How To Have The Most Epic Summer Escape Along The Edge

The first of December is not only the first day of our summer season, but it also marks the start of the Noongar season of Birak in the South West of Australia.

The Aboriginal people are conservationists by nature, they were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who followed a six-season calendar, still used by Aboriginal people today. The Birak season is December and January and is known as the season of fire and the young. It is characterised by hot and dry conditions and breathtaking pink and orange sunsets.

Take a journey along The Edge to enjoy the wonders of Birak, including the incredible South West beaches, the inland experiences of the towering forests, incredible seasonal produce – all washed down with a crisp craft beer made right here on The Edge!

Catch some rays and take a dip at our incredible beaches

As you traverse The Edge, you’ll be treated to some of the most incredible coastline in Australia. No matter where you are along the journey, you’re never far from an array of pristine beaches! Pick a spot to perch for the day, enjoy a gourmet picnic and feel the summer breeze rolling in. There are Insta-worthy beaches dotted along The Edge, with some of our favourite spots being The Basin and Little Parakeet Bay on Rottnest Island, Injidup Natural Spa in Yallingup, Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks in Denmark, and the iconic Lucky Bay in Esperance.

If you’re keen to don your snorkel and fins, there are also incredible snorkelling experiences on offer along The Edge, including the coral reef underwater dive trail at Rottnest, underneath the Busselton Jetty and around the rocky coves in Yallingup. If water sports are more your more thing, be sure to stop at Margaret River to explore the surfer’s playground and visit the home of the Margaret River Pro, which sees top ranked surfers compete to win the World Surf League’s World Championship Tour. There are heaps of activities to try along The Edge from wind surfing and SUPing to kayaking and water skiing!

One of the best ways to enjoy the beaches of the South West is by staying for a sunset. The late afternoon sky-shows we see over our beaches are incredible year-round, but the Birak season brings with it incredible fairy floss coloured skies and balmy sea air.

The Birak season is December and January and is known as the season of fire and the young. It is characterised by hot and dry conditions and breathtaking pink and orange sunsets. Take a journey along The Edge to enjoy the wonders of Birak, including the incredible South West beaches, the inland experiences of the towering forests, incredible seasonal produce – all washed down with a crisp craft beer made right here on The Edge!

Indulge in seasonal, fresh produce

One of the many wonderful things about The South West Edge is the abundance of fresh and local produce on offer. Throughout the year, we see amazing seasonal produce used in our restaurants, cafes, shops, wineries, and events, that leave us wanting more. During the summer months, a range of delicious produce is beautifully ripe and delicious. Stone fruits, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, avocados, melons, passionfruit, grapes, oranges, and pears are in profusion, so you can expect nothing but the freshest fruit to complement your summer picnics and BBQs.

There are so many places to dine out along The Edge, but if you’re looking to buy some produce and cook up a storm yourself at your accommodation then head to one of the many farmers markets in each of the regions which showcase the seasonal produce picks from the farmers.

As well as the produce on land, we have plenty of water-to-plate seafood that comes seasonally to our restaurants and eateries around the region. In summer you can find (or even catch yourself) fresh abalone, crabs, dhufish, rock lobster and south west marron (freshwater crayfish) to indulge in as you eat your way along The Edge. Ed note: Be sure to check local guides, licences and fishing restrictions at fish.wa.gov.au.

Enjoy crisp beer and wine

The South West Edge combines some of the most prolific wine producing regions in the country, with Margaret River, the Swan Valley and the Great Southern really putting Australia on the map with their incredible fine wines. More boutique and up -and-coming wine growing areas such as Geographe, Southern Forests and Blackwood Valley are also making waves in the wine world and offer gorgeous, personalised cellar door experiences, often with the winemakers themselves. In these warmer months, you can’t beat a cool Margaret River Chardonnay or a crisp Riesling from the Great Southern! Perfect enjoyed on a warm evening alongside a seafood BBQ feast.

For those who prefer a crisp glass of beer or cider on a hot day, you’ll be spoilt for choice – there are heaps of breweries scattered along The Edge – from epic, vibe-filled beerhalls like the iconic Little Creatures and the brand new Shelter Brewing Co. in Busselton, to the cute and crafty places like Bush Shack Brewery in the Ferguson Valley and Lucky Bay Brewing in Esperance. These brewers are dishing out some seriously good beers; from classic summer ales and pilsners to more experimental sours – the perfect summer thirst quenchers.

See wild Orcas

If you’re doing the full South West Edge road trip, summer is the time to treat yourself to an incredible wildlife experience and take a boat trip to see the largest known pod of orca in the Southern Hemisphere. Tours out to the Bremer Canyon leave from Bremer Bay (bus transfers are also available from Albany) and take you out across the Southern Ocean to find the orca who come to this area between January and early April to feast and frolic.

Head out onto the water

It’s one thing to sit and admire our amazing coastline from the shore, but it’s a whole new experience getting out onto the open water and cruising around the bays. If you’re lucky enough to own a boat, tow it along your South West Edge adventure and launch it at one of the many boat ramps scattered along the coast. There are skiing areas, fishing hotspots, and places to anchor up and enjoy your surroundings.

If you don’t own a boat, there are many tours you can book for different experiences, like jet boating in Dunsborough, river cruises in Pemberton and Denmark and sailing charters in Perth and Esperance. If a boat isn’t your thing, why not try jet skiing, SUPing, or kayaking for something a little different?

See a blanket of stars in the night sky

As we dive into the warmer months, we say hello to cloudless, wide open skies. This makes for epic night-time shows, with a blanket of stars lighting up the night sky. If you’re heading to the smaller, more remote towns along The Edge, you can expect to see a star-filled sky due to minimal light pollution around you. Camp sites in the national parks and forests are the perfect spots to sit and stargaze into the night, especially in more remote places like Cape Le Grand National Park in Esperance, Lake Ballard in the Goldfields, and the Ferguson Valley in the South West. As you arrive back into Perth, make a trip through the Perth Hills and visit the Perth Observatory for some incredible stargazing through their super-size telescopes.