Winter in the Great Southern Treasures means misty mornings, cool days, and soft afternoon sunsets over mesmerizing mountain peaks. Hike Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range for one of your only chances to see snow in Western Australia! Or follow the Great Southern Cellar Door trail, tasting unique, cool-climate wines from Mount Barker, Porongurup, and Frankland River. There’s plenty of treasures to be found on your next trip to the Great Southern!
Wake Up At A Great Southern Treasures Winery
Think chilly mornings, as birds whistle tunes outside your cabin, you wake up softly in cosy linens and brew yourself a warm cup of coffee. That’s the reality at Frankland River Retreat, a picturesque 83-acre property nestled within the Great Southern’s premium wine region.
Relax by a crackling open fire each night, enjoying a glass of local wine and toasting marshmallows at the tapestry of twinkling stars glint above you. Embrace the cool weather and don a pair of gumboots to stroll along the river, or get adventurous and grab a kayak to see the stunning landscape from a different angle.
See Snow At The Top Of The Stirling Range
Standing proudly in the Stirling Range National Park more than a kilometre above sea level, Bluff Knoll or Bular Mial is practically a pilgrimage for trail lovers visiting the region. With spectacular summit views across the Great Southern, it is also a biodiversity hotspot, with the lower slopes blanketed in Eucalypt, Banksia and grass trees, and more than 1000 flowering plants thriving throughout the park.
Come winter you might even be lucky enough to find a dusting of snow atop this behemoth if you summit in the early morning. Frolic among the glistening white or make your own mini snowman. Be sure to rug up though, the freezing conditions and winds ensure the trek is not for the faint hearted or underprepared.
Watch Whales From The Wild Beaches Of Bremer Bay
While summer is the season of Orcas in Bremer Bay, winter makes way for the return of the southern right, humpback, and even blue whales off its windswept coastline. Let the rugged beauty of the great southern wash over you as your walk the shoreline listening for their calls.
Hit the trails in the Fitzgerald River National Park for epic views and the chance to glimpse wildflowers late in the season. Ready to warm up? Head indoors at nearby Bremer Bay Beaches Resort Tourist Park, at the gateway to the point Henry Peninsula, to gaze over the azure waters from comfort.
Indulge In A Fine-Wine Tour
When the weather’s wet and the days are gloomy – nothing beats warming the soul from the inside out, and what better way than with a fine-wine tour through the Great Southern? The Frankland River Region is home to many a delectable drop, as well as glorious views to go along with them!
Alkoomi Wines are renowned for their cool-climate flavours, with standout varieties including cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. While Ferngrove Winery and chalets is one of the world’s most isolated estates, making it perfect for a holiday where you can switch off.
Uncover The Stories Of Indigenous Country Life
Get ready to go inside the story of Australian country life in a way you never have before at The Kodja Place, in Kojonup. Weaving together the voices and art of the local Noongar Aboriginals, with those of the first settlers to the region, the interpretive centre provides guests a unique tale.
Duck outside and find yourself among the gorgeous Australian Rose Maze. Intertwining the stories of three women from the great southern, this enchanting garden is a rich tapestry that brings to life the struggles women faced in the last century.
Explore The Great Southern’s Heritage and History
A treasure trove of history awaits in the Shire of Gnowangerup, from the Aylmore Mineral Springs to the iconic Stirling Range National Park. Take your time wandering through the Gnowangerup Aboriginal Museum and Keeping Place, and listen to the whispers of history about the indigenous people who hunted the plains for thousands of years.
Add some wildlife to your winter with a visit to the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre, to see these incredible birds in their natural environment. Or go on your own treasure hunt to find the dozens of tractors hidden throughout the Horsepower Highway.
Create Cosy Memories In Katanning
Before the blankets of yellow canola erupt across this beautiful wilderness, the eclectic streetscapes of Katanning are calling! Discover the town’s rich agricultural roots when you stop at the Sheep Saleyards, the biggest undercover saleyards of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Or reconnect with nature, taking in a mesmerizing view of the night sky as you hole up at one of the region’s famed farm stays. Keen for the fire but not the animal sounds? Stay at the boutique beauty of the Premier Mill Hotel, with roaring fires to keep you cosy.
