Things to do in Dongara, WA: Best attractions and activities

The best things to do in Dongara, Western Australia, including the Dongara Heritage Trail, the riverside walk from the Irwin River Lookout and watching the sunset at Seaspray Beach.

Dongara, Western Australia, is primarily a fishing town on the drive from Jurien Bay to Geraldton. But it doubles quite handily as a charming beach holiday destination.

Top Dongara experiences include a history and local produce walking tour, plus a behind-the-scenes tour at the Illegal Tender Rum Distillery.

Book your Dongara accommodation for from $107 a night.

Dongara and Port Denison are theoretically separate towns, but they join together as one slightly awkward conurbation. Port Denison is best known for its surfing at South Beach, while Dongara is known for its rock lobster fishing. Hence the Big Rock Lobster – one of Australia’s delightfully silly Big Things – on the drive in.

Things to do in Dongara, WA: Dongara Heritage Trail

One of the best things to do in Dongara, Western Australia, is the Dongara Heritage Trail. This links together more than a dozen sites of historic interest and can be completed as a self-guided tour in about an hour.

These heritage sites include Russ Cottage, a workers’ home dating back to 1868, and the Irwin District Museum. This Dongara museum offers fairly standard local history fare, but the section on the rabbit invasion of Australia is good fun.

Russ Cottage in Dongara is one possible journey-breaking stop on the drive from Jurien Bay to Geraldton — Russ Cottage in Dongara, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

Things to do in Dongara, WA: Thungara Trails

However, Dongara is best experienced outdoors, especially if you throw yourself at the Thungara Trails. This six-strong network of walking trails combines most of the natural highlights in the Dongara area.

These Dongara walks range from 2.7km to 9km in length, but Thungara Trail 3 is the crowd-pleaser.

Irwin River Lookout and Seaspray Beach

This 4.6km loop walk starts at the Irwin River Lookout on Church Street, from where you get marvellous views of Port Denison and the Indian Ocean. The trail then largely sticks to the river, and offers plenty of opportunities for spotting native birdlife.

But the main Dongara attraction is Seaspray Beach. There tends to be pretty good surf here, and in the evening, Seaspray Beach provides some magnificent sunsets.

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