length for a group tasting, though serious wine students may want more time with each producer. The guide helps by adding regional context between stops. Dani and Ziggy are both praised for keeping the day informative without turning it into a lecture.

Gracetown adds sea air and a change of pace

After the first winery, the vehicle stops at Gracetown for about 15 minutes. The coastal stop looks toward the Indian Ocean and offers a welcome break from cellar doors.

The tour description points out the area’s green ocean hues, surfers, and the possibility of seeing dolphins riding the waves. During migration periods, you might also spot whales, but wildlife is never guaranteed. Treat this as a scenic pause, not a dedicated wildlife cruise.

The stop is short, so wear shoes and clothing that make it easy to step out and look around quickly. The value comes from the contrast. Margaret River is not only about vineyards, and this brief coastal visit reminds you that the region’s character also comes from the sea.

You may also hear a local story connected with Grace at this stop. The tour uses the pause to add a bit of place-based context rather than simply pulling over for a photograph.

Olio Bello makes lunch more than a refuelling stop

Lunch at Olio Bello is one of the strongest parts of the day. The olive farm provides tastings of olive oils and olive-based products before you sit down for a farm-to-plate meal at the cafe among the olive groves.

Lunch is included, which matters when you compare the $136.28 price with other full-day outings. You are not paying for transport and tastings, then facing another sizeable meal bill halfway through the day. The food is made from fresh ingredients, and the stop lasts about one hour and 15 minutes.

The olive oil tasting also gives you something useful to take home beyond a bottle of wine. You can compare oils and condiments, learn what the farm produces, and then eat a meal connected to that setting.

Drinks other than water during lunch are not included. That is the main extra cost to watch for at this stop. Gifts and other purchases are also separate.

I would allow yourself to enjoy the full pause here. The day has several short tastings, but Olio Bello offers a chance to sit down, eat properly, and talk with the group. It is also a good reason this tour suits people who want local food as much as wine.

Brown Hill Estate keeps the afternoon personal

The second winery is Brown Hill Estate, with about an hour for tasting and conversation. By this point, the group has already visited a farm, tasted chocolate, seen the coast, and eaten lunch, so the winery stop feels like part of a wider regional portrait rather than a repetitive sequence.

This is where the small-group format matters. A maximum of 11 people makes it easier to hear the host and ask a question without competing with a large coach group. The tour also aims to showcase boutique producers, so you may get a more direct sense of how a smaller winery works.

The guide’s role is important here. Dani is praised for being friendly, well informed, and attentive, while Ziggy receives similar credit for local knowledge and good humour. The tone sounds social rather than formal, which suits a day built around tasting and conversation.

If you are already a serious wine buyer, you may wish each tasting lasted longer. The one-hour format gives you breadth, not a long technical appointment with every winemaker.

Redgate Wines closes the tasting day

Redgate Wines is the final winery and another hour-long stop. The visit can include time with Ray, an experienced owner and winemaker, which gives the final tasting a more personal finish.

Meeting people who have followed the grapes from vine to bottle is one of the best reasons to choose this tour instead of simply driving between large wineries yourself. You get the chance to connect the wine with the producer, the region, and the work behind it.

By this point, pacing becomes important. You may have tasted 21 or more wines, along with chocolate, coffee, tea, olive oil, and lunch. Drink water, use the spit buckets, and remember that the pleasure of the day is in learning and comparing, not in swallowing every sample.

The tour ends back at the meeting point. The published duration is about seven hours, but exact return timing can vary with the group and the stops. Do not schedule a tight late-afternoon commitment unless you have plenty of room.

What the $136.28 price really covers

At $136.28, this is a strong value if you want a full day without arranging a rental car, a designated driver, winery bookings, lunch, and separate food stops.

The included pieces are substantial:

• Pickup and drop-off at Margaret River in-town locations
• Air-conditioned transport
• Morning tea with scones, jam, cream, coffee, or tea
• Lunch at Olio Bello
• Wine tastings at three wineries
• The farm visit and other scheduled stops

The price is less compelling if you mainly want to spend hours at one or two favourite wineries. You are paying for range and convenience. The day moves from farm to chocolate, wine, coast, olive oil, lunch, and more wine.

I also like that the tour supports smaller local producers rather than treating Margaret River as a string of anonymous tasting counters. That does not guarantee you will love every wine, but it gives the day a clearer sense of place.

Who will enjoy this Margaret River tour most

I would choose this for:

• First-time visitors who want a broad introduction to Margaret River
• Couples and small groups who enjoy food, wine, and local stories
• Families with older children or teenagers
• People who prefer not to drive after wine tasting
• Anyone curious about farms, olive oil, chocolate, and coffee as well as wine
• Visitors who value a small group and an easy social atmosphere

I would think twice if you want a highly technical wine course, long uninterrupted cellar-door visits, or complete control over the winery selection. The experience is social and varied, with a full schedule.

The tour also requires reasonable flexibility around weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. A minimum group size is also required, and the same options apply if the operator cancels for that reason.

Practical advice before you go

Start with a light breakfast, since scones arrive during the first stop and lunch comes later at Olio Bello. You do not need to bring lunch, but bring water for the tasting hours.

Wear comfortable clothing for moving between a farm, shops, wineries, and the coast. The Gracetown stop is only 15 minutes, so have a jacket handy if the weather is cool or wet.

Keep purchase money separate from the tour fee. Wine, chocolate, olive oil, gifts, and lunch drinks beyond water are not included. If you buy wine, the air-conditioned vehicle makes transport easier, but the supplied information does not promise special luggage storage, so avoid assuming you can bring large quantities.

Pickup is offered from Margaret River in-town locations, while the listed meeting point is 1 Tunbridge Street. Confirm your exact pickup point at booking. The mobile ticket is useful, and confirmation is provided when you book.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 am.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is 1 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River, Western Australia 6285.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered at in-town Margaret River locations.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes. Lunch at Olio Bello olive farm is included.

Are wine tastings included?

Yes. Wine tastings at the three boutique wineries are included.

Is morning tea included?

Yes. Morning tea includes scones with jam and cream, plus locally roasted coffee or tea.

Are drinks with lunch included?

Water is included, but other drinks during lunch are not included.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 11 participants.

Can children join the tour?

Most people can participate, and children can join. Children under seven must sit in the required child seat.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes cancellation.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want one easy day covering the wider Margaret River food and wine scene, not just a run of cellar doors. The farm animals, scones, Gracetown view, Olio Bello lunch, and three small wineries give the day a satisfying rhythm.

I would especially recommend it for first-time visitors, non-drivers, families with teenagers, and anyone who likes meeting local producers. Skip it only if you prefer a slow, specialist wine itinerary with long tastings at fewer places. For most people, the combination of included food, transport, generous tastings, and a group capped at 11 makes this a practical and enjoyable way to get your bearings in Margaret River.