Truffle Season in Margaret River: Where to Find and Taste the Region’s Black Gold

Black Périgord truffles, the same species French chefs have prized for centuries — grow quietly beneath oak and hazel trees across the Margaret River region every winter. From early June through late August, a handful of farms open their gates so visitors can follow trained dogs through misty paddocks, dig up the aromatic fungi themselves, and then sit down to dishes that put those truffles centre stage within minutes of harvest.

This guide covers where to join a truffle hunt, which restaurants build winter menus around fresh-shaved truffle, what festivals mark the season, and how to plan a few days in the region so nothing gets missed.

At a Glance:

Season	Early June to late August
What grows	Black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum)
Where to hunt	The Margaret River Truffle Farm (Cowaramup), Margaret River Gourmet Truffles, Forage Safaris
Where to taste	Lamont’s at Smiths Beach, Settlers Tavern, The Spot Italiano, Margaret River Farmers Market
Key festivals	Truffle Kerfuffle (Manjimup, late June), Cabin Fever Festival (17–26 July 2026)
Winter weather	Daytime highs around 16–17°C, overnight lows 9–13°C, frequent showers

When Does Truffle Season Start and End?

Margaret River’s truffle season runs from early June through late August, with some orchards harvesting into September depending on conditions. The black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) develops underground through autumn, reaching peak aroma and flavour during the coldest weeks of winter — typically mid-June through July.

Truffle hunts, farm tours, and restaurant truffle menus all operate within this window. Outside the season, the truffles simply are not there to find, so timing a visit correctly matters more than it does for most food experiences in the region.

Western Australia produces roughly 70 per cent of Australia’s truffle supply, with the bulk of that harvest coming from the Manjimup and Pemberton areas in the Southern Forests. The Margaret River region sits further north along the same geological belt, and its orchards near Cowaramup, Carbanup, and Karridale have been producing truffles commercially for years. What has changed recently is the opening of those farms to visitors — making Margaret River one of the few places in Australia where you can hunt, dig, and eat truffles on the same morning.

Where Can You Join a Truffle Hunt?

The Margaret River Truffle Farm — Cowaramup 

The Margaret River Truffle Farm sits on Bussell Highway in Cowaramup, roughly 20 minutes south of Busselton and 15 minutes north of Margaret River. It is a family-run property producing black Périgord truffles under rows of inoculated oak and hazel trees.

Two Labradors — Alby and Taz — lead the hunts. The dogs work the rows until they catch the scent of a ripe truffle, then paw at the soil so visitors can kneel down and dig it out by hand.

Standard Truffle Hunt (1 hour): Follow the dogs through the orchard, dig up truffles, then visit the farm shop for a tasting of the farm’s truffle-infused product range — oils, salts, honey, and a truffle chocolate bar that has become a local favourite. From $180 per adult.

Premium Truffle Hunt (2 hours): Everything in the standard hunt plus a shave-your-own-truffle experience and a light lunch of four truffle-infused dishes prepared on site. Children aged 2–11 are $115.

Spots are limited and the farm only opens for hunts during June, July, and August. Booking ahead is essential — check the official Truffle Farm website for current season availability.

Forage Safaris — Guided Truffle and Wine Tours 

Forage Safaris runs guided truffle and wine tours during June, July, and August. The standard tour (4 hours, from $365 per adult) includes a one-hour group truffle hunt followed by private visits to cellar doors and local producers. The premium tour (5 hours, from $585 per adult) extends the hunt to two hours and adds a four-dish truffle lunch on the farm.

Both options include pick-up and drop-off from accommodation in Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, or Margaret River — so visitors can step into the vehicle at their door and step out at a truffle orchard without handling any logistics.

Margaret River Gourmet Truffles 

A separate truffle grower offering their own hunt experiences during the season. Their truffle hunts follow a similar format — a guided walk through the orchard with trained dogs, digging, and tasting — and provide another option if the Truffle Farm sessions are booked out.

Where Can You Eat Truffles Without Joining a Hunt?

Not everyone wants to pull on gumboots and crouch in damp soil at 8 am. Several restaurants and producers across the region build dedicated truffle menus each winter, so visitors can taste fresh-shaved black truffle without leaving the dining room.

Lamont’s Winter Truffle Brunch — Smiths Beach 

Lamont’s at Smiths Beach Resort near Yallingup hosts a dedicated winter truffle brunch during the season. The format is a four-course meal built around locally sourced truffles, with a glass of Champagne on arrival and a choice of Burgundian white or red wines paired to each course.

Settlers Tavern — Margaret River Town 

Settlers Tavern on Bussell Highway in Margaret River town sources fresh truffles from local growers during the season and works them into specials that change as new stock arrives. The tavern is a strong choice for a casual truffle meal — it has earned recognition as one of Australia’s top wine venues and keeps a list heavy in regional bottles that pair well with truffle dishes.

The Spot Italiano — Margaret River 

The Spot Italiano uses Margaret River Truffle Farm produce on its menu during the season. Truffle appears across pasta and risotto dishes, giving visitors an Italian treatment of locally grown black Périgord.

Maison Lassiaille — Metricup 

For something sweet, Maison Lassiaille’s flagship patisserie in Metricup (between Cowaramup and Margaret River) produces a truffle macaroon using locally grown truffles — an unexpected pairing that has become one of the region’s signature bites during winter.

Margaret River Farmers Market 

Fresh truffles are available every Saturday from June to August at the Margaret River Farmers Market. Buying a whole truffle here and taking it back to your holiday accommodation kitchen is one of the simplest ways to enjoy truffle season — shave it over scrambled eggs, pasta, or a simple risotto.

What Winter Festivals Overlap with Truffle Season?

Truffle Kerfuffle — Manjimup 

The Truffle Kerfuffle is a weekend festival held each June in Manjimup, roughly 90 minutes south-east of Margaret River. It is the marquee event on Western Australia’s truffle calendar, bringing together truffle growers, chefs, and producers for cooking demonstrations, long-table lunches, and truffle markets. Manjimup and nearby Pemberton are the heartland of WA’s truffle industry, and the festival gives visitors direct access to producers who supply restaurants across the state.

The 2026 dates are expected in late June — check the Truffle Kerfuffle website for confirmed dates and tickets as the season approaches.

Cabin Fever Festival — Margaret River Region 

The Cabin Fever Festival runs from 17 to 26 July 2026 across the Margaret River region — from Busselton through to Augusta. Ten days of events built around winter warming: truffle-focused dinners, fireside tastings at cellar doors, live music, and long-table feasts featuring seasonal produce. It overlaps squarely with peak truffle season, making late July one of the best windows for visitors who want both the hunt experience and the festival atmosphere.

What Should You Wear and Pack for a Truffle Hunt?

Truffle hunts happen early in the morning on working farms during the wettest months of the year. Margaret River’s winter brings daytime highs around 16–17°C with overnight lows dropping to 9–13°C. July is typically the wettest month, averaging around 155 mm of rainfall, and June is close behind.

Pack layers you can peel off as you warm up walking the orchard rows. Waterproof boots or sturdy shoes with grip are essential — the soil is soft and often muddy after overnight rain. A rain jacket is non-negotiable. Most farms provide any specialist tools needed for digging, but gloves are worth bringing if you prefer keeping your hands clean.

How Does Truffle Season Fit into a Wider Margaret River Trip?

Truffle season overlaps with some of the quieter, more atmospheric months in the Margaret River region. Winter brings smaller crowds, cosy cellar door tastings beside log fires, and misty vineyard landscapes that look nothing like the sunlit summer postcards.

A three-night stay based in or near Margaret River town gives enough time to fit in a truffle hunt on one morning, a winery trail on another, and a day exploring the coast or the breweries and distilleries scattered through the region.

Visitors staying in Busselton or Dunsborough can reach the Cowaramup truffle farms within 20–30 minutes, making a truffle hunt a comfortable half-day side trip without needing to relocate accommodation.

For those wanting to explore further afield, the Truffle Kerfuffle day trip to Manjimup adds roughly 90 minutes of driving each way from Margaret River — a full day out, but one that rewards with the largest gathering of truffle producers in the state.

Check the best times to visit South West WA for a broader seasonal planning view, or browse curated experiences to build an itinerary around food, wine, and winter walks.

Planning a winter trip to the Margaret River region? 

Exclusive Escapes offers cosy winter accommodation across Busselton, Margaret River, and Yallingup — perfectly placed for morning truffle hunts, afternoon cellar door tastings, and evenings by the fire. 

Frequently Asked Questions