Most Swan wineries are small, family-run affairs, many with links to early Italian or Yugoslav origins. An exception is Houghton Wines, Dale Road, Middle Swan (tel. 08/9274 9540; www.houghton-wines.com.au), Western Australia's oldest, biggest, and most venerable winery. The tasting room is light, airy, and appealing. and there are lovely picnic grounds, where mauve jacaranda trees blossom gloriously in November. There's the Jacaranda Cafe, and an art gallery housed in old beamed timber cellars lined with barrels (still in use). Hours are 10am to 5pm (cafe 10am-4pm) daily except Good Friday and December 25.
In general, the tastings at the Swan wineries are free, with some wineries charging a small fee for their premium offerings.
The other big-name winery is Sandalford Wines, 3210 W. Swan Rd., Caversham (tel. 08/9374 9374; www.sandalford.com). It has twice-daily 90-minute winery tours (minimum five people), which take you along walkways over the high-tech production areas. The A$22 (US$20/£10) fee includes a tasting of premium wine and a wine-education kit. A very popular tour is "Become a Winemaker for a Day." Besides the winery tour, you get a chance to blend your own wine, which you can then drink over a three-course lunch, all for A$110 (US$100/£50). The winery also has a good gift shop and a pleasant restaurant (lunch noon-3pm) with a pretty vine-covered alfresco area. It's open 10am to 5pm daily except on Good Friday and December 25.
The popular Margaret River Chocolate Company has an outlet at 5123 W. Swan Rd. (near the Reid Hwy.), West Swan (tel. 08/9250 1588). It offers tastings, and you can watch chocolate making through the viewing window. It's open daily from 10am to 5pm. A more recent addition to the sweet scene is Mondo Nougat, 640 Great Northern Hwy., Herne Hill (tel. 08/9296 0111; www.mondonougat.com.au), run by a migrant family following their southern Italian traditions. There's a viewing window and cafe.
Caversham Wildlife Park (tel. 08/9248 1984; www.cavershamwildlife.com.au) is a large reserve of 4,300 hectares (10,621 acres) with a collection of 200 species of mostly Western Australian wildlife, the majority kept in natural surroundings. You can stroke koalas (but not hold them), feed kangaroos, pet farm animals, take a camel ride, and, sometimes, cuddle joeys and wombats. There are barbecue and picnic sites, train and tram rides, and a cafe. It's at Whiteman Park, West Swan, and open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm, closed December 25. Admission is A$17 (US$15/£7.50) for adults, A$11 (US$10/£5) for students, A$6.50 (US$6/£3) for children 3 to 14.
Antiques lovers should browse the strip of shops on James Street, Guildford (most shops are open daily), or visit Woodbridge House, a beautifully restored 1883 manor house on Ford Street, West Midland (tel. 08/9274 2432). The house is open daily except Wednesday from 1 to 4pm; closed December 23 to March 1. Admission is A$5 (US$4.50/£2.25) for adults, A$3 (US$2.70/£1.35) for seniors and children under 16, and A$12 (US$11/£5.40) for families of six. The Country Delights tearoom serves lunch and teas.
Drop into Guildford Village Potters, 22 Meadow St., next to the Visitors Centre (tel. 08/9279 9859), to check out work by about two dozen local women. You may find it hard to resist the raku (open-fired) glazes. It's open 9am to 3pm weekdays, 10am to 4:30pm weekends and holidays. One of Perth's finest galleries is half-hidden within woodland just off the Roe Highway: The Gomboc Gallery and Sculpture Park, at 50 James Rd., Middle Swan (tel. 08/9274 3996; www.gomboc-gallery.com.au), has been in operation for 25 years. The grounds feature an eclectic array of sculptures, while the gallery houses regular exhibitions of major WA artists. Gomboc is the main outlet for one of Australia's greatest contemporary artists, Robert Juniper.
