Holiday houses in Manjimup

Surrounded by towering karri (a type of eucalypt) forests and lush, rolling pastures in the nation’s southwest, the small country town of Manjimup has the ideal climate and terroir for cultivating some of Australia’s finest produce. Known as the gourmet food bowl of Western Australia, Manjimup is the largest producer of black truffles in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s also an emerging wine region, focusing on quality over quantity.

Other local attractions include giant trees you can both admire and climb, an historic freshwater swimming hole known as Fonty’s Pool, and the 12-hectare Manjimup Heritage Park featuring museums, bushwalking trails, and an adventure playground for little travellers. There are also heritage towns to explore on country drives, and if you’re pining for a swim in the sea, there is a string of wild, remote beaches to be discovered just over an hour away to the southwest.

The warmer months from December through March are ideal for taking a refreshing dip in Fonty’s Pool. The Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival is another good reason to drop by in December. Celebrating the region’s fresh produce, the one-day festival features wine tastings, log chopping demonstrations, food stalls, and live music. Another top draw for foodies is the Truffle Kerfuffle, a two-day celebration in June. Throughout truffle season, which runs until August, you can also join a truffle hunt, where you’ll follow truffle dogs as they sniff their way through local orchards in search of delicious black truffles. June also marks the Manjimup 15,000, a prominent motocross festival. Revheads should pencil in the Targa South West Tarmac Rally, held in nearby Pemberton in March.

Climb a giant tree

Between 1937 and 1952, eight exceptionally tall karri trees in the area were assigned as fire lookouts. A trilogy of these karri tree towers near Manjimup remain: the Diamond Tree, Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, and the Gloucester Tree — the latter two are still open for climbing. Test your nerve by making the 65-metre climb up the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, or the 53-metre slog up the Gloucester Tree.

Soak up the heritage of Bridgetown

Just 30 minutes’ drive north of Manjimup, Bridgetown is the only town in the region that has been granted Historical Town status by the National Trust. The period between 1850 and 1885 saw the construction of many of the buildings still standing today, including the post office and two of Bridgetown’s hotels. Telling the stories of early policing in the town, the Bridgetown Police Station Museum 1880 is well worth a look-in.

Experience an up-and-coming wine region

Most wine lovers are familiar with the Margaret River wine region to the northeast, but there are several other wine regions in Australia’s southwest. Specialising in cool-climate varietals, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Verdelho, Manjimup is one of them. You’ll find several cellar doors located within a short drive of the township.