Serpentine
Surrounded by forests and steeped in European settler history, the pretty country town of Serpentine is at the heart of a vibrant rural district. Escape the city and enjoy the area's unique blend of popular parks, galleries, farming towns, bushwalks, wineries and stunning scenery.
Just under an hour south-east of Perth by car, there's a timeless quality to Serpentine and the neighbouring towns of Mundijong and Jarrahdale on the Darling Scarp, bordering Serpentine National Park and Mundlinup State Forest.
There are many bushwalks through the forested hinterland of the Darling Range, including the world-famous Bibbulmun Track - more than 1,000 kilometres of scenic walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany on the south coast.
Venture into the Serpentine National Park and follow the Falls Walk Trail to Serpentine Falls for a picnic or a refreshing dip. Stroll among the pine trees at Gooralong Park and enjoy a barbecue with the resident kangaroos. Or, head to Serpentine Dam - it's one of Perth's largest dams and a great picnic spot, with a playground, free barbecues, toilets and a cafe.
As you explore the scenic forests and plains, it's easy to see how the area sustained one of the world's oldest surviving cultures for thousands of years before European pioneers settled there in the 1840s.
Today, the fertile landscape is dotted with farms, orchards and heritage country towns where you can search for collectibles and handcrafted curios in antique stores. Or admire the historic buildings, many of which now operate as museums, arts and crafts galleries and tea gardens.
If you're looking for more than morning or afternoon tea, you'll find a number of restaurants and taverns in the area serving hearty country fare. A range of accommodation is also available, from traditional bed and breakfasts through to the more unusual option of converted railway carriages.
Tourists are advised to check for alerts and road/park closures before commencing their travel on www.emergency.wa.gov.au and https://alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au
There are many bushwalks through the forested hinterland of the Darling Range, including the world-famous Bibbulmun Track - more than 1,000 kilometres of scenic walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany on the south coast.
Venture into the Serpentine National Park and follow the Falls Walk Trail to Serpentine Falls for a picnic or a refreshing dip. Stroll among the pine trees at Gooralong Park and enjoy a barbecue with the resident kangaroos. Or, head to Serpentine Dam - it's one of Perth's largest dams and a great picnic spot, with a playground, free barbecues, toilets and a cafe.
As you explore the scenic forests and plains, it's easy to see how the area sustained one of the world's oldest surviving cultures for thousands of years before European pioneers settled there in the 1840s.
Today, the fertile landscape is dotted with farms, orchards and heritage country towns where you can search for collectibles and handcrafted curios in antique stores. Or admire the historic buildings, many of which now operate as museums, arts and crafts galleries and tea gardens.
If you're looking for more than morning or afternoon tea, you'll find a number of restaurants and taverns in the area serving hearty country fare. A range of accommodation is also available, from traditional bed and breakfasts through to the more unusual option of converted railway carriages.
Tourists are advised to check for alerts and road/park closures before commencing their travel on www.emergency.wa.gov.au and https://alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au
