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

The best thing about this Margaret River day tour is its range. You begin with alpacas, emus, warm scones, and local coffee, then move through chocolate, olive oil, coastal views, and three small wineries. It feels like a picture of the region rather than a day spent only at tasting counters.

I like the small group of up to 11 people, which gives guides such as Dani and Ziggy room to talk with you and adjust the pace. I also like the mix of family-run producers, especially the farm visit and lunch at Olio Bello, where local food matters as much as wine.

The main consideration is time. Seven hours covers a lot, and wine tastings can become plentiful, with one person reporting more than 30 wines. The chocolate stop is brief, and anyone wanting long, slow visits at each winery may find the schedule full.

Key points at a glance

• Feed alpacas and emus: Begin the morning at Margaret River Hideaway and Farmstay with animal encounters, scones, jam, cream, and locally roasted coffee or tea.
• Taste more than wine: Chocolate, coffee, tea, olive oils, condiments, fresh food, and coastal scenery keep the day interesting for non-wine drinkers.
• Visit three boutique wineries: Ashbrook Estate, Brown Hill Estate, and Redgate Wines show different sides of Margaret River’s wine country.
• Lunch among olive trees: Olio Bello provides a farm-to-plate meal plus tastings of olive oils and olive-based products.
• Ride in comfort: Air-conditioned transport and pickup from Margaret River in-town locations make this useful if you do not have a designated driver.
• Expect a friendly host: Dani and Ziggy are frequently named as warm, entertaining guides who add local stories and keep the day relaxed.

Why this is more than a Margaret River wine tour

Margaret River is famous for wine, but a full picture of the area needs more than cellar doors. This tour adds farms, chocolate, coffee, olives, and the coast, so you get a better sense of how local producers make a living from the region.

I like that the day starts away from the wine. You have time to wake up with coffee and scones before the tastings begin. The farm also gives children and non-drinkers something real to enjoy, rather than asking them to wait while everyone else samples another chardonnay.

The tour runs for about seven hours, beginning at 9:00 am and returning to the meeting point at 1 Tunbridge Street. Pickup is available from Margaret River in-town locations, which is useful if you are staying nearby and would rather not arrange a car for a day of wine drinking.

With a maximum of 11 people, this is not a large coach outing. Dani and Ziggy are praised for keeping conversation flowing, explaining the area clearly, and making people from different places feel at ease. That matters on a day with several stops, because a good host turns transfers into part of the experience instead of dead time.

Morning at Margaret River Hideaway and Farmstay

The first stop sets the tone. At Margaret River Hideaway and Farmstay, you hand-feed alpacas and emus, then sit down for morning tea with scones, jam, cream, and locally roasted coffee or tea.

This is a generous opening for a wine tour. You are not rushed straight into alcohol, and the farm gives you an easy way to meet the rest of the group. The animal visit lasts about 55 minutes, long enough for a proper stop rather than a quick photograph from the roadside.

I would especially recommend this part if you are bringing teenagers or someone who is only mildly interested in wine. One family appreciated having an experience that worked for their teenage daughter, and that is the point: this tour gives younger passengers something to look forward to.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a working farm visit, not a large animal park with a long program of activities. The pleasure comes from the close encounter, the relaxed morning tea, and the rural setting.

A short stop for chocolate, coffee, and tea

Temper Temper Fine Chocolate provides a compact three-part stop. You can taste fine chocolate, look around the coffee roaster, and check out tea products.

The chocolate tasting itself may take only a few minutes, so I would not book this tour mainly for a long chocolate workshop. The value is in the variety. After the farm, you get a quick change of pace before the first winery, and you can browse or buy something if a particular chocolate or coffee catches your attention.

This stop also helps the tour feel less like a drinking itinerary. You can focus on chocolate, coffee, or tea while the more serious wine tasting comes later. For some people, it will be a pleasant interlude. For others, it may feel brief.

Ashbrook Estate and the first wine tasting

Ashbrook Estate is the first of three boutique wineries. The tour uses smaller producers rather than treating wine as a generic tasting-room stop, and that gives you more contact with the people and methods behind the bottles.

The exact wines served can change, but the wider purpose is clear. Across Ashbrook Estate, Brown Hill Estate, and Redgate Wines, you taste different Margaret River styles and learn why the region has such a strong wine identity.

I like placing the first winery before lunch. You have already had food and coffee, so you are not tasting on an empty stomach. You are also still fresh enough to listen, ask questions, and compare what each producer offers.

This is not a private tasting with unlimited time. A one-hour visit needs to cover introductions, samples, and the group’s movement through the cellar door. If you already know the Margaret River wine scene and want to spend half a day at one estate, choose a dedicated winery visit instead.

Gracetown for ocean air and a change of view

The Gracetown stop lasts about 15 minutes and adds a coastal note to a mostly rural day. You look toward the Indian Ocean, often seeing the area’s green coastal tones, surfers, and possibly dolphins. During the right season, migrating whales may also be visible.

Fifteen minutes is short, so think of this as a scenic pause rather than a beach visit. You will not have time for a long walk or a swim. Still, I find the stop worthwhile because it breaks up the winery schedule and shows that Margaret River is not only vineyards and farm shops.

The guide may also share the story connected with Gracetown, adding context to the view. Bring realistic expectations about wildlife. Dolphins and whales are possibilities, not promises, and the weather can shape how much you see.

Lunch and olive oil at Olio Bello

Olio Bello is one of the strongest parts of the day. Lunch takes place at an olive farm, with olive oil and olive-based products to taste before you eat a farm-to-plate meal at the cafe among the olive groves.

The lunch is included in the price, which improves the tour’s value. Drinks other than water are not included, so budget for any extra beverage you want with the meal. The food is built around fresh ingredients, and the setting gives lunch a slower, more restful feel after the first wine stop.

I like this stop because it gives you something to taste and understand without alcohol. Olive oil tasting can seem simple until you compare several styles and notice how the oils and condiments change a dish.

Allow about 1 hour and 15 minutes here. That is enough time for tasting and lunch without turning the meal into a long restaurant sitting. If you have dietary needs, the supplied information does not specify available alternatives, so ask the operator before booking rather than assuming.

Brown Hill Estate and Redgate Wines

After lunch, the tour returns to wine at Brown Hill Estate and then Redgate Wines. Each stop lasts about an hour, giving the afternoon a steady rhythm of tasting, conversation, and short drives.

Redgate has a particularly personal feel in the supplied details, with owner and winemaker Ray welcoming the group. That sort of direct contact is what makes small winery visits worthwhile. You are not only trying finished bottles. You may also hear about the decisions that carry grapes from vine to glass.

Brown Hill Estate adds another perspective before the final stop. Tasting at three estates lets you compare styles, service, and personalities. You do not need to be a wine expert. A useful approach is to notice what you like, ask why it tastes different, and write down the names of bottles you may want to buy later.

The quantity can be substantial. One day included more than 21 tastings, and another account referred to roughly 30 wines. Responsible tasting matters here. You do not need to finish every pour, and you can ask for smaller samples or use the spittoon if you are pacing yourself.

Purchases are not included. If you buy wine or local products, those costs are yours, and you will need to manage anything you take home during the rest of the day.

What the $136.28 price delivers

At $136.28 per person, the price covers about seven hours of air-conditioned transport, pickup and drop-off from Margaret River in-town locations, morning tea, lunch, and wine tastings at three wineries. It also includes the farm visit and the olive oil tasting, even though the main inclusions list naturally focuses on the bigger items.

I consider that solid value if you want a full day without driving. A rental car, fuel, meals, tastings, and the risk of navigating after wine can quickly add up. The tour also gives you access to small producers that would be awkward to link together on your own in one day.

The value is weaker if you plan to buy a lot of wine or want a long lunch with paid drinks. Purchases and drinks other than water at lunch are extra. The chocolate stop is short, so do not count it as a major workshop included in the price.

The strongest value comes from the range. You are paying for transport and tastings, but also for a carefully connected day that includes animals, food, coast, and wine.

Who should book this day

I would choose this tour if you are visiting Margaret River for the first time and want an efficient introduction. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors, and families with older children who would like something beyond three or four cellar doors.

It is also a good choice for anyone who does not want to drive. The small vehicle, local pickup, and limited group size remove much of the work from planning the day.

The tour may not suit you if you dislike structured schedules, do not drink wine at all, or want to spend hours at one particular estate. Non-drinkers still have chocolate, coffee, the farm, lunch, olive oil, and the coast, but wine remains a major part of the afternoon.

Children under seven must use a child seat. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, but the operator should answer any specific mobility or dietary questions before you reserve.

Practical details before you reserve

The meeting point is 1 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River, with an advertised 9:00 am start. Pickup is offered from in-town Margaret River locations, so confirm your exact pickup arrangement when booking.

You receive confirmation at booking, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. The group can include no more than 11 people, though the tour requires a minimum number to operate.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Late cancellations and changes are not refunded. Poor weather or an unmet minimum can also cancel the day, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book the Hidden Gems tour?

I would book it if you want a full regional sampler, not just a wine shuttle. The farm breakfast, Olio Bello lunch, friendly local guides, and three boutique wineries give you a strong sense of Margaret River’s people and produce in one day.

Go in ready for a busy schedule and many tastings. Pace yourself, keep some space for purchases, and do not expect a long chocolate visit or an extended coastal walk. For a first visit, the mix is the real strength, and the $136.28 price is fair for the transport, food, tastings, and variety included.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 am.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at 1 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River, Western Australia, and ends back at the meeting point.

Is pickup available?

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

How many wineries are visited?

You visit three boutique wineries: Ashbrook Estate, Brown Hill Estate, and Redgate Wines.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at Olio Bello is included. Drinks other than water during lunch are not included.

Is morning tea included?

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

How large is the tour group?

The maximum group size is 11 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.