Toodyay
Situated in picturesque Avon Valley, about an hour’s drive away from the city via Midland, Toodyay makes for an excellent day excursion from Perth. Toodyay is a former timber milling town surrounded by the Avon Valley National Park. With its rustic composition the town plays host to a great pioneer history. This history can be explored by making use of the town’s historic walk.
Once you have had enough of the town take advantage of Toodyay’s river based sports activities. The white water rafting and canoeing conditions are wicked fun. If you are here in winter the rapids of Avon Descent are regarded as some of the premier winter rapids in the world. Nicely complementing Avon Valley National Park is Julimar State Forest which covers 28,600 hectares and is home to beautiful jarrah, marri, and wandoo woodlands.
Toodyay Visitor Centre on (08) 9574 2435.
York
York was Western Australia’s first inland colonial town. The buildings here are very intricate, and will make you feel like you have stepped onto the set of an American western movie. The town hosts several festivals throughout the year, the most popular being the York Jazz weekend in September and the Olive Festival in June.
Outside of town is Gwambygine Park. Gwambygine plays host to some of the last remaining natural water pools, which are critical for wildlife during the hot dry summer. Gwambygine has free gas BBQ racks alongside tables and benches so it is perfect for a picnic.
The greater Avon Valley – of which York is a part – is quickly becoming the Recreational Aviation Centre of Western Australia. York hosts world class sky diving facilities. A 20 minutes drive to the south brings you to Beverly which is also rapidly developing into an aviation hotspot. Contact the
Visitor Centre on (08) 9641 1301 for more information.
New Norcia
Northeast of Perth, by 130km, is New Norcia and it is just like a slice of Spain down under. New Norcia was founded by Benedictine monks in 1846. In fact New Norcia is home to one of six Benedictine missionairies in Australia. To this day the main inhabitants of the town are still monks and, in fact, they remain the primary attraction in the town. Nevertheless, if you don’t fancy a monk, then you can still check out the New Norcia Museum which explores the town’s theocratic origins – and the pub does a good lunch. There is a hotel and B&B within the town. You can get more info from the
Visitor Centre (08) 9641 1301.
