Whilst in Perth with my parents and my brother’s family to celebrate my Nanna’s 90th Birthday and my Aunt’s 70th, we decided to extend our stay by a couple of nights and drive south to Bunker Bay resort.  It looked like a lovely place to base ourselves to relax and explore a bit of Cape Naturaliste and the Margaret River wine region.

We booked a 2 Bedroom Villa for our family of four which cost $758 for two nights including breakfast.  Although it was more money than we were used to spending, we had been fortunate to stay with my cousin in Perth and this place did look amazing!

The five star resort which opened in April 2004 is located on Bunker Bay road off Cape Naturaliste Road in the Margaret River region of Western Australia.  When we stayed it was owned by Mirvac Hotels & Resorts but is now owned by Pullman.  There is a board walk that leads to the beach close by.

Each villa features lake or garden views with an outdoor courtyard or deck, a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette and a flat screen TV with DVD player as well as a work desk.  WiFi is available in the rooms for a fee and there is reverse cycle air conditioning and a safe to store valuables.  There is also a washing machine and dryer and and iron and ironing board.  The open planned layout easily accommodates a large lounge suite and a dining table to eat at.  The finishes inside include natural materials with timber floors made from Jarrah and limestone feature walls.  The cathedral ceilings give the 83m2 room a real feeling of spaciousness.

The bathrooms are large with one containing a deep spa bath which we all enjoyed, along with the nice soft bathrobes and luxury amenities. There is of course a hair dryer too.

The bedrooms contain either a king bed in each or a king in one and two singles in the other – great if you have children.  The beds are comfortable and the linen feels like it’s good quality.  Roll away beds are available for a charge.

The resort had its own heated infinity pool which looked especially beautiful when lit up at night.

The resort had a restaurant and bar that looked out onto the ocean.  We ate dinner and breakfast there.  The food was nice and breakfast even included wine.  As we had to pay for dinner, we found it a bit expensive but to be expected at a place like that.

It was very handy to have a beach on the doorstep and a board walk that led from the room down to it.  It was quite a nice beach with waves just the right size to play in.  There are also some nice rocks and rock pools which kept the kids occupied for a while.  There’s a tap to wash the sand off on the way back.

There are a number of other things to do in the area including bush walks in and around Cape Naturaliste or visiting the Lighthouse and Discovery Centre about two and a half kilometres away.  There are of course the wineries scattered throughout the Margaret River region as well as the Chocolate shop that sells nice chocolate and ice-creams.

Other facilities the resort features are a fitness centre and tennis courts, an award winning day spa, a complimentary kids club (seasonal) and business facilities.  The resort also do wedding packages.

Pros:

• A beautiful property with lovely spacious and well equipped villas
• Board walk leads from your room down to the nearby beach
• Infinity pool
• Close to Cape Naturaliste and the Margaret River Wineries
• Free parking
• A lovely place to relax and enjoy yourself

Cons:

• The food at the restaurant is expensive
• Closest town is more than 10km away making other food options difficult
• Internet was not free

In Summary:

I would highly recommend this resort as we really enjoyed our time at this luxurious resort.  You do need a car however to get there and to get around and be prepared to pay more for your meals – although you’ll enjoy them.