Step back in time in Nannup, home of heritage-listed timber town Donnelly River Village

31 May, 2021

Kate Jones

Home of the annual Nannup Music Festival, the character-filled town of Nannup has lots to offer year-round. Located on the banks of the Blackwood river and about 270km south of Perth, coming to Nannup feels like stepping back through time.

The peaceful main street is home to weatherboard shop fronts and colourful garden beds, with plenty of tea rooms, cosy cafes and quaint shops selling all sorts of little quirks.

Geese at the gate to The Farmhouse Kitchen

If you really want to get a sense of the town’s age, make sure you stop in at the historic Nannup Hotel, a landmark of the town which was first built around 1900. Their kitchen offers crowd favourites such as scotch fillet, chicken parmi and nachos, with an accompanying kids menu to keep the little ones happy.

In terms of the town’s attractions, Kondil Park offers some very scenic walks, notably the Wildflower Wander, the Sheoak Trail and the Casuarina Walk, where you can immerse yourself in vibrant native flowers from September through to November. To cool off in the summer months, head to Barrabup Pool or Workman’s Pool, which are great spots to camp and swim. You might even like to bring a picnic of delights from Cambray Cheese, a source of artisan cheeses made from local sheep and cows’ milk, only a 10-minute drive from the heart of Nannup.

20 minutes from Nannup is the Donnelly River Village, an old timber town now operating as a tourist village. In this Karri forest ‘town’ there are self-contained cottages and a general store, with a flying fox, swimming lake and a tennis court to keep you and the kids entertained. The quirkiest thing about this village is the tame emus, kangaroos, possums and kookaburras that roam freely, and have even been known to pay a friendly visit to your cottage!

There are several other cosy and beautiful accommodation options for your stay in Nannup, including timber cottages close to town, forest chalets and bed & breakfasts near the river. Holberry House, for instance, is an English manor retreat with several guest rooms, located only a short walk from the town centre. It is also the home of the Holberry Sculpture Walk, where you can find some incredible artworks made by WA sculpture artists.

For more information, you can stop in at the visitors centre inside the Blackwood Café (perhaps enjoy lunch with a side of local knowledge), or give them a call on (08) 9756 1120.