There is something particularly lovely about putting together your own picnic when you’re staying down south. Rather than rushing off to a restaurant, you can spend a little time browsing local food shops and farm stores, choosing the things that catch your eye, then take your haul back to Tree Chalets and enjoy it at your own pace.
Perhaps you’ll find some beautiful local fruit, a fresh loaf of bread, a few cheeses, something sweet and a jar of chutney. Add a bottle of Margaret River wine and you have everything you need for a leisurely afternoon picnic.
Each of our three chalets has its own gorgeous picnic basket and large picnic blanket, ready to be packed up and taken out onto the property. And if you’d rather stay close to the chalet, our handmade wooden Tree Chalets grazer boards are perfect for creating your own grazing feast.
Here are five of our favourite places around Busselton and Margaret River to stock up on delicious local treats.
1. Bunbury Farmers Market – Vasse
📍 4 Orchard Place, Vasse
If you’re driving down from Perth, Bunbury Farmers Market in Vasse is a very handy first stop. Located in the Vasse Village shopping precinct, it’s just minutes from Busselton and makes an easy place to stock up before heading to Tree Chalets.
This is the place to come when you want plenty of choice. You’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, seafood, cheeses, wholefoods, snacks, desserts and a large selection of ready-made meals. Their Vasse store also has a café if you fancy a coffee before continuing your journey.
For a picnic, we’d be looking for a colourful selection of seasonal fruit, cheeses, something savoury and perhaps a sweet treat or two. There is also plenty here to stock up the chalet for a longer stay.
Our tip: If you’re arriving from Perth, make this one of your first stops. Pick up your picnic supplies before heading south and you’ll arrive at Tree Chalets ready to relax.
2. Caves Farm – Cowaramup
📍 5103 Caves Road, Cowaramup
For a taste of farm life, make a stop at Caves Farm on Caves Road. Formerly known as Margaret River Venison Farm, Caves Farm is now home to a farm shop featuring produce from its own farm and the wider South West.
The farm shop has a lovely selection of premium meats, venison, Angus beef, smallgoods, cheeses, local produce, artisan goods, pantry favourites and ready-made meals. There is also an onsite bakery producing fresh pies, pastries, artisan breads, cakes and sweet treats.
It’s a particularly good stop if you’re putting together a more substantial grazing board. Think good local meats, cheese, fresh bread and something delicious from the bakery.
And if you’re anything like us, you’ll probably find a few extra things that somehow make their way into the shopping bag for later!
3. Western Growers Fresh – Busselton
📍 99 Causeway Road, Busselton
For fresh fruit and vegetables, Western Growers Fresh is one of our go-to spots in Busselton. You’ll find it at the corner of Causeway Road and the Bussell Bypass, making it an easy stop when you’re heading towards Tree Chalets.
This is a particularly good place to visit if you’re planning to make the most of your Tree Chalets wooden grazer board. The shop has an extensive range of fresh South West produce, fruit and vegetables, local meats, smallgoods, cheeses, dairy, seafood, honey, bread, eggs and artisan products.
And don’t overlook the patisserie. Everything from pastries and tartlets to cakes and other sweet treats is made onsite, using local ingredients wherever possible.
Our tip: Keep an eye out for whatever beautiful seasonal fruit is available. Local cherries are wonderful when they’re in season, and little fresh vegetables such as mini cucumbers are perfect for adding a fresh, colourful crunch to a grazing board.
And if you spot their Portuguese tarts, grab some. They make a very good addition to a picnic!
4. Providore – Metricup
📍 448 Tom Cullity Drive, Metricup
If your idea of holiday shopping involves wandering around shelves filled with jars, bottles and delicious things you probably didn’t know you needed, Providore Margaret River is well worth a visit.
Set amongst vineyards, olive groves, orchards and organic gardens, Providore is a beautiful place to stock up on things to enjoy during your stay — and to take home afterwards.
Their range includes gourmet jams and curds, chutneys, relishes, sauces, dressings, olives and olive oils, chocolates, coffee and other artisan products, along with wines from their Coward & Black vineyards. There are also complimentary tastings, so you can discover a few new favourites before choosing what to take home.
This is a particularly good stop if you want to buy something that will last beyond your holiday. A jar of chutney, local olive oil, preserves or something sweet tucked into your luggage can bring a little taste of the South West home with you.
Our tip: Providore is also a great place to pick up a few ingredients for a DIY picnic. Their homemade chutneys and olives are perfect alongside cheese, fresh bread and fruit on a Tree Chalets grazer board.
5. Kent Street Bakery – Busselton
📍 5/60 Kent Street, Busselton
Sometimes all a picnic really needs is a beautiful fresh loaf of bread.
Kent Street Bakery is a Busselton favourite and a regular feature in the breakfast hampers we provide for our guests at Tree Chalets. It’s one of those places where you can pop in for something simple and leave with considerably more than you planned!
The bakery makes fresh bread and pastries, as well as pies, sausage rolls, cakes, slices, sandwiches and a selection of Asian and Vietnamese food.
For a Tree Chalets picnic, we particularly love picking up one of their freshly baked loaves. Slice it up and serve it alongside cheese, local meats, dips, chutneys and fresh fruit on your wooden grazer board.
There’s something wonderfully uncomplicated about tearing into a fresh loaf of bread outdoors with a beautiful view around you.
Make your own South West picnic
One of the nicest things about staying at Tree Chalets is that you don’t need to plan every moment of your stay.
Pick up a few local treats while you’re exploring Busselton and the Margaret River region, then bring them back to your chalet. Fill the picnic basket, spread out the big picnic blanket and find a quiet spot amongst the trees.
Or stay right on your deck and arrange everything on your handmade Tree Chalets wooden grazer board. Add a glass of Margaret River wine, put your feet up and let the afternoon unfold.
And there’s no need to finish everything in one sitting. The beauty of buying local is that you can take some of the South West home with you too — a jar of something delicious, a bottle of wine, fresh bread or a few special treats to share with family and friends.
After all, one of the best souvenirs from a holiday down south is something delicious to remember it by.
Staying at Tree Chalets?
Our three adults-only chalets are tucked amongst the beautiful Rosegum trees just outside Busselton, with plenty of space to slow down and enjoy the natural surroundings.
With a picnic basket, large picnic blanket, handmade wooden grazer boards and a complimentary breakfast hamper provided, you can make your stay as simple or as indulgent as you like.
Bring home some local goodness, unpack it at the chalet and make your own little South West feast.
FAQ
Where can I buy local produce near Tree Chalets?
There are several great places to pick up local produce close to Tree Chalets, including Western Growers Fresh and Kent Street Bakery in Busselton, Bunbury Farmers Market in Vasse, and Providore and Caves Farm further towards the Margaret River region.
Where can I buy fresh fruit and vegetables for a picnic near Tree Chalets?
Western Growers Fresh in Busselton and Bunbury Farmers Market in Vasse are both great choices for fresh fruit and vegetables. Depending on the season, you may find beautiful local produce such as cherries, berries and small vegetables that are perfect for adding to a picnic or grazing board. Both are also worth visiting if you’re stocking up on other treats for your stay.
Where can I buy fresh bread near Tree Chalets?
Kent Street Bakery on Kent Street in Busselton is a favourite with Tree Chalets guests. Their freshly baked loaves are also included in our breakfast hampers, and they’re perfect for serving with local cheeses, meats, dips and preserves.
What should I buy for a picnic at Tree Chalets?
Pick up a selection of fresh bread, local cheeses, cured meats, seasonal fruit, dips, olives, chutneys and something sweet. Add a bottle of Margaret River wine and you’ve got everything you need for a relaxed picnic. Each Tree Chalets chalet also has a picnic basket and large picnic blanket for guests to use.
Can I make a grazing board at Tree Chalets?
Absolutely. Our handmade wooden Tree Chalets grazer boards are perfect for creating your own grazing platter using local produce picked up during your travels around Busselton and the Margaret River region.
Ready to create your own South West picnic?
Pick up a few local goodies, pack the Tree Chalets picnic basket, spread out the blanket and find your favourite spot amongst the trees. Or bring everything back to your chalet and create your own grazing feast on one of our handmade wooden grazer boards. Sometimes the best holiday moments are the simplest ones.
