SEEING BLACK WHITE & GOLD

Cowaramup is an eccentric town some 259km south of Perth. Although Cowaramup derives from the Noongar word cowara, the local name for the purple-crowned lorikeet, with 42 life-size fibreglass (occasionally quirkily dressed) Friesian cows and calves dotting the village and a history linked with dairy farming, its little wonder it has earned the nick-name Cow Town.

But beyond a sea of black and white, the town’s endearing mascot, ‘Rump On A Stump’, stands as an unusual Margaret River region skyscraper — a golden cow perched high atop a pole with spreadeagled arms, hovering over the leafy Pioneer Park. The town may have erected the comical cow as a tongue-in-cheek take on a similar sculpture elsewhere within the prestigious wine region, but I took it as a symbol for something else.

I took it as a signal that golden moments that lay ahead. Beyond the painted cow, Cowaramup proves to be a surprising, underrated boutique luxury destination. Think delectable wines, epicurean cheeses, lush perfumery classes, sustainable gourmet eats — all notable, prized experiences. It was time that I milked this town for what it’s worth. Or should I say,