Holiday houses in Jarrahdale

Originally a thriving timber town that exported jarrah timber around the world, today Jarrahdale is a favoured spot for a relaxing country getaway less than an hour’s drive south of Perth. Reflecting its industrious heritage, Jarrahdale offers a selection of timber buildings which hark back to the 1830s. Many of these original buildings are now protected by the National Trust, and some house museum collections, whereas others are used as antique stores or artists’ studios.

However, there’s far more to Jarrahdale than its timber-producing history, especially when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors. The town is surrounded by lush woods, rivers, and parks, as well as the Serpentine Dam and Pipehead Dam, both of which offer plenty of waterside picnic spots. If you’re keen to try your hand at mountain biking, you’ll find some quality tracks at Langford Park, with options for beginners and advanced riders. You can also take a dip in the natural pool at Serpentine Falls, or hike your way along the Baldwin’s Bluff Nature Track for some impressive views back to the city of Perth.

Jarrahdale is pleasant any time of year, though it’s at its hottest and most humid during the summer months, when temperatures often rise quite high by midday. Autumn brings cooler weather, clear skies, and light winds, and can be an ideal time for bushwalking, picnics by the dam, or cycling. Spring can be windy and chilly, though this is when the bushland surrounding Jarrahdale is also often brought to life by colourful wildflowers. The beautiful waterfalls at Serpentine National Park are also typically at their fullest at this time of year. Winter is the quietest time to visit Jarrahdale, but is also a great time to go bushwalking, mountain biking, or simply to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Baldwin’s Bluff Nature Track

Though just a short distance from Peth, Jarrahdale offers an abundance of walks through forests and pristine bushland. This six-kilometre walk can easily be done in a day, though does require a climb up relatively steep gravel tracks to Baldwin’s Bluff, where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views over Serpentine Falls. You’ll also wind your way through some diverse woodlands, and past the jarrah trees that gave this town its name.

Serpentine Falls

There are plenty of waterside spots around Jarrahdale where you can pull out a picnic rug and relax under the shade of a tree. Serpentine Falls, in the Serpentine National Park, has a grassy picnic area, swimming spots, and a waterfall. Some days you may even be able to spot a kangaroo dropping by for a graze in the afternoon. One of Perth's biggest dams, the Serpentine, is another great picnic spot, as is the nearby Pipehead Dam, which also offers mountain bike trails.

Jarrahdale Markets

Once a month, the town hosts an outdoor market in a local forest in front of the Jarrahdale Fire Station. This is a chance to sample some home-cooked country fare, or to pick up some home-made preserves, arts and crafts, or collectibles. Arriving early in the morning is ideal for picking the freshest of the produce there is to offer.