Art and Culture Seekers Day One – Perth to Bunbury
To start the tour, drive over two hours from Perth to the Bunbury Waterfront. This area has beautiful paths, interesting shops and cafes, and a striking sculpture called Wardandi Boodja. The sculpture was created by local artists Alex and Nicole Mickle and design engineer Mike Kimble, and it represents a Noongar face. Spend the afternoon exploring the Bunbury CBD Mural Trail. This two-hour walk showcases 36 incredible works from artists like Stormie Mills, Anya Brock, and Andrew Frazer. The vibrant outdoor gallery is located on wide streets and narrow laneways in the CBD.
Next, visit the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, which has the largest collection of public art in regional Western Australia and a great program of rotating art exhibitions. The entry is free from Wednesday to Sunday.
End the day at the Rose Hotel for a drink and choose from the many restaurants and bars in the area.For dinner, visit Mojo’s Kitchen, Bar & Bottleshop, which has a vast wine list that includes local Geographe Wines and museum wines from their cellar. Yours or Mine is a small bar that serves incredible South American food with an eclectic wine list, craft beer, and espresso martinis.
Art and Culture Seekers Day Two – Explore the Region
Start your day with a scrumptious breakfast in Bunbury at one of the many options available, such as La Pause Miam, Benesse, or The Happy Wife. After breakfast, take a 45-minute drive to Wellington Dam Lookout, where you will find one of the world’s largest murals on the dam wall.
Continue your art journey by driving 25 minutes to Collie, where you can embark on the Collie Mural Trail. The trail includes 40 public works that showcase local flora and fauna, language, history, and culture. You can also book a tour with Alison from Forest Explorers or download the Wambenger Trail App for more information about the mural trail and other trails in Collie and the Wellington National Park.
While in Collie, visit the Collie Art Gallery to see the Collie Collection, which comprises works from renowned Australian artists such as Norman Lindsay, Guy Grey Smith, Elizabeth Durack, and Arthur Boyd (senior). Don’t forget to visit the Collie Coalfields Museum and the replica coalmine at the Collie Visitor Centre across the road.
For lunch, drive nine minutes from Collie to Harris River Estate for a delightful tapas-style lunch and tastings. Harris River Estate is set on 350 acres, with 62 acres under vine growing six grape varieties, and they also brew a small amount of gin using local botanicals.
Next, head 40 minutes to Harvey Cheese and St Duke’s Distillery, where you can taste award-winning cheeses made from the freshest milk. They also offer cheese-making classes. The whey, a by-product of cheese-making, is used to make a popular alcoholic drink, and you can taste the gin distilled with botanicals from neighbouring properties. Finish your culinary journey with a stop at GeoVino, where you can taste local wines and pick up some produce, meat, and cheeses to take home.
In Harvey, located in the Stirling Cottage Precinct, you can explore Stirling Cottage, a replica of the 1880s homestead built by the first Governor of WA, Governor Stirling. May Gibbs, the creator of the adorable gumnut babies, Snugglepot, and Cuddlepie, lived in the original Stirling Cottage during her childhood, and you can see how her experiences there inspired her bush stories and illustrations.
After a day filled with art and culinary delights, it’s just over an hour-and-a-half drive back to Perth from Stirling Gardens.
