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2021 - There’s no better way to take in the beauty of the Gascoyne than with a crisp Gage Roads Beer in Hand.
They’re one of the OG independent breweries in WA and, now, Gage Roads has become synonymous with the sunshine, adventure, and good times to be had in the state. Starting in Fremantle in the early 2000s, Gage Roads has grown from a small team to a team of more than 120 staff nationally. Initially, they gained recognition for their Single Fin Summer Ale and, later, their Little Dove; now, they have six solid beers and a cider to their repertoire.
Tailoring their offerings to the lifestyles and landscapes of Western Australia, Gage Roads have a beer for any occasion and any adventure. Looking for the perfect campfire beverage? Gage Roads have got you. Need something to see the day out while you sit on the shores of Coral Bay? Yep, they’ve got you covered.
Be it a lager or a cider; Gage Roads has a beer to suit any Gascoyne adventure you embark on.
Mount Augustus
‘Burringurrah’, as it’s known to the local Wajarri Aboriginal people, is the crowning glory of Mount Augustus National Park. At around 860m tall, the massive monolith towers above the red, scrubby landscape out near East Lyons River, some 490km east of Carnarvon. It’s so big that it even beats out Australia’s most famous rock, Uluru, to take out the title of the largest monolith in the world.
Take in the majesty of this monstrous monolith from Emu Lookout with a Gage Roads ‘Rock Dance’ West Coast IPA in hand. Time your viewing for sunset and watch a golden glow fall over the rockface. If you’re an early riser, head to Yalaweerie lookout to watch the sun come up over the rock. Bring yourself a ‘Sleeping Giant’ Classic English Style IPA (or a hot cup of coffee) if you please.
Charles Knife Canyon
Head 20 minutes to the south of Exmouth, towards Learmonth, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d just arrived deep in the heart of the Grand Canyon. Part of the Cape Range National Park, Charles Knife Canyon is a dramatic fault that slices through the ranges and offers unparalleled views out over the Exmouth Gulf and gaping gorges of the park. Take Charles Knife Road to the very top of the peaks for the best view, but be sure to stop off for the photo opportunities along the way.
Just down the road from Charles Knife is Shothole Canyon. You’ll need a sturdy off-road vehicle to navigate the valley floor of this canyon and a picnic to indulge in when you reach the end. There’s a picnic ground some 12km in, so pack your picnic basket and a cooler bag with a beer or two to enjoy when you get there. Crack a ‘Hello Sunshine’ cider or ‘Little Dove’ New World IPA and take in the magnificence of the steep rockfaces all around.
Red Bluff
Whale watching, swimming, snorkelling, sightseeing, and sunbathing; there’s nothing you can’t do at Kalbarri’s magnificent Red Bluff. Towering 100m over the ocean and stretching 13km along the coastline of Kalbarri National Park, the ancient cliff formations are believed to be around 400 million years old.
Spend some time at the lookout watching white tips crashing into the jagged sandstone cliffs in a dramatic fashion before grabbing a picnic blanket and making tracks to Red Bluff beach in one of the coves. Find yourself a spot on the sand and settle in for an afternoon of snorkelling and sun-soaking. Pack a cooler bag full of ‘Pipe Dreams’ Coastal Lager for a post-snorkelling wind-down.
Dirk Hartog Island
Within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, off the coast of Denham, lies Western Australia’s largest and most western Island, Dirk Hartog Island. You can get to the wild and rugged island by charter flight, your private boat, or on a commercial barge that leaves from Steep Point. Load your 4WD (make sure it’s high clearance) onto the barge for the ultimate in island exploring freedoms, giving you access to places rarely seen like the Blow Holes and Surf Point marine sanctuary. There are only 20 cars allowed on the island at any one time, so bookings for the barge 48 hours in advance are essential.
After a big day swimming, fishing, SUPing, checking out Rose Lake (it’s pink!), and visiting the landing site of Captain Dirk Hartog at Cape Inscription, kick back on the porch of your chalet at Dirk Hartog Eco Lodge with a cold can of ‘Single Fin’ Summer Ale. Or, if you’re after a slightly more dramatic sunset, take your can up to Herald Heights to watch the very last sunset in all of Australia.
Coral Bay
White and beaches, turquoise waters, and a little something cold stashed away in the esky: it’s the recipe for the perfect day at the beach. On the fringe of the Ningaloo Reef, the tiny coastal town of Coral Bay is an idyllic place to spend a day in the sun and on the sand.
Before getting into your esky and cracking your ‘Pipe Dreams’ Coastal Lager over a sunset, make the most of the temperate Gascoyne weather and explore a portion of the 5,000 square kilometres of Ningaloo Reef. Head out from the bay to dive, snorkel, or fish amongst the diverse marine life. If you’re lucky, you might spot a turtle or manta gliding on by. At the right time of the year, you can catch a tour boat out past the reef to swim with the gentle giants of the sea, whale sharks. If you’d prefer to stay in protected waters, grab a SUP and paddle about in the calm, shallow bay.
Shell Beach
There are only a few beaches in the world as unique as Shell Beach. A half-hour drive from the Denham township, this stretch of beach in the L’haridon Bight is as white as a Maldivian beach. But, it’s not the beach sand that makes it so. Instead of fine white sand, Shell Beach is covered in - you guessed it - shells. Belonging to the Fraghum cockle, the shells get up to 10m deep at some points along the beach.
For a unique beach experience, you can’t go past a swim and a picnic on this sandless stretch of coastline. Park up on some beach towels, dig your toes into the shells, and watch the water gently lapping at the shore with a ‘Side Track All Day’ XPA in hand.
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