Visit the Farmstay Country of WA
Blessed with diversity of landscape and environment, the Farmstay area is home to several of Western Australia's most popular natural attractions, like the amazing Wave Rock. The area to the east of the Darling Range is popular for farmstay holidays and offers a taste of country hospitality.
With its wide open spaces and scenic valleys, it offers visitors a chance to experience a unique country lifestyle that, from Perth, is just a drive away. From mid July to November, colourful wildflowers burst into bloom along the roadside and in the bush, while pastures glow yellow with blankets of canola.
This region's flora and fauna are abundant and just waiting to be discovered. A good place to see both is in the Dryandra Woodland (a short drive from Narrogin); covering 27,000 hectares (66,718 acres) the forest is home to more than 100 different species of birds as well as one of Western Australia's rarest mammals, the numbat. Night tours give visitors an up close view of rare bilbies and other endangered species. Explore walk trails, including an Aboriginal heritage route, or the 25 kilometre audio drive, stopping at picnic spots for views and bird watching.
If it's a 'bird's eye view' you are after, rather than the birds themselves, then this is the place to get it as you go "up, up and away in a beautiful balloon".
Prefer something closer to the ground? Then book yourself a farmstay. With some of Western Australia's richest farmlands located in this area... you are sure to find many to choose from.
From sheep country, head into the wheatfields of the east for a West Australian icon Wave Rock. Located near Hyden, this peculiar natural phenomenon, poised like a wave ready to break onto the sand, stands 15 metres high and is a must subject for any keen photographer. Less well known are the extraordinary rock formations north east of Mukinbudin. Elachbutting includes a wave feature, similar to Wave Rock, a walk-through cavern and a large cave with a whispering wall. Watch for majestic wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead.
Between these two areas is Merredin, a little town beautifully restored, right on the highway from Perth to Kalgoorlie.
Accessing the various features of the Farmstay region is easy. There is an extensive network of good roads along which sit many old country towns. These towns, with their heritage buildings, be they quaint or majestic, offer a glimpse of days gone by.
Dryandra Woodland
Dryandra Woodland less than two hours drive from Perth, is one of the most exciting wildlife tourism destinations in the south-west of Western Australia.
With over 100 bird species and 24 mammals, Dryandra offers visitors an excellent opportunity to observe some of the state's threatened and unique mammals.
Winding gravel roads allow visitors to view much of the open woodland scenery and experience the 25 kilometre "Sounds of Dryandra Woodland" radio drive trail, featuring six stops that transmit interesting stories about Dryandra.
Several tracks are available for walkers to marvel at the wildflowers and natural bushland.
Visitors can stay in the rustic cottages at the Lions Village, camp at Congelin Campground or experience farmstyle hospitality at a local farmstay. Guided spotlight tours of an animal viewing enclosure is available.
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