Mount Barker: Trail, Views and History

Mount Barker: Trail, Views and History

Mount Barker can be explored through three distinct themes: the O’Neill Trail to Porongurup, Pwakkenbak with its registered Aboriginal heritage and panoramic views, and the Old Police Station Museum north of the destination. Together, they offer different starting points for planning your trip. The trail represents a connection between places and a choice of ways to get around; Pwakkenbak combines a cultural connection with views; and the museum brings a specific building history and historical collection materials into the picture. Consider whether you would like your stay to focus more on activity, landscape or history. This helps you tailor Mount Barker as a destination more closely to your own interests.

O’Neill Trail: between Mount Barker and Porongurup

The O’Neill Trail connects Mount Barker with Porongurup. It is suitable for walkers, cyclists—including e-bike riders—and horse riders. This makes your choice of transport an important part of planning your trip: you can consider whether you would like to experience the trail on foot, by bicycle—including an e-bike—or on horseback. If you are travelling with others, you can take different activity preferences into account without limiting the trail to a particular kind of holiday. Here, the focus is on the connection between places and the choice of how to get around.

Pwakkenbak: heritage and different views

Pwakkenbak combines a cultural connection with two distinct perspectives on the landscape. It is a registered Aboriginal heritage site and offers a 360-degree view across the landscape. From the path to the boardwalk, the view extends southwest to the coast. The panoramic view and the southwest-facing outlook appeal to different interests: you can choose a panorama in every direction or focus on the specific view towards the coast. This combination makes the site a highlight for travellers who want to include both landscape and registered heritage in their plans.

Old Police Station Museum: history north of Mount Barker

The Old Police Station Museum is located north of Mount Barker. The original Old Police Station was built in 1868 by convict labourers. Historical artefacts, information and images are spread across several buildings at the museum. The year it was built and the convict labour give the original building a specific historical context, while the exhibits spread across several buildings offer further historical perspectives. Those interested in history will find both a specific connection to the building and its era, and various types of historical material. This offers a different perspective from the landscape views at Pwakkenbak: here, you can make historical content a focus in its own right.

Choose a focus for your trip

If you are looking for a hotel in Mount Barker, you can base your accommodation choice on your main interest in the trip. Consider whether activity, landscape or historical content should shape your stay; this priority can help you focus the rest of your planning on one particular theme.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Eagle Bay, Chittering, Port Kennedy, Bow Bridge, Metricup, Kojonup, Kununurra, Jandakot.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.