Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 08-9761 1034;
www.bridgetownhotel.com.au
; 157 Hampton St; r $165-265, mains $17-29; )
You don't
expect quirky pizzas (lime and tequila, lamb and tzatziki) or large modern bedrooms with
spa baths in an Australian country pub. A recent revamp has left this 1920s gem with
both.
Bridgetown Riverside Chalets
( 08-9761 1040;
www.bridgetownchalets.com.au
; 1338 Brockman Hwy; chalets from $125)
On a rural river-
side property, 5km up the road to Nannup, these four stand-alone wooden chalets (com-
plete with pot-bellied stoves and washing machines) sleep up to six in two bedrooms.
RENTAL HOUSE
$
ELVIS SIGHTED IN BOYUP BROOK
The pretty township of Boyup Brook (population 540), 31km northeast of Bridgetown, is the centre of country
music in WA. The fantastically over-the-top
Harvey Dickson's Country Music Centre
(
www.harveydickson.com.au
;
adult/child $8/2; 9am-5pm) comes complete with a life-sized Elvis and Johnny
Cash, an Elvis memorabilia room, and three 13.5m-tall guitar-playing men. It hosts regular rodeos (the big one's
in October) and big-name country-music events, as well as the
Boyup Brook Country Music Festival
(
www.countrymusicwa.com.au
)
in February. Scenic but basic
bush camping
(sites $8) is always available.
To combine country music with country critters, stay at
Nature's Guest House
(dm/cottages $20/80) . Book
through the
Department of Environment and Conservation
(DEC; 08-9776 1207; don-
nelly.district@dec.wa.gov.au) in Donnelly. It's located in the 520-sq-km Perup Forest. Wildlife includes rare
mammals such as the numbat, tammar wallaby and southern brown bandicoot. You'll find it south of Boyup
Brook, off the Boyup Brook Cranbrook Rd.
Nelsons of Bridgetown
( 08-9761 1645;
www.nelsonsofbridgetown.com.au
; 38 Hampton St; s $95-145, d $130-195; )
The
central location is great, but go for the spacious newer rooms built adjacent to the 1898
Federation-style hotel.
MOTEL
$$
The Cidery
(
www.thecidery.com.au
;
43 Gifford Rd; mains $10-25; 11am-4pm Sat-Thu, to 8pm Fri)
Craft beer, cider and
light lunches on outdoor tables by the river. On Friday nights from 5.30pm there's live
music.
CAFE
$
8
Information
Visitor Centre
(
08-9761 1740;
www.bridgetown.com.au
; 154 Hampton St;
9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm
)
Includes apple-harvesting memorabilia.
Sat, 10am-1pm Sun;
