Making Trails

Explore the very best of what the Swan Valley has to offer on one of the region’s eight official trails.

By MONIQUE CECCATO

KIDS IN THE VALLEY TRAIL

Bushwalks, cuddles with farm animals, and a round of super-sized Supa Golf: it’s all in a day’s visit to the Swan Valley. The region is known for being kid-friendly, and this bumper 10-stop trail is proof of that. There’s so much to do, it is suggested that families pick an adventure or attraction, a lunch stop and a treat stop to enjoy each time they tackle the trail. The kids will love getting to pat, feed and know the animals at Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm and driving an oversized golfball down the green at Oasis Supa Golf and Mini Golf. If they’re up for a more scaly encounter, the West Australian Reptile Park delivers in spades. End an actionpacked day with a treat from Oggies Ice Cream Cafe or Whistlers’ Chocolate Co and Cafe. “Something that never fails to catch the eyes of our visitors are our chocolate sculptures that are all designed and made by our chocolatier”, says Whistler’s owner, Roseanne Sargent. “Along with that comes the experience of tasting our chocolate that always has our visitors craving more.”

BUSH TUCKER AND BEYOND TRAIL

The Wadjuk Noongar people have inhabited the Swan coastal plain for more than 40,000 years. There are many culturally significant sites throughout the Swan Valley including the township of Guildford, which has always been an important meeting site for the Wadjuk people, and the Swan River. Often referred to as Derbarl Yerrigan, the Swan River is said to have been created by a giant serpent-like creature called the wagyl as it made its way down from the hills to the ocean. Visitors to the Swan Valley can uncover these stories and more on the Bush Tucker and Beyond trail. “My connection to country was always there through my Aboriginal grandmother, but further enhanced by an elder whom I had a lot to do with in my teens. It was his idea that I start a business around Aboriginal culture,” explains Dale Tilbrook, a proud Wardandi woman, local aboriginal tour guide, and the owner of Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery. As well as running a gallery full of Aboriginal gifts, art, and native Australian herbs, spices, and preserves, Dale runs a number of educational workshops. “At Dale Tilbrook Experiences we offer four set experiences - bushtucker tastings, art and Dreamtime stories, bushtucker and wellbeing, and history and culture talks - but are always happy to tailor an experience for a group.”

Trail-goers can visit some cultural points of significance with stops at Whiteman Park, Bells Rapids, Walyunga National Park, and Yagan Memorial Park included along the way.

GO WILD Main image, Bells Rapids. This page, Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery, macarons from Maison Saint-Honore, and spring produce from Swan Valley Sisters.

SWEET TEMPTATIONS TRAIL

Sticky, handmade nougat, devilishly good cakes, and natural honey: the eight stops on the Sweet Temptations trail leave sweettooths spoilt for choice. “The trail is an excellent tasting experience,” says Archie Moroni, the owner of Morish Nuts, one of the stops along the trail. “Visitors can start the trail with either breakfast or lunch at one of the providers, and then head off to visit some wineries. There’s a lovely picnic point to rest and relax before enjoying some more sweet treats and either a coffee or dinner before heading home”. Early birds should kick-off the sweet-filled trail at the Maison Saint-Honore end for a croissant and macaron-filled breakfast. Late-starters can begin at the other end of the trail with lunch at Pinelli Estate Wines.

FRESH SEASONAL PRODUCE TRAIL

It takes just shy of 30 minutes to drive from Perth’s bustling CBD to the farms and rural landscapes of the Swan Valley. There’s, quite literally, an abundance of fresh produce on the city’s doorstep. Make the most of it, and purchase the best of it, on a self-drive tour along the Fresh, Seasonal Produce trail. Spring is all about asparagus at Edgecombe Brothers and Swan Valley Sisters Produce Cafe. In summer you can pick up big bunches of grapes from Kato’s@3000, Rangeview Vineyards or Katich’s The Grape Place and watermelons from Baba and Dida’s or Banara Vineyard. Autumn is the time to find brightly coloured pomegranates. In winter, call past Swanville Citrus, Windarra Honey or the House of Honey for your seasonal citrus and pantry essentials. “We strive to connect our customers with Western Australia’s rural experience in the Swan Valley region, and educate them on how bees and honey are unique in Australia,” explains Kim Phillips, the managing director at the House of Honey. “We invite our visitors to taste local honey products, meet the maker, and go on a bee tour”.

For me to make my organic gin, first I have to grow my certified organic grapes, harvest them, and turn them into wine - Duncan Harris, Harris Organic Wine and Spirits.”

CIDER AND ALE TRAIL

Follow the Cider and Ale trail and you’ll soon work out that the Swan Valley is just as much about cider, stout, and pale ale as it is Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot. There are 10 breweries and cideries on the trail, each pumping out some of the most exciting brews in Perth. “I always tell people to try the pineapple cider. Even though its only 3% it packs an awesome flavour and it’s our best seller,” says Martin Michael, who co-owns Funk Cider and Funk 2.0 with his brother Dustin. The trail is a natural progression in craft brews, starting on something lighter at Funk, before moving onto hoppier drops. All of the venues on this trail offer onsite dining. There’s plenty of hearty German fare at Duckstein Brewing and Elmar’s in the Valley and be sure to check out Mash Brewing’s social media for kids eat free days. Woodfired pizza is popular at Fig Tree Estate and Txoko Brewing, where brews can be enjoyed with views of the vineyard and Darling Ranges.

FINE WINE TRAIL

The first commercial vintage came out of the Swan Valley in 1834. Today, the region is known for its exceptional expressions of Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, and Petit Verdot. Take a tour of some of the finest vineyards in the valley on the Fine Wine trail, recently updated to include

EXPERIENCE THE VALLEY Gomboc Gallery Sculpture Park and Windy Creek Estate (opposite) and Tyler’s Vineyard on the Wine and Art: Off the Beaten Track Trail, The Cider and Ale Trail, and the Distillery Trail offer new perspectives of the Swan Valley

stops at Lamont’s Winery and Windy Creek Estate, most successful producer at the Swan Valley Wine Show 2020 and one of the few vineyards where you’re welcome to BYO picnic food. “People can expect a new and exciting experience at every stop on the trail,” says Cameron McKenzie, the wine sales and marketing manager at Faber Vineyards. “We all have our specialties and nuances that, together, paint a fantastic picture of what the Swan Valley is; from tasting world-class fortified wines from Tali’s, the country’s best Chenin Blanc from Kosovich’s, some of the finest sparkling wines from Sitella, or some powerful and age-worthy Faber Shiraz”.

WINE AND ART: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TRAIL

Leave the familiarity of West Swan Road and delve deeper into what the Valley has to offer on the Wine and Art; Off the Beaten Track trail. Navigate your way along the back roads and through some of the area’s most rustic landscapes to discover eight local galleries and small-scale, family-run vineyards. Stop in at Gomboc Gallery and Sculpture Park, one of WA’s oldest privatelyowned galleries; strike up a conversation with sculptor Antonio Battistessa at his home gallery; get a selfie with Tyler’s Vineyard’s pet goose, Gilbert; and call into Garbin Estate Wines to sample their range of sparklings made in the traditional French way. “We believe that our methode traditionnelle is a point of difference on this trail,” says Adam Garbin, whose family own and run Garbin Estate Wines. “There have been many occasions where visitors have been left in awe and appreciation of the process that was developed centuries ago and is occurring in their backyard.”

DISTILLERY TRAIL

Don’t have a palate for wine or brewed beverages? Try following the Distillery Trail for something a little more suited to your tastes. The trail is the only one of its kind in Australia where visitors can experience five distinct and very different award-winning distilleries in less than a day. Rum lovers will feel at home at the Great Northern Distilling Co, while fans of juniper-based distillates will love sipping on a beverage at the Valley’s three dedicated gin producers - Old Young’s Distillery, Swan Valley Gin Company, and Sin Gin Distillery. A wildcard on the trail is Harris Organic Wine and Spirits. Owner Duncan Harris doesn’t distil huge quantities of gin - normally he produces wine - but what he does distil is quite rare. “I’m lucky to have the only certified organic block of land in the whole of the Perth metro area,” explains Duncan. “For me to make my organic gin, first I have to grow my certified organic grapes, harvest them, and turn them into wine. Then, I do five distillations to make a very nice, clean, spirit. I flavour it with lemon-scented gum leaves, coriander that’s grown in the garden, orange peel that’s grown in the garden, and rosemary flowers that are grown right outside the cellar door.” SV