Sitting at the foot of WA’s spectacular Darling Range, the country town of Waroona promises grey nomads a warm welcome, plenty of great camping options, and a swathe of man-made and natural attractions to enjoy.
Located on the South Western Highway between Harvey and Pinjarra and, about 110 kilometres south of Perth, Waroona – which was originally known as Drakesbrook – was first settled by Europeans in the 1830s.
It really kicked into life though once the Pinjarra to Picton railway line opened in 1893.
Before long, it had a booming timber mill, as well as schools, a post office, a general store, a blacksmiths and, of course, churches.
Waroona Dam offers a huge range of recreational opportunities. PIC: Tourism Western Australia
Today, the local shire says the economy of the town – which has a fast-growing population of around 4,000 – is reliant on agriculture, bauxite mining and tourism.
A fun way to explore is to take the Waroona Heritage Trail – which can be walked or driven – and consists of 15 artistic bollards which offer information about some of the town’s historic buildings and sites. One of the most impressive of those is the brick-and-stone Memorial Hall, which opened in 1934 and used to regularly show movies up until the late 1960s.
Maps to this and other trails can be found at the Waroona Visitor Centre, which also houses an art and craft gallery. Outside the visitor centre is Mooriel the Cow, a life-sized statue which is ‘dressed’ in an ever-changing wardrobe. The famous fibreglass bovine made headlines in 2023 when it disappeared for four days. Police eventually tracked Mooriel down to a Perth suburb.
Elsewhere in town, there are antique shops, interesting little stores, and plenty of places to eat and drink.
Well worth a visit is the historic village of Hamel, just a few minutes to the south, and there are also several decent wineries nearby.
Popular local annual events include the All Australian Car Day in April, and the Waroona Agricultural Show in October.
And, if all that’s not enough, Waroona also has some magnificent natural attractions and recreational opportunities on its doorstep. Top of the heap in this regard is the 145-hectare Lake Navarino (Waroona Dam) 10 minutes to the east, which is a popular place for walking, birdwatching, picnicking, and a whole range of water activities … including fishing for trout, perch and marron. Lakeside camping is not permitted, although there is a caravan park here.
Even closer to town is Drakesbrook Weir, which was constructed in 1932 to provide water for irrigation and is now a popular recreation area with a stunning hilly backdrop.
Again, there are some nice bush walks here, and it’s another great place to picnic and to throw in a line. About half an hour east of Waroona is Lane Poole Reserve, consisting of more than 50,000 acres and boasting stunning waterways, great hiking trails, fantastic lookouts, and several excellent camping areas.
And half an hour west from Waroona is Yalgorup National Park, Lake Clifton and its ancient thrombolite reef … and magnificent Preston Beach.
As well as three caravan parks, the Shire of Waroona Shire – which famously stretches from ‘sea to scarp’ – also offers a dump point and three free short-term RV stops – including one at the showgrounds.
What’s not to love?
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