Best things to do in the Golden Outback

By Mary Nenke

After an extremely wet July we are now seeing flowing creeks that had previously run dry since 2017. The farm dams are back in healthy supply and the wildflowers are in abundance. Spring is a beautiful time to explore our WA regions.

Mary’s Farm Cottages welcomes you to their Unique Eco-Village farm accommodation. The cottages are located on four hundred hectares of a working farm in the Golden Outback, bottom of the wheatbelt and top of the Great Southern.

Pet the sheep and alpaca, take a walk on the farm trail, and enjoy a wine on the verandah. Dependent on the time of year you can gain an insight into what crops are growing and check out the large machinery used to facilitate their farming operations.  

Extra tours to explore during your stay can include apiary tours, tractor driving, farm tours for grain growing and yabby dams, and Kangaroo spotlighting at night. Cambinata Yabbies is 5kms east and is the largest freshwater crayfish establishment in Australia. There are plenty of options for take home snacks and gifts for those that didn’t join you on your getaway.

The best time of year to visit is now. What would you do from the list below?

What to do in the region

• Check out the magnificent wildflowers (late July to early December, peak season September–October)
• Enjoy the sun setting over the paddocks from your front verandah or wander out yonder to the back of Cambinata yabbies farm where you might catch kangaroos grazing
•  Go for a walk on the farm check out the crops, listen to the birds and discover the natural soak where fresh water seeps out of the ground.
• Visit Emu Essence’s emu farm – by appointment ph (08)98646046
• Have a meal at the Kukerin hotel, built early 1900s
• Children love bouncing on the ‘bouncy pillow opposite the Hotel in Kukerin
• Visit Duggan Dam, a lovely local picnic spot, built by 123 men with shovels and wheelbarrows in 1914 to supply water for steam trains
• Visit nearby Tarin Rock Reserve and enjoy the amazing wildflowers
• Visit Donald Campbell memorial Dumbleyung & Lake Dumbleyung
• Check out Wuddi Aboriginal centre in the town of Dumbleyung
• Enjoy spectacular views of Lake Dumbleyung from Pussy Cat Hill
• Visit Walkers winery at Lake Grace. Meals are available – ph 0447651418
• Visit the historic Flynn of the Inland museum at Lake Grace
• Drive along the Kulin Tin Horse Highway
• Enjoy Kulin Aquatic Centre and Giant Water Slide (45 minutes away)
• Drive to Hyden and explore Wave Rock
• Follow the Silo trail and see the giant murals
• Walk some of John Holland Track – 1 hour away
• Drive to Katanning and enjoy the ‘All Ages Playground’, visit Dome Coffee at the Old Flour Mill – less than an hour away