Lily Jones 
Sitting just 25-minutes outside of Perth, Swan Valley is the most accessible wine region in the country! Which means you really can’t pass up the chance to visit if you’re ever in Western Australia.
After Hunter Valley, Swan Valley is the second oldest wine region in Australia. Lots of Swan Valley Wineries have a really interesting history and an age-old, tried-and-tested winemaking process, which makes the wine extra tasty! Most of the wineries and food places in Swan Valley sit along a 32-kilometre loop, so even if you only have a day to spare, as I did on my Western Australia road trip, you can visit a good selection of them!
I’ve put together this itinerary to show you exactly how to visit the best wineries in Swan Valley in one lovely day trip. But first… how to get there!
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How to Get to Swan Valley from Perth
With very little public transport in Swan Valley, there are only really two ways to explore the region: via car or tour.
If you’ve got your own car then you’re ready to go. If not, I’d recommend renting a car the night before your trip so you can get a nice early start in the morning. Once you’ve got your car sorted, it’s an easy 25-minute drive up State Highway 51 to Guildford, the official gateway town to fruity Chardonnays, unique sparkling and the all-important shiraz!
If you’d rather sit back, relax and let someone else do the driving then there are plenty of tours that will take you to explore the Swan Valley wineries too. Whether you’re looking for a full-day tour, a half-day tour, or a tour that includes a morning cruise along the Swan River, you’re sure to find something to meet your taste and budget!
Your One-Day Itinerary Through Swan Valley
After grabbing an early breakfast at my favourite brunch spot in town, Flora & Fauna, you should be on time to reach Guildford Visitor Centre, as its doors open at 9.30 am. Here, you can pick up a super useful map of the whole Swan Valley wine loop, and start mapping out your day. So.. on to the first winery in Swan Valley!
1. Sandalford Wines
What better way to start your day than with a visit to arguably the largest cellar door in Western Australia?! Sandalford Wines is one of the most popular wineries in the valley, so it’ll come as no surprise that it’s also got a sister winery in Margaret River! Enveloped by a beautiful vineyard, this winery sits in a colonial-style house, with super friendly staff who were more than happy to guide me through my first experience of Swan Valley wine.
Opening Times: 10 am to 5 pm daily
Wine Tastings: Enjoy two free wine tastings on the house.
2. Sittella Winery
Follow the map north along the loop, and you’ll come to winery number two in just ten minutes. SIttella is a relatively new addition to the more traditional Swan Valley wineries, offering up a fresh perspective on this historic winemaking region. The cellar door experience here is a much more sophisticated affair, with sit-down tastings overlooking the vineyard, and knowledgeable local staff who can tell you all about these fine drops!
Opening Times: 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Sunday
Wine Tasting: Price per wine tasting varies, but all are redeemable upon purchase.
3. Olive Farm Wines
Just a hop, skip and a jump away (or a 3-minute drive to be exact) from Sittella is Oliver Farm Wines. Operating since 1829 and run by the same local family, this large estate is considered to be the oldest winery in Western Australia and possibly in Australia itself!
If you’re a family travelling with kids, this is a great place to let them stretch their legs on the huge lawn or play some games in the children’s area. Oh, and if you fancy a bit of a mid-morning snack, the cheese boards here are to die for!
Opening Times: 11 am to 4 pm (Monday to Friday), 10 am to 5 pm (Saturdays and Sundays)
Wine Tastings: $5 to taste eight different wines
4. Upper Reach Winery
Sitting just five-minutes up the road from Olive Farm Wines is Upper Reach Winery, which you’ll reach just in time for lunch! That’s great news because the food here is said to be some of the best in the local area! Follow up lunch with a friendly wine tasting of their memorable sparkling chardonnay, Semillon or fortified wines in the cellar door.
Opening Times: 11 am to 5 pm every day
Wine Tastings: $5 per person
BONUS: If you want to step away from the Swan Valley wineries and visit a brewery, I’d highly recommend Mash Brewery which is right around the corner, offering up tasting paddles on their Western Australia IPA, Bad Adams Cider and more!
5. Harris Organic Wines
With such unique products on offer, this is a Swan Valley winery that isn’t to be missed!
Harris Organic Wines is just a 1km drive from Upper Reach Winery, but offers a very different selection of wines to try! As you might have guessed from its name, this place prides itself on producing only organic products, free of pesticides and chemicals. You’ll be amazed at how different the wine is here, as well as the house-brewed vodka, brandy and gin!
Opening Times: 11 am to 4.30 pm every day
Wine Tasting: $15 to taste four wines (redeemable on purchase)
6. Black Swan Winery
Make the ten-minute drive from Harris Organic and it’ll take you to the end of the Swan Valley Wine loop, and the last stop on the map for us today! Although Black Swan Wines is a winery that’s surrounded by a beautiful vineyard, it functions much better as a restaurant and is the perfect place to grab some dinner and a complimentary drink alongside!
Opening Times: 10.30 am to 3.30 pm (Sunday to Thursday) 10 am to 10 pm (Friday and Saturday)
Wine Tasting: Prices varies per wine tasting;
BONUS: If you love desserts, make sure to check out the Margaret River Chocolate Company just down the road that offers free chocolate tasting and lots of sweet goodies to buy!
| 🤩 Range of activities: | Average |
| 🍇 Best Winery: | Upper Reach Winery |
| ☀️ Best time to go: | March-May |
| 📅 How many days: | 2-3 |
Hotel Recommendations near Swan Valley
Whether you choose to stay the night in Swan Valley or head back to Perth, the choice is really yours! I chose to stay in Perth as it has a wider range of accommodation that suits a whole load of budgets. My recommendations of where to stay below include hotels in both Swan Valley and in Perth, all of which come excellently reviewed by previous guests!
UPD: If you are looking for where to stay in Perth City, we’ve got you covered – we just published a post with all the best hotels and Airbnbs in the city!
Luxury (250 AUD and up):
Surrounded by stunning vineyards, The Swan Valley Retreat is the perfect choice for travellers looking for that luxury getaway experience. Modern and spacious units provide the perfect place to relax after a busy day while the sauna and vineyard views are the icing on top of the cake of your retreat. If you’re heading back to Perth, Crown Towers is considered to be the most glam spot in town with multi-tiered lagoon pools, spa facilities and marble bathrooms. It’s also in a great central location for exploring the city itself!
Middle (85 to 166 AUD):
Some of the best mid-range accommodation can be found just outside of Perth. A great choice is the Caversham Bed & Breakfast who’s rooms also double up as a family suite! The accommodation itself is 4-star and past guests only have great things to say about the lovely staff. On Airbnb, Swan Valley Studio is a wonderful place to stay if you want to be surrounded by nature. This private studio is spacious and has a balcony with a picturesque view of the Swan Valley. It is also close to all major wineries and other attractions.
Budget (up to 85 AUD):
Low-cost accommodation doesn’t really exist in the Swan Valley, so you’ll need to head back to Perth if you’re working to a budget! Luckily, the city is home to loads of great hostels. Spinners Hostel is right at the top of the list with well-designed dorm rooms, spacious communal areas and right next to the bars of Northbridge. For something a little more private, check out the range of properties on Airbnb, like this modern studio that’s all yours for $65 a night.
Conclusion
As you’ve probably come to realise, touring the Swan Valley wineries is one of the best day trips from Perth, and in this post, I’ve tried to help you see the valley in the best way possible. From which wineries to visit and where to stay, to where to eat and how to get there in the first place – all of that essential information is right here!
If you’re wondering about visiting other wineries in Australia, don’t forget to check out these posts on Barossa Valley, Margaret River and Hunter Valley too! And, if you’ve got any questions about any of them, just leave a message below and I’ll get back to you.
Happy wine touring!
Lily
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Great read.
https://misstouristcom.bigscoots-staging.com/best-swan-valley-wineries-western-asutralia/
Could you check the spelling of Australia please.
Oh, thanks Duncan!
Not sure how to change it once its live, but I will try!