A Day in the Swan Valley

Tantalise your tastebuds with a day trip to Perth’s pantry, where producers, brewers, distillers and winemakers draw on hundreds of years of food and drink heritage to create unforgettable culinary experiences. Welcome to the Swan Valley, Western Australia's oldest wine region. Spread a picnic rug under the shade of a eucalyptus tree and open a bottle of wine from a family-run vineyard 25 minutes away from Perth. Catch the delicate scent of wildflowers on the breeze and the sound of birds calling to one another overhead. Soaking up the relaxing rural scene, you wonder: artisan chocolate or freshly churned ice cream for dessert? A short drive from Perth or a relaxed cruise up the Swan River delivers you into the valley’s heart. If you’re coming by car, stop to explore the old-world charm, grand 19th-century architecture and art galleries of Guildford. The Swan Valley’s Mediterranean climate produces top-notch wines - crisp verdelho, luscious grenache and sophisticated shiraz, along with some excellent fortified varieties. Beer and gin aficionados aren’t forgotten either – some amazing options tempt at the boutique breweries and distilleries. Fill your belly with delicious fare made to time-honoured recipes, dining among the vines, or at one of the spots along the river. Culinary excellence aside, creative endeavours flourish amid the Swan Valley’s fertile plains. Walk through art galleries and artisanal boutiques, and – from painter, potter, sculptor or woodworker – choose a special piece to take home. Closer to nature, follow the rugged walking trails into beautiful bushland, joining a tour operating out of the Swan Valley. Family-owned Caversham Wildlife Park invites visitors to snuggle koalas, feed kangaroos and say hello to wombats. The Swan Valley is beautiful year-round, but September to December is simply magical as colourful wildflowers put on a stunning show....

Product Types

• Day Trip

Activities you can engage in

• Scenic Drives
• Walks

Itineraries

• Morning: Perth to Guildford and the Swan Valley

  

  Head east on Guildford Road from Perth to the capital’s oldest inland town, Guildford. Stop at the Swan Valley Visitor Centre to pick up a free map of the Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail – a 32-kilometre loop taking in over 200 attractions. Get your morning sugar hit with a visit to some of the Swan Valley’s makers of fine sweet treats, from chocolate, nougat and nuts, to ice creams and sorbets. If you have a designated driver for the day, let them take you cellar door hopping from boutique family-run vineyards and organic wineries to large-scale premium wine producers. Many of the wineries offer alfresco dining beside the vineyards, pairing their creations with the finest of Western Australia’s fresh produce. Appreciators of hand-crafted beers and cider will also find plenty to tempt their palate at the region’s boutique breweries, many offering light bites and hearty fare for a lazy lunch in the beer garden. Or opt to fill a picnic basket with gourmet goodies and fresh produce from the road-side stalls and stores, then take your pick from ten local picnic spots, parks and reserves in and around Guildford and the Swan Valley region.

  Facilities found here

  • Carpark
  • Public Toilet

  Travel Method

  • Boat
  • Car
  • Ferry
  • Minibus

• Afternoon: Swan Valley

  

  The Swan Valley is a hotspot for creativity in arts and crafts too. With many galleries and workshops along the Food and Wine Trail, it’s a good place to pick up unique pieces by local sculptors, painters, potters, printmakers and woodworkers. If you are travelling with young children, there are plenty of fun ways to spend an afternoon, including the Swan Valley Heritage Cycle Trail, Caversham Wildlife Park, The Maze - Home of the Outback Splash Family Fun Park and many more. To return to Perth, head south through the Swan Valley, on West Swan Road or the Great Northern Highway to Guildford and retrace your tracks west along Guildford Road.

  Facilities found here

  • Carpark
  • Public Toilet

  Travel Method

  • Boat
  • Car
  • Ferry