Where to go in WA's Southern Forests and Valley Region

With nine towns, over 25 national parks and more than 15,000 hectares of picturesque countryside, the Southern Forests and Valleys is filled with a huge variety of attractions within easy reach. The townships all brim with heritage sites, artistic, down-to-earth communities, easy access to spectacular nature and wonderful producers of epicurean treats.

Each town offers its own special appeal too. Head to Boyup Brook for fascinating museums and an authentic country town experience, or Nannup for its world-class mountain biking park and one of the prettiest townscapes in the South West.

The agricultural hub of Manjimup is where you’ll find some of the best fresh produce in the state and an amazing adventure playground. Bridgetown is full of arts, heritage and wonderful shopping boutiques, while nearby Balingup is a quirky township home to one of country’s most spectacular arboretums.

History buffs will love exploring the displays of mining heritage in Greenbushes, while pretty Pemberton offers exceptional food, award-winning wine producers and easy access to spectacular natural highlights. Meanwhile, the southern towns of Northcliffe and Walpole are within stone’s throw of beautiful, rugged coastline and tranquil inlets, plus some of the most ancient, pristine tracts of forest in the world.

Come and experience a world away from the everyday.

Balingup

Peaceful, picturesque and a little left of centre, Balingup is one of WA’s most magical towns.  Nestled at the northern mouth of the Blackwood River, it’s surrounded by granite-crowned hills, rolling pastures, vineyards and fruit orchards. Think misty-morning walks through the bush, cool nights spent next to roaring fireplaces, and a landscape that explodes with…

Boyup Brook

Boyup Brook is a small town big on personality and country pride. It’s famous for its Country Music Festival and annual rodeos, but there’s a ton of things to do year-round. From quirky private collections of beetles and teapots to street art, Boyup Brook is full of surprises. Located on the banks of the Blackwood…

Bridgetown

With its main street lined with heritage buildings, cottage gardens dripping with blooms and easy access to one of the most winsome stretches of the Blackwood River, Bridgetown’s an instant charm overload. It’s also a popular place year-round thanks to its distinctive seasons. Winter brings cosy fires and fog-wreathed mornings, spring sees its gardens and…

Greenbushes

A hidden gem amongst eucalypt-filled state forest, Greenbushes offers wonderful bushwalking, one of the most beautiful swimming spots in the South West and a rich timber and mining heritage.  Step back in time and learn how the early prospectors eked out a living here in the late 1800s. Tick some rare birds off your bucket…

Manjimup

With its rich soils and abundance of rivers, Manjimup’s famous for its natural bounty. You’ll find some of the world’s biggest trees here, wonderful cellar doors and more than 200 varieties of produce from truffles and avocados to apples, stone fruit, marron and finger limes. And while it was the towering karri and jarrah trees…

Nannup

Located amongst the trees on the banks of the Blackwood River with pretty picket-fenced gardens and historic weatherboard buildings, Nannup emanates yesteryear charm and natural appeal. It’s also home to one of the most creative and entrepreneurial communities in the South West. The hip microbrewery, quirky cafes and tea rooms rub shoulders with art galleries…

Northcliffe

Ringed by national forests filled with tumbling waterfalls, sculptural coastline and ancient forest, Northcliffe is a nature lover’s paradise. A visit is all about taking pleasure in this natural bounty. Hike up Mount Chudalup for 360-degree-views, swim and fish next to heritage shacks at Windy Harbour, or simply wander a bush trail, where the only…

Pemberton

Cradled amongst tracts of old-growth forest, a rolling patchwork of jewel-green countryside and some of the loveliest waterways in the state, Pemberton’s natural assets are hard to beat. Throw in the world-renowned wineries, top-notch farmgate produce, outdoor adventure and postcard-pretty town, and Pemberton truly does offer something for everyone. Nature and history lovers alike will…

Walpole

In Walpole, nature is a touch mystical. Tranquil, silvery inlets lie next to rugged coastline where the ghostly outline of shipwrecks can be seen. Free-flowing rivers tumble through national parks and empty into eddying pools. Rising mists reveal ancient Tingle trees, some more than 400 years old. In fact, the region’s beauty made such an…