If you are looking for a lower cost accommodation option in Margaret River, look no further than the Edge of Forest Motel. Situated just outside the township, the five-unit motel provides a secure, comfortable stay in the notoriously high priced area.
Three nights for just $675 is a bargain.
Décor inside the units is a bit bland but offset by artwork by local artist, Russell Ord. Furnishings are locally made.
Our unit was scrupulously clean, had a king size bed, iron and ironing board, safe, kettle, toaster, crockery and cutlery as well as a small fridge and microwave. There is no stovetop and the only sink is in the bathroom. The bathroom has a good sized shower and two heat lamps – very welcome as we visited in September when the temperatures were still low.
There is a good sized wardrobe with hangers and there is space for suitcases.
Guests are provided with a code to open their unit doors – no key. Inverter air-conditioning is installed in all units. We used the heating cycle but come summer I am sure that the cool air will be a boon.
Secure wifi is free. And free to air channels are provided in the in-room TV. Netflix, Prime and Disney are available but guests need to remember to bring their own passwords and to sign out at the end of their stay. A DVD and book libraries are available.
There is a small outdoor seating area for each unit and a large table with chairs in the bbq area – ideal for groups.
Access to most rooms involves stairs.
Owner and ex-farmer Steve, is always around the property and is a one-man tourist agency – happy to provide advice on restaurants, tours, wineries and coffee shops in the area. He is also very big into conservation, providing bins for recycling, using solar panels and line-drying all linen on site. Communication prior to booking and after our stay was excellent.
The motel backs onto the forest – ideal for visitors keen on hiking, bird watching or just taking a gentle stroll through the forest. Next door to the motel via a short back trail is the Margaret River Brewhouse. It’s very popular with locals so if you want to eat the Brewhouse’s very good pub meals and don’t want to walk back then I’d suggest going early to get a parking spot.
Did I mention that Steve provides a bottle of Margaret River wine for every unit? No? Well that could be because it disappeared at the speed of light in our unit!
Address: 25 Bussell Highway, Margaret River
Phone :08 9757 2351
Reservations: Yes – online or by phone
Parking: One car parking space per unit
Website: www.edgeofforest.com.au
