If position is paramount, as the real estate people insist, then Pinda Lodge, nestled between Margaret River and the ocean, has much to recommend it. A 10-minute drive from the town and less then that from wineries and the beach, the 1.6ha property includes a peppermint-shaded creek that feeds into the Margaret River below. From the verandah you can hear the Margaret River rapids and, on a still day, the sound of ocean waves beyond. The peppermints and other native trees isolate the lodge from surrounding properties. The kangaroos that graze on the lawns and in the land that sweeps down to the creek line reinforce the rural feel. Yet it's what lies within that sets Pinda Lodge apart: the four elegant but understated luxury suites, the log fire, the congeniality of the hosts, Jan and Rob Fairclough, and - perhaps most notably - the cuisine. Each suite is decorated to celebrate an element of the Margaret River experience - forest, vineyard, wildflower and ocean. Each has a private veranda and two-person spa, with special touches like bathrobes, electric blankets and a CD sound system.
Pinda Lodge offers in house dining by request.  Many establishments in the region are happy to point visitors towards the nearest restaurant but  you can enjoy at least one evening meal at the lodge. And so you should. The charge is $65 for an exquisite three-course meal made in Jan's gourmet kitchen using fresh herbs and vegetables grown in a terraced garden a few paces from the kitchen door. It's an experience not to be missed.
Breakfast, which is included in the tariff, is another culinary delight, with freshly squeezed fruit juices, a delicious homemade muesli and omelettes flavoured with fresh chives, tarragon, lemon thyme and parsley. Jan and Rob aim to make guests' holidays a better experience because they chose to stay at Pinda Lodge. And, gauging by the endorsements in their visitors' books, they have succeeded. Winter and early spring are good times to visit Margaret River and Pinda Lodge. Perth holiday makers traditionally migrate north to escape the winter chill but the South-West has its own appeal: log fires, verdant paddocks, bracing ocean air and the invigorating smell of the forest floor after rain. If you want to unwind for a few days, enjoy being pampered, and plan nothing more strenuous then a leisurely stroll or a short drive to a winery, forest or beach, Pinda Lodge is a good place to try. Acknowledgements: John Kennedy, The West Australian