Last Updated on 30 January 2025 by Ariana Svenson
The picturesque town of Dwellingup Western Australia is a great place for an adventure weekend getaway from Perth. Dwellingup is a tiny town in the hills and Jarrah Forest, an easy 1.5 hour drive from the city – actually just 97km! Dwellingup camping grounds have been long known as an awesome bush getaway for relaxed long weekends and a place for folks “in the know”.
The forest train, the Hotham Valley Railway, is definitely one of the best things to do in the area. Lane Poole Reserve is one of the most popular recreation and camping grounds in in easy reach of Perth. We hope that the list of things we have provided here are an insightful introduction to this beautiful part of the Darling Range.
Who Are We?
We are a family of four, an adventurous mother and 3 kids. We love getting out and about and have discovered that when we take a family weekend getaways from Perth we are so much “better” in the weeks to follow. Happier, more present and better spirits overall. As locals we have visited all of these places on weekend escapes and love discovering new gems to share with you all the time.
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Our Experience in Dwellingup Western Australia
We recently stayed 2 nights in a Dwellingup holiday accommodation. We enjoyed a beautiful bush recharge while not too far from Perth. You don’t have to camp if staying in Dwellingup! These are our top experiences in Dwellingup Western Australia.

Treetops Adventure Dwellingup
The Dwellingup Treetops Adventure Adventure Course has your kids climbing like a monkey, hanging upside-down, and generally pushing themselves beyond their limits. Located close to the Nanga Mill Campground, as you fly through the trees there is a lovely fresh smell of fresh Pine and Jarrah trees.
The Trees Adventure has a number of grades for different ages. We did the yellow course, which was suitable for children aged four to seven, and can be supervised from the ground which is great if you have a baby like I did. For more information, please take a look at Dwellingup Treetops Adventure.

Lane Poole Reserve
Lane Poole Reserve (sometimes incorrectly spelt Lane Pool Reserve) has long been a famous Dwellingup camping spot. The Dwaarlinjirraap Day Use Area is a truly lovely place for people to launch their canoes, go swimming, barbecue and picnic.
It also provides the trailhead for of walking trails of varying lengths, the shortest being 1.5km, the longest 18km. Having the baby we went for a short walk around the rocks and the rapids of the Murray River and breathed in a bit of fresh air in wildflower season.
Next time we’d try to do something like the Island Pool Walk Trail which is a 2km family friendly walk starting at River Road near the Murray River – close to Tony’s Bend Campground. Another shorter option is the The Chuditch Walk Trail which a 7 kilometre semi-loop starting from Nanga Mill Campground to Chuditch Campground.
Especially if you are not looking for Dwellingup camping, the Dwaarlinjirraap area is a fantastic place to take a picnic and a canoe and set up for the day.
Also in Lane Poole Reserve are a number of four-wheel-drive tracks. This is certainly is a beautiful place during wildflower season. You can experience the Jarrah forests and get your dose of the bush during a weekend getaway from Perth.
Dwellingup Wildflowers
In spring there are lots of opportunities to see the wildflowers in Dwellingup. Lane Poole Reserve has four trails to explore more than 500 species of wildflowers. The Bibbulmun Track passes through the reserve, meaning you could start in one section and finish in another, getting in lots of wildflower views along the way. There are shorter walk trails available including King Jarrah, Island Pool and Nanga Brook trails that offer lots of chances to see the wildflowers Dwellingup.
More information at Where to Find the Best Wildflowers in Western Australia.

Hotham Valley Railway, Dwellingup Western Australia
The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway by itself is a reason to visit Dwellingup – and it’s why we were there. Both my father and brother are enthusiasts of historical trains and they wanted to ride the Steam Ranger (a working steam train) which runs on limited schedules during the wetter months of the year.
As a fascinating and interactive step back into yesterday we’d definitely recommend taking one of the Hotham Valley Railway trains –whatever the season. Not only is it wonderful to past through farmland and forest, you get ew perspective on the tall trees of this area.
More info on the experience in our Hotham Valley Railway Review.

Forest Discovery Centre
Located on the outskirts of Dwellingup township, you can learn more about the spectacular Jarrah Trees and forest that surround Dwellingup WA by visiting the Forest Discovery Centre (formerly known as the Forest Heritage Centre). This interesting building is shaped like a leaf – if you can look at it from above!
For the affordable entry fee of $5 you can do the Dwellingup Tree-Top Walk, a walk to an old timber cutters cabin and campsite, visit an art gallery, and see interesting forest based crafts. The kids will be quite challenged by the very bushy nature playground. It was extremely simple so that they needed to use their imaginations more than they do in other playgrounds. This is definitely nature based play at its best.
If you are going to be visiting Dwellingup Western Australia during school holiday periods, contact the center for their activity programs. In addition, they have weekly activities like making Billy Tea and Damper over an open camp or a night ramble with a zoologist. For more information on the Dwellingup Forest Discovery Centre.
Dwellingup Village
You can also wander around the cute village in Dwellingup as we did. It has a small town feel and is quiet and peaceful. We enjoyed just wandering around the playground area and soaking in the small town feel.
Dwellingup Skate Park and Pump Track
It also has a very good skate park facility and pump track right in the middle of town. So pack your scooter or skateboard because the kids will love it. It is right next door to the brand new visitor information centre.
Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre
This brand new centre is your go-to spot for up to date information and maps, especially the latest regarding mountain-biking trails and walking trail maps. You can get all the insider info on the major attractions of the area. In addition, Dwellingup Adventures and Waypoints Café are situated in the visitor centre.
Dwellingup Adventures
This adventure rental company have a range of mountain bikes in different sizes and styles to choose from. They even hire gel seat covers if you don’t ride bikes often!
The Munda Biddi Trail, meaning ‘path through the forest’ in the local Noongar Aboriginal language, is a world-class off-road cycling experience. While the overall trail runs from Mundaring in the north through to Albany in the south. You can do a short section or sections. For example Section 3 of the Munda Biddi Trail travels through the Lane Poole Reserve and then onto Bidjar Ngoulin hut in a nice 12 km ride. Another option for kids or those looking for an easy ride is the Marrinup to Dwellingup section which is 5km.
Dwellingup Adventures also offer canoes, rafts and stand-up paddle boards can be hired for 3 hours, 1 day or multiple days so you can explore the Murray River and surrounds.
Dwellingup Accommodation
As Dwellingup camping is the most popular activity in this bush town, there are not a load of other options. If you’re not inclined to bush camp, we stayed in the Jarrah Forest Lodge, which offers self-contained camp-style accommodation.
It is not salubrious but with a retro vibe is good value for money. There are also buildings offering bunk-bed style dormitory rooms. We stayed in the family accommodation which offered ample sized rooms with a double bed and four bunk beds. Each family room easily accommodates six, and also has a living room. The kitchen and dining area was separate as was the bathroom. There are also a few Airbnbs in Dwellingup.
Noble River Estate is another good option if you are looking for a bush experience. It is one of the better Dwellingup Accommodation options. Also known as the Dwellingup Chalets, it is more like a home stay, with four rooms each with their own private bathroom but sharing a large dining room and balcony overlooking the property.
The Dwellingup Chalet and Caravan Park has a wide range of family accommodations. There are 6 two bedroom self/contained chalets, cabins and tent sites. It is also within walking distance of the town centre. Note, in busy times there is a minimum 3 night stay.
Check here for current prices to stay at the Dwellingup Chalets.
If Dwellingup is fully booked out but you still want to visit, you could try the nearby Pinjarra Caravan Park and Cabins.

Camp Sites Near Dwellingup
Dwellingup is known for having some incredible camping spots, and there are plenty of places to connect with nature.
Nanga Mill Campground is the largest campground within the Lane Poole Reserve. It has space for 55 large tents, large camper vans, camper trailers or caravans. You can set up under the pine trees with consideration for other campers. There are no specific allocated camping spots.
Another option is the Baden Powell campground which is also located close to the Dwaarlindjirraap Day Use Area with access for swimming and kayaking the Murray River. Most campsites at Baden Powell are suitable for tents and swags only. More info here.
What if you want to give camping a go? You should get in contact with Dwellingup Adventures who offer camping equipment hire.

Places to Eat in Dwellingup
The Dwellingup Hotel is an atmospheric place known locally as the Dwelly Pub. With big picnic tables both inside and out, and lots of kid-friendly spaces including a grassed area underneath the big tree. The kids had plenty of space to run around while the rest of the family enjoyed the hearty pub fare.
The Blue Wren Café was also cute, with a nice menu. However, it lacks a large amount of space for kids to play. Which means that they’re a bit more contained and it’s harder to enjoy your meal.
The Wine Tree Cidery is located just out of town. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays and get good reviews for their ciders and grazing boards, as well as a warm and welcoming fire in the winter months! They also have a small cellar door.
Vergone’s Fruit Stall Dwellingup
With picnic tables, fresh fruit in season, and some amazing apple varieties we strongly recommend checking out the Vergone’s Facebook page to find out what is season and what they are picking. They grow Fuji, Splendour, Firm Gold and Granny Smith apples, plus vegetables like sweet corn, potatoes and pumpkins.
On the weekends they often offer their farm tour, exploring the orchard and learning about seasonal fruits. They also offer activities like archery – all advertised on their page.
Hotham Valley Restaurant Train
One of the more special places to eat in Dwellingup is the Hotham Valley Restaurant Train, which features a 5 course meal in the 1919 dining car and a 1884 Club Car. This train journey provides a different perspective of the forest at night.
The restaurant train operates every Saturday night and selected Friday nights. Check their website for details
Brief History of Dwellingup
The Pinjarup and Wiilman people are the traditional owners of the areas around Dwellingup, including the Lane Poole Reserve.
Dwellingup was first established as a timber mill town in the late 19th century by timber cutters eager to harvesting the Jarrah, Marri and Blackbutt Trees growing in the area. Dwellingup became the terminus for the Pinjarra-Marrinup railway in 1910, which caused Dwellingup to become a major centre. A number of small timber settlements (Holyoake, Nanga Brook and many more) grew up around the town.
For Western Australians, Dwellingup is still associated with with the “day the flames came.” On 19 January 1961 a large number of lightning strikes from Dwellingup in the north to Manjimup in the south, accompanied by little or no rain fell at the time. Wondering if there are things to do in Manjimup? Absolutely! Check out our guide for all the details.
At Dwellingup there were 9 strikes on the 19th and a further 10 on the 20th January. Due to the other fires burning across the state, very little support could be provided to Dwellingup. The town of Dwellingup, apart from the pub, was completely destroyed, as were several of the surrounding settlements. Dwellingup Hotel which still stands today and is the only remaining community owned hotel in Western Australia.
The fuel levels of that were experienced at Dwellingup in 1961 have strongly contributed to the ongoing fire management in Western Australia today.
Day Trips from Dwellingup
Located 23 min (26.9 km) via Pinjarra-Williams Rd the Ranger Red’s Zoo & Conservation Park, formerly Peel Zoo, is a good option for a day trip from Dwellingup. Now under new ownership, the zoo and wildlife sanctuary located on the banks of the beautiful Murray River in Pinjarra. It is home to over 100 native and exotic animal species, and specializes in being a “hands-on” zoo.

And if you want to explore other places from Dwellingup, why not drive to Denmark? It’s just a 3-hour and 45-minute drive away, and there are plenty of great things to do in Denmark.
The Verdict – Special Things to do in Dwellingup Western Australia
In conclusion, even if you don’t want to camp, Dwellingup is the perfect place for a bush retreat and a wonderful weekend getaway from Perth. Just one and a half hours away from the city, and can enjoy a small-town village feel and plenty of Jarrah forests, farmland, and even a bit of adventure and escape from the every-day. There are loads of mountain biking trails, outdoor adventures, and beautiful walking tracks to make this a great destination. Definitely, Dwellingup, Western Australia has plenty to do for a weekend escape from Perth.
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