Travel Has Never Been Easier

Adventure Just a Hop, Skip and Jump Away

Getting to Margaret River has never been easier. More direct flights link Asian hubs to Perth, the state capital and Australia’s western gateway (see Check a Flight). The Margaret River Wine Region, just 280 km southwest, is connected to Perth by excellent highways as well as air and rail routes.

Holiday-makers opting to drive themselves have a wide selection of car rental agencies to choose from (see Hire a Car). Those who prefer to sit back and leave the driving to others will find daily coach service and an ample variety of reliable holiday agencies offering both day and extended tours (see Join a Wine Tour).

Self-drive tours are always popular and, depending on your schedule, you may choose a direct path to the heart of your wine tour holiday or opt for a more leisurely journey. The two main arteries running through Margaret River offer that choice, with scenic Caves Road meandering through parks and forest and Bussell Highway providing a quicker route (Click here to open Map).

Before beginning your adventure in Margaret River, please note:

• Location
• Population
• Accommodation
• Time Zones
• Public Holidays
• Weather - Climate
• Customs and Visa Requirements
• Retail Tax
• Currency and Tipping
• Banking
• Useful Links

Location

With an area of 2.5 million sq km, the state of Western Australia occupies about a third of the country’s total land mass, being roughly equivalent to continental Europe in size. Perth, Western Australia’s capital and transportation hub, is just 7 air-hours from Hong Kong and about 5 air-hours from Singapore. Margaret River is about 280 km southwest of Perth, about a 3-hour drive.

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Population

Although Western Australia is the country's largest state, the total population is just under 2 million. About 1.3 million people live in Perth and 10,000 in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

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Accommodation

From camp grounds to forest cottages, bed-and-breakfast nooks, resorts, retreats and five-star hotels, Margaret River has the right accommodation to meet every need and budget. The region has become world famous for the quality and warmth of its country-style lodgings, with several establishments having won prestigious awards and inclusion to exclusive listings.

With outstanding personal service, fine food and wine and surroundings that simply cannot be beat, Margaret River accommodation offers selection, luxury and comfort (see Book a Room).

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Time Zones

Western Australia is on Western Standard Time (WST) and is one and a half hours behind South Australia and Northern Territory and two hours behind all other states. Margaret River is GMT (London) plus 8 hours, which is the same as Hong Kong and Singapore. Thus, when it is 12 noon in Margaret River, it is also noon in Hong Kong and Singapore and 1 pm in Tokyo.

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Public Holidays

Western Australia has an average of 10 public holidays per year, most of which commemorate landmark Australian historic events, such as Australia Day, or religious celebrations, such as Good Friday. School holidays are seasonal.

Should a state holiday fall on a weekend, the extra day’s holiday is taken the first working day following.

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Weather – Climate

Western Australia has one of the most diverse climates in Australia, with a tropical north and temperate south, where there are four distinct seasons – summer, autumn, winter and spring. Because Australia is south of the Equator, summer is December to February, autumn is March to May, winter is June to August, and spring is September to November.

Margaret River enjoys a Mediterranean - Maritime climate. Temperatures above 32°C in summer are rare. Winter temperatures vary from a minimum of 11°C to a maximum of 17°C. The average annual rainfall is 98.2 mm, with most rainfall occurring between May and November. Vintage is late February to April.

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Customs and Visa Requirements

Although a welcoming country, some visitors must secure visas on or before arrival in Australia. For further information, visit Department of Immigration.

Visitors to Western Australian enjoy a range of duty-free shopping benefits for many goods, including perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol and cigarettes. Age restrictions and limits apply, so check before you buy. Also pick up a brochure on the Tourist Refund Scheme – you could qualify for a tax refund.

Australia’s geographic remoteness has provided it with a natural barrier against pests and diseases. Accordingly, strict quarantine laws are in place regarding the import or transport of identified food stuffs domestically and internationally. The best rule to follow is, “If in doubt, declare it” as heavy penalties apply. Visit Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services more.

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Retail Tax

Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST). Prices displayed on goods is the full price including GST.

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Currency and Tipping

The dollar is the basic unit of Australian currency and is equal to 100 cents. Notes are available in denominations of $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5. Coins are available in denominations of $2, $1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢ and 5¢. Prices under 5¢ are rounded up or down to the nearest 5¢.

Tipping is generally not expected within Australia, but for exceptional service you may wish to leave a small amount.

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Banking

Banks are open from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday, and 9.30 am to 5.00 pm on Fridays. Some suburban banks are open on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Automatic Teller Machines are plentiful and readily available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Electronic fund transfer machines (EFTPOS) are commonly used at most retail outlets in major centres, as well as by taxis, restaurants and hotels, and can be used to access many types of bank accounts and credit cards.

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Useful Links

Western Australian Visitor Centre
Forrest Place
469 Wellington Street
Perth, WA 6000
Australia
Free Call: 1300 361 351
International Call: +61 (8) 9483 1111
E-mail: travel@westernaustralia.com
Web: www.westernaustralia.com

Margaret River Visitor Centre
Address: Bussell Highway
Margaret River Township
Postal address: Bussell Highway
Margaret River, WA 6285
Australia
Tel: +61 (8) 9757 2911
E-mail: welcome@margaretriver.com
Web: www.margaretriver.com

© 2006 Margaret River for Asia. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.