Great base for Margaret River

We chose this place because of its fabulous reviews on tripadvisor, and weren't disappointed. The room is spacious with the high points being

- a fabulous bathroom [with both shower and spa tub, separate toilet area],
- cozy bed [spotless and comfortable linen],
- a glass wall overlooking dense trees
- fast wireless internet

Everything was spotlessly clean on check-in. We weren't aware that there was no room service when we booked, but that must be us over overlooking the details; it didn't turn out to be a problem. The accommodation is accurately described on the website.

The cottage seems to be designed as a B&B: four guestrooms are on one side of the cottage, and the hosts' private quarters on the other, thus giving privacy to all. In between the wings is the grand room which makes for the entrance. It's open to all guests for use and houses the TV/DVD system, coffee/tea stuff, munchies, DVDs etc.

The location isn't in the center of town, but that adds to the beauty of the cottage's setting. The city center is just a short drive away.

Our hosts Dirk and Pam were super - very friendly, with spot-on recommendations, and best of all, great cooks.

Should we come back to Margaret River, we'll be back to Loaring Place.

In case you're not a traveling couple, please note that the bathroom [at least in our room Ellenbrook] does not have a door. However the toilet area is separately enclosed.

anuja, Singapore, Singapore Oct 28, 2009 Tripadvisor

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• Date of stay October 2009

We loved the spa bath!

We went to Margaret River for a long weekend away from Perth and my boyfriend kept the accomodation details a surprise. What a great surprise it was! Loaring Place has friendly attentive staff who are always keen for a chat and are happy to offer reccommendations for lunch and dinner venues. The room was clean, luxurious and roomy. We loved the spa bath! Breakfast was delicious and relaxed served outside on the patio, with fresh eggs from the chooks that live around the side of the house. I hope we can stay here again next year! 


nosila14, Date of stay November 2009, Tripadvisor, Nov 11, 2009

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Comfy bed ++

Great location
Friendly hosts
Great breaky- fresh fruit, local jams and bacon and eggs if you wanted.
Spacious rooms
Comfy bed ++
Spa bath- perfect to enjoy a glass of champagne at night
Value for money (we stayed mid week which was cheaper than the weekend rate)

The first B & B that we have stayed at and would (and have already) highly recommend Loaring Place to others.

Travelleroo, November, Tripadvisor, Nov 17, 2009 

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• Date of stay November 2009

Multiple jams from the local berry farm

Essentially, I agree with all the positive comments posted by other reviewers. In particular, the superbly comfortable bed with loads of pillows/cushions and the friendly/helpful owners. The multiple jams from the local berry farm were all delicious.

The lack of servicing was a surprise to us (pretty well unheard of in a UK B and B), but wasn't a problem for our 4 night stay. Also the “no food in the rooms” policy meant no morning cup of tea in bed (the well-equipped large communal area enabled us to have afternoon tea with lovely home-made muffins).

The one really negative point (though not serious enough to stop me giving a 5 star rating) was the lack of storage space for clothes. The room had a hanging rail with 5 coat hangers, but no drawers at all. The shelf over the hanging rail had a spare quilt on it, so could hardly be used. The bedside tables were exactly that – small tables without shelves or drawers. There were some small cupboards in the bathroom – not really suitable for clothes. JohnL45, Somerset, UK, October.  Tripadvisor, Nov 18, 2009

My ratings for this hotel

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Randburg, South Africa

Will and Edna were so exhausted after visiting Jewel Cave they were unable to get up before breakfast and take Casey for a walk.  They have been checking out the place with the view to retiring in WA. 14-15/12/09.

Summer Cicadas have come out

You know it is summer when cicadas start ticking.

Holly and Fir Trees Pictures - Kerstgroet

Dag Dirk en Pam,

Een heel mooi kerstfeest en Gods zegen voor het nieuwe jaar.

Hartelijke groet,

Nico en Katie.
Holland

Nico and Katie stayed at Loaring Place B&B some months ago and sent some pictures of what is needed to make a real Christmas.

Newcastle tragic

Dear Dirk and Pam, Thanks for an especially wonderful second stay!. As always your hospitality is very much appreciated. Such a lovely "Home from Home". Thanks also for the encouragement for Newcastle - keep the faith Dirk!. Best wishes for 2010, The Wallaces and David. 9-14th December 2009.

Discow for the Perth Christmas Pageant

Discow is off to Perth. Rock Sand has completed her cow and it is now on its way to Perth where it will take part in the Xmas Pageant this Sunday. The cow will come back to Margaret River and join 79 other cows in the Cape to Cape Cow Parade from March to June next year.

Rock Sand has left Margaret River for a while as she travels to Bali and Cambodia and wherever takes her fancy. She has to come back as she has left her paints here. How we are going to cope without her I don't know as she has been an incredible help to us in the B&B.

If you can get to the Fibonacci Center this Saturday you will have a chance to pick up the last of Rock Sand Clay's stained glass work.

Laundry Delivery

This is Steve from Bunbury Steam Laundry who delivers all the crisp linen for our rooms and takes it away, where it then goes to Perth for cleaning.

Absolutely wonderful retreat

An absolutely wonderful weekend retreat. Hospitality and breakfasts superb!! Thank you so much Dirk and Pam. Looking forward to our return very, very soon. Cheers, Leanne and Leisha, Duncraig, WA. 29/11/09

Wondeful experience - in Japanese

It was a wonderful experience for us. Thank you very much, Takashi and Kana, Singapore/Japan, 28/Nov/09.

Leeuwin Lighthouse wins tourism award

SW tourism winner a leading light at awards

CHRISTIANA JONES, The West AustralianNovember 23, 2009, 5:28 am

WAN / Danella Bevis ©

It may conjure thoughts of a solitary life but for Paul Sofilas being the manager and guide of Australia's tallest mainland lighthouse has seen him celebrated for sharing the Cape Leeuwin building's heritage with about 90,000 people each year.

The manager and guide of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse was just one of the winners at the weekend's Western Australian Tourism Awards, which acknowledge the State's best tourism service providers and event holders.

Mr Sofilas, who lives at the cottages at Cape Leeuwin and manages the 113-year-old lighthouse, received the Golden Guide Award in front of 820 people at the Burswood ballroom on Saturday night.

Other winners included the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association, which was awarded the Sir David Brand Award for Tourism for a second time.

Beautiful scenery

Thanks to Dirk and Pam, we have had a lovely stay, restful, lovely hospitality and beautiful scenery. Rosalind and David, Perth, 23/11/09

Peacetree Pineau to die for

Jane Tucker from Peacetree Estate produces some marvelous preservative-free wines that we all love. We bought 1 1/2 cases of SSB, a case of 05 Cab Merlot, a case of 04 Shiraz and a case of 2008 Tempranillo. The Tempranillo has just been released, and she reluctantly let me have a case, as that represented 1/30th of her stock. It was only on the promise that I would put most of it down for a few years, that she let me have it. It is a beautifully complex wine with the characteristic fruity flavour that I so love.

But she has just bottled a Pineau, A white wine with 2 year old brandy and aged in oak. It is real heaven in a glass. We could only have a taste as the bottles had not been labelled, but as soon as they are ready, we are going to get a couple of bottles. The wine makes a beautiful apperitif (22% alcohol) and has an amazing balance of sweetness and acidity, with a subtle butterscotch flavour.

Jane, Pam and Jo, with Jo carrying her stock of SSB

The empty barrel and two demijohns filled to the top with Pineau. These will be placed in a sunny spot to "mature" in a "traditional" way for a year. Seems an awful lot of good liquer to go to waste if the experiment fails?

Jane in her winery is an absolutely enthusiastic wine maker. Their 2009 stock is rapidly running out, so you better get in quick if you want any. The entire bottling of the 09 Pineau is on the right, waiting to be labelled and boxed. That definitely will not last long. Order at www.peacetreeestate.com.

Flower Girls

Pam, Jill and Dee arranging flowers for a dinner with Premier Colin Barnett as speaker. The dinner was at the new Convention Centre in Margaret River and Colin Barnett spoke very well, outlining some of the things that are happening in the region.

Difficult to leave

We had a wonderful stay, it is difficult to leave. Thank you for the delicious breakfast and wonderful hospitality. Loved the room's decor, just my taste and the spa was an added luxury. Thanks Dirk and Pam for a most enjoyable weekend. We will recommend this little gem to our friends. Thanks, Cara and Adam, Perth, 22/11/09

Beautiful Retreat

Thank you very much for your kind hospitality - We have had a lovely stay in this beautiful retreat. Julie and Karen, Perth and Warwickshire, UK. 21/11/09

Forest Stay

Well we wanted a "forest stay" and that is exactly what we got - it was wonderful. Neil McLeod's day tour was a super recommendation - his farm tour to see the "roos" was a lovely extra! Thank you Dirk for your hospitality. Your B&B is really special.  Hazel and Duncan, UK, 20th Nov. 09.

Faboulous Stay

Thanks so much again - we had a fabulous stay. See you again soon. Anne and Brian, Perth, WA. 19/11/09

Anne and Brian spent 3 nights here with their NZ guests Mike and Barb.  They really enjoyed driving through the Boranup Forest with the roof of their convertible down.  They visited many wineries and took home a great stock of wines. A new winery they visited and really enjoyed was Cavalier Crest.

Lovely Location

Very lovely location, and great hospitality, will recommend to my NZ friends coming this way. Mike and Barb, New Plymouth, New Zealand, 19/11/09.

Coy Cows and a Classic Cowaramup Garden

Pam up close and personal with some holsteins that are waiting to get dressed up and perform at the Cow Parade next year

A great group entertained the crowds that visited this Open Garden in Cowaramup.

Apart from beautiful gardens around the house, the property had three dams so there was plenty of water, which made Pam very envious.

Yummy muffins

Thank you so much. Loaring Place has been an incredibly nurturing time for us both. From awakening to the sounds of the bush right outside our doorstep, to the calming classical music accompanying the love-filled breakfast made to order. What a selection of fruits and yummy muffins too!!  Through to an evening spa designed for two. Loved every moment and Dirk, you have been amazing. Cheers for accomodating all our needs and requests. Indigo and Odette. 17 Nov 2009.

Old friends and colleagues

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this very pleasant environment and thanks to Dirk we "met" many old friends and colleagues. Thank you so much! Hennie, Wout and Jurriaan Feijth, 16 Nov. 2009.

Wout and Hennie lived in Seria and Miri (Borneo) and Jurriaan grew up there. Many of their friends from that time moved to Perth and I worked with them at various times. These included Jan Van Niel, Henk Barten and Ho Kiam Fui, but also Douglas Bruce and others.

THE TRUE GOURMET BREAKFAST

We chanced upon this place and are absolutely delighted with this precious find. Dirk's hospitality, friendly Casey and the rest of the crew mad this stay especially memorable and not to forget, the true gourmet breakfast with homemade toast and muffins. YUM! Thank you! Best. Evelyn and Eric, Singapore, 16 Nov 2009

Wallcliffe House Open Garden

Wallcliffe House was built by the Bussells on the edge of the Margaret River very close to Prevelly Beach in 1865.  It has been restored and a new guest wing and gardens have been build by Rose and Michael Chaney. The gardens were opened to the public today (and tomorrow) with funds going to the local FES. Rose took her gardener with her to Europe to plan the new gardens. The Alhambra in Spain was one of the inspirations. The result is one of the best gardens we have ever seen.

Five weeks to get to Brisbane

Had the most wonderful time here. Other guests made pleasant converastion. Great place to stay. Definitely worth a mention to thers. Thank you so much. Carol and Mick, No fixed abode, 14/11/09.

Carol and Mick are kiwis who have made their money in WA, packed there house and put it into storage and now heading to Queensland somewhere to start something new, but also Qld is closer to their grandkids back in NZ.  But they don't want to go back there though.