Category: Western Australia

Doodlakine is two hours and forty five minutes’ drive east of Perth in the wheat belt area. There is a local store, primary school and bowling club within the town. The local tavern provides dining facilities.

Two hours’ drive northeast of Meekatharra or two days northeast of Perth, Kumarina is located on the Great Northern Highway and is ideal for stopovers. Kumarina features a wildlife sanctuary, roadhouse, tavern, motel, restaurant and a caravan park. Restaurant meals and fast food are also available.

Port Hedland, a large coastal town, is located approximately 1,660 kilometres from Perth (approximately a 2 hour flight). Port Hedland is renowned for its Indigenous culture and history, long trains, big ships, salt piles and red dust. Often referred to as ‘The Friendliest town in the Pilbara’, the local people make Port Hedland what it is today. Port Hedland has lovely warm weather. Located right on the coast, Port Hedland is a great spot for fishing, whale watching, crabbing and watching turtles nesting. Port Hedland’s Indigenous and early European history is rich and interesting. The town boasts a Western Australian Tourism Award winning Cultural and Heritage Trail that clearly maps out the early times of European settlement, encompassing Indigenous and European interaction during that time. The Visitor Centre runs Iron Ore Tours (Monday to Friday), and Town Tours (Monday, Wednesday & Friday). A notice board at the Visitor’s Centre tells you when ships are due in to port, and they can be viewed from the end of the main street. There is also information about train movements, and Redbank Bridge is an ideal spot to watch the machinery’s incredible horsepower. You can climb the observation tower at the Visitor Centre (conditions apply) and get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area. Discover Port Hedland’s rich and interesting history on the Cultural and Heritage Trail, visit Dalgety House Museum, head to the Shipping Observation lookout, visit the Royal Flying Doctor Base. See the Pioneer and Pearling cemetery or catch the breathtaking views from Koombana Lookout. Head off and explore the tidal creeks at Pretty Pool and Six Mile Creek or enjoy the seasonal display of wildflowers. A range of accommodation exists in Port Hedland, including backpackers, caravan parks, budget and more luxurious accommodation. There are many ways to indulge your tastebuds, from pub meals, pizza and bistro meals to fine dining restaurants.

Bindoon is an hour’s drive north of Perth, within the beautiful Chittering shire. The shire also includes Muchea, Lower Chittering and Wannamal. The best seasons for visiting the area are winter and spring. Visitors will see vineyards, orange groves, wineries, farms, beautiful countryside with a river valley and other attractions. The first European settlement of the area occurred in the mid 1840s. William Locke Brockman was the first to take up land in the present shire, and a river running through the area was later named after him – the Brockman River. The ruins of his old house can still be seen at a point just north of the local hotel. ‘Bindoon’, originally the name of a house, means ‘place where yams grow’ in the local Aboriginal dialect. A number of good quality bed and breakfast and farm stay accommodations are available, as are a selection of restaurants.

Taking its name from the Helena River that flows through the town, Helena Valley has a great rural atmosphere. Located just 30 minutes from the centre of Perth, Helena Valley was first settled by the Smith family of Clayton Farm about 1850. The Railway Reserve Heritage Trail, from Perth to York, runs close to the town, providing excellent bushwalks and bird watching. On Scott Street is a small shopping centre where you will find a medical centre, pharmacy, newsagent and delicatessen and petrol station.

The Porongurup 1100 million year old land – form is rich in unique plant life and abundant fauna – a photographer’s paradise. The 2401 hectares of National Park has a rugged beauty that attracts bush walkers, bird lovers and plant enthrusiasts from all over the world. It is home to 700 species of flowering plants and 78 species of birds plus an extraordinary variety of lichen and orchids. Many walk trails guide you through fascinating and diverse habitat. The friends of the Porongurup Range has bought the Twin Creeks Reserve a pristine reserve with abundant plant and animal life some near extinction, which was opened on October 4th. Eventually a bush corridor will connect the Stirling Range to the Porongurup Range and Twin Creeks is part of that. Unique Jarrah and Lothlorean offer quality wood products and the latter hand crafted wood and wrought iron work, other arts and crafts are available at various venues. The Porongurup offers diverse vistas of the Stirling Ranges, farmland, vineyards and Olive groves plus wonderful vistas of the Porongurup Range.

Wagin is an inland town about three hours’ drive southeast of Perth. The town is the centre of a thriving Merino stud industry and proud home to the Wagin Woolorama, Western Australia’s largest agricultural show, held annually in early March. The Wagin Historical Village depicts a real pioneering village as it was 100 years ago. A bank, a one room school (built at the turn of the century), a stone kiosk, newspaper office, mud brick settlers’ cottage, wattle and daub cottage blacksmith, general store, a Wool Museum, Historical Stone Church and Bottle Collection. To celebrate its role in the Merino stud industry, Wagin has built a replica of a ram, the biggest in the Southern hemisphere. Located in the Wetlands Park it is visited by thousands of visitors every year. Adjacent to the Giant Ram, a walkway meanders between ponds and waterfalls. A variety of accommodation is available including hotels, motels and a caravan park.