Leaving Albany, we acted one recommendation from a friend (thanks The Essentialist Blog!), and detoured to the lovely Oranje Tractor Winery located in Marbelup. We didn’t have a booking, but arrived early enough to be squeezed in just before a bus of forty arrived to sample the organic, preservative free wines.
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Easter in Albany - Part III - Discovery Bay & Due South
As Western Australia’s oldest, permanently settled town, Albany’s rich heritage is reflected in the architecture throughout the town. Aside from being the oldest settlement it WA, it is also the home to the last whaling station in Australia. I have a certain affinity for this sleepy little town and I always enjoy learning about the history of a place, so we had to check out the old whaling station that is now a tourist destination called Discovery Bay.
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Easter in Albany - Part II - Dylan’s on the Terrace, Dog Rock & Six Degrees
Every now and again you stumble upon a place that resonates with your soul. It’s a place that, even though you may have never been there, the moment you arrive it feels like you’ve just come home. Finding these places, that sing the same song as my soul, is why I travel. As it turns out, the more you travel the more of these places you find. Growing up I had only two: Telluride, Colorado, USA and somewhere on the road to Lago di Castello (a lake in the Piemonte region of north western Italy). Since then, I have gained a few more: Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Chiang Rai, Thailand; Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii; and Albany, Western Australia.
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Easter in Albany - Part I - Albany Wind Farm & The Lavender Cottage
I love the great southwestern region of Australia. There is something so magical, mystical, and poetic about the moody weather, the breath-taking landscapes, and the old facades of the buildings that make Albany a very special place to me. The five hour drive keeps me from heading down as often as I like, but helps Albany to remain a unique escape from the urban sprawl that is Perth. Easter long-weekend meant that it was the perfect time to retreat to a slower pace, cooler weather, and picturesque scenery
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Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River
In all of our visits to Leeuwin, this was the first time that we got to walk past the cellar door to the restaurant. “Yes, we have a booking.” I answered with a smile and she walked us to the deck overlooking the grounds. The table was set beautifully for the degustation; bread plate, four forks, four knives, oyster fork, white and red wine glasses, water glass… the works. “What am I supposed to do with all of these forks?” Ryan asked as we were seated. Neither of us are big drinkers, so we decided to pass on the wine pairing dego and instead settled on a delicious bottle of red -2013 SIBLINGS- a shiraz with a full bodied malbec vibe.
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