Only a few hours from Perth, Bridgetown is a lovely part of the world and offers all visitors a very relaxed and intimate atmosphere. You can enjoy the serenity and get back to nature with all that Bridgetown has to offer. Many visitors often make the tree change and move to Bridgetown after visiting due to how beautiful it is.

If you’re in search of peaceful country living either long-term or short-term, Bridgetown is the place to go even for a day trip. Bridgetown is situated perfectly on the banks of the Blackwood River and is home to tall jarrah and marri forests and luscious green rolling hills. In winter, you can experience the enchanting misty mornings and in Summer, you can enjoy the cool summer nights.

In Spring, the colours thrown by the flowers are enchanting and in Autumn, the falling leaves will leave you breathless. However, if you want to experience all that Bridgetown has to offer, you are much better off visiting in the Winter as the town has dubbed itself the winter capital of Western Australia.

If you’re planning to visit Bridgetown anytime soon, check out this list of the best things to do in Bridgetown. Let’s go!

Things to Do in Bridgetown

Drink Up at Sunnyhurst Winery

Visiting a winery in Bridgetown is an absolute must. However, if you’re looking for the very best winery to visit, you have to go to Sunnyhurst Winery. It is situated in some beautiful forest and the surroundings are absolutely incredible.

The building is over 120 years old and overlooks the delectable rolling valleys of Bridgetown. The Bordeaux-style vineyard below is simply stunning which makes it the perfect place to do some wine tasting. You can pop by the cellar door to enjoy free tastings of award-winning wines and explore the gardens.

The garden is full of over 600 rare and heritage rose varieties. You can also play a game of tennis before or after. Better yet, make a weekend of it and book the Sunnyhurst Chalets accommodation. In winter, you can cosy up next to the roaring fire before heading to the famous winter festival.

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Eat and Drink at The Cidery

While we are on the subject of delicious drinks, how good does a refreshing cider sound? Bridgetown has a large and rich tradition of apple growing which is why it only makes sense that the region should produce some absolutely wonderful cider. This is where The Cidery comes into play.

This exceptional place offers great food and drinks at an even better price. The Cidery utilises the region’s famous Pink Lady apples to make cider without any added water, sugar, flavour enhancers or concentrates. They come with different percentages with some offering a nice fruity and sweet taste and others knocking you into next week.

You have to visit this location as it is extremely beautiful, and the staff are wonderful. It is based in a beautiful part of Bridgetown too!

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Find Something Unique at Totem Rustic

If hunting for a unique and one-of-a-kind item is your thing, you will absolutely love shopping at Totem Rustic. It is the ideal place to find something completely out of the ordinary. Stop by this cute shed to have a look through all of their collectables and unique items.

It is absolutely jam-packed with treasures such as vintage pottery, antique tools, furniture, and even some cool farm gear. Make a day of it and head to their sister store, Totem Bohemia which is stocked with awesome clothing, homewares, textiles, and antiques.

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Explore Paper Planes Co.

You will NOT want to miss this exciting and simply revolutionary store. It is very hard to miss due to the bright bubble gum pink exterior and gorgeous displays outside. Usually, you will be drawn in by the trail of bubbles tracking down the street from Paper Planes Co.

However, if you think the outside is cool, it is truly what is inside that will capture your interest. Inside, you will find a treasure trove of learning tools, toys, clothing, books, and so much more. While you may think that this is just a kid’s store, you could not be more wrong.

You can find Beautiful Weirdo eco glitter, homewares, Feel Good Inc. sunscreen, and a huge collection of bright and exciting roller skates. Trust us, you will not want to wander past this exceptional homeware and gift store full of excitement. You’re sure to find something of interest here.

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Visit FATS

FATS is a super cool spot in the area where you can choose to just stop for lunch or stay a night or two. FATS, short for food, art, toys, and Santa, is often described as café-cum-art gallery-come-Christmas shop. You can easily spot this awesome little shop by keeping an eye out for “Ruby the red nosed subi”, a little red Subaru.

This spot is also home to the Fat Betty Café which is a café that specialises in cake, coffee, and fresh bagels for all to enjoy. There are both sweet and savoury options available when it comes to food so that you can fulfil your cravings. Make sure you stop by Fat Santa’s Christmas Shop to fully enjoy the experience.

If you are a lover of art, Christmas, toys, and good food, you have to check out this awesome destination that seems to have something for absolutely everyone to enjoy. Make sure you check it out!

Check Out Ooh La Lollipop

Every good country town must have a good lolly shop to go with it. However, this country town has a fantastic lolly shop! Better than your average, Ooh La Lollipop is an amazing destination that goes far beyond being just a candy store.

In fact, it is more so an entire experience! With some of the best candy from all around the world, this destination can be found on the main street of town. It makes for the perfect place for the whole family to stop and enjoy some high-quality and delicious goodies you likely won’t find anywhere else.

This shop is colourful, fun, and full of sugar. What more could you want? You are destined to find something you absolutely love here due to the sheer amount of lollies and other sweet treats you will find.

If you can’t find a sweet treat anywhere else, this shop will likely stock it!

Learn at the Bridgetown – Greenbushes Visitor Centre

The Bridgetown Visitor Centre is an absolute must-visit. It is set inside a beautifully quaint preserved building and is one of the best ways to wrap your head around Bridgetown. The friendly locals are always happy to have a chat with you and will help by offering a list of things to do and any stories that may help you out along the way.

While you’re there, make sure you grab some free maps of the local trails to make sure you’re ready to go exploring! This small town in the south west is definitely a must-visit.

Get Arty on the Bridgetown Artist Walk

Bridgetown is full of talented and admirable artists, and this little art trail has allowed them to boast their talents. The list of artists seems to get bigger and bigger every single year with more artists leaning into the creative lifestyle. All of the creatives in Bridgetown have come together to develop this trail of artworks for people who want to admire gorgeous artwork while exploring the area.

You can easily download a map of the trail and see the detailed information about every piece here. Each installation effortlessly links to the next to ensure that you don’t get lost. However, if you do wander off the track, simply ask a local for help. The Bridgetown Art Trail is a must-see.

Learn About the Bridgetown Police Station Museum

Known previously as the “Old Gaol”, the Bridgetown Police Station Museum is now open every single Saturday from 10 am until 2 pm. All those who visit can enjoy a re-enacted experience of what it was like as a prisoner in the 1880s. This museum was once used as the main lock-up for prisoners during this time.

To this day, you can view the preserved remains of the first courthouse. If you’re a bit of a history buff, it is certainly worth the visit.

Enjoy a Round at the Bridgetown Golf Course

The Bridgetown Golf Course is a fantastic place to spend a few hours, or the whole day, for those who enjoy a round or two of gold. This golf course features 18 holes with tee boxes and grass greens for your enjoyment. Sometimes during the summer, the fairways can get a little dry and sandy, but it is still a fun and enjoyable course to explore.

Visitors are always welcome, but just make sure you book in advance. There is also a mini golf course here in the heritage listed town for you to enjoy. There are many points of interest that you’ll find at this little course.

Head Out for a Day of Fishing

Fishing down in the south west always makes for an awesome day out. Fishing in the Blackwood River is a greatly enjoyable thing to do and a great way to spend a few hours of the day while you’re out and about in Bridgetown. You will require a license to fish or catch marron.

You can do this pretty easily, but make sure you’re aware of the size and bag limits for fish. It doesn’t matter the time of the year, fishing around the town is awesome! Being among the bushland, hearing the blue wrens, and enjoying a lovely walk throughout the town of Bridgetown is definite when you go fishing.

There are plenty of spots to stop for a fish while you’re in the Blackwood River Valley. Keep your eye out for kangaroos and other wildlife while you’re out and about!

Enjoy a Nice Walk

If you’re someone who enjoys hiking, there are a few different walks and walking trails to choose from. Check out some of Bridgetown’s best walks and trails below if this tickles your fancy:

· Bridgetown Town Heritage Walk: 2km

· Bridgetown Blackwood River Walk: 5.7km to 6.2km

· Bridgetown Old Rectory Walk: 1.7km

· Bridgetown Somme Creek Fitness Trail: 1km

· Bridgetown Jarrah Park: Various trails between 30 minutes and 3 hours.

· Bridgetown Old Abattoir Walk: 1.7km to 3.1km

· Bridgetown Wandoo Valley Walk: 8.2km

Bridgetown is also home to some trails only the locals know about, so make sure you ask around for recommendations!

Go on a Secret Picnic

Go on a very cool interactive tour around Bridgetown in the heart of Western Australia’s south west when you try out the Secret Picnic. For only $50 per person, you can start this experience at the Rabbit Hole where you will be given a picnic basket alongside a series of clues. The clues will guide you to all of the destinations where you will gather the supplies for your local picnic.

Along the way, you will learn about the awesome town itself. Once you have found all of the ingredients, you will follow the last clue to get to the gorgeous secret picnic spot. There are also vouchers available for purchase if this is an experience you would like to gift to somebody.

Brierley Jigsaw Gallery

The Brierley Jigsaw Gallery is home to hundreds of jigsaw puzzles with one of them being the world’s smallest wooden jigsaw puzzle. It is one of the most popular Bridgetown attractions and there are plenty of things to see and do here. Here, you will find the only public jigsaw gallery in the Southern Hemisphere of its kind.

Guests can take their time as they walk through and enjoy this collection. While there is a small fee to enter, it is worth it to see this only collection of its kind. Entry is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and $12 for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. It is a super close place to explore no matter the time of year.

Jessie Brierley started this awesome jigsaw collection over forty years ago and now it is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. We think this is pretty cool, don’t you?

Next time you head to Bridgetown in Australia’s south west, make sure you check out the places listed above! If you’ve already been to some of these places, let us know what you think in the comments below! We would love to hear from you.

Find more things to do in the Southern Forest Region