Located along the north side of the Walpole Inlet, this small country town offers countless attractions for anyone enthusiastic about or even marginally interested in the outdoors. To get to Walpole, drive south from Perth along the South Western Highway for about 420km or head east from Demark for 65km.
A great first stop when you arrive in town is the Walpole Visitor Centre. It is located along the South Coast Highway in Pioneer Park. Walpole grew significantly in the 1930s Great Depression through the Nornalup Land Settlement, which brought unemployed men and their families into the area to develop farming. They camped in Pioneer Park as they waited for their land allocation. Learn more about this and other parts of Walpole’s history, pick up maps, get recommendations and chat with some locals before heading out to explore everything Walpole has to offer.
The Perth Walkabout Monthly Wrap is published at the start of each month to provide a snapshot of articles that hit the headlines in the last 4 weeks.
Here is Perth Walkabout's Monthly Wrap for the month of November:
Exmouth – The Northern Gateway to Ningaloo Reef
Exmouth is considered one of Western Australia’s top tourist destinations as it is home to the famous Ningaloo Reef, has magnificent marine wildlife, raw landscape and is warm for most of the year.
Ningaloo Reef stretches approximately 260 km from Coral Bay in the south to Exmouth in the north and takes in 5,000 square km of ocean amass with tropical fish, whales, turtles and coral.
The reef is so popular because you can snorkel and dive straight from the beach without having to take a boat ride out to the deep.
The Jacaranda Festival is held in Applecross, in November of each year. As you reach the Festival, you will be greeted by the purple coloured blossoms of the Jacaranda trees that line the streets of Applecross. The Festival is held in recognition of the annual flowering of these purple flowers and why not. It’s a great excuse to have a festival!
Since its inception, the Festival has gotten bigger each year, with many different stalls on offer. I arrived there with my family just before midday and we were greeted by a hive of fun and activity as we approached the village. The twin ice cream cones welcome arch at the southern entrance add a rather fun festival feel.
Situated on Western Australia’s Coral Coast, the small fishing town of Kalbarri has been a holiday favourite with the locals for many years.
By locals I mean West Australians.
Many of my friends who grew up with me in the south west would head north to Kalbarri every year for the traditional family holiday.
In Australian terms, it is an easy distance from Perth – only 590 km or about six hours of driving.
It remains a favourite today so it must be doing something right!
Kalbarri is a small coastal town with year-round sunny weather and a laid-back feel to it that changes to a general buzz when the holiday season arrives. It pays to book in advance and get in early if you are planning to travel there in peak season.
Today, the sun is shining bright in Perth, and it is a perfect day for an outing to Penguin Island via the Shoalwater Safari cruise to see the penguins, dolphins, and other wildlife. I am looking forward to seeing the penguins, with their cute little webbed feet and shiny bright coats glistening in the water.
My first mission for the day is to reach the Mersey Point Jetty, Shoalwater near Rockingham at 10:15 am. If I don't make it on time, I may miss catching the boat with Rockingham Wild Encounters, and it will all be tears, and not just for the dolphins and penguins. :-(
I’ve done my trip planning on the Transperth journey planner in readiness, and I am all set for my big day out.
You’re exploring downtown in the Perth city, discovering the laneways, the historic buildings and the multitude of shopping options, when your stomach begins to rumble. Don’t let your hunger make you grumpy and ruin a good day. There are lots of great dining options in the Perth city to suit everyone’s budgets and tastes.
The cost of eating can vary dramatically depending on where you are in the city and if you go to a restaurant or food hall. Typically the more traffic a street experiences, the more expensive the food along the way. There are still good deals to be had along the main drags, but if you wander a block or two away from the crowds you will find the number of cheap eats increases dramatically. A lot of these places look a little obscure, but head in and you’ll often find good food that fills you up without emptying your wallet.
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