scenic drives


Balingup - Nannup - Bridgetown - Balingup
Scenic Drive


The drive from Balingup to Nannup to Bridgetown and then return to Balingup
is a 113km round trip.

Begin at the corner of South Western Highway and Brockman Street, Balingup.  Follow the sign pointing to Nannup (Tourist Drive 251), turn into Brockman Street and go past the Post Office and Tavern onto the road to Nannup.  Here the road becomes the Balingup-Nannup Road.

This road is known as one of the most scenic drives in Western Australia.  The 41 km drive is sealed but narrow, and is very winding in places.  It follows the Balingup Brook and the Blackwood River past farmland, pine plantations and bushland.  On this road you will find the Old Cheese Factory craft centre, the Balingup Lavender Farm, Wright's Bridge picnic area, the Heritage Cheese Factory (where some fine cheeses are made), the Tathra Fruit Winery & Restaurant, and the Blackwood Valley Estate where the Hillbille range of wines is made.

Nannup is a timber town and has tours of the timber mill.  It also has an antique shop, woodcraft shop, gardens and a number of cafes and restaurants. 
Nannup is known for its Family Fun Week, Winter Games Week, Music Festival, Powerboat Cup, Open Gardens and Tulip and Garden Festivals.  If you have time, St John Brook Conservation Park, the Workman's Pool and Barrabup Pool
are 7 km out from Nannup.  The Nannup Tourist centre has details of local attractions. 

Leave Nannup and drive to Bridgetown via the Brockman Highway (Tourist Drive 252).  On this road you will see karri trees at Karri Gully and about 21 km from Nannup you will find the Bridgetown Jarrah park which has a picnic area and walktrails.  A further 25 km brings you to Bridgetown.

A stroll down Bridgetown's main street will find many craft shops, cafes, a bakery and a supermarket.  The Tourist centre houses a museum of local history.  Bridgetown is known for its Blackwood River Chamber Festival, Country Gardens, Blackwood Marathon, Classic power boat race and the Bridgetown Blues Festival.

Return to Balingup by driving north along the South Western Highway.  This is a very pleasant drive through the hills and you will pass pine plantations, farmland and some native forest.


Mud map
  back to top Scenic Drive top