Historic Toodyay is one of Western Australia’s oldest towns and is located less than an hours drive from Perth. Enjoy learning some fascinating early WA history wandering through town and visiting these beautiful heritage buildings which are now Museums. Newcastle Gaol Precinct The Newcastle Gaol Precinct includes Newcastle Gaol, the Police Stables, the 1907 Lock-up and the Wicklow Shearing Shed. After falling into disrepair the gaol buildings were restored and opened as a

An easy day trip from Perth the small hamlet of Gingin was gazetted a town in 1871 and will celebrate it's 150th Anniversary in 2021. The Historical Gingin Trail (click to download link or grab a map from the Information Centre) is an easy 45 minute walk past several heritage buildings, along the lovely Gingin Brook and extending out to the Old Stock Route and the Cemetery. At the time of our visit the Stock Route was closed for maintenance so we looped through the town and

New Norcia is Australia's only monastic town and is still home to around 9 Benedictine Monks. Founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine Monks, the town has had many purposes; a mission, a monastery, a provider of education and now as a place of spiritual retreat. You can wander around town on a self guided tour and can download the New Norcia Town Map here or you can pick one up at the the Visitor Centre, open 9.30am -4.30pm every day except Christmas and Boxing Days. There ar

The Bilya (River) Walk Track follows the Gulgulga Bilya (Avon River) from Duidgee Park in Toodyay township to Nardie Cemetery on the Toodyay-Northam Road. The track is 5.6 km each way - over 11 km return but you can do a shorter walk by accessing the track from several mid way points. From Duidgee Park the track passes under Newcastle Bridge and you can see the flood indicators on one of the pylons. The track, clearly marked with orange trail markers, passes behind the buil

We ventured out to York in 2019 during the York Festival (late September to mid October) to catch the Wara Art Trail. It is a lovely drive to York (97km from Perth) and depending on the time of year it can be verdant green (winter) glowing yellow (early spring when the canola is in flower), dull yellow (wheat harvest) or shades of brown (summer). The Wara Art Trail showcases spectacular larger than life straw sculptures. In 2019 the sculptures depicted a Murray River Cod

It is always enjoyable going for a weekend drive to the country. Toodyay, just over an hour outside of Perth is a lovely country town with plenty of character. I regularly travel to Toodyay to visit family and always enjoy the drive, noticing how the different seasons affect the landscape. I prefer the drive along Muchea East Road off the Great Northern Highway. This becomes Chittering Road and then turn right at Julimar Road. This is a very pretty drive through rolling h