Sightseeing South of Mandurah
Visit Bouvard Winery and the Thrombolites in Western Australia
Take a day trip from Perth, Western Australia to eat at the Bouvard Winery, south of Mandurah, and see the ancient thrombolites at Lake Clifton in the Yalgorup Lakes.
For visitors to Perth, Western Australia, there are numerous day trips to see different aspects of rural Australia. Many travel far into the south-west to see vineyards and national parks, but it’s possible to see all of this just over an hour south of the city, by visiting the Bouvard area south of Mandurah.
Wine Tasting at the Bouvard Winery
Established in 1990, the Bouvard Winery is located on the Old Coast Road between Mandurah and Bunbury, about an hour and a half’s drive from Perth. It is, in fact, the only winery in the region, and is located on a beautiful property in the bush.
Cape Bouvard Wines are made here from grapes both grown on site and sourced elsewhere, and perhaps the best way to enjoy a day out here is to arrive in the late morning to do some wine tasting, choose a bottle of your favorite and then order lunch. The winery has a well-established eating area with mostly outdoor tables, and the grounds are also interesting for a stroll.
Unlike many of the increasingly expensive vineyards in the south-west region of the state, the Bouvard Winery serves relatively simple and inexpensive meals, with seafood being a key feature.
Lake Clifton’s Thrombolites
After you have finished your meal, take a stroll to see the thrombolites at Lake Clifton. Thrombolites are said to be one of the oldest life forms still present on earth, and they look like growing stone pillars in the water. Calcium carbonate from the water keeps them growing.
At Lake Clifton, part of the Yalgorup Lakes, a special boardwalk has been constructed so that visitors can walk out over the lake and get a good view of the unusual thrombolite structures. This also protects them from damage. Although it can be extremely windy at the lake, it is well worth taking a walk around the area and looking carefully at the thrombolites.
National park signs and information plaques can be found shortly before the start of the boardwalk, and there is also information about short and longer bush walks that can be undertaken in the area.
Getting to Bouvard Winery and Lake Clifton
Unfortunately, hiring a car is probably the only way to reach these destinations. It is possible to drive from Perth, or to take the train to Mandurah and rent a car there, but having access to a car all the way from Perth will provide the opportunity for other interesting stops along the way.
