South Regional

Maya Maya

Top-tier wine, riverside walks and contemporary fine dining at Wild Swan restaurant are but three reasons to check-in to Maya Maya.

As for the others, think rooms set within 32 acres of vineyards on Mandoon Estate in WA’s oldest wine region (it even pips Margs to that title). With multiple drinking and dining options, including in-room service and a well-stocked minibar, you’ll never need to leave the Estate’s charms. Yet, if you do, you’ll have the Swan Valley’s food trail right on your doorstep.

Maya Maya – the hotel’s new name, announced in late 2023 – is in honour of the location used by the Whadjuk Noongar people as a popular camping area and a sacred site dating back tens of thousands of years. Today, it continues to be a magical place to stay. With just 32 rooms, Maya Maya is an intimate escape ripe for romance or a gourmet long weekend away. Rooms are modern and unfussy, balancing subtle luxury and rustic appeal, surrounded by quintessential Aussie bushland and verdelho vines dating to 1895. The best part? It’s all less than an hour’s drive from Perth.

Need to Knows

  • 32 Rooms (Deluxe Rooms, Superior Rooms, Executive Suites).
  • Check-in: 3pm; Check-out: 10am (after-hours arrivals available).
  • Rooms come with LCD TVs, a bar fridge stocked with a solid selection from Mandoon Estate, as well as a wine menu for bespoke orders, complimentary WiFi, a balcony or terrace with a garden/river aspect and daily housekeeping service.

What’s There

Reception is tucked inside the Cellar Door, which feels fitting after arriving via the Estate’s grand vine-lined driveway. Every touchpoint has a hue of rustic country charm yet is thoroughly modern. There are three dining venues catering to all-day dining, as well as a retail store. The function spaces – known as the Surveyors Rooms – can host up to 500 people for events and weddings.

What’s Around

Maya Maya is in the heart of the Swan Valley, meaning a stay gives you access to a gut-busting number of food stops, first-rate restaurants and outdoor pursuits like cycling, kayaking, bushwalks and Indigenous cultural tours. The Estate’s picturesque grounds are perfect for a sunset stroll and sneaky exploration after the day visitors have departed and you have all the vines to yourself.

What’s Super Special

The ‘Ultimate Experience’ includes a night in an Executive Suite for two people, along with a guided tour of the cellars and kitchen, plus a six-course dégustation at the Estate’s contemporary fine diner, Wild Swan. Here, executive chef Michael Hartnell and head chef Anthony Power present a modern Australian seasonal menu to match the Estate’s award-winning wines. Breakfast at Homestead Brewery and a tutored wine and food flight tasting at the sleek Cellar Door are also included, plus a gift-boxed bottle of Mandoon Estate’s 2018 “The Pact” Shiraz to take home.

Children

Neighbouring rooms can be booked to connect one- and two-bedrooms by a private main door, an ideal set-up for families. Executive Suites feature a separate lounge with an elevated river aspect, a mezzanine bedroom, flat-screen TV and plenty of channels to choose from. Being on a large property means the kids have plenty of room outside to roam, and there’s a playground next to The Llawn – the Estate’s open-air beer garden.

Breakfast

Homestead Brewery serves a solid breakfast each morning from a menu of classics, spanning avo toast to a classic fry-up, all made with local produce from neighbouring farms. Barista coffee and fresh juices are also on offer.

Eating and Drinking

Beyond breakfast, Homestead Brewery is open for casual dining and beer flights all day. Their in-house microbrewery crafts seasonal brews on high rotation, made with bespoke equipment by Schulz, the German brewing manufacturer. For something more casual, The Llawn is a weekend go-to for day-trippers to the Estate to enjoy handcrafted beer, hearty pizzas and seasonal spit roasts. Picnic hampers and deli produce are also available — just BYO blanket. For a truly decadent experience, book the lunch dégustation at Wild Swan.

Things to Book

Mandoon Estate boasts a heady number of accolades, so booking the signature wine and food flight is a must. It’s the ideal way to introduce you to the Estate’s fine drops by way of five premium wines paired with canapés – think fresh goat’s cheese with rosé, and figs with the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The bespoke Bush Tucker Talks and Tastings hosted by Dale and Lyall Tilbrook at Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery on the Estate, located on the banks of the Swan River, are also well worth your time.