The heat of summer is fading, and the warm, bright days and cool nights of autumn are upon us. There is so much to do in Bunbury Geographe that you will want to come back again and again to fit it all in.
With the weather still beautiful April sees many unique outdoor events across the region including the Bunbury Festival (10-14 April), the Dardanup Art Spectacular (20 & 21 April), and the Harvey Show (26 & 27 April).
If you are into adventure activities, there is so much to do. The Wambenger Adventure Trails in Collie River Valley offer heart pumping tracks and trails through spectacular scenery. Download the app for all the details. If you want to check out the beauty at a less frenetic pace, take an e-bike tour with Adventure Connections or a walking tour with Forest Explorers. Looking for something a bit different? Explore the area on horseback with Outback Horse Trails, you can event do a picnic trail which takes you through spectacular scenery to Harris River Estate Winery. Or hire a kayak from TraaVerse and explore Wellington Dam from the water.
Looking for something a bit more culture focused? The region has two fantastic art Galleries – Collie Art Gallery and Bunbury Regional Art Gallery (BRAG). BRAG currently has it’s South West Art Now (SWAN) exhibition on until 21 July 2024 showcasing some of the most influential artists from the South West of WA. Both Bunbury and Collie also have street art trails offering a novel way of exploring and discovering hidden places and spectacular artworks. Don’t miss the mega mural, Reflections, painted onto the Wellington Dam wall near Collie. Pick up a map from the Bunbury and Collie Visitor Centres of see the Collie murals with local guide Forest Explorers.
Families will find lots of adventures across the region. Playgrounds abound across the region. Check out our latest edition of FOUND for all the details. Some of the highlights are Karragarup Play Space at Ridley Place Foreshore in Australind. Not to be missed is Koolambidi Woola in the heart of Bunbury which is close to the City Centre and a stone’s throw from Taffy’s mouthwatering lolly shop on Koombana Bay. No trip through the region is complete without a stop at the Donnybrook Apple Fun Park, offering hours of entertainment for all the kids. There are also several farm stays across the region which offer both a beautiful country setting and interactions with friendly farm animals. If you are looking for something even more energetic, check out Gravity ETC in Dalyellup where the kids can bounce away a few hours and lots of energy.
For those of us that want to get out in nature but not necessarily on a bike there are plenty of nature-based experiences close to great coffee and food options. The Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury is a must see with a fabulous aquarium located on Koombana Bay where the resident dolphins make frequent morning visits to the shallows or take an eco-cruise and see them in their natural habitat. The Bunbury Wildlife Park is also a great experience with lots of native animals including dingos, kangaroos and Sherman the Wombat. The knowledgeable rangers offer regular talks and guided experiences. Check out the walks in Wellington national Park including the King Jarrah and quirky gnomesville in the Ferguson Valley. Check out the accessible trails in the Crooked Brook Forest in Dardanup and the Wildflower Ridge trail in Harvey Region which ends with spectacular views over the Harvey Dam. There are also beach activities galore along the fabulous coastline with something for everyone including surfing, swimming, driving or simply walking. Check out Myalup and Binningup in Harvey Region, Back Beach in Bunbury and Stirling and Peppermint Grove beaches in Capel. While you are there check out Tuart Forest National Park and the majestic Tuart trees. Autumn is also a perfect time to visit the Golden Valley Tree Park in Balingup with beautiful walks and breathtaking colours this a not to be missed.
No trip is complete without lots of yummy food and drink and Bunbury Geographe has you covered. The region boasts the best regional pub at Treendale Farm Hotel which took at the national award three years running. The regional so has lots of traditional country pubs full of charm, local beers and wines and traditional pub grub, check out the Donnybrook Tavern, Boyanup Tavern, Dardanup Tavern and Capel Tavern. For locally made beers check out Brugan Brewery in Wokalup, Old Coast Road Brewery at Myalup, Bush Shack Brewery and Wild Bull Brewery in Ferguson valley or Froth in Bunbury. You can also find locally made spirits at Cuprum in Bunbury and St Dukes Distillery at Harvey Cheese in Wokalup where you can also sample their award-winning cheeses.
Bunbury’s Victoria Street and Marleston Waterfront offer plenty of exciting city centre options from traditional Italian at Nicola’s Ristorante to bistro style eats at Sage, or Middle Eastern delicacies at Market Eating House. If you are into seafood don’t miss The Cray, newly opened at the Marleston Waterfront.
Bunbury Geographe is also home to the Geographe Wine region. Many of the small family wineries like to do things a little differently producing high quality, small batch wines using alternative varieties many from Spain and Italy. With the perfect Mediterranean climate the region is known for its Tempranillo and Fiano grapes, why not book a Taste of Italy at Vineyard 28, a black glass wine tasting at Green Door Wines or settle in for lunch among the vines at Coughlan Estate.
Enter our competition to win accommodation at the Hidden Cabins, a wine tour with Pop a Cork, lunch at St Aidan Wines and a case of Geographe Wine. Also check out the latest edition of our magazine, FOUND for more inspiration.
