Holiday houses in Bridgetown

One of the prettiest towns in Western Australia, Bridgetown is a great base for exploring the lush countryside of the Blackwood River Valley in the state’s southwest corner. The heritage-listed town sits on the Blackwood River at the junction of the South Western and Brockman highways — the South Western Highway is also the town’s main street. Here you’ll find handsome 19th-century buildings lining the road, a couple of classic country pubs with deep verandahs, and antiques stores alongside cafés and restaurants. The town’s name comes from the historic rail and road bridges crossing the river at one end of the main street, just before the two highways through the region meet.

Outside of town you’ll find a patchwork of farms and green hills with forests of magnificent jarrah and marri trees to explore. Bridgetown is part of the Blackwood Valley cool-climate wine region, home to such home-run varietals as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Bridgetown enjoys a long stretch of hot days and cool nights from late spring through summer and well into autumn. It’s the perfect time for kayaking adventures on the Blackwood River or embarking on one of the scenic drives through the valleys. By late autumn, the temperature plunges and the rainfall increases. In winter you’ll discover why the locals have nicknamed the town Fridgetown. Rug up and join in the winter-themed Fridgetown Fest events held in town from June to August. In spring, the warm days are ideal for bushwalking. The three-day Blues at Bridgetown blues and roots music festival in November usually heralds the early return of the heat before summer officially begins.

Bridgetown Art Trail

Along this four-kilometre public art trail through Bridgetown’s streets you’ll find murals, tapestries, and sculptures by local artists. Works range from the large-scale sculpture at the intersection of the two highways outside of town to a giant clothes peg on the main street.

Take a ghost tour

The Bridgetown Police Station Museum offers a fascinating insight into the town’s past. It’s run by the local historical society, which also conducts atmospheric Bridgetown Ghost Walks on some Saturday evenings. The fun tours, departing from the 1880 former police station on the main street, reveal strange events from the town’s past.

Blackwood River Walk

This scenic hiking, cycling, and horse-riding trail runs around six kilometres (a little under four miles) from the road bridge at the edge of the town centre through bushland and lush wetlands along Blackwood River. Once you hit the end of the trail, you can double back the way you came or return to town via leafy back streets.