Holiday houses in Balingup

A small town on the main highway through Western Australia’s southwest region, Balingup sits at the northern end of the picturesque Blackwood River Valley. It’s surrounded by farms, orchards, and vineyards, so the cafés clustered along a short stretch of the highway in the middle of town are usually bursting with fresh produce. You can also browse for arts and crafts as well as antiques.

Balingup is part of the emerging Blackwood Valley wine region, home to 15 wineries in the area. A few of these vineyards have cellar doors, while others are open to visitors by appointment. The town is also on the border of the Geographe wine region, with the closest of these vineyards around 15 minutes up the highway towards the coast. Just outside of town, an old horse track has been transformed into the Racecourse Flora Reserve, an oasis of bushland dotted with wildflowers.

Late spring and mid-autumn offer the best conditions for bushwalking in the Blackwood River Valley. Spring is wildflower season, with flowers and trees blossoming into early summer. The summer heat lasts well into early autumn. After the Balingup Art and Craft Affair, which features an upcycled and recycled fashion parade, in early May the weather turns and the rest of autumn and winter tend to be cold and wet. The town hosts Telling Tales in Balingup, a children’s storytelling festival, over a weekend in early July during the winter school holidays. Young kids will enjoy the interactive workshops and dress-ups. And pack your chain mail for the popular Balingup Medieval Carnivale in late August (or hire period costume in town).

Bibbulmun Track

The hiking trails of the Bibbulmun Track run for 1,000 kilometres from the Perth Hills through Balingup to the coastal city of Albany. From Balingup you can walk the trail north towards the mining town of Collie. Or head south towards the old mill town of Donnelly River Village through forests of jarrah, marri, and yarri trees.

Golden Valley Tree Park

The largest arboretum in the state, the heritage-listed Golden Valley Tree Park is a great place to take in the changing of the leaves in autumn. In the Australian Collection section of the park you’ll find tall gums, rainforest trees, and wattles, while European trees such as oaks stand tall alongside bamboo groves and pine forests.

Explore nearby nature reserves

Beyond the farmland around Balingup you’ll find a series of state forests, conservation parks, and national parks. The walking trails through Kerr Conservation Park are less than 10 minutes by car from town, while a little further out are untouched sections of the rugged Jarrahwood and Wilga state forests.