Cape Lodge

We had a great time at Cape Lodge. It has a great location and spacious gardens. We enjoyed our breakfasts and the one dinner we had there. Like all the places we stayed in Australia there was not enough space for our luggage. We’d go back there if we were staying in Margaret River are again

Visited Cape Lodge just in time before its closure for redevelopment on 30 June. What works - The geographic position is the property's strongest asset. Cape Lodge sits at the heart of the Wilyabrup wine belt, putting Cullen, Vasse Felix, Moss Wood, and Pierro within a short drive. For a winter visit, when sunset arrives at 5pm and Caves Road becomes a less-than-ideal night drive, having a serious on-site restaurant is genuinely valuable. The 3-hat dining room delivered on its reputation, the winter menu was well-executed, and the wine list — curated by their in-house sommelier — was the best on-property cellar we encountered across the region. The 40-acre grounds, lake, and walking trails created a calm environment that justified spending downtime on the property rather than constantly driving out. What didn't work for us - The rooms themselves feel their age. Soft furnishings, bathroom fittings, and finish details are visibly tired. Nothing was unclean or non-functional, but the gap between the quality of the dining experience and the quality of the accommodation was notable. The planned redevelopment is the right call, and the current state is entirely understandable in that context. Bottom line - A four-star stay in its current form, anchored by an exceptional restaurant and an unbeatable location. We're glad we visited before the closure, and we'll be back to see what emerges from the renovation. The bones of this property are strong — the right investment could make it the region's standout.

This was the third stop on our long awaited round the world trip which was organised with help from Turquoise who put together an amazing itinerary. We drove down from Fremantle, stopping to explore Busselton en route. Cape Lodge is on the Caves Road which is lined with many vineyards and wineries where you can enjoy wine tastings. It has a lake with geese and ducks and a secluded pool area. The rooms are spread around various properties on the site. We were shown to a garden view suite that was just right for us. It was in a row of four with a front terrace and parking just outside. There was a complimentary bottle of wine and some treats. We were also told that a wine tasting and an afternoon tea were included in our 4 night stay. Dinner and breakfast were served in the dining room overlooking the lake which was a stunning setting. Dinner each night was delicious with choices for each course and wine recommendations. The sommelier was very helpful and knowledgeable. We tried various local wines with dinner and at the hotel's wine tasting. We also visited various wineries nearby as well as a brewery, chocolate factory and some amazing natural caves. The coastline in the area also has the most amazing beaches and rock formations. The highlight of our stay was the helicopter wine tasting which we organised through the hotel. The helicopter picked us up on the hotel lawn and took us three different wineries, giving us amazing views of the coastline en route. Then after lunch at the third winery we were dropped back at Cape lodge on the lawn in time for our complimentary afternoon tea! If you get the chance, and you like wine, this is the most fabulous day trip ever! The hotel and grounds are immaculate and the staff are all wonderful and we have the most amazing memories of our stay in this region.

Thoroughly enjoyed Cape Lodge in a Lakeview room. Check in and out were superb informative , engaging and helpful. Complimentary bottle of Shiraz ready in the room with local chocolates and nuts etc. Lovely walks around the dam. With wildlife to be seen Good jumping off point for lighthouse at Augusta and many many cellar doors. We were offered afternoon tea and wine pairing on separate days. I expressed the wish to not be served fish etc and guess what? Both days they were put in front of me. As in other reviews the serving staff do not talk to each other. The explanation on the wine pairings was too quick and indistinct and could not be fully understood which was a great shame. I strongly recommend Cape Lodge and hope to return.

Below are the words in an email sent for the attention of the manager but that has not been acknowledged or responded to. Good afternoon We have had a very good three nights staying at Cape Lodge. It was a wonderful experience until last evening (Thursday) in the Restaurant which was very disappointing. This email reiterates what I told the Reception lady this morning. As ever, the food was excellent. However, the service was very poor: - The service was very slow - The waiting staff were very unprofessional and disorganised. They spent a lot of time talking to one or two tables but ignoring us and, I am sure, other tables - After waiting for ages, we had to ask for the dessert menu. Having eventually ordered our desserts, we were then asked by two members of the waiting staff if we wanted the dessert menu! - The coffee that we ordered was not delivered as requested - There was an error on the bill when it was presented. The above was in sharp contrast to the excellent service when we had dinner on Tuesday and at breakfast. I hope that these comments are helpful.