Cape to Cape, The Margaret River

Margaret river wine region is affectionately known by the locals as "Mark up River".  This region has nearly 5500 hectares under vine with around 120 small scale producers. These predominately boutique operations vary with the smallest crush being 3.5 tonnes and the largest being 7000 tonnes. They have perfect growing weather here, not too hot with enough rain. Harvest time is Feb - April.  Cheese and chocolate producers are also in the area. We stopped at a venison farm shop and bought various produce, this place is like gastro alley.

The region is the southern hemisphere's equivalent of the amazon, as part of only 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world.
With the campsite found, van parked in the sunset we tucked into our local pate and wine and that was just for starters, local chorizo salad to follow.

Unusually that morning there were a few clouds in the sky so only one thing for it, head underground to the Lake Cave within Baranup forest. We descended into a giant doline, passing 300 year Karri trees, giant limestone cliffs and enormous weathered stalactites.

Underground the cave boasts a formation called the Suspended table and is thought to be the only example in the world it weighs 5.3 tons and is thought to be 600,000 years old.  The thin hanging strings are known as straws as they are hollow stalactites. It takes 10 months following rain fall above for then to produce.  One inch of stalagmite grows every 55 years in Lake Cave, 10mm per 100 years average.

We spent the wet and windy afternoon parked up at Surfers point, Prevally. A great spot for watching the local crazed groms head straight into very oversized waves. We sat within the warmth of the van holding a oversized cuppa, commentating.