If you want to tick as many things off your bucket list as possible while staying in one place, that place has got to be WA.
As Scoop's resident travel whiz I'm always stumbling across exciting destinations and activities that make me exclaim, "That's going on my bucket list!". This edition I thought I'd share some of the best of them with our readers, as well as other incredible experiences around Western Australia that I'm itching to try out, like getting up close and personal with the wildlife, or staying overnight in a Dakota aeroplane.
Photography Merlyn Moon.
Dinner with Fervor
Fervor should be on the bucket-list of any self-respecting WA foodie. The travelling pop-up restaurant, run by chef Paul Iskov (ex Restaurant Amusé) and his sister Bree, is taking palates by storm all over the state. So far, they've hosted their long table degustation dinners in places as far flung as Albany, Esperance, Margaret River, Kalgoorlie, Mukinbudin and Exmouth. "Travelling with Fervor means we can learn about unique Australian ingredients, discover beautiful places, meet inspiring people and share this through the degustation dining experience," says Bree. "We create extraordinary flavours in wondrous surroundings to stimulate all the senses, reminding diners of the source of produce and our innate connection to nature."
The pair use wild edibles (native bush tucker) to create meals that can run up to ten courses – think Yallingup marron, finger lime, and sandalwood. There are only about thirty spots per dinner so it's nice and intimate, and the locations are as impressive as the menu – from overlooking a surf break in Margaret River to a 60-year-old shearing shed in Mukinbudin. $160-$225 per person.
How to do it Book direct with Fervor. 0450 973 813, fervor.com.au.
Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures.
Snorkel in a Shark Cage in the Kimberley
At picturesque Talbot Bay in the Kimberley you can don a snorkel and jump in a cage to see groups of tawny sharks underwater and watch them being fed. You can even give them a pat if you're game, but keep your hands in the cage if any salt-water crocs approach! Look out for Gordon, the 150kg groper – he's known to snaffle up any belongings that fall into the water, especially sunglasses! Broome-based operator Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures runs action-packed day tours that include the cage snorkel and another highlight – an epic speedboat ride through the Horizontal Falls. April-October, Adults $795, children $695.
How to do it Book with Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures (08) 9192 1172, horizontalfallsadventures.com.au.
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Mudcrabbing with Brian Lee at Cape Leveque. Australia's North West tourism.
Mudcrabbing on the Dampier Peninsula
Found in mangroves and muddy creeks anywhere north of Kalbarri, green mud crabs (the larger of the two species found in WA) can grow up to a whopping 2.5kg and 30cm wide – yes, that's larger than most chihuahuas. You can catch them with drop nets, by scooping, or by hand, but muddies are super-aggressive, and aren't afraid to latch on and lose a claw if threatened, so you need to know the right way to snag them. On the Kimberley coast's Dampier Peninsula, you can learn how to catch the crustaceans on a fishing tour with an Indigenous elder: you'll head off to a creek at low tide with only a metal pole and a hessian bag. Be prepared for an exciting game of tug-of-war with your crab, and to get a bit dirty in the process. Once you've caught your share, just clean them and throw them on the barbecue before tucking into their tasty flesh. Top tip: if you're bitten, hit the crab's pincer with a heavy, blunt object.
Where to do it Dampier Peninsula,
How to do it Book a tour from Chile Creek (08) 9192 4141, or Kooljaman at Cape Leveque (08) 9192 4970.
