Frequently Asked Questions About Margaret River Tours

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Visiting Margaret River FAQs

Can’t Decide Which Tour? Read This First.
Look, a lot of people think they want to book the Best of the Best Wine Tour. And fair enough — it’s a cracker of a day, especially if you’re a full-blown wine nerd who loves geeking out over back vintages and barrel samples.
BUT...
If you’re chasing something a bit more special — a proper taste of Margaret River that goes beyond the cellar door — then the Discovery Tour is the one you really want.
It’s the tour that put us on the map. The one that earned us a spot on TripAdvisor’s Best Tour Experiences — worldwide. It’s a bit adventure, a bit indulgence, a lot of “wowza, this is amazing!”
You’ll still drink world-class wine (including a long lunch at one of the region’s top wineries), but you’ll also:
Canoe a quiet section of the actual Margaret River
Hike through ancient forest
Explore off-road tracks in a luxury 4WD
Learn about the French wine concept of 'terroir' in a way that actually makes sense — geology, ecology, and all the tasty and fun bits in between
And you’ll do it all with one foot in the vines and the other in the bush. A day of adventures that showcases the absolute very best of the Margaret River region. With behind the scenes experiences and special locals only access.
Still not sure? Jump on TripAdvisor and see what other legends have said. Spoiler alert: the Discovery Tour is where 99.99999999% of our rave reviews come from — and there’s a reason for that.
Let’s just call it like it is:
The Discovery Tour is the wayyyyy better experience.
What to Bring (Spoiler: Not Much)
We’ve got just about everything covered — your job is to rock up ready for a cracking day out.
Best advice? Dress casual, comfy and ready for anything. Margaret River weather has a cheeky streak, so bring a hat and sunscreen, but also a jumper or light jacket, even in summer. Locals like to say, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” Too right.
We’re proud to kit you out with Mountain Designs waterproof jackets if the weather decides to spice things up a bit. You’ll be out in the elements (in the best way), walking through a working winery, hiking trails and canoe experience — so comfortable shoes and relaxed clothes are the go. Yeah feel free to dress nice, but nothing fancy, we'll hardly see anyone all day where we're going. You don't need to dress to impress. And rest assured you won't be getting wet or dirty.

A few other tips:

No need for big bags — space in the Land Rover is limited, and we’ll sort all your food and bevvies. We'll even supply reusable water bottles, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.

Leave the heels and fancy gear at home — unless you’re planning to outdress the kangaroos

Need outfit inspo? Jump on our Facebook or Instagram and check out what other legends have worn on tour. Spoiler: it’s all jeans, sneakers and big grins.

Really, the only thing you need to pack is your sense of adventure!
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather in Margaret River… Just Bad Clothes 😉

At Margaret River Discovery Co, we reckon every kind of weather is exploring weather.

Rain? It makes the forest smell amazing.
Wind? Adds a bit of drama to your coastal stroll.
Clouds? Perfect lighting for photos.
Sunshine? Always a treat — just not always on the guest list.

We’re out there rain, hail or shine (okay, mostly shine) and we never cancel tours because of weather. With small groups and a flexible itinerary, we simply adjust the plan as the day unfolds. Margaret River’s known for four seasons in one day, so we roll with it — and make it part of the fun. We've never had anyone wet in over a decade of touring!

To keep you comfy, we provide Mountain Designs waterproof jackets for when the skies get theatrical. You just need to bring a good attitude.

We’ll handle the rest.
A Gourmet Adventure with a Wild Side

Is it a nature tour? A wine tour? A gourmet experience?

It’s all of the above.

Think David Attenborough meets Jamie Oliver… with just a dash of Russell Coight for good measure.

The Discovery Tour blends the best of Margaret River’s natural beauty with its world-class food and wine — all with a healthy dose of fun and zero pretension. It’s about connecting to the land, understanding the terroir that shapes the region, and tasting the results in your glass and on your plate.

One of the highlights? A peaceful canoe paddle on the actual Margaret River — no rapids, no flips, no dramas. In over 16 years, no one’s fallen in, gotten muddy, or ended up soggy. The canoes are super stable, the water is calm, and the scenery is pure magic.

Life jackets are provided for peace of mind.

Canoes are safety rated for three people (max 300kg), though we usually seat two.

If you’ve got limited mobility or need a hand, you’re welcome to ride with your guide (that’s me, Sean).

It’s a tour for the eco-curious, the flavour-chasers, and the nature lovers — and it’s anything but ordinary.
Need to Reschedule?
We get it — life happens. If you give us a bit of notice, we’re usually pretty flexible and happy to move your booking to another day (as long as there’s space).
But... here’s the official line our lawyer makes us include:

Less than 48 hours’ notice – unfortunately, we can’t offer a refund (100% cancellation fee)

2 to 4 days’ notice – we’ll refund half your tour cost (50% cancellation fee)

Outside of that? We’ll do our best to help you out. Just reach out as early as you can and we’ll work with you to find a solution.

Cheers for understanding — we’re a small operation and every seat counts!
We operate directly from the Margaret River Visitor Centre . Guests wishing to join the tour are welcome to leave their vehicle in the car parks surrounding the visitor centre. We depart from the Margaret River Visitor Centre 10.15am. We return around 4pmish.

100 Bussell Highway, Margaret River, Western Australia

Let’s be upfront — the Discovery Tour is an immersive outdoor experience. That means canoes on the river, bush trails underfoot, and a 4WD adventure across varied terrain. So yeah, you’ll need a basic level of mobility and fitness to come along for the ride.

That said, we’ve welcomed plenty of legends with accessibility challenges over the years. While we’re not set up for wheelchairs, we do offer Private Tours for guests who need a bit of extra time, space, or flexibility. This allows me (your guide, driver, storyteller and wine sherpa) to fully tailor the day to suit your needs — with safety, comfort and good times as top priorities.

We drive in a Land Rover Discovery 5, which has adjustable height suspension to help make getting in and out a breeze. You’ll also find:
* Clear, jargon-free info on the website with loads of photos and videos so you can visualise the experience before you book
* Multiple ways to get in touch, whether you’re more of a caller, emailer, or social media messenger
* Assistance animals welcome — just book a Private Tour and let us know what support you need
* Life jackets provided for all canoe sessions (though in over a decade of operation, not a single person’s taken an unexpected swim — it’s seriously stable and super chill)
* Canoes rated for up to 3 people with a 300kg max capacity, so everyone’s comfortably supported

We also take cues from the Tourism Council WA’s accessibility recommendations and regularly review how we operate the business. If you’ve got feedback or special requirements, we’re always keen to chat and improve.

Bottom line — if you’re keen to join and wondering if it’ll work for you, just reach out. I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.


🧭 Our Accessibility Commitments at Margaret River Discovery Co.

At Margaret River Discovery Co., we believe every traveller deserves a fair go—regardless of mobility, hearing, vision, sensory, or cognitive ability. While we’re a one-bloke band, we’ve put serious thought into making our small group adventures more inclusive, drawing on the Tourism Council WA’s accessibility guidelines and the national Quality Tourism Framework.

📘 Accessibility Information Guide
We provide the following detailed Accessibility Information to help you plan confidently. It includes info on:

Physical access: While we operate in natural bushland and rugged environments, we provide honest, upfront descriptions of terrain, surfaces, and mobility requirements for each tour segment. We'll work with you to determine what's doable based on individual needs.

Sensory considerations: We offer a calm, nature-based environment with low-stimulation settings—ideal for guests seeking quiet spaces.

Communication supports: Booking and communication can be done via phone, email, or direct booking forms. We avoid jargon and keep language clear and welcoming.

Emergency preparedness: As a bush-based operator and volunteer firefighter, emergency planning is in our DNA. We’ve developed flexible procedures to support guests with accessibility needs and ensure everyone’s safe.

These practices align with the Quality Tourism Accessibility Standards for Limited Mobility, Low Vision, Low Hearing and Cognitive/Autism.

🧠 Staff Awareness & Training
It’s just me, Sean—but I’ve completed disability awareness training through Tourism Council WA. I’m committed to respectful, person-first service, with a focus on empathy, flexibility, and real-time adjustments. Whether it’s offering a helping hand or modifying a walk to suit your needs, I’ve got your back.

📞 Accessible Booking & Enquiry Options
We make it easy to connect your way:

Book via phone, email, or online form.

Just let us know if your specific accessibility requirement and we'll make sure you have the required pre-tour emails include itinerary breakdowns, terrain descriptions, weather tips, and sensory notes.

Need help deciding if the tour is a good fit? Just ask—honest guidance, no sales pitch

🚐 Facilities & Services
The Margaret River Discovery Tour operates outdoors, in national parks, vineyards, and private bushland settings. While some areas have uneven terrain, we adapt the experience wherever possible to accommodate the following:

Mobility: We provide detailed info on walking distances, surfaces, and seating opportunities. Assistance with entry/exit from the 4WD vehicle is always available.
Vision: We offer descriptive commentary, high-contrast visual materials, and assistive support where needed.

Hearing: Small group size allows for personalised, face-to-face communication, with visual cues and written summaries available on request.

Cognitive & Autism-Friendly: We keep things simple, structured, and relaxed. Pre-tour info helps reduce uncertainty, and guests are welcome to opt out of activities if they need a sensory break.

🚨 Emergency Preparedness
As an experienced bushfire volunteer, emergency response is second nature here. All tours include a safety briefing and risk minimisation strategy. In the unlikely event of an emergency:

Clear instruction and vehicle-based safety equipment is on hand

Communication is calm, direct, and adapted to individual needs

A personalised safety response is provided when needed

👋 Got Questions?
Every guest and every need is different—and we’re happy to help you figure out what works best for you. Whether you're planning ahead or want to talk through specific access needs, just reach out.

📧 Email: sean@margaretriverdiscovery.com.au
📞 Phone: +61 439 910 064

All our accessibility accreditation information can be found here

Accessibility Information
Doing Our Bit for the Planet (And Our Patch of Margaret River)

At Margaret River Discovery Co, we believe if you’re lucky enough to make a living off the land, you’ve got a duty to look after it. Sustainability isn’t just a feature of the tour — it’s the reason the tour exists.

We’re proudly aligned with Tourism WA’s Sustainable Tourism Goals, especially when it comes to:
* Protecting and regenerating the environment
* Supporting local communities and producers
* Creating low-impact, meaningful experiences for travellers

That’s why we’ve deliberately kept things small-scale, low-impact, and not greedy — just a handful of guests each day, exploring the region with care, not crowds.

Our current carbon footprint is 10.6 tonnes per year, and we’re actively reducing it through real, measurable actions:

* Operating appliances during off-peak hours to lower energy demand
* Using water-saving fittings and reusing water where possible
* Only using biodegradable, eco-friendly cleaning products
* Sourcing local, seasonal produce that supports Margaret River growers and reduces food miles
* Eliminating single-use plastics
* Composting all food waste and keeping it out of landfill
* Recycling like absolute pros
* Offsetting 100% of Carbon Emissions with certified tree planting initiatives located in Queensland (Carbon Halo project)

If we had to sum it up:
“Let’s not be greedy.”

That’s our sustainability mantra — take only what we need, give back where we can, and leave the land better than we found it.

This isn’t a box-ticking exercise.

It’s a long-term commitment to doing tourism better, not bigger, and helping visitors connect with the land in a way that’s meaningful, respectful, and regenerative.

See our Ecotourism page for more detail -

https://margaretriverdiscovery.com.au/about/ecotourism-certified
Feeling Unwell? No Worries.

If you’re showing any symptoms of COVID-19, you can cancel at any time — even last minute — with zero fees or penalties. Your health (and ours) comes first, no questions asked.

In fact, if you’re feeling off in the days or even weeks before your tour, we’d genuinely appreciate it if you played it safe and gave us a call. We’d much rather you rest up and recover than risk spreading anything around.

At Margaret River Discovery Co, we’ve taken every step to make sure your tour is as safe as it is unforgettable:

Your guide, Sean, is fully vaccinated and trained under the WA Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Program

Our tour vehicle is thoroughly cleaned and sanitised daily

Hand sanitiser is provided for all guests

We’re all about good vibes, good health, and good wine — and we’ll always put people before policies.
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It…

Our biggest advocates? The legends who’ve already done the tour.

We’ve been proudly sitting at the #1 spot on TripAdvisor for years — not just in Margaret River, but recently recognised on TripAdvisor’s ‘Best of the Best’ list of top experiences worldwide.

That’s right — one of the top-rated tours on the planet, right here in Margs!

Want to know what the fuss is about? Have a scroll through the reviews and hear it straight from the folks who’ve paddled, sipped, hiked and laughed their way through the day with us.

Tripadvisor Reviews
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The beauty of being a personalised local operator is you are dealing with me when you book.
When you make a booking with me a confirmation will be sent to you. If you need to change the date, time or number of people just call, I will be as flexible as possible subject to availability.

Tour inclusions vary by tour. Please refer to the specific tour details.

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