Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail

The Swan Valley is the oldest wine region in Western Australia, with more than 195 years of winemaking heritage, and it lies around 25 to 30 minutes from central Perth. A scenic 32-kilometre loop drive links roughly 150 attractions, from family-owned wineries to breweries, cider houses, distilleries, chocolate makers and galleries, which makes it one of the easiest food and drink trips from the city. Tourism Western Australia also notes that it is the only Australian wine region you can reach by cruising from a capital city.

The region's wineries are known for informal cellar door tastings, with Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Cabernet among the varieties to look for, along with liqueur styles such as Liqueur Verdelho and Liqueur Shiraz. Larger estates include Sandalford Wines, Mandoon Estate and Nikola Estate. Beer drinkers can visit craft brewers such as Funk, and gin fans have several distilleries to choose from, including Old Young's, Sin Gin and Damaged Goods.

Food stops are a big part of the trail. Whistler's Chocolate, Mondo Nougat and The House of Honey are popular with families, and Maalinup Gallery and Providore is Aboriginal-owned. Gomboc Gallery Sculpture Park is another cultural stop. For families with children, Caversham Wildlife Park and Whiteman Park, with its walking trails, wildlife encounters and playgrounds, are nearby.

Start at the Swan Valley Visitor Centre in the old Guildford Courthouse, on the corner of Meadow and Swan Streets in the historic town of Guildford, described by the state tourism body as Perth's oldest inland town. It opens daily from 9am to 4pm and offers a free map of the trail as well as nine themed itineraries that help you plan a route.

Not driving is the most relaxing way to enjoy the valley. Guided tasting tours run by river cruise from Barrack Street Jetty, small bus, kayak, private car, limousine or even horse-drawn wagon, and Captain Cook Cruises is among the operators running Swan River cruises, while Nauti Picnics hires out self-drive electric picnic boats. Those driving themselves can follow the loop via Guildford, using one of the visitor centre's themed itineraries to narrow down the choice of stops.