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

Margaret River’s best surprise may be that this is not just a wine tour. You feed alpacas and emus, eat warm scones with local coffee, taste chocolate and olive oil, stop by the Indian Ocean, then settle in for three small winery visits. I like the local scale of it, and I like that guides such as Dani and Ziggy give the day a friendly, personal feel.

The main thing to consider is the pace. Seven hours covers a lot, and the wine tastings can add up quickly, sometimes reaching more than 20 pours. The chocolate stop is brief, and lunch drinks beyond water cost extra, so this suits you best if you want variety rather than a slow, wine-focused tasting day.

Key points at a glance

• Feed alpacas and emus first: The morning begins at Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay with animals, scones, jam, cream, coffee, and tea.
• Taste three boutique wineries: Ashbrook Estate, Brown Hill Estate, and Redgate Wines offer a small-producer view of Margaret River wine.
• Eat among olive groves: Olio Bello includes olive oil tasting and a farm-to-plate lunch.
• Mix food, wine, wildlife, and coast: A short stop at Gracetown adds ocean views and a chance to watch for dolphins or migrating whales.
• Travel in a small group: The vehicle carries no more than 11 people, making conversation with the guide and producers easier.
• Good value at $136.28: Transport, morning tea, lunch, and wine tastings are included, though lunch drinks and personal purchases are not.

Why this Margaret River day feels different

Many wine tours begin and end with cellar doors. This one gives you a broader look at the region’s working farms and small food businesses before the first serious wine pour. That variety is the reason I would choose it for a first day in Margaret River.

The experience runs for about seven hours, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pickup is available from Margaret River town locations, or you can meet at 1 Tunbridge Street. At the end, you return to the meeting point. An air-conditioned vehicle handles the driving, which matters in a region where tasting several wines and covering scattered country roads would otherwise require a designated driver.

The group limit of 11 is another strong point. You are not lost in a large bus crowd, and the guide can keep an eye on the timing, answer questions, and help the day feel more like a shared outing than a transfer between wineries.

Dani and Ziggy are the guides most often associated with this experience. The tour works best when the host sets an easy tone, explains the area as you go, and keeps the stops moving without making you feel hurried. Both guides are praised for their warmth, local knowledge, humor, and communication. That personal touch is a major part of the value.

Morning at the farm with alpacas and emus

The first stop is Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay, where you spend about 55 minutes. This is not simply a quick animal photo stop. You can hand-feed alpacas and emus, then sit down for morning tea with scones, jam, cream, and locally roasted coffee or tea.

It is a clever opening. You get a relaxed start, a little food in your stomach, and an early sense of the region beyond its tasting rooms. Families and mixed-age groups should especially appreciate this stop because children have something active to do before the wine portion begins. Children under seven must sit in a child seat, so keep that requirement in mind when booking.

The farm visit also gives the guide a natural way to introduce the local area and the day’s rhythm. You are not rushed straight into a flight of wine at 9:30 in the morning. Instead, the experience starts with animals, conversation, and a simple country breakfast.

The trade-off is that the farm visit is fairly short. If you want a long farm tour or a detailed animal encounter, this is not that. It is a friendly morning visit built around the scones and feeding experience.

Temper Temper chocolate and coffee in a short stop

Next comes Temper Temper Fine Chocolate, with about 25 minutes allocated. The stop brings together fine chocolate tasting and a look at the coffee roaster on site.

This is one of the lighter parts of the day. You have time to sample chocolate and browse, but do not expect a long workshop or a full coffee class. Some of the time can pass quickly, especially compared with the hour spent at each winery.

Still, the stop earns its place because it breaks up the wine schedule. You can reset your palate, pick up a local food gift if something catches your eye, and see another type of small producer. If chocolate is a major reason for booking, keep your expectations measured. The appeal here is the combination of local products and variety, not a deep production tour.

Ashbrook Estate begins the wine program

Ashbrook Estate is the first of three boutique winery visits, with about an hour set aside. Together, the three wineries are intended to show different Margaret River wine styles rather than give you the same tasting room three times.

That matters because Margaret River is not only about one famous grape or one polished cellar-door experience. Small wineries can give you a closer look at the people behind the bottles, and the day is designed to help you understand how producers approach their wines.

The tasting amount can be generous. One account of the day put the total at more than 20 wines, while another reached around 30. The exact pour count will depend on the wineries and the day, but you should plan for a substantial amount of tasting. Eat the morning scones, use the included transport, and pace yourself.

If you are new to wine, do not worry about having expert vocabulary. The guides and winery hosts are there to explain the wines in plain terms. If you already know Margaret River well, the boutique focus may still appeal because the point is to meet smaller producers rather than only visit the best-known names.

Gracetown adds a welcome ocean break

After the first winery, the tour pauses at Gracetown for about 15 minutes. You get a coastal and nature stop, with views of the Indian Ocean and its distinctive green tones.

The timing is short, but this pause gives the day some breathing room. After wine tasting, a look at the water and open air is welcome. You may see dolphins riding the waves with surfers, and during migration periods there is a chance of spotting whales. These sightings are not guaranteed, so treat them as a bonus rather than a promise.

There is also a local story connected with Gracetown and its name, which the guide may explain during the stop. The brief visit works well as a scenic reset, though anyone hoping for a beach walk will find 15 minutes too limited.

Olio Bello combines lunch and olive oil

Olio Bello is the lunch stop and one of the strongest parts of the day. You spend about an hour and 15 minutes at the olive farm, tasting olive oils and olive-based products before eating a farm-to-plate lunch at the cafe among the olive trees.

This is more than a meal inserted between wineries. It shows how Margaret River’s food culture extends beyond grapes, and the tasting gives you a practical way to compare oils and condiments. The lunch is included, and the food is frequently singled out as a highlight of the day.

Do note that drinks other than water are not included with lunch. If you want something to drink with your meal, budget for that separately. The included lunch still makes the tour price look good, but the extra drink cost is worth knowing before you arrive.

The stop also works well for people who do not want an alcohol-heavy day. You still have three wineries ahead or behind you, depending on the exact running order, but the olive farm gives you a substantial food experience and a chance to focus on local ingredients.

Brown Hill Estate and Redgate Wines finish the tastings

Brown Hill Estate and Redgate Wines each receive about an hour. These are the second and third boutique winery visits, completing the day’s main wine program.

The strength of this arrangement is the range. You are not tasting one producer’s line-up and then guessing how it compares with the rest of the region. You visit three separate operations, meet different hosts, and see how smaller wineries present their wines.

Redgate Wines is especially tied to the personal side of the experience. Ray, the owner and winemaker, may be part of the visit, giving you a chance to hear from someone who follows the wine from vine to bottle. That direct contact is what makes small cellar doors appealing.

The possible drawback is sensory fatigue. Three one-hour tastings, plus food stops, can make the final winery feel different from the first. Some people will love the generous pours and broad comparison. Others may prefer two wineries with longer conversations at each. If you are a casual drinker, use the spit buckets and pace yourself. The vehicle and guide remove the driving worry, but they do not remove the need to drink responsibly.

What the $136.28 price really covers

At $136.28 per person, this is a strong package if you plan to use most of its inclusions. You are paying for around seven hours of transport, a small group, morning tea, lunch, wine tastings, and a full day of arranged visits. Booking separate transport to three wineries, a farm, a chocolate producer, and an olive farm would quickly become awkward and potentially more expensive.

The price also buys convenience. Pickup is available from Margaret River town locations, and the air-conditioned vehicle means you can enjoy tastings without planning a driving route. The tour returns to its starting point, so you do not need to arrange a second ride at the end.

The value is less clear if you are only interested in premium wine. Some people may prefer a smaller number of cellar doors and a longer tasting at each. This tour spreads the cost across food, animals, scenery, and wine. That is its appeal, but it also means no single stop receives the whole day.

Gifts and personal purchases are not included. The same applies to lunch drinks other than water. Plan to pay separately if you want bottles, chocolate, coffee, olive products, or other items to take home.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to Margaret River in one day. It is also a good fit for couples or friends with different interests, since one person can enjoy wine while another prefers food, farms, scenery, or local producers.

Families with older children can make good use of the mixed program. The animal feeding and chocolate stop offer a break from wine, though remember the child-seat rule for children under seven.

The tour suits you if you enjoy a relaxed social day. A group of up to 11 is small enough for conversation, but it is still a group outing. You may meet people from different countries and end up sharing the day’s tastings and lunch conversation.

I would think twice if you want a highly technical wine education, a long beach stop, or complete control over the schedule. The itinerary is varied and carefully packed, but it is still a full day with fixed stops.

Practical details before you go

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. and lasts approximately seven hours. Pickup is offered from Margaret River in-town locations, with the listed meeting point at 1 Tunbridge Street. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. Confirmation is provided when you book. The experience requires a minimum number of participants, and poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted. Since the day includes outdoor stops and farm visits, check the weather and dress for changing conditions.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a taste of the whole Margaret River region, not only its wine. The alpacas and emus, scones, chocolate, Gracetown views, olive oil, generous lunch, and three boutique wineries create a well-rounded day at a fair price.

Skip it if your only goal is a slow, serious cellar-door session. For everyone else, especially first-time visitors without a car, this is an easy and enjoyable way to meet local producers, sample a lot, and let Dani or Ziggy handle the roads.

FAQ

How long does the Hidden Gems tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

What time does the tour start?

It starts at 9:00 a.m.

Where does the tour begin?

The listed meeting point is 1 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River, Western Australia. Pickup is also offered from Margaret River in-town locations.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at Olio Bello olive farm is included.

Are drinks included with lunch?

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

How many wineries are visited?

The tour visits three boutique wineries: Ashbrook Estate, Brown Hill Estate, and Redgate Wines.

Is wine tasting included?

Yes. Wine tastings are included in the tour price.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded. If poor weather or low participation causes the tour to be canceled, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.