Pinjarra: Riverside, heritage and experiences

Pinjarra offers a range of ways to explore: riverside trails and a kayak launch on the Murray River, parks and a zoo with interactive experiences, as well as the Edenvale Heritage Precinct. Other highlights include the Pinjarra Heritage Trail, local art and harness racing. Depending on your interests, your stay can focus more on outdoor activities, nature, history or events.

Exploring the Murray River

In the centre of Pinjarra is Murray River Square and Foreshore, a town square and riverside reserve with the Pinjarra Suspension Bridge. The area is suitable for family picnics and both formal and informal activities. There are cycling and walking trails along the banks of the Murray River, where you can also set off on a kayak trip upstream.

There are several ways to get active by the river: you can use the riverside trails on foot or by bike, or start a kayak trip upstream. If you’re planning a more relaxed outdoor visit, Murray River Square and Foreshore is also a place to enjoy a picnic. Water activities and time by the river are among the experiences that make Pinjarra distinctive.

Parks and wildlife experiences

Cantwell Park is a large park in the centre of Pinjarra. Its facilities include shaded play areas, picnic and barbecue areas, and outdoor exercise equipment. The park’s different areas serve a variety of purposes, combining play spaces with opportunities for a picnic or outdoor activities.

Ranger Red’s Zoo & Conservation Park offers the Junior Zookeeper for a Day program for animal lovers aged 8 to 16. Interactive experiences at the park include hand-feeding animals, holding a snake, petting a red-tailed phascogale and tickling a ferret. The program and animal encounters offer specific opportunities for anyone with a particular interest in animals.

Architecture and history at Edenvale

The Edenvale Heritage Precinct is a remnant of a 19th-century rural village. Historic architecture, gardens at the former residence, timber fences and barns shape the site. The precinct is associated with the McLarty family, a prominent pioneering family in Western Australia. Its offerings include museums, craft galleries, retail shops, historic archives and preserved historic buildings.

The precinct is also home to the Heritage Rose Garden, a public rose garden and the only garden of its kind in Western Australia. The Pinjarra Heritage Trail offers another way to explore the area’s history. Information boards line this easy 1.2-kilometre walking trail along Pinjarra’s main street, which passes historic buildings and places associated with the town’s early settlement.

Culture and local art

Pinjarra was one of the earliest areas of European settlement in Western Australia. At the same time, the Bilyidar Bindjareb Nyungars are recognised as the Traditional Owners of the land in Pinjarra. Their stories are shared through cultural festivals, performances and art. These cultural expressions add another perspective on the area, alongside its built heritage and historic sites.

At the Edenvale Heritage Precinct, Pinjarra Art Hub showcases locally made products in areas such as painting, glasswork, jewellery, ceramics, textiles and woodwork. It also runs creative workshops and training courses. The cultural offering ranges from exhibited works to opportunities to explore creative subjects.

Harness racing and planning your stay

Weekly harness racing events take place at Pinjarra Paceway. You can watch from the track or from the restaurant and bar at Paceway Pavilion. As race dates can change, check the specific date if you’d like to include a race in your travel plans.

Plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Meadow Springs, Kingston, Warmun, Porongurup, Derby, Woodanilling, Hillarys, Tom Price.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.