Last Updated on 23 January 2026 by Ariana Svenson
Less than two hours from Perth, the picturesque Ferguson Valley provides the perfect weekend getaway for both young and old alike… and kids, couples, families… well everyone. We enjoyed a long weekend in the Ferguson Valley and enjoyed a leisurely time among charming farm landscapes and the gorgeous fresh air of the forest. With so much to do – and a lot to eat – we highly recommend spending a couple of days in the Ferguson Valley.
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Why Visit the Ferguson Valley?
I guess the question is – why not visit the Ferguson Valley WA? Of all the areas around Perth, I can’t think of a more gorgeous weekend escape. Escape is the operative word here. Once you are in the rolling green hills, or camping in the National Parks, or sipping wine at one of the Ferguson Valley wineries you will feel like you are a million miles away from the city! For us, that constitutes a “true escape”!
For other weekend getaway ideas from Perth read Exciting Short Breaks and Perth Weekend Getaways. If you find that the Ferguson Valley is booked out, or want to shave a good half hour off your weekend getaway from Perth, then why not consider nearby Harvey – we have covered it all at Fun Things to do in Harvey WA.
If you are interested in the Ferguson Valley Food Scene we have links to our detailed posts about the Ferguson Valley Wineries and Ferguson Valley Breweries at the bottom of the post.
For Instagrammers – well, there is so much to do and see in the Ferguson Valley we don’t even know where to begin!
Below are some great guided tours that take you through the Ferguson Valley.
Where is the Ferguson Valley WA?
Just 15 minutes out of the regional port city of Bunbury you come to cute little Dardanup with its well-loved bakery! This is the beginning of the Ferguson Valley. From here you enter a gorgeous scene of rolling hills with content herds of cattle, gentle streams and mist filled mornings. These are steep, winding roads and as you meander along the views do keep you driving slowly. From Perth head south along Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway towards Bunbury. Look out for Fergus the Bull and the Millars Creek Information Bay, after the turn-offs for Collie and Australind.
When to Visit the Ferguson Valley?
Ferguson Valley Weather, Forecast & When To Visit January is the driest (and hottest!) month in the Ferguson Valley, while July is the wettest. January is also the warmest month, with an average max temperature of around 30 °C and a minimum of 13°C. (Add Fahrenheit conversions please) The coldest month is July, with an average maximum of 15°C and a low of 4°C. The Ferguson Valley is a year-round destination. I especially like it in winter or early spring when the fields are bright green. I can snuggle up in front of a log fire with a nice glass of local red wine.
Things to do in Ferguson Valley
Gnomesville
The most well-known site in the Ferguson Valley is the ‘gnome home’ at Gnomesville. Yes, that’s right, 3000 Garden gnomes have gathered on a roundabout in the middle of the countryside. Now, a trip to Gnomesville has evolved into a quasi-pilgrimage site as people from around the world have arrived, and left their gnome, with a personalized message.
The kids will love the fairy-tale feel, and the funny gnome faces all around. We bought a $5 garden gnome from a Red Dot Store, and the kids loved making their contribution.
If you want to know ‘everything’ about Gnomesville, take a look at our A Guide To Visiting Gnomesville WA.
Gnomesville Details: Located 26km from Donnybrook. Apart from 20 minutes driving one way, allow 30 minutes for a fun wander.
Wellington National Park
A massive 17,000 hectares, Wellington National Park is filled with Jarrah, Marri, and Yarri forests. With the highlight being the Collie River Valley and the Wellington Dam. Some of the best spots for a picnic, gorgeous swims, or a spot of fishing are a number of spots around Honeymoon Pool like Little Rock and Long Pool.
Wellington Dam Camping is also a great experience with new facilities found at Potters Gorge. Read our Complete Potters Gorge, Wellington Dam, Honeymoon Pool Camping Reviews for more information.
Honeymoon Pool & Scenic Drive
Who can go past a visit to the romantically named Honeymoon pool? And, better still, Honeymoon Pool is not just one place to visit. It is a whole scenic drive in the Wellington National Park.
We recommend spending a couple of hours to stop at a few places along the scenic drive. The locals recommended a swim at Long Pool and it was very refreshing, and we were the only people there!
We also enjoyed the short walks at Big Rock, Little Rock, and the Rapids. We suggest packing a picnic lunch for a stop along the way, or we chose the very well-equipped Honeymoon Pool for a BBQ lunch. You can also swim at Honeymoon Pool but be warned – the water is veryyyyyyy cold!
From Honeymoon Pool we did a hike up to a lookout across the valley and bushland. It was a bit ambitious for the kids and turned out to be about 4km. However, when I reflect, it was an amazing escape right into the forest and a good forest experience.
Did you know? Honeymoon Pool is an extremely popular camping area. On some days you will be surprised at just how many people there are in the middle of the bush!
Wellington Dam Lookout
Another place we recommend making a stop is the Wellington Dam lookout! The kids were pretty tired so we made a stop at the Kiosk at the Dam a small café right in the middle of the forest with a surprisingly large range of yummy home-baked cakes and a tasty coffee. From here it was a short walk down to the Wellington Dam lookout to look out over the structure and learn its impact on the environment. You can read more information here at the Wellington Dam Lookouts website.
Other Places to Visit in the Wellington Forest
There are three spots to stop in the magnificent Jarrah forest of the Wellington National Park.
We stopped for a coffee at the Wellington Forest Cottages and enjoyed the chance to walk in the forest and see some tame kangaroos. Chances are you will be able to snap a selfie with one of these fabulous Australian icons! At Wellington Forest Cottages you can stay in these rustic old timber cottages for a full forest immersion and unique experience. This is a great Ferguson Valley accommodation, for more ideas about where to stay see below.
Almost across the road from the Wellington Forest Cottages is the Wellington Forest Discovery Centre, National parks run education centre. On the day we visited they were closed. However, they offer great short bush-walk among the Jarrah trees to experience their majesty. For more info check out their website here.
King Jarrah Tree
Do you want to get some of that feeling of forest Zen? Then go and hug the King Jarrah tree, which is thought to be between 300 and 500 years old. While not as tall as some of the trees down south, this majestic giant is impressive.
For another look at this spectacular forest, the King Jarrah tree is located between the Wellington Forest Discovery Centre and the Gnomes at Gnomesville.
Ferguson Farmstay – A Hands-On Farm Experience
One of our favorite things about the Ferguson Valley is the farm-feel that you experience as you travel along the winding roads through the countryside. We highly recommend getting your hands, and the kid’s hands, dirty at the Ferguson Farmstay farm activities each morning. You can feed a range of animals, ride a pony, and have a fantastic tractor ride. All these options are available for guests and non-guests. So, if you weren’t lucky enough to make a booking at the Ferguson Farmstay you can still get the farm experience.
For inspiration, read our full review of the Ferguson Farmstay.
Mount Lennard Mountain Bike network
Known in the biking community as “Pile Road”. Mount Lennard Mountain Bike network (in the Wellington National Park) is considered to be one of Western Australia’s best biking areas. These are organic mountain bike trails through the forest with less machine made trail and jumps and quite a lot of gentle slopes. The most popular bike track, Grizzly Trail, is quite technical and offers experienced mountain bikers with obstacles, jumps, and berms.
Also nearby the Ferguson Valley is the Arklow Trail Network (also referred to as the Wambenger Trails) which has recently been upgraded and has over 35km of trails to ride! For families the 9.2km Adaptive Trail loop is a good option while for those looking for more of a challenge the 4.5km rocky climb of Trail 7 has multiple log rides and a rapid roller coaster descent. The Arklow Trail network is located 5km north of Collie town on Harris River Road.
Where to Eat in the Ferguson Valley WA?
Locals know that the Ferguson Valley is an up and coming foodies dream. Already it is the home of some amazing fresh produce, but not so well known that it is home to Gold Plate winning restaurants and awarded wineries. In fact, there is so much to know about eating out in the Ferguson Valley, we’ve covered it all in a comprehensive post A Guide to the Luscious Ferguson Valley Restaurants, Wineries and Breweries.
Accommodation in the Ferguson Valley
If you are looking for a Perth getaway to recharge and reconnect, then a weekend stay in the Ferguson Valley is a great idea. We know, because we have done it several times. Check out our detailed post The Best Ferguson Valley Accommodation to Rest and Recharge.
Haven’t found the accommodation in the Ferguson Valley you are looking for, why not look a little further north at the different options around Harvey WA.
Nearby the Ferguson Valley
You can visit the Ferguson Valley as a destination in its own right. However, if you are traveling further south don’t hesitate to make it a stop. We suggest the Ferguson Valley as a way of breaking up the trip from Perth to Margaret River.
Originally we had intended to visit the Dardanup Heritage Park, which is about 15 minutes from Bunbury and just outside the village of Dardanup. With acres of heritage machinery, this is like a huge outdoor museum.
However, after arriving and talking to the friendly lady at the ticket counter we decided we didn’t have the minimum 2 hours recommended. As we like to balance visits between our children’s interests we had thought that our 4-year-old machine mad lad would have got into the old machinery. However, on second thought, he was a tad young. Something to save for when he is older or we have Grandpa in tow! For more information check out their website here.
Discover more travel inspiration in our blog post about the Perth to Busselton road trip!
Ferguson Valley to the Black Diamond Lake Collie
You may have seen the Black Diamond Lake Collie on Instagram. It is a stunning opaque turquoise and seriously looks amazing on the ‘Gram! However, to get the best pics and to see it in all its glory it is best to visit on a sunny day with clear skies. The light reflects off the water best when there is tons of sun.
The Black Diamond Lake Collie WA is about five minutes from Collie. It is located on Ferguson road. Please be aware that there are no facilities at this spot. There are no picnic benches, no toilets, no showers, and absolutely no camping at Black Diamond Lake Collie WA.
Besides the lack of facilities, the other important thing to know is that swimming is not encouraged. This is because of the presence of amoebas in the water. This really puts a damper on things. If you are also taking children it can be difficult to keep them out of the water. However, you can canoe, take photos, SUP, or have a picnic on the shores of the lake providing you bring your own equipment and food.
Looking to Visit Collie Western Australia
During this trip to the Ferguson Valley, we had intended to visit a couple of places in Collie Western Australia. Unfortunately, bad weather meant we didn’t see as much as we hoped! If you are interested to hear what we had planned, please write to us and ask.
Things to do in Bunbury
Long overlooked by visitors heading to the fine wines and pristine beaches of the Margaret River area, Bunbury was not considered a tourist destination. Well, think again! With the riches of the Ferguson Valley just 20 minutes away from Bunbury, there is an abundance of fine wine and food nearby. Plus, if you traveling with children, Bunbury with kids has lots of great options.
The Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre was recently revamped and has an excellent Interpretive Centre. During the summer months you can see one of the Bottlenose Dolphins that frequent Koombana Bay. If you wish to see more, why not book on a dolphin eco-cruise?
Just up from the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre is a fabulous nautical themed playground and the beautiful turquoise waters of Koombana Bay invites you for a swim. ‘ Don’t miss the stunning five and a half metre steel bust Wardandi Boodja, which pays deep respect to the Noongar people of the region. The title of the artwork, ‘Wardandi Boodja’, recognises the region’s language group, the Wardandi – and reminds us that we all live on and in Wardandi saltwater country. The Noongar word Boodja means country/place, and refers to the land, environment and human culture interwoven.
The things to do in Bunbury don’t end there! Why not head to Victoria Street’s cosmopolitan cappuccino strip or wander amongst the amazing murals that dot the central Bunbury streets? In fact, we think that a weekend getaway in Bunbury should be on all families ‘must do’ lists! We are working on a complete summary of things to do in Bunbury – meanwhile here is our guide on accommodation in Bunbury, Western Australia.
Things to do in Donnybrook
Western Australia’s apple capital, Donnybrook, features some large apples in its main street. It is only 20 minutes from the Ferguson Valley, and very close to Gnomesville. Donnybrook’s Apple Fun Park was, until recently, Australia’s biggest free-entry fun park. Apparently they’ve lost that title. This is a shame, because this is a seriously massive park . In this latest iteration, there is even more to do with kids, whatever their ages. There is a full toddler section, while the older kids are attracted by the four-level towers with slides, rope bridges, flying foxes, low rock climbing walls, swings, a space net, and two 9.5 m towers. Nearby The Packing Shed has great grassed areas and a lovely ambience. I’m told they serve up delicious wholesome food. Donnybrook’s also got two bakeries which also serve some good value country food.
The Verdict – The Best Things to do in The Ferguson Valley WA
Honestly, if you are not tempted to book a weekend escape in the Ferguson Valley after reading all the fantastic things we have mentioned – there is nothing more we can say! From Wellington National Park to the Black Diamond Lake Collie, and the amazing Ferguson Valley wineries – there is so much to do and see just a couple of hours from Perth.
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