Day One: Wine and Dine
As you make your way south of Perth to the Harvey Region for your three-day adventure, start by stopping in at Vineyard 28, a boutique winery located in the beautiful Myalup State Forest. The vineyard is run by Italian grape pioneer power couple, Mark and Pippa, who are experienced wine enthusiasts. Being specialists in the Italian grape variety, they produce a range of wines including Pignoletto, Arneis, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo.
Embark on the A Taste of Italy tour, an immersive experience that takes you through their entire process. Start at the cellar door and hear how Mark and Pippa met and discovered a love of Italian grapes, before walking through the vineyard and learning how the fruit is grown in tuart sands and handpicked during harvest.
You will then be guided to the winery for a behind-the-scenes look at how the grapes become wines and then aged in barrels. Your tour concludes back at the cellar door where you’ll receive a guided wine tasting, accompanied by a perfectly paired grazing board loaded with fresh produce from local suppliers. Make sure to grab a bottle of your favourite drop from the unique selection.
Next, make your way into the town of Harvey where you can discover quaint boutiques on the main street. Continue the exploration of the region’s wines with a stop at GeoVino, a gourmet wine store and fully licensed venue located right in the heart of Harvey.
Enjoy wines and boutique beer from all over the south west, as well as a selection of delicious cocktails whipped up fresh, right in front of you. If you’re still feeling peckish, you can indulge in one of their charcuterie boards, or shop their range of chutneys, pates and crackers available to purchase.
Take a short drive up the road to Harvey Cheese and experience a tasting of some of their award-winning cheeses and butters. Family-owned and operated, Harvey Cheese proudly makes its cheese with fresh, creamy local milk. Peek through their viewing window to see the process of cheese making and packaging.
Adjacent to Harvey Cheese is St Dukes Distillery, which specialises in small-batch artisanal distilling, transforming whey – a natural by-product of cheese – into a unique range of award-winning spirits.
Indulge in a tasting of their selection of gins and take home a bottle to enjoy.
Recommendation: Lemon Myrtle Gin with a view
As you approach the late afternoon, you should have a perfect selection of local produce to take back and check into your accommodation. We recommend finding a comfy spot with stunning views, cracking open a bottle of local wine or gin and enjoying a perfect end to your first day in Harvey.
Day Two: Heritage and Culture
Begin your morning at the Harvey Interment Camp Memorial Shrine, which forms part of the Harvey Heritage Drive Trail, where you’ll find Australia’s last-standing roadside shrine. This State Heritage Listed site has recently been revitalised and remembers the Italians who were interned at Camp No. 11 Harvey in World War II. Take a moment to sit and reflect in the manicured gardens or explore the exhibits that tell the story of the Internment Camp and Shrine.
Afterwards, follow the Shrine Walk down to the Detention Cells 1942, a single-storey brick gaol, which continues the story of the Internment Camp and its history.
Amble over to the Stirling Cottage Gardens Precinct and enjoy a short stroll around the orange groves and beautiful cottage-style gardens. Learn about iconic Australian author of Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie, May Gibbs, and her time growing up in Harvey on the May Gibbs Walking Trail, which features excerpts and illustrations from some of her most well-known books.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head into Stirling Cottage Kitchen, which is a replica of the home that once housed Captain James Stirling. Enjoy freshly brewed coffee, homemade sweet treats or a light meal on the balcony overlooking the Harvey River – Coraigeca Bilya.
Recommendation: Scones with cream and jam with native herbal tea
Once you’re full, wander next door to the Boola Bidi Dreaming Centre, the home of Harvey’s Bindjareb Noongar culture. Peruse their curated selection of artwork, clothing, bush ingredients, books, homewares, giftwares, all made by Aboriginal artists and makers, before embarking on their artefact and tool-making workshop.
During this workshop, run by local custodians, you’ll explore how Noongar people crafted essential tools such as spears, axes and carrying vessels using natural materials sourced from the land. You’ll hear first-hand about the significance of these tools in everyday life and survival, and gain insight into the role of fire in both tool-making and Noongar cultural practices.
Participation in this workshop is much more than a craft activity, but an opportunity to deepen your understanding of one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world. Listening to stories shared by Elders, and trying your hand at traditional techniques, giving you a richer appreciation for how Noongar people lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years. This lived cultural context enhances all other experiences in the region and brings a deeper connection to the places you visit throughout your time in Harvey.
When your appetite has returned by dinner time, head five minutes south of Harvey to the town of Wokalup, where you’ll find the historic Wokalup Tavern, colloquially known as “The Woky”. Established in 1906, this is a truly unique country pub, filled with history and stories of the past. Painted on the side of the building is an iconic mural created by Western Australian street artist, Andrew Frazer, remembering the Mornington train tragedy that occurred nearby in 1920.
Behind the Tavern is Brugan Brewery, an independent brewery that takes pride in offering a ‘paddock-to-plate’ dining experience, brewing with the finest ingredients, including locally produced hops sourced directly from local farmers. Named after owners Bruce and Megan, Brugan embraces a sustainable cycle, sending kitchen scraps to a local farm to be enjoyed by the farm’s animals.
Sit in the outdoor beer garden, enjoy the sunset views over the neighbouring paddocks and savour beloved pub classics with ingredients supplied by local farmers and businesses. If you’re lucky, you may catch a live music event to elevate your evening.
Recommendation: Harvey Beef Cheek Rendang
Day Three: Hidden Gems
Today is all about exploration and adventure, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes!
Start the morning in town and enjoy breakfast at a local café. The Curious Cockatoo is loved by locals and pays homage to the chirpiest Harvey resident, the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. The café provides a friendly atmosphere with plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces catering to all weather types.
Along with delicious breakfast menu items, they also serve up tasty homemade treats and barista-made coffee.
If you’re interested in a short but powerful hike, head to Wildflower Ridge Walk. This 1.4km round-trip hike offers 360 degrees of breath-taking views, from Harvey Dam, all the way to the ocean.
If you’re lucky enough to walk this trail during wildflower season, the ridge is bursting with colour and there’s a picnic site at the trail head, which is a perfect stop to take in the views.
If you’re up for a bit more of a challenge and eager to learn some local history, walk the Harvey Hike Trail. This 4km one-way hike connects 10 historical markers along a journey from the Harvey Railway Station Precinct to the Harvey Dam, telling the story of Harvey’s rich heritage.
The path follows in the footsteps of a designated trail established in the 1930’s by the Rail Department. In an attempt to increase passenger use of WA trains into the regions, passengers walked from the Harvey Railway Station to the Little Weir and then to Harvey Dam.
When you arrive at Harvey Dam, sit and enjoy a packed lunch at Gibbs Pool or for an elevated experience, organise Picnic Cheer to set-out lunch for you on your arrival to the top. Explore the manicured gardens and outdoor amphitheatre or walk the Dick Lofthouse Rotary Walk, which takes you up to the dam wall, with unmatched views of Harvey Dam.
If you’re after a more high-octane adventure, head to Logue Brook Dam- Lake Brockman for wake-boarding, supping and more. Or, hit the Munda Biddi on your gravel bike.
Once you’ve made your way back down the hill to town, hop in the car and head to Harvey River Estate, a family-owned winery set on the banks of the Harvey River. Surrounded by orange groves, this is home to Harvey’s famous Big Orange.
The estate is owned by the Sorgiovanni family, who hold long-standing significance in the South West’s agricultural industry, with their original farm dating back to the early 1900s. As their farm grew, their business diversified to include sheep and cattle and the production of milk and orange juice under the Harvey Fresh label.
From there, they evolved their offering to include a winery business under the Harvey River Estate label in 1999, with their first commercial vintage produced in 2000.
Wander through their cellar door and taste award-winning wines or some fresh juice from their label, 3rd Street Farm. Then head outside and climb the Big Orange, which sits atop a 10-metre tower. Inside, check out the view platform and discover more Harvey history.
Before your stay in Harvey comes to an end, set out for a late lunch at Old Coast Road Brewery, a favourite of many locals and visitors. Conveniently located off Forrest Highway, this is a great stop when travelling through the Region.
Enjoy a delicious lunch paired with your choice of craft beers, ciders or artisan spirits, in the venue’s beer garden overlooking a lush green olive grove.
If you’re up for a bit of friendly competition, they also have an 18-hole Wonders of Western Australia mini-golf course featuring replicas of the state’s many iconic destinations.
As you head back home after some time in the Harvey Region, you’ll leave with more than just beautiful pictures and full tummies, but you’ll take with you a deeper connection to this pocket of the South West.
From the lush landscapes, welcoming breweries and wineries, local produce, and stories and traditions shared by the Bindjareb Noongar community, this experience invites you to slow down and discover the Harvey Region your way.
