Balingup: Walking Trails, History and a Medieval Festival

Balingup brings together trails through town, festival culture and visible reminders of its history. The Bibbulmun Track runs through Balingup; every August, the Balingup Medieval Carnivale transforms the historic village into a medieval kingdom. There are also walking trails of varying lengths and an arboretum nearby. This lets you combine active outings with time to explore the town and its culture.

Walking trails, from a town loop to a longer hike

The nearby Golden Valley Tree Park is home to the largest arboretum in the state of Western Australia. The easy Oak Grove Walk is a 1.5-kilometre loop through the park. In Balingup itself, the Birdwood Park Oaks Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre walking trail. The Kondil Park Walk is 1.2 kilometres long and goes through town; the Balingup Brook Walk is 1.5 kilometres long. These distances provide a practical basis for planning walks to suit the amount of time you want to spend.

For a longer hike, the Balingup-Grimwade Rd Walk Trail starts in Balingup. The route is 13 kilometres long and takes approximately three hours. This makes it quite different from the shorter named walks: you can set aside a larger part of the day for a hike. The Bibbulmun Track, which runs through Balingup, offers another way to connect the town with a well-known long-distance walking route.

History in the townscape

The Balingup Heritage Display is located in the town centre, in an old apple packing shed. The Balingup Heritage Exhibition offers a glimpse into the town’s early history, with static and themed displays about working and social life. The Balingup Avenue of Honour provides another form of commemoration: it remembers those who lost their lives in the First World War. Their names are engraved on plaques at the foot of the trees.

A visit to town can also take in art galleries, antique and other boutique shops, and numerous cafés. You can pair a look at the local history with time in town, whether you explore the exhibitions and memorial or browse the galleries and shops. The Balingup Visitor Centre provides information about local attractions, events and tours.

Events and day trips

At the Balingup Medieval Carnivale, the historic village is transformed into a medieval kingdom every August. Telling Tales in Balingup is scheduled for the middle weekend of the Australian July school holidays; check the specific dates before travelling. The first event was held in July 2010, after which it was decided to hold it annually. The Balingup Ghost Walk is an interactive, two-kilometre walk about the town’s pioneers. Check before travelling whether this experience is currently available.

The Balingup Golf Club is also nearby. Its course has nine holes and sand greens. Further afield in the region, the Blackwood River Tourist Drive passes through landscapes with historic attractions, good fishing spots and appealing picnic areas. These destinations broaden your view of Balingup to include the surrounding region, while complementing rather than replacing the trails and experiences in town.

Choose the right base

When looking for accommodation in Balingup, use your plans for the day as a guide: do you mainly want to explore the town centre, with its history, shops and cafés, or are walking trails and a longer hike your priority? The named walks range from 1.2 to 2.2 kilometres; by contrast, the Balingup-Grimwade Rd Walk Trail is 13 kilometres and takes approximately three hours. This difference can help you gauge the pace you want for your stay and look for a suitable base for your plans.

Explore more destinations: Cervantes, North Beach, Scotsdale, Wyndham, Kings Park, Rosa Glen, Torbay, Rocky Gully.

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