We were looking for a place to stop over on the journey between Esperance and Denmark, and settled on a peaceful stop in the foothills of the Porongurup Range.
We stayed in our caravan at the Porongurup Range Tourist Park, but there are also cottages around the area if you want to stay somewhere a little more luxurious.
There is a lot to do in this area and you could easily fill a day or two, especially if you love nature and walking.
The township of Porongurup overlooks the nearby Porongurup Range, and further in the other direction the Stirling Ranges. There are many scenic walking trails and mountain tops to conquer, so take your pick.
The Tree-in-the-rock picnic area is the start of many walking tracks, which conveniently has toilets, and tables for a lunch break.
One of the most popular hikes in the area is Castle Rock, which has had a recent makeover with the Granite Skywalk, a man-made platform at the highest most point of the rock, which requires a little rock scrambling to reach. A moderate fitness level is required.
After the physical exertion of the morning, we took some time to relax at the Porongurup Tearooms. It is literally just like your grandma’s place, with food to match. We enjoyed a lovely lunch out the back where the kids could play in the garden. There is also a cute gift store with some quite modern toys.
After you are refreshed, head to a winery or two, there are ample to choose from locally, as well several 20 minutes up the road around Mount Barker. It’s a relatively unknown wine region of WA. We had some nice tastings at Duke’s Vineyard, then a snack and some more wine at Ironwood. The locals are very friendly.
A great option for dinner is the Karri on Bar for local beer and wines. If the weather is warm, the beer garden is ideal as there is room for the kids to run around, otherwise head inside to the cozy fireplace.
If you are around for another day, you could easily do it all again, with a different peak to climb and another winery to discover. Otherwise, pull up a chair and a book, and sit back, absorb the unique flora and fauna, and enjoy the serenity.
What’s Nearby?
From Porongurup, head to Albany, Denmark or Stirling Ranges. There is a lot to see and do in WA’s south, a lot more than you can do in a day.
