The South West is beautiful all year round. However, there are some particular locations that get that little bit more magical during winter.
Balingup
Misty mornings, gushing rivers, green farmlands. There’s so much beauty in Balingup during winter. Couple that with plenty of cosy cottage accommodation and a quirky event line-up, and you’ve got the ultimate winter break. Whether its taking a meander through the Golden Valley Tree park, witnessing the winter blooms and sunset colours, or misty walks along the bibbulmun track. New and upcoming, be sure to check out the Balingup Medieval Carnival, coming up 24th & 25th of August, 2024!
Augusta
Augusta holds many accolades for such a charming little town. It’s the third-oldest settlement in Western Australia, the nearby Leeuwin Lighthouse is the tallest on mainland Australia and nearby Cape Leeuwin is the point at which the Southern and Indian Oceans converge. The top of the lighthouse is one of our picks for the best winter vistas in the South West too! Oh, and this is where the whale watching tours depart from between June and September annually.
Bridgetown
A cute country town all year round, Bridgetown makes the most of winter, coining itself the ‘winter capital of Western Australia’. The locals have created a three-month celebration of the town’s people, businesses history and lifestyle, called Bridgetown in the Winter. There’s events every week, ranging from chess championships, craft fairs, and smoking workshops, to art trails, Christmas in July celebrations and the beautiful Banquet on the Bridge.
Don’t forget about the natural beauties of the lively town- Explorations down the magnificent Harrison’s Cave, or misty walks along the Blackwood River- Nothing is ever dull in Bridgetown, even in the colder months.
Manjimup
This pastoral area of the South West is best in winter due to one special activity you can only experience in this time; truffle hunting. Manjimup is the largest producer of black perigord truffles in the Southern Hemisphere, and truffières in Manjimup allow visitors to join truffle hunts in search of the black gold from June to August each year. In addition, you can sample fresh black truffle on the menus around the region, particularly at the Truffle and Wine Co.
Don’t miss Windy Harbour in the world-famous D’Entrecasteaux National Park, or the fantastic array of Museums- From Power Up electricity museum to the Steam Museum and Rail Relics, find your niche in Manjimup.
Great Southern
The Great Southern is magical during the winter months. While the calm, protected waters of King George Sound are safe haven for boats, the strength of the ocean outside of the sound is a sight to behold, especially in winter. The powerful ground swells of the Southern Ocean hit the south coast of WA and make for an impressive and invigorating sight. A walk along Bald Head on a crisp winter’s day is must, as is a stop at The Gap’s new lookout and Wind Farm lookout, where you can see the winter waves crashing against the cliffs. The nearby blowholes work best on big winter swells.Â
Dardanup and Ferguson Valley
With plenty of cosy cottage accommodation options, beautiful green farmlands and a thriving wine region, the Ferguson Valley has all the elements for a perfect winter getaway. Plus, it’s only two hours from Perth. From here, you can day trip to surrounding country towns like Collie, Donnybrook or Harvey, and the café culture and boutique stores of Bunbury are just 30 minutes away.
There’s plenty gnoming on in the Ferguson Valley, including the wonderous Gnomesville, where visitors can witness the hoards of mysterious gnomes (and leave one of their own), or the gorgeous wines along the soaring hills and lush landscapes.
About Dardanup and Ferguson Valley
Blackwood River
The Blackwood River is the longest river in Western Australia and while it flows all year round, the winter rains mean you can canoe, kayak or go white water rafting over longer, uninterrupted stretches. There’s some fun rapids in winter too, from easy to intense. Bring your own, or hire canoes from Nannup or Bridgetown.
Learn more at winterdownsouth.com.
