Western Australia,

Located a three and a half hour drive east of Perth is the historic town of Nungarin. Nungarin was a depot for Australian army personnel from 1944 to 1960. McCorry's Hotel and adjoining blacksmith's building was built in 1911 and also offers quality accommodation. Be sure to visit the Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum. Tenth Light Horse military armoured vehicles and many items that support an army in the field are displayed in Western Australia’s only remaining WWII Five Base Ordnance Depot. In addition to militaria, dolls and matchbox toys are featured and an outstanding agricultural equipment collection reflects early settlers’ lives. Mangowine Homestead was built circa 1876 for Charles and Jane Adams, this pioneer homestead is set in the rich eastern wheatlands. The Mangowine Homestead was a wayside stop on the way to the Goldfields for many travellers and it has been restored to its original condition. The property consists of the first homestead constructed out of stone and mud brick, a wayside inn, cellar, wells and a family grave. Call at the Post Office for heritage trail information. The Nungarin Wheatbelt Markets are known throughout the district. They are held on the first Sunday of each month , March

Western Australia,

The small town of Boyanup is situated right on the Harvest Highway, in the middle of a busy farming area, just 30 minutes drive from Bunbury. The Preston River meanders through the town and offers interesting walk trails that allow you to enjoy the delights of the river, whilst ensuring the environment is protected. Boyanup is also home to the fabulous Boyanup and Districts Farmers Markets, run on the fourth Sunday of each month. The markets provide a wonderful opportunity to buy farm fresh produce straight from the producer.

Western Australia,

Green Head is a small fishing village located 296 kilometres or three and a half hours drive north of Perth. The town is in the heart of one of Western Australia's best known wildflower areas. It is known that in the 1600s the first known white men to visit the Green Head coast were Dutch sailors sailing to Indonesia for trade. Several Dutch ships were wrecked on the Western Australian reefs, among them the 'Gilt Dragon'. Abraham Leeman and crew from the 'Waeckende Boey', while searching in the ships small boat for survivors of the gilt Dragon, were marooned on Fishermans Island just south of Green Head in 1658. The coastal strip with its masses of wildflowers has been visited by Beekeepers since the 1930's with many a tale of being bogged in treacherous sand. The scenic coastline offers white sandy beaches, excellent beach fishing, protected and safe swimming, snorkelling and diving, sea lion tours and some of the best windsurfing conditions in Western Australia. Stockyard Gully National Park, home to a system of large caves, is located 14 kilometres east of Green Head and is part of the old North Stock Route used by stockmen in the 1850’s, whilst driving livestock to market from Geraldton to Perth. The caves form a natural

Western Australia,

Meckering is 132 kilometres or one and a half hours drive east of Perth on Great Eastern Highway. The township of Meckering is best known for being completely destroyed by an earthquake on the morning of 14 October 1968. The quake measured 6.9 on the Richter scale and injured 20 people. Fortunately nobody was killed. Much of the wreckage has been preserved and, along with information guides, is exhibited around the town as a tourist attraction. Only two kilometres north of the Meckering town site, part of the fault and a devastated farm homestead may be seen. Directions can be obtained from the service station. You cannot miss The Big Camera Museum of Photography in Meckering. It is totally dedicated to photography and open to the public. The building is fully airconditioned and is shaped like a giant 35mm camera. The town has budget accommodation and a caravan park.

Western Australia,

Mount Magnet, the oldest surviving gold settlement of its region, is four and a half hours drive east of Geraldton on the Great Northern Highway. The first pastoralists, Watson and Jones, walked their sheep from Geraldton to Mount Magnet in the late 1870s and settled at Yowergabbie and Boogardie stations respectively. Gold was discovered here in July 1891 and amazingly rich areas around the settlement were found, including Poverty Flats 'where they dug it up like potatoes'. Mount Magnet was proclaimed a township soon after these gold discoveries. The remains of other settlements nearby, such as Lennonville, can still be seen. There is much to see here; remains of the early gold rush era, magnificent granite breakaway country and, in season, spectacular carpets of wildflowers. The prominent hill rising above the township was named West Mount Magnet in 1854 by surveyor Robert Austin who noticed that its magnetic qualities interfered with his compass. It has since had its Aboriginal name reinstated, 'Warramboo', meaning campfire camping place. Mount Magnet provides easy access to the historic towns of Cue, Sandstone and Yalgoo. There are many opportunities to do one-day self drives from Mount Magnet to surrounding attractions.

Western Australia,

Untamed and adventurous Kununurra is the gateway to some of Western Australia’s remarkable natural attractions. With sizzling red soil, wide open blue skies and rugged bush scenery, this place will enliven your senses. Well located about a three hour flight north of Perth, it’s the gateway to the East Kimberley. From here visit Purnululu National Park and Bungle Bungle range, Lake Argyle, Mitchell Plateau, Ord River and Argyle Diamond Mine. This off road track journeys through a landscape of gorges, waterfalls and cattle stations the size of small European countries. Although Kununurra is a fairly young town, it sits on an ancient landscape where early Aboriginal tribes roamed. In fact, the word Kununurra means ‘big water’ in the language of Aboriginal locals. The irrigation scheme has created a permanent waterway out of a series of waterholes. Lake Kununurra is a year-round playground for water sports enthusiasts. Lake Argyle is so vast it’s rated as an inland sea. Explore the wetlands packed with bird life by cruise and canoe. Note, however, there’s a local rumour that once you’ve tasted the waters of the Ord River, you’re destined to return! Watch the sunset at Kelly’s Knob Lookout, the highest point in Kununurra.

Western Australia,

The charming country town of Dwellingup is located an hour and a half drive south of Perth. Set among pristine jarrah forest and water catchment areas, Dwellingup offers nature at its best. Almost obliterated by the 1961 bushfires, Dwellingup has become a year round destination for many visitors. The Visitor Centre has a great exhibition detailing the rise and fall of the mills towns in the area and, the destruction of the bushfire. Enjoy your outdoor activities in the natural setting of the Lane Poole Reserve along the banks of the Murray River. See the Forest Heritage Centre with its 60 metre platform in the canopy of the jarrah forest, or ride the timber route on the Hotham Valley Railway. Dwellingup is one of the five townsites that the Bibbulmun Track (Western Australia's world class, 1,000 kilometre walk trail) passes through. You're bound to bump into fellow bushwalkers and nature lovers on this section of the track due to its close proximity to Perth and the lovely scenery on offer. The new Munda Biddi mountain bike trail which begins in Mundaring and will eventually finish in Albany currently goes through Dwellingup as it meanders on its way to Collie. The trail passes through some very beautiful countryside and i

Western Australia,

Only thirty minutes southeast of Perth, the Serpentine Jarrahdale district, which includes the towns of Serpentine, Mundijong, Jarrahdale and Byford, offers some of Western Australia's most popular parks, art galleries, restaurants, wineries and wildlife. The earliest settlers to Serpentine in the 1840s were attracted to the abundance of fresh water cascading over the famous falls and the river meandering to the coast. The breathtaking scenery includes many forests, parks, rivers and other natural attractions, offering the perfect location for atraditional Australian barbecue or bushwalk. Serpentine Falls Park is an attractive picnic spot, with free barbecues and resident kangaroos. The area is a true depiction of Western Australia's country lifestyle with many farms, orchards and historic country towns. Some of the historic buildings house heritage and museum collections, arts and crafts and tea gardens. This spectacular rural setting has inspired many artists to establish their homes and studios in the area. A range of accommodation is available from railway carriages, taverns and bed & breakfasts. Serpentine has tea gardens, restaurants and taverns where you can enjoy excellent meals, morning and afternoon tea.

Western Australia,

Enjoying the best of both worlds, Burekup is a picture of peaceful rural life as the northern gateway to the beautiful Ferguson Valley, but is still just a 20 minute drive to the city of Bunbury. The area features panoramic scenery, with many leisurely drives through pretty country and natural bushland. The introduction to Burekup for many is the entry sign to 'Henty Country', and the accompanying ever-changing community notice which varies from a cheery 'Keep Smiling' to announcements about upcoming events. Burekup has a general store/post office facility, tennis courts and a town hall, as well as a brand new primary school. This is a small but very active community, there is always something happening in Burekup. Burekup invites you to enjoy a fresh look at country life with a drive along the picturesque Collie River Road or Henty Road, where you can see the rural vistas and scarp to the east, while you overlook the city of Bunbury and Indian Ocean to the west. Accommodation ranges from cosy and comfortable chalets and cabins set in serene bushland to farm stays, with lots of activities for kids, and parents.

Western Australia,

Pannawonica was established over 25 years ago and today has a population of 700. Located approximately a two and a half hour drive south west of Karratha, Pannawonica is a mining town owned by the Robe River Mining Company. It is a 'closed town', however Robe River operates a free tour of Mesa J mine on request with 24 hours notice. Call (08) 9184 1142 for bookings. Built to house the workforce and families of the nearby Robe River Iron mines, all company homes are air-conditioned and residents enjoy a relaxed casual lifestyle. The town's facilities include a post office, supermarket, milk bar, tavern and hotel, sportsmen's club, bank agencies and a service station. The public swimming pool is a popular spot during summer, as is the open air cinema which is free of charge. For Pannawonica visitors, accommodation is not a problem, with well appointed motel style units available at the Tavern. For the budget conscious there is a powered, four bay Caravan Park with grassy, camping sites also available. The sporting scene consists mainly of soccer, cricket, squash, touch rugby, speedway and pistol shooting. The highlight of the year is the Robe River Gala where the whole town turns out for a weekend of activity including the soci