Have just spent four nights at this wonderful little place of peace and quiet. Located some 5 minutes drive out of the township of Margaret River, it is a perfect spot to recoup and use as a base to explore the area between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in the south-west part of Western Australia. The area is physically beautiful with dense forests and scenic coastline dotted with vineyards and small boutique restaurants. ‘The Gilgara Retreat’ comprises a Main House which functions like a bed and breakfast, plus a number of self contained duplex villas each of which has its own little verandah on the bush where the birds, kangaroos and other wildlife can be seen and heard. A wonderful outlook. You can stock up with foodstuffs from the town and self cater as the units have their own kitchenette, good for breakfast, and then go to the town each evening for dinner in one of the many local restaurants. Sitting outside on the unit’s verandah listening to the frogs, birdcalls and other nightlife – a great sedative, rounded off the nights.
The units themselves are of interesting modern design with lots of glass windows aimed at optimizing the views and light. The main bedroom area in fact has no blinds but opens on to a secluded bush courtyard. We thought this may have let in morning light and make it hard to sleep (for those people Gilgara provides eyeshades) but in fact it is lovely to awaken to the gentle morning light and just lay in bed listening to the wildlife. It is akin to 5-star camping. The bathrooms are huge with excellent shower and spa facilities.
Elaine and Steve, our hosts, were wonderfully welcoming and gave great hints as to what is happening in the area and which sites and vineyards to visit. The drive to either end of the area takes only around 30-40 minutes and you can enjoy the parks and lighthouses at both Capes, and if you are lucky (like we were) see a whale or two, seals, and hordes of other local wildlife. The famous natural limestone caves are only 15 minutes away. We enjoyed 4 nights which gave us 3 full days to explore the area – just enough, another day would have made it perfect. ‘Gilgara’ was a wonderful break and we feel totally refreshed.