The Best Hotels in Margaret River, Australia

Empire Spa Retreat is a rural haven with an adults-only policy. Just north of Margaret River, the hotel is set among the countryside, complete with a 5ha (12-acre) vineyard that produces award-winning wines. At the heart of the retreat, there’s a refurbished stone farmhouse with 11 suites featuring natural materials, spa baths and fireplaces. The dining room boasts vineyard views, and there’s an Asian-inspired spa, complete with a steam room, where you can indulge in a treatment.

If you’re looking for a seaside break, head to Smiths Beach Resort, which is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World family. Stay in an apartment, a villa, a beach shack or a beach house constructed to cause minimal environmental impact. They have floor-to-ceiling windows, fireplaces, oval bathtubs and barbecues. The resort has a 15m infinity pool, as well as a tennis court and direct access to the Cape to Cape Walk Track.

Stay at a private country house with a vineyard and an award-winning restaurant just a short drive from Smiths Beach. Cape Lodge showcases colourful Dutch-style buildings with lakeside rooms and a large outdoor pool. Follow walking tracks through the 16ha (40 acres) of grounds, past a tennis court and a lakefront lounge. In addition to 22 rooms, Cape Lodge offers a four-bedroom private residence set away from the main building.

The four-star Margarets Beach Resort offers some of the area’s best self-catering accommodation. Choose from an airy four-bedroom beach house, studios or apartments. All boast views of either the resort’s heated pool, tropical gardens or the rugged coastline. It takes just a few minutes to walk down to Gnarabup Beach, and Margaret River’s town centre is a 10-minute drive away.

If homely B&Bs are your thing, Rosewood hits the spot. Run by local couple Jane and Keith Purdie, the award-winning guest house is set in flower-covered gardens just 10 minutes from town. There are six individually styled en-suite rooms, each with antique furnishings, spa baths and garden views. With fluffy waffles, porridge and brews from Yahava KoffeeWorks, the complimentary home-cooked breakfast is a highlight. You can even take a private wine tour in Rose, the Purdie’s Rolls Royce.

The nautical-themed Admiral Stirling Inn is named after Western Australia’s founding governor, who was also an admiral. Built from local Jarrah hardwood timber and iron, the building has a seafaring feel and historical features, including writing desks from the Western Australian Legislative Council. There’s a range of self-contained apartments or rooms with a shared kitchen and a barbecue, set off a tree-shaded lane in central Margaret River.

The two Constellation Apartments sit on Margaret River’s main street, in a private compound with outdoor dining areas and a barbecue. Their names come from the constellations Cygnus and Aquila, which you can often see in the clear skies above Western Australia. Each five-star, one-bedroom apartment boasts local art, a monsoon shower and a kitchen filled with locally sourced breakfast supplies. Kick back on the king-size bed with a glass of Australian wine from the fully stocked Vintec wine fridge.

The beachside town of Busselton is a gateway to the Margaret River area’s wineries and national parks. Abbey Beach is its largest resort, with two restaurants and two bars, plus a choice of apartments or rooms overlooking the beach and lake. The resort’s expansive gardens are great for barbecues, and the sports facilities are first-class and include tennis and squash courts. There are even free wave skis to hire, with direct beach access.

Broadwater Resort also lies in Busselton and overlooks the rolling waves of Geographe Bay. The resort’s landscaped grounds are home to an outdoor pool, a tennis court, a bar and restaurant, a spa and a family-friendly games room. Stay in one of the apartments or villas; each has a balcony or a patio. The resort is steps away from the beach and Busselton Jetty.

The Ship Inn, on Albert Street, dates back to the 1840s and is one of Busselton’s most prominent buildings. The property is known for its lively, nautical-themed bar, large beer garden and hearty pub grub with a seafood influence. Try the crispy battered fish and chips or creamy garlic prawns. The Ship Inn’s one-bedroom apartments have comfy King Koil beds and balconies overlooking a small pool.