Australia’s most majestic railway you’ve (probably) never heard of

By Liz Whitehead
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All aboard! This little-known tram is one of the country’s most scenic.

Imagine being carried into a cool, shady forest where towering karri trees are blanketed in moss and stretch 70 metres into the sky. As a vintage wooden tram hums softly along, you amble across trestle bridges spanning rivers and streams before stopping at a mesmerising cascade. It sounds like a scene from a storybook – but this is the Pemberton Tramway, hidden away in Western Australia’s tranquil south.

The Pemberton Tram crosses bridges as it meanders through a forest of giant trees.

One of Australia’s most scenic rail experiences, the vintage 19th-century tram travels 10 kilometres along an old logging line through the forest to the Pembroke Cascades, where passengers pause for 25 minutes to explore. Adventurous travellers can ride one way and return on foot via a section of the famed Bibbulmun Track, soaking in the scent of eucalyptus and birdsong along the way.

Pemberton sits within one of the world’s tallest hardwood forests, home to three of Australia’s six forest giants – karri, marri and jarrah. Once a hub of the nation’s timber industry, the region has evolved into a nature-lovers paradise. Today, the Pemberton Tramway pays quiet homage to this legacy, offering a gentle journey through one of Australia’s most striking natural landscapes.

Look out at streams and rivers as the Pemberton Tram travels down an old logging route.

Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
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Australia’s first and only underwater winery is hiding in Margaret River

    By Taylah Darnell
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    This is wine redefined, from the sea floor to your glass.

    Australia is known for its diverse wine regions that produce top drops in droves. We’re home to the best shiraz in the world and some of the coolest oenophile-approved experiences you can find. But this WA venture is taking it to new depths – literally. Welcome to Australia’s first underwater winery.

    Underwater wine: how it works

    It may be situated among Western Australia’s famed Margaret River wineries, but Subsea Estate doesn’t resemble your typical vineyard. Instead of unfolding across verdant hills, its cellar door can be found off the coast near the town of Augusta, where the Southern and Indian oceans meet.

    Augusta in Western Australia

    The winery is hidden underwater off WA’s coast. (Image: Ryan Murphy)

    A 20-metre dive below the ocean’s surface, the 413-hectare estate comprises specially crafted wine barrels anchored to the sea floor. It’s an intricately designed production process that is painstakingly adhered to by the team at Subsea, made up of leading wine pioneers from both Australia and abroad. But why? And what is the result?

    The technique was first introduced by French company Winereef, which has spent over 17 years perfecting its world-first subsea winemaking operation. The concept posits that the ocean’s current and natural sway stirs the wine and keeps the yeast in suspension, which creates a secondary fermentation process.

    Subsea Estate in Augusta, Western Australia

    The wine barrels are secured to the sea floor by specialist divers.

    Hydrostatic pressure, the weight produced by the water column pressing down on an object due to gravity, allows the yeast to produce flavour notes not available on land.

    But it doesn’t stop there, because the ocean’s energy is constantly changing, and each batch produced is completely unique. The wines all have their own character, touched by Mother Nature in a different way and offering the truest expression of each season.

    How to experience it for yourself

    If you’re intrigued, you’re not the only one. Subsea Estate’s innovative winemaking process has attracted attention from across the country – which is why its cellar door is open to the public seven days a week. And no, you won’t be pairing your wine with a scuba suit.

    Subsea Estate in Augusta, Western Australia

    The Subsea cellar door sits on Augusta Boat Harbour. (Image: Lauren Trickett)

    Sitting pretty back on land in Augusta Boat Harbour, Subsea Estate invites guests to sip its one-of-a-kind creations with views of the ocean that nurtured them. While walk-ins are welcome, the best way to explore Subsea’s range is with a guided experience. Join a member of the team for a 90-minute Subsea Estate & Rare Foods Abalone and Wine Tour.

    That’s right – not only is Subsea home to some of the world’s most innovative wines, it’s also in one of Australia’s top seaside towns for seafood. Your tour starts in the on-site abalone facility, where you’ll witness firsthand how these premium seafood delicacies are prepared for export. Guests can get up close to the tanks and even hold a live abalone if they wish.

    Ocean-stirred wines are paired with fresh abalone. (Image: Lauren Trickett)

    From there, you’ll be led to Subsea’s cellar door, where you can watch local fishermen return with their catch across Flinders Bay from the sunny deck. Not only will your host walk you through the entire winemaking process, but you’ll enjoy the results firsthand – paired perfectly with the fresh abalone from earlier.

    The details

    Subsea Estate is located in the town of Augusta, around a 3.5-hour drive south of Perth. The cellar door is open from Monday to Sunday, 9am–4pm. Bookings for the Subsea Estate & Rare Foods Abalone and Wine Tour are essential. The experience is priced at $89 per person and can accommodate groups of up to 15 people. While the tour allows for up to 1.5 hours, guests are encouraged to linger for as long as they please.