Lush rural retreat with a hint of Bali in sunny Western Australia
Empire Retreat / Yallingup / WA / Australia
South of Perth, in Western Australia, there is an area called Margaret River. This is a region that is famous for its wines and beautiful beaches. It is here, in this attractive region you’ll find the Empire Retreat. A small hotel, nestled in a lush forest, with greenery literally at your doorstep. For us northerners it feels so exotic. The trees, the sounds, the scent, the light…
This secluded hotel provides an excellent escape from reality. They only have 11 rooms so this is a hotel you’ll have to book well in advance to make sure you secure a room. And one of the things I like when staying at these kind of boutique hotels is that it is adults only. It creates a certain kind of ambience. And it feels like people who come here, come to relax and enjoy the tranquility.
The design has a Balinese touch, with large, wooden beds, rattan furniture, woven straw lamps and patterned pillows. This whole design scheme fits really well with the laid back Australian view of life.
This region isn’t only know for the wine, along the coast line there are the most amazing beaches that goes on for miles on end. And since part of Australia is more of the beaten track compared to the east, you have some beaches more or less all to yourself.
Welcome to the Empire Retreat. For us frozen northerners it almost feels like the entrance to the Garden of Eden. So green, exotic and enticing.
The interior has some clear nods to Bali and Balinese furniture design. It really adds to the relaxed vacation feeling.
M is enjoying breakfast in the beautiful breakfast room. I guess in this kind of environment whatever you would have on your plate would taste great.
Breakfast is served. I love myself some á la carte breakfast treats.
The hotel is surrounded by an orchard.
The beaches in this area are beyond amazing. White, fine sand and crystal clear water.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…disappear for a while. Trust me, no one will find you here (we missed the exit several times and had to back again and again. Maybe that says more about us…). It is a hotel where you come to relax at the spa, eat good food and just zone out.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the breakfast. I love a good breakfast buffet but if there is something I like even more, it is á la carte breakfast. And the beautiful, window covered breakfast room adds to the total experience.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is beaches and wine. That kind of sums it up. It is not a bad combo.
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