LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Bridgetown is an ideal base for touring the South West

Bridgetown and Surrounds

Bridgetown has some unusual and unique attractions. A selection of our favourite things to see and do are:

Allow Tim and Kathleen to take you on a horse drawn wagon ride through unspoilt bush at a leisurely pace. Experience nature close up without sight or noise from anything made by man. Small groups up to 7 people. Can be tailor made to include billy tea, picnics, etc. Price on application.

Visit The Cidery to taste their home brewed cider, award winning beer and wine. Open most days.

Ooh La Lollipop will transport you back to your youth with its selection of new and old favourites. Naughty but nice!

Bridgetown has its own caricature artist – Nicky Fabiszak has specialised in this art form for many years and has been based in Bridgetown since 1998. See her works at Fat Arts in the main street.

Next door to Fat Arts is Christmas@139 - The North Pole of the South West. A year round Christmas shop that will bring joy to you all.

Bridgetown Pottery operated by Pip Mills and her family is an art gallery specialising in showing works of local artists. The works change regularly and can be viewed before or after dining in the cafe. When you visit why not check out the history of the building – details and photos on display.

Bridgetown is a small town but has numerous boutique and specialist shops – make sure to take time for a stroll down the main street.

Details and maps of the heritage trail can be obtained from the Visitor Centre where you can visit the Brierley Jigsaw Gallery which showcases jigsaws from all over the World.

There are many cafes, restaurants, hotels and eateries in Bridgetown offering a range of styles and budgets to suit everybody.

A Short Drive Away

Greenbushes was a thriving mining town at the turn of the twentieth century. Take time to visit Greenbushes to view the Sons of Gwalia open pit mine from the specially constructed lookout and the Greenbushes Discovery Centre. The Discovery Centre shows local history and concentrates on the people and industries comprising its short but interesting history. The replica mine and forestry displays are World Class.

The Bridgetown – Balingup – Nannup – Bridgetown drive is a 100km triangular drive which affords some beautiful and unspoilt rural scenery. There is much to see and do along the way and a whole day could easily be set aside for this trip. There are numerous art and produce outlets to experience on this drive which follows the Blackwood Valley for much of its route. Half way between Nannup and Bridgetown lies the Bridgetown Jarrah Park with it bush walk trails and picnic spots.

Donnelly River timber mill ceased operations many years ago but the workers village still stands today and is mainly occupied by wild but tame kangaroos and emus. The animals with their babies are used to human contact and will allow you to feed and touch them.

To the East lies Boyup Brook where Harvey Dickson's Country Music Centre (check out the Elvis and Johnny Cash record collection) and Roo Gully are located. Harvey Dickson has been building and expanding his dream for over thirty years and you may never encounter anything like it again! Roo Gully is a wildlife sanctuary which recently featured in its own series on ABC television - The Roo Gully Diaries. See and touch kangaroos and learn about their behaviour from Carol Lander, Roo Gully's founder.

Manjimup was founded on the timber industry and has a number of attractions related to times gone by. The Timber Park provides a fascinating insight into the history of the industry and includes many relocated wooden buildings including a typical one room school. Nearby are One Tree Bridge, The Four Aces, and the Diamond Tree which is a fire lookout you can climb if you are feeling brave – it's about 55m up to the platform.

Further Afield

Bridgetown is an ideal spot for touring – it is in the heart of the South West region and can be used as a base for day trips or as part of your itinerary of a longer tour.

Within easy day trip reach are the Southern Forest areas of Pemberton and Northcliffe, the World renowned Tree Top Walk near Walpole, dolphin watching at Bunbury, the wonderful beaches of Busselton and Dunsborough, Busselton Jetty and its under water aquarium, the Margaret River Wine Region and surf beaches.