Donnybrook - orchards, boutique wineries and Australia's largest adventure playground
Donnybrook - orchards, boutique wineries and Australia's largest adventure playground
Updated: 3 Jun 2020
Kate Jones
Only half an hour south east of Bunbury and two hours from Perth, Donnybrook is at the heart of WA’s apple-growing region. Tall jarrah and marri trees can be admired all year round and in October picturesque apple blossoms can be seen in the surrounding hills. The region is awash with fresh produce and paddock-to-plate experiences to delight your culinary senses including wine and cider from the local orchards and vineyards, as well as olives, farm-fresh marron, nuts and sun-dried fruits.
The town is a stone's throw away from Barton Jones Wines and Barrecas Winery, with Oakway Estate Wines also offering great lunches. If you fancy a scenic drive, the Ferguson Valley is only 20 minutes away and boasts numerous wineries and two breweries. You’ll find larger producers such as Willow Bridge Estate, and many boutique wineries creating fantastic local wines. Ferguson Valley is also home to Gnomesville, a quirky community of thousands of garden gnomes. We’re sure you’ve never seen anything like it!
Entry to the Preston River Loop Walk and the Indigenous Walk Trail can be found just off South West Highway, close to the Donnybrook Riverside Restaurant. The flat walk suitable for all ages will take you from the main street to the other side of the river, passing by the Waugyl Sculpture and information about the Dreamtime creation of the river.
There are plenty of roadside stalls selling fresh produce, so you can enjoy fruit and veggies picked from local farmers. If you haven’t had time to fit all of this into your schedule (there are also vintage and antique shops to explore) there are a range of accommodation options, from farmsstays to self-contained cottages and B&Bs for an overnight stopover.
Entry to the Preston River Loop Walk and the Indigenous Walk Trail can be found just off South West Highway, close to the Donnybrook Riverside Restaurant. The flat walk suitable for all ages will take you from the main street to the other side of the river, passing by the Waugyl Sculpture and information about the Dreamtime creation of the river.
There are plenty of roadside stalls selling fresh produce, so you can enjoy fruit and veggies picked from local farmers. If you haven’t had time to fit all of this into your schedule (there are also vintage and antique shops to explore) there are a range of accommodation options, from farmsstays to self-contained cottages and B&Bs for an overnight stopover.
