Greens, Grapes, and Great Escapes in Western Australia’s Swan Valley
8 days ago
At just a little over five hours away on AirAsiaX, Western Australia is a popular destination for Malaysian golfers and holidaymakers. Perth, the state capital, is possibly the most remote city of its size (about 2.3 million) in the world, but that hasn’t held back the state, which continues to boom based on its mineral wealth. Many golfers head to acclaimed courses such as Secret Harbour Golf Links, Joondalup Resort, Links Kennedy Bay, The Cut, Meadow Springs, and Royal Perth.
While several courses in the state were on our playlist, an early afternoon touchdown at Perth International on AirAsiaX meant that we could get nine holes in at the well-respected The Vines Resort and Country Club before sunset. The last few minutes of our enjoyable morning flight from Kuala Lumpur were over the picturesque Swan Valley where The Vines is situated, giving us the chance to take in the scenery and see from a bird’s-eye perspective where we’d be visiting over the course of our visit. The valley is home to a handful of respected wineries and other tourist attractions that were all on our multi-day itinerary.
RESORT LAYOUTThe course’s rolling layout includes 36 holes, residential estates, and the Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley. The course opened with 27 holes in 1989, and another nine were added to the Lakes Course in 1996. Together, the Vines Championship 18 holes and Lakes 9 holes layout have hosted leading golf luminaries at major events such as the Heineken Classic (1993-2001) and the Johnnie Walker Classic (2006 and 2009).
The layout includes the two demanding 18-hole championship golf courses of The Vines and The Lakes. Golfers are challenged on most holes with lush bent grass greens, among the largest in Australia, strategic bunkering, and a layout that weaves through adjoining areas containing Australia’s unique flora.
The Vines championship course of 6,561 m ranks among Australia’s top resort courses with greens that appeal for being undulating and expansive. Some greens are up to 50 m long to enable the greenkeepers to regularly vary pin placements. Putting out can be difficult due to the contouring, hidden swales, and bunker placement on and around several greens.
The Lakes Course was designed around the wetlands that flank the three closing holes. The key to scoring well on The Lakes is to drive the ball into a position that leaves the best line of approach, to trust the yardage, and to respect the varied pin positions to ensure a short putt. Golfers who play the course regularly claim the Lakes Course is the more challenging of the two, but the last three holes on the championship 18 are the most exhilarating to play.
Resort facilities include a pro shop, changing rooms, café, restaurant and bar, day spa, tennis and squash courts, pool, gym, and a mini-golf course.
HOME AMONG THE VINESThe best home amongst the vines is the aptly named Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley, where the landscaping includes rows of decorative grapevines. Its comfortable, spacious rooms overlook the course, and the comprehensive facilities make it an ideal one-stop holiday destination.
The rooms are quite sizeable and fitted out with very comfortable beds, large bathrooms with both a rain shower and a bathtub, and amenities including a mini-fridge, coffee-making facilities, and a large television. However, it was the spacious veranda that was most appealing, as we could relax while enjoying sundowner drinks and admiring the resort’s picturesque gardens and – true to its name – a few compact rows of grapevines.
Hearty breakfasts are served in Muscats Restaurant, which offers seating on a terrace that overlooks the course and the resort’s swimming pool (which becomes a favoured hangout spot for local ducks in the evening, much to our amusement). For lunch, dinner, and drinks, Vines Café serves local wines, craft beers, and dishes that feature locally sourced ingredients. The adjoining garden is the venue to take in the fresh air, and this is where we enjoyed some especially appealing hot-from-the-oven pizzas offered at happy hour prices in the early evening, accompanied by a few cold draught craft lagers.
SUNSET KANGAROO SAFARIGolfers enjoy playing alongside plenty of friendly – or at least non-threatening – western grey kangaroos that happily graze and laze on the fairways. Tourists seeking a unique experience can join a kangaroo safari to enjoy the natural beauty of the course while getting up close to Australia’s iconic kangaroos. At dusk, eager visitors head off on electric golf carts, venturing along the resort’s fairways in search of these fascinating animals. They don’t have to wait long, as there are hundreds of kangaroos grazing on the lush grass. Guides accompany each group to pass on plenty of interesting facts about these beloved Australian marsupials. After the kangaroo safari, guests enjoy a drink and a round of mini golf.
The Swan Valley is also a fantastic region for birdwatching, thanks to its mix of riverine, wetland, vineyard, and bushland habitats. Even on the grounds of The Vines Resort and its scenic golf courses, birdwatching enthusiasts will have no trouble spotting scores of birds, including egrets, galahs (rose-breasted cockatoo), corellas, ringneck parrots, Australian magpies, kestrels, ducks, and many more.
EXPLORING THE SWAN VALLEYThe Swan Valley is home to many exhilarating, exciting, and educational activities, from outdoor pursuits to wineries, microbreweries, restaurants, and kids’ activities. Grape vines were first planted in the Swan Valley in 1829, and some estates proudly produce wines from old vines. We enjoyed sampling wines such as Verdelho and Chenin Blanc at Sandalford and Mandoon Estate.
Sandalford Wines is one of the largest wineries in the Swan Valley and offers a complete wine experience, from behind-the-scenes tours to tastings, restaurants, and concerts featuring global musicians. The Sandalford Restaurant and Bar is one of the finest winery restaurants in the valley and where we dined, savouring a lazy lunch.
While The Estate Culinary Journey of five courses curated by Executive Chef Alan Spagnolo certainly looked tempting, we chose à la carte options of Abrolhos Island octopus and the Albany Futari Wagyu beef prepared with smoked bone marrow butter. Diners can choose to enjoy their meal indoors or in a partially alfresco setting, and the inviting, effervescent vibe here was emblematic of the Swan Valley in general.
The tasting at Mandoon Estate was especially rewarding as we sampled five estate wines with paired, bite-sized canapés curated to match each wine. One of the standout pairings was the Reserve Chardonnay made from grapes sourced from Margaret River with a petite serving of mushroom and truffle pie. Beyond the tasting (and the excellent wines), Mandoon Estate was a beautiful parcel of land in its own right, offering bucolic scenery, with magnificent old-growth trees accentuating the grounds near the vineyards, and well-landscaped lawns and gardens leading right down to the beautiful Swan River.
Craft breweries such as Funk, Duckstein, and Mash Brewing produce artisanal ales, and ordering a tasting paddle is the best way to get acquainted with the beers on offer. Funk Brewhouse at Henley Brook near The Vines was a real discovery, and one we thoroughly enjoyed.
We had heard about the Farmer’s Ale made here from ingredients sourced entirely from the family farm located in Bolgart, northeast of Perth. The craft beer is the result of 15 years of research to include ingredients grown on the family farm to produce a paddock-to-pint ale. The result is a celebration of farming and brewing techniques, and visiting the casual garden setting of the brewhouse to enjoy a few beers and some tasty pub-style food is highly recommended.
Not far away, Old Young’s Distillery attracts considerable interest from those who enjoy handcrafted, high-quality spirits. Using mostly local barley malt, wheat, spring water, grapes, and fruit, Old Young’s distils some of Australia’s premium vodkas, vodka infusions, and gins. A number of their spirits have earned awards, and stopping by here or picking up a bottle at duty-free on your way back home is well worth considering.
Foodies will enjoy exploring some of the exciting producers as diverse as coffee roasters, providores of creative local produce, and even chocolate shops. Yahava Koffeeworks offers complimentary coffee sampling, a café, and tempting coffee-inspired gifts. Margaret River Chocolate Company originally opened in the famous wine district south of Perth, but now has a Swan Valley outlet to tempt eager visitors.
Perth’s Mediterranean climate ensures that golf is possible throughout the year, and with over 200 courses, Australia’s largest state has a course to match all golfers’ abilities, moods, and budgets.
Between the myriad golf pursuits offered in the valley and the wealth of wineries offering not just the expected wine tastings, but some genuinely outstanding dining as well, Western Australia’s Swan Valley is a wonderful destination, and one that’s easily reached by Malaysian travellers. Throw in the natural beauty of the area, plenty of family-friendly pursuits to go along with the more adult-oriented visits to breweries and distilleries, and it’s safe to say Swan Valley really delivers a multifaceted holiday experience – one that’s an easy, enjoyable, and scenic drive from Perth, the gateway city to this magnificent part of Australia.
Additional text and photos by Chad Merchant TRAVEL FILEGetting There
AirAsiaX (www.airasia.com) flies daily from Kuala Lumpur to Perth, with flatbeds offered for those who need to sleep on the flight lasting just over five hours. While the resort can arrange airport transfers, golfers planning to explore the Swan Valley should rent a vehicle at Perth Airport, located just 30 minutes away.
AirAsia’s flight to Perth departs quite early in the morning, so one option is to enjoy the comfort and facilities of the CapsuleTransit MAX Hotel, a full-service landside hotel at KLIA 2 (capsuletransit.com/klia-2/max), get a great night’s sleep, and be right at the airport for the early departure.
Where to Stay
Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley is managed by Accor (www.allaccor.com).
Contacts
The Vines Resort and Country Club (www.vines.com.au). For information on holidaying in Australia’s largest state, contact Western Australia Tourism (www.westernaustralia.com), and for holidaying in the exciting Swan Valley, Swan Valley Tourism (www.swanvalley.com.au).
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