And the winner of the Australasian Big Wave Award is Taco Warr! You may be coming south for wine and relaxation, but for those also interested in the surf and the beaches, our special region stars again in big wave surfing.

The winner of the Australasian Big Wave Awards 2011 was announced last week. Once again Cow Bombie , a local spot featured as the biggest wave from an epic surf session last October. The overall winner was Damien “Taco” Warr and you can see his excellent ride by copying this link. - http://www.bigwaveawards.com.au/biggest-wave/401-winner-damien-warr

Margaret River is world famous for surfing. When you are staying at your Merribrook Retreat , Margaret River acommodation you are only 4km from the Indian Ocean and 4 kms from Cow Bombie! Some of our guests take surf lessons while on holiday and come home with great surf stories, perhaps not all like the living legend of Cow Bombie!

Many Summer nights in the delux Lakeview Retreat Villa, Margaret River reduced to $299 a night ( 2 people) including a gourmet breakfast, fully cooked daily.

  These villas have a queen bed and daybed plus a wonderful deep double bath, ideal for soaking away those work pressures.

This Margaret River Special Summer Deal  is for online bookings only.  Mention this Special Summer Deal  in the special requests section when booking and you may receive a complimentary upgrade to the Lake House!!!  Check your dates and see if you can take advantage of this excellent saving this Summer at our Margaret River accommodation where you can really indulge in the luxury of nature  more

In Summer , nature excells in the Margaret River. From our spectacular coastline ( see Christiam Fletcher’s image below of Sugarloaf Rock) to the ripe vineyards wrapped in white net, the whole Margaret River Wine Region is a visual feast.

The vineyards now resemble artistic installations awaiting the vintage. Their white bird nets drape dramaticly  to the ground in luxurious folds. Who will win this year, man or bird?

Our own Margaret River accommodation grounds are filling each evening with cheeky kangaroos looking for the pleasure of green grass. Our lush cool gardens are heaven to the roos as their bush feed dries up in the summer.

Do come and indulge in the luxury of summer nature at Merribrook Retreat. Delight in the beauty that surrounds us.

Sometimes it takes my guests to really remind me of the paradise I live in daily. At breakfast this morning on the terrace these cheeky and beautiful splendid fairy wrens were dancing from table to table. (see image below of the radiant male wren) As you walk along the villa paths in the early evening the white gardenia is currently in bloom and  spreading  a wonderful and romantic perfume on the night air. No wonder we have had a record number of marriage proposals at Merribrook this summer!

And a very delighted guest from  a distant land told me of watching the kangaroos from his villa early this morning.

So ” what is this life if full of care, we have no time to stop and stare?” (Now, who did say that?)  Our Margaret River Hiliday accommodation certainly does nestle in a much loved Garden Of Eden   more on gardens

Fancy the outdoor movies at Cape Mentelle, a fabulous day out with Margaret River Discovery Tours, a gourmet platter at your Merribrook Retreat home away from home? Choose your Margaret River Holiday accommodation as Merribrook Retreat and we will tell you so many behind the scenes tips for our wonderful district. Or you can never leave the property and just lie by the pool below!  Indulge in the luxury of nature soon at magical Merribrook Retreat,  quality Margaret River accommodation. more

 2 MAGICAL NIGHTS, Merribrook Retreat, Margaret River accommodation plus your Gold Pass!  Enjoy exclusive offers at wineries, restaurants and cafes…

Valid for bookings from January 2nd 2012 to August 31st 2012. Offer not valid peak periods.

Forest Edge Garden Villa – $599 for 2 people

Lakeview Retreat Villa – $750 for 2 people

Lake House – $930 for 2 people

Your  Margaret River Accommodation Gold Pass special offer includes:

• 2 nights accommodation
• 2 breakfasts overlooking the Lake
• Local hand made essential oil soaps
• Fresh garden flowers in your room
• Full use of our fabulous facilities on 160 acre estate
• YOUR MARGARET RIVER GOLD PASS

Relax and unwind by the solar heated pool.
Indulge in a hot therapeutic spa,
Perhaps a wood fired sauna by the lake.
Take a gentle walk and admire the wildflowers.

Your Gold Pass presents you with an exclusive collection of special offers at some of the best wineries, restaurants and cafes in the region. With offers covering lunch and dinner plus deals at wineries and other activities this Gold Pass will help stretch your holiday budget further while indulging in the best of Australia’s South West.

Ring 08 9755 5599 or email info@merribrook.com.au

(Currently not available to book online)

The not so secret recipes for your enjoyment. Think Chocolate Banana Bread and famous Chocolate Cake! more

Friends & Family Deal

4th person stays free in a Forest Edge Garden Villa, Two night minimum stay. Includes a fully cooked breakfast for all. more

Urban myth or reality?

Once upon a time, Skippy was our Merribrook Retreat pet kangaroo. A huge strong and cheeky male, this gorgeous creature, some 18 years ago endeared himself to all. Perhaps some of you can remember him-up on the lodge verandah, nibbling my then young garden, scaring startled guests along the villa paths.

Once he held two bemused children hostage on their top bunk. He had entered the villa looking for biscuits-he had developed a passion for sweet food (not that we would offer him biscuits today, being more ecologically aware!!) The children were too scared to climb down and endured a long siege awaiting the return of their parents. All the while Skippy consumed the entire contents of their Christmas biscuit tin.

A passion for biscuits grew into a passion for beer, wine and ultimately champagne. In Villa Two, one spring a charming representative of Moet and Chandon was enjoying a magnificent Merribrook sundown.

The Moet was chilled, the glasses poured. The Frenchman stretched lazily on his wisteria clad verandah. Suddenly Skippy arrives on the scene. With grace and experience, he reached for the champagne flute and elegantly drained the glass. The startled Frenchman came running to us at the Lakeside Lodge. I have seen everything now, even Moet drinking bush kangaroos
I believe this story lives on in France to this day!

However we all realized our Skippy was becoming too familiar, too human. What of his own kind, his own life in the wild? We took him about 100km from Merribrook deep into the State forest and bid him a fond farewell. We thought often of him over the past 18 years.

This is now where the urban myth or Merribrook reality comes into play. My youngest daughter and I were walking over the new stone bridge by the waterfall and the dogs disturbed the biggest old roo I have seen in years. Actually, the biggest since Skippy went away. Strangely the roo, albeit cross with the dogs presence did not hop away. Instead we fled, a little confused and fearful from this strange encounter.

Next morning the very same large old male kangaroo was feeding close to the road. I wound down my car window- he was barely two feet from me. I questioned aloud,
Who are you, old boy? That afternoon I walked down to the old Western Grey who was now very close to Villa 6 verandah. It suddenly came to me. Was it, is it?
I walked up to him, looked him in the eye firmly and asked, Are you Skippy, the Moet drinking bush kangaroo? To my greatest joy his eyes sparkled, his ears twitched and his nose snuffed and He leaned into me.
Skippy, Skippy, you have come home.

I looked for Skippy the next morning, and the next morning. Where are you, Skippy?
The days turned into a week. The guests told me of a strong smell near Villa Six. On walking deep into the creek vegetation, I found dear Skippy, peacefully asleep, sadly dead.

On recounting Skippys story to my wonderful neighbour who has raised orphan kangaroos for years and has lived close to nature for almost six decades, she told me some startling facts.

Yes, kangaroos especially males do go home to die.
Yes, kangaroos can live in excess of 20 years.
And yes, Skippy, the Moet drinking bush kangaroo never lost his love for his early Merribrook home and travelled over 100kms to return home to die.

Lorraine Firth