Great Southern Treasures

Home
Australia
Woodanilling
Great Southern Treasures

Tag or to let us share your captures of our region. And it's all ready and waiting for you!

Where pioneering farming communities, that offer insight to the region’s rich cultural heritage, can also be found dotted between winding rivers and picturesque farmland. Adventure here to discover vibrant art mural trails, pink salt lakes, phenomenal towering mountains then why not immerse yourself in the Aboriginal culture and history. Those after a tipple or two will be pleased to learn that th

e Great Southern is home to the largest wine producing region, by area in Australia. Great Southern Treasures is delivered by Australia's South West.

25/06/2025

🌿 Step into the Shire of Kojonup ... Located approximately 3 hours from Perth and nestled along the route to Albany, Kojonup offers an authentic slice of country WA life. Rich in Aboriginal and settler history, this vibrant town proudly rests on the traditional lands of the Kaneang people of the Noongar nation. The name ‘Kojonup’ derives from the Noongar word Kodj, meaning ‘stone axe’, referencing the tools crafted from local dolerite outcrops and used for hunting and gathering for thousands of years.

Wander past historic buildings like the 1845 Military Barracks, stroll through the peaceful Myrtle Benn Flora & Fauna Sanctuary, bursting with wildflowers and birdsong in spring, and discover the stories of the land’s first people at the Friends of the Kodja Place.

📍: Australian Rose Maze & Three Women’s Stories Friends of the Kodja Place

23/06/2025

🌸 “Bloom Besties” Sponsor Spotlight: Western Australia 🌸

The 2025 Great Southern Treasures Bloom Festival is blooming bigger and brighter thanks to the incredible support of Tourism Western Australia, proudly backed by the State Government through Tourism WA.

As Western Australia’s official tourism champion, Tourism Western Australia is on a mission to share the magic of this great state, from our wild coastlines and ancient ranges to the small-town festivals (like ours!) that make regional WA shine. They work hard to attract world-class events, improve visitor experiences, and put destinations like the Great Southern Treasures on the map.

Want to know more about how they help grow tourism across WA?
👉 www.tourism.wa.gov.au/tourism-in-western-australia

Ready to plan your Bloom adventure? Find out more on our website:
🌸 greatsoutherntreasures.com.au/bloom

18/06/2025

🚜 Big skies, golden paddocks and country charm… welcome to the Shire of Kent.

Set on the traditional lands of the Goreng people of the Noongar nation, this farming heartland sits around 320km southeast of Perth, home to the tight-knit towns of Nyabing and Pingrup.

Once called Nampup, it was renamed Nyabing in 1912, and is thought to come from the Noongar word for the native everlasting flower Helipterum manglessii. Born from the days of the Great Southern Railway, Nyabing has flourished into a proud agricultural hub, with a close community at its heart.

Pingrup’s name, first mapped in 1873, comes from a nearby lake, reflecting its deep Aboriginal heritage. Today, this vibrant little town is known for its shimmering salt lakes, wide, open landscapes and the incredible FORM Public Silo Trail. Don’t miss the towering grain silos brought to life with breathtaking artworks that stop travellers in their tracks.

📸: Lake Bryde and Pingrup Grain Silos by Heidi Mayes Photography

16/06/2025

🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Wild Gravel is back and it’s going to be bigger than ever! Mark your calendars: It's all happening on Saturday 11 October 2025.

Get ready to ride, run or walk your way through the breathtaking Stirling Range National Park in the Shire of Gnowangerup. With brand new event combos and distances to suit all fitness levels, there’s something for everyone this year.

RIDE: 12km | 30km | 60km | 100km | 150km
RUN: 5km | 12km | 21km | 42km
RUN + RIDE: 5km + 12km | 12km + 30km | 21km + 60km
WALK: 5km | 12km

Don't miss out on one of Western Australia's most spectacular endurance events. Check out the Wild Gravel Cycling & Running Event website for more information..

📸: Patrick Boere Photography

13/06/2025

🌸 JOIN US FOR BLOOM FESTIVAL 2025 🌸 The Great Southern Treasures Bloom Festival celebrates the renewal of Djilba (Spring).

As part of the month-long festival from 27 September — 26 October, events are hosted across the Shire of Katanning, Shire of Kojonup, Shire of Cranbrook,Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup, Shire of Kent, The Shire of Woodanilling, Shire of Jerramungup and Shire of Gnowangerup.

The Bloom Festival is an opportunity for regional towns in the Great Southern to showcase their communities and share the beauty of the wildflowers that “bloom”.

The official event program will be released in August. Watch this space! 🌺

More information can be found on the Bloom website: greatsoutherntreasures.com.au/bloom/

📸: Jenny Feast Photography
📍: Bloom Festival 2024 Launch Event, Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup

The 2025 Great Southern Treasures Bloom Festival is supported by Tourism Western Australia, Great Southern Development Commission, Regional Development Australia Great Southern WA, Southern Ports, Australia's South West and Rio Tinto.

12/06/2025

Katanning takes its name from the Aboriginal word Kartannin, meaning “big meeting place”, a title it still holds proudly today as the largest town in the Great Southern Treasures and home to over 40 nationalities.

Explore stunning contrasts in the landscape like salt lakes, golden canola fields, and heritage streetscapes that blend old with new. Discover the town’s rich agricultural roots at the largest undercover sheep sale yards in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy a farm tour, or camp under the stars.

Families will love the famous All Ages Playground, while food lovers and culture-seekers can immerse themselves in multicultural festivals that bring the community to life.

Did you know? Katanning is home to many WA firsts including the first electric street lights, first free public library, and first Roller Flour Mill.

📸: Image one: Touristthebus
📸: Image two: Shire of Katanning
📸: Image three: Base Imagery

Visit Katanning

09/06/2025

Cosy up at the foot of Bluff Knoll this winter.

Tucked beneath the peaks of the Stirling Range and just 90km north of Albany, Stirling Range Retreat offers the ultimate winter escape into nature.

Settle into a warm chalet or bring the caravan for a true winter retreat. Think misty mornings, crisp mountain air and crackling campfires in the communal fire pit.

Explore quiet hiking trails, spot native wildlife and take in the dramatic beauty of the Stirling Range in all its moody winter glory. Keep an eye out for rare birds and curious kangaroos as you wander.

📸: Annabel Claire
📍: Stirling Range Retreat, Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range National Park

06/06/2025

🌾 From rich heritage to wild coastlines, there’s no better time to discover the Shire of Jerramungup. 🐚

Jerramungup may be one of WA’s younger towns (est. 1953), but its pioneering spirit runs deep. Wander the Heritage Trail and uncover local treasures like the Old Powerhouse, War Service Office and the iconic ‘Root Pickers Hall’, a Town Hall built by hand from mallee root pickings.

Farming is the lifeblood of the region, with sheep, wool and grain production driving the local economy and don’t leave without tasting the famous freshwater crayfish, a local delicacy.

Just beyond town, the Fitzgerald River National Park, one of the largest and most biodiverse national parks in Australia, awaits. Explore its rare flora and dramatic landscapes, and if you're lucky, spot Southern Right Whales calving in the sheltered bays.

Over in Bremer Bay, nature takes centre stage. Think white sands, turquoise waters, and epic winter wildlife moments. 🐋🌊

📸: Image one and two: Native Dog Beach, Bremer Bay and Fitzgerald Biosphere Garden, Jerramungup - Touristthebus
📸: Image three and four: Fitzgerald River National Park - Base Imagery

01/06/2025

Happy WA Day from all of us in the Great Southern Treasures!

Today, we celebrate the incredible state we call home. From the rugged peaks of the Stirling Range to the rolling farmland, wildflower-filled fields, rich cultural heritage, and warm country hospitality that defines our region.

If you're exploring one of our charming towns, hiking a trail with panoramic views, tucking into local produce and wine, or simply soaking up the wide open spaces with friends and family, we hope you’re spending today doing what you love most about Western Australia.

👇 Let us know how you're celebrating WA Day in the comments and don’t forget to tag us in your Great Southern Treasures adventures.

📸: Touristthebus
📍: Mt Toolbrunup, Stirling Range National Park

30/05/2025

Just 3.5 hours from Perth and 1.5 from Albany, the Shire of Gnowangerup is home to open skies, agricultural heritage, Goreng Noongar culture and the awe-inspiring Stirling Range National Park. 🌾⛰️

Spanning over 5,000km², the Shire includes the towns of Gnowangerup, Ongerup and Borden.

Gnowangerup takes its name from the Noongar word Ngow meaning Malleefowl, and the land here still carries the memory of the Goreng people, evidenced by stone implements still found along the creeks.

Ongerup, meaning “place of the kangaroo”, was once a sandalwood cutting ground and later blossomed into a close-knit farming hub with the arrival of the railway in 1913. It was then that Ongerup and Borden both emerged as important rural hubs.

What to see while you’re here:

🐴 Horsepower Highway 📸: Annabel Claire
🪶 Gnowangerup Aboriginal Museum & Keeping Place 📸: Shire of Gnowangerup
🪺 Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre & Café
🌬 The Lily Dutch Windmill 📸: Heidi Mayes Photography
🥾 Take on one of the iconic hikes in Stirling Range National Park 📸: Heidi Mayes Photography

29/05/2025

🌸 Bloom Festival event registrations close tomorrow 🌸

If you live in the Great Southern Treasures and have been thinking of celebrating wildflower season during Spring by hosting an event in your community, this is your chance.

We’d love to hear from you. ✨ Simply head to our website greatsoutherntreasures.com.au/bloom/ or email [email protected]

📸 : Heidi Mayes Photography

25/05/2025

Welcome to one of Western Australia best-kept secrets: Frankland River. Home to rolling hills, rich farmlands, natural forests, world renowed wine and native wildflowers. 🌸

Wondering where to bunker down and nestle in for Winter? Consider Frankland River Retreat. Set on a picturesque 83-acre property, you’ll relish in the peace, quiet and tranquility.

Choose from a cosy cabin for two, modern chalet with ensuite for two, or country homestead for up to six. Guests have access to the whole property…including paddocks and fields, creeks and rivers.

While you're there, enjoy:
🪶 Birdwatching – with an abundance of native species
🍷 Local wines and produce from nearby vineyards like Alkoomi Wines.
🌿 Day trips to surrounding lakes and national parks
🌌 Astrophotography – with zero light pollution, the night skies are next level

There’s plenty to discover in the . Will we see you there?

📸 : Frankland River Retreat, Shire of Cranbrook

Address

Bremer Bay, Broomehill, Tambellup, Cranbrook, Frankland River, Gnowangerup, Stirling Range National Park, Katanning, Kojonup, Kent, Jerramungup
Woodanilling

Website

http://www.greatsoutherntreasures.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Great Southern Treasures posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Great Southern Treasures:

Shortcuts

Who we are

We are a local tourism group that covers 19 inland rural towns and communities of the upper Great Southern. There are many treasures to be discovered on the road less travelled. Our website has a full list of towns, attractions, events and accommodation if you are chasing more information: www.greatsoutherntreasures.com.au