Explore a Southern Forests Winter weekend spent tasting, wandering, and sinking into the natural beauty of the region. This is the season where mornings arrive wrapped in mist, scarves stay on all day, and your favourite winter boots finally meet the trails again. The air in the Southern Forests and Valleys carries that crisp, woodfire edge, and suddenly everything feels softer.
This two-day escape is your invitation to lean in: think cultural landmarks, artisanal treats, quiet forest strolls, and nights curled up in a cosy retreat while the cold settles outside.
Discover your perfect winter itinerary below.
Southern Forests Winter Day One: Manjimup at a slower pace
Picture this, your Southern Forests winter morning begins in Manjimup, where history is carved among the trees. At Manjimup Heritage Park, you wander between restored buildings, vintage machinery, and stories that brings the town’s past to life. There’s a sense of stepping back, but not too far, just enough to slow your stride. If you’ve got little ones in tow (or you’re young at heart), the towering 17-metre slide calls for a little thrill before the day properly unfolds.
From there, curiosity carries you next door to the Power Up Electricity Museum. Find yourself in the hands-on exhibits learning about energy. Let your feet carry you to the State Timber Museum to learn more about the region’s forestry heritage. Here is where you ground yourself. From the roots of the region’s towering Karri trees, through to stories of the weathered machinery, you’ll learn all about rich heritage of Manjimup.
By now, the chill in the air has sharpened your appetite. Lunch comes easy for a Southern Forests winter; seasonal, local, and full of flavour. Head to one of the local Visitor Centres and get the insider word on where to go to suit your tastes. Let fresh produce take centre stage as you settle in, taste, connect, and linger just a little longer.
Then as the afternoon settles, you follow one of the Southern Forests winter’s most indulgent rituals: A truffle hunt with a local truffle provider. Through cool, fallen leaves and rows of quiet trees, trained dogs lead the way. Let their noses and wagging tails find the prized delicacies. Then comes the tasting. Earthy and unmistakably indulgent, the truffle reveals itself in layers, fragrant and deeply tied to the land.
As evening draws in and the cold gently returns, you have a choice to make. Retreat to a cosy cabin where the fire hums and the outside world soften to silence. Here, rustic charm meets wide valley views, log fires crackle, and the pace of life shifts gently, inviting you to fully switch off and settle in.
Or, brave the night. Step out into the glow of a local restaurant or pub, where good food, local wine, and warm company carry you into the night.
Southern Forests Winter Day Two: Scenic wanderings
The morning begins gently. You find yourself waking to a steaming coffee and no rush. Step outside and the air feels crisp, as if the forest unfolds around you. This is your time to wander.
In Walpole, the inlet sits calm and glassy, perfect for a peaceful stroll along the water’s edge. While just beyond Pemberton, waterfalls weave through the landscape, framed by towering Karri trees. If you find yourself near Northcliffe, let your feet guide you toward Mount Chudalup for a view worth the climb. Or take it slow along the Understory Art and Nature Trail, where serene landscape and immersive art intertwine.
As the morning drifts on in a Southern Forests winter, roadside stalls begin to tantalise you. This is where you pull over without hesitation. Fresh fruit and little seasonal surprises await, offering a taste of the region in the most organic way.
By midday, you’ll find yourself settling in again, drawn to the warmth of a local café or restaurant. You’ll find inviting spots that encourage you to slow down and stay awhile, where seasonal menus are paired with rich desserts, curated wines, and thoughtfully selected beverages. Plates arrive filled with the best of the region, fresh produce, and that unmistakable touch of truffle woven throughout. Paired with a glass of regional wine or whisky, it’s the kind of lunch that feels both comforting and effortlessly indulgent.
The afternoon calls for one last adventure. A slow drive through the Southern Forests and Valleys, where every turn feels like a postcard. Beedelup Falls spills quietly after winter rains, The Mount Frankland lookouts opens across wide forest vistas, and hidden trails invite one final stroll before you retreat to your accommodation tonight.
As the day winds down, your hiking boots are set aside traded for warmth, comfort, and a slower kind of evening. Retreat to a cabin in a unique stay tucked away among the vines and river bends, where luxury meets the quiet beauty of the forest. Or perhaps you will find rest at cosy accommodation beside the still waters, where lakeside reflections and towering Karri create a peaceful place to land.
Here, the warmth returns. You settle in, reflecting on a weekend that indulged all your senses. Winter wasn’t something to escape, but something to settle into.
