Sun, sea, sand and... sauvignon.

(From Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

Byline: LAUREN TAYLOR

AS I lie in bed, sunlight drenches the Southern Ocean stretched out in front of me. The horizon slowly melts into the sky as the sun rises over an endless expanse of white empty beach.

If it sounds like the stuff of A-list holidays, that's because it is. Lady Gaga once slept in this exact bed, and penned a few of her hits here.

I'm staying at the private retreat, Maitraya, perched on the cliffs of Western Australia's south westerly coast, near Albany. With the beautifully rugged coastline of the Torndirrup National Park close by, there's something about this area of the world that feels wild, untarnished and undiscovered.

The Mediterranean-type weather, soil quality and proximity to the ocean, create vital conditions for Western Australia's biggest assets: its food and wine.

To celebrate the region's excellent gourmet scene, an annual food …