Travel & Touring | WA Things To Do
By: Monique Ceccato
Got winter cabin fever? There's a festival for that. All you need to do is rug up and hit the road. Here are seven ways you can embrace and even enjoy the cool, crisp days in WA before the summer sunshine returns.
Winters in Western Australia are as mild as they come; a frosty morning here and a little bit of drizzle there. The absence of extreme weather events means there’s still plenty that you can get out and do without the risk of being soaked and chilled to the bone.
Embrace the cooler temperatures and the state’s version of ‘wintery’ weather by getting out to experience some of the best winter activities in Western Australia.
1. Visit waterfalls in full flow
When the skies open up over Western Australia, all of its hidden waterfalls and rapids spring to life.
It takes a good soaking to transform the gently babbling brook in the Greater Beedelup National Park into a series of rapids and torrents. When it does, it culminates in the spectacular Beedelup Falls. Follow its sound and the 2.7-kilometre trail from RAC Karri Valley Resort to find it.
The coastal cascade of Quinninup Falls takes a little more effort to get to. After a 45 to 60-minute walk from the Moses Road carpark in Wilyabrup, the sight and sound of the falls in full flow is the ultimate reward.
Head into Perth’s Darling Ranges to find yet more turbulent streams and falls. A short walk from the carpark off Lewis Road in Forrestfield is Whistlepipe Gully. Typically, the creek is at a gentle trickle, but as the pace picks up in winter, gushing rapids appear. A 30 to 45-minute walk across the park will have you at the 50-metre-high Lesmurdie Falls. Five different walk trails lead through the area, but the 3-kilometre Valley Loop trail is the only one that lets you experience the falls from both the top and bottom.
2. Hot air balloon over Northam
The Wheatbelt town of Northam is spectacular in winter. There’s a nip in the air and a low-lying mist that covers the Avon Valley’s rolling green pastures well into the morning. It’s one thing to experience it on the ground, but another entirely to experience it as you gently glide over the valley in a hot air balloon basket. Taking off at first light, the ballooning flights with Windward Balloon Adventures or Liberty Balloon Flights last for an hour before touching down and finishing with a warm breakfast and glass of sparkling.
Post-flight, head to the Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge to learn more about Northam’s traditional custodians, the Ballardong people, through light, sound, and story. Across the park is Temperance Bar, a cosy spot to indulge in some nibbles and a glass of local wine as the rain comes down. Stay long and stay late because the fully refurbished Farmer’s Home Hotel is just next door.
Cost: Ballooning will cost you $330 on weekdays or $380 on weekends and public holidays.
3. Warm up in the South West at the Cabin Fever festival
When the temperature drops and the rains set in, staying indoors seems an attractive idea. But, the Cabin Fever festival is just the encouragement you need to coax yourself out of hiding. The festival is all about embracing the blustery weather and cosy settings, with a curated program full of warming winter events dotted throughout the South West.
Running for 10 days in July, the festival has more than 40 open and ticketed events on the calendar. There’s something to suit all tastes, from beers around a crackling bonfire at Beerfarm, to intimate sake dinners with Margaret River’s affable Sensei Miki at Miki’s Open Kitchen.
Back every year is the famed ‘Fondue by the Fire’ at Howard Park Wines. As the name suggests, it’s all about oozing fondue, big, bold Margaret River reds, and gripping conversations by the fire. The best part? It’s one of the festival’s free and unticketed events.
Remember: If you plan on attending an event filled with great food and wine, consider pre-booking a driver to take you safely to and from where you need to be.
Cost: Prices vary.
4. Paddle the Blackwood River
At 270 kilometres long, the Blackwood River is Western Australia’s longest, continually flowing river. It begins near the Wheatbelt town of Wagin and flows through Bridgetown and Nannup before opening up to the Hardy Inlet at Augusta.
Over the winter months, the Blackwood’s banks swell, turning typically calm sections of the river into thrilling rapids. Experienced white water rafters can attempt them unaided, but enlisting the help of local guide Neville Hamilton at Blackwood River Canoeing is recommended for those who haven't ever paddled their way through rapids.
Hamilton runs canoeing tours from his property, 25 kilometres out of Nannup, year-round. Over winter, you can book in a single day of white-water fun or head out for a few days on the ultimate downstream adventure. Hamilton will pack all the gear you need to make a comfortable campsite, but you’re in charge of packing warm clothing and plenty of waterproofing. You’ll need it.
Cost: Canoe hire (complete with safety equipment) is $25 per day. Tours start from $35 per person per day.
5. Go truffle hunting in Manjimup
Avocados, apples, and broccoli; the Southern Forests region is responsible for producing most of Western Australia’s spring and summer crops. But, the region’s winter produce – namely the tuber melanosporum, AKA the black Pèrigord truffle – puts it on the world stage. Manjimup is at the epicentre of the truffle trade, and – come June – the small town floods with foodies, all keen to get their hands on their own chunk of black gold.
Anyone can go hunting for truffles, so long as you’ve booked yourself a tour with one of the local producers like Australian Truffle Traders.
Pull on a pair of wellies and prepare to get a little dirty as you weave through the Booth family’s hazelnut and oak plantation to pursue your own prized nugget. Led by Gary Booth and his trusty truffle dogs – Molly, Gidgee, and Max – the 2-hour hunt will see you unearth truffles in real-time, learning everything there is to know about the fungi and how it’s farmed along the way.
Cost: $70 per person. Children under 10 can join in free.
6. Visit Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
The rugged headland of Cape Leeuwin has plenty of feathers in its cap. It’s the most south-westerly point of Australia; it’s where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet; and it’s home to the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
Constructed in 1895 to guide ships around the rocky hazards at the cape, the limestone tower played an essential part in the South West’s history. Though ship navigation systems have come a long way, the risk of running aground at the cape is still very real. That risk has kept the lighthouse in operation until this day.
Join a guide and climb the 176 steps to the top to see the mechanics of the modern lamp. Stay a while to enjoy the 360-degree views of the headland and tumultuous winter oceans. You might even spot a breaching whale or two from May through September. Back down at the lighthouse keeper’s cottage, you can take a multi-sensory trip through time. The Interpretive Centre inside uses film, sound, and artifacts to tell the story of the lighthouse’s evolution and of the people who once called the site home.
Cost: $20 per adult and $14 per child (4-16yrs). Family tickets (2 adults, 2 Children) are $58
7. Embrace the chill at the Fridgetown Festival
With an average winter temperature of around 10 degrees, magical morning mists that hang over the hills, and plenty of timber around to stoke those big, open fireplaces, Bridgetown has earned itself the status of Western Australia’s winter capital. Its unofficial moniker is ‘Fridgetown’, which the Bridgetown Shire has adopted in naming their annual winter festival.
The Fridgetown Festival, which runs all winter long, celebrates the region's people, businesses, and lifestyle. There are upwards of 80 events over the 3 months, some ticketed and many free.
Dine on the finest produce that the Blackwood Valley has to offer at the exclusive – and very popular – ‘Banquet on a Bridge’. Or, opt for a traditional roast dinner at Ford House’s 3-course ‘Christmas Dinner in Winter’ event. For the more adventurous, there is everything from a blindfolded dinner and spooky historical ghost walks, to mud-covered mountain biking trails that lead you through the surrounding jarrah forests. Weekly events – like The Cidery and Blackwood Valley Brewing’s live music nights and the Shamrock Hotel’s winter quiz nights – are free to attend.
Cost: Prices vary.
Inspired to pay the South West a visit this winter?
RAC members save up to 20%* on stays at RAC Margaret River Nature Park.
*Terms and conditions apply. Member rate varies according to season. See full website for details.
Image credit: Tourism Western Australia. Last updated: June 2022
