What are the best things to do in Pinjarra, Western Australia?

The best things to do in Pinjarra are the Peel Zoo and Edenvale Heritage Precinct. The Pinjarra races, Pinjarra Golf Club and Pinjarra Bakery may also appeal.

Pinjarra is not the most immediately appealing town in Western Australia. An alumina refinery and bauxite mine don’t tend to pull in the tourist crowds. But it’s a Western Australian town that many will pass through on the South-Western Highway or Australind train towards Bunbury.

Pinjarra is in the Peel region between Perth and Bunbury, fairly close to the considerably larger urban centre of Mandurah. The Murray River (the Western Australian one, not the longest river in Australia) also passes through Pinjarra. That, however, is best enjoyed in the Lane Poole Reserve near Dwellingup further south. Dwellingup is where you catch trains on the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway that runs towards Pinjarra and was formerly based in the town.

The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway near Pinjara, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

What to do in Pinjarra, WA: Peel Zoo

There are two strong tourist attractions in Pinjarra, however: The Peel Zoo and the Edenvale Heritage Precinct.

The Peel Zoo is the most popular thing to do in Pinjarra, and it was rebranded in 2020. It’s now officially Ranger Red’s Zoo and Conservation Park. Don’t expect anything like the spectacle of Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast or the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. But if you just want to see some Australian wildlife, it’ll do. This is a wildlife park along the lines of Urimbirra Wildlife Park on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, the Ballarat Wildlife Park in Victoria and Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas in Queensland. Ranger Red’s Zoo and Conservation Park also offers encounters with koalas, gliders and dingoes.

Things to do in Pinjarra: Edenvale Heritage Precinct

The other major Pinjarra tourist attraction is the Edenvale Heritage Precinct. The centrepiece of the Edenvale Heritage Precinct is the historic home once owned by WA Premier Sir Ross McLarty. But the appeal lies in the collection of businesses, buildings and attractions around it.

Stop for something to eat at the Edenvale Tea Rooms, stroll through the heritage rose garden, and browse the Liveringa Art Gallery. Also in the precinct are the Roger May Machinery Museum and St John’s Church, one of the oldest churches in Western Australia.

Pinjarra Golf Club and Pinjarra races

Other things to do in Pinjarra include a round of golf at the Pinjarra Golf Club, or a day at the Pinjarra races. The Mandurah Cup is held at the Pinjarra Park racecourse in December. There are other events at the Pinjarra races throughout the year, however.

The final item on the list of things to do in Pinjarra is a pie pilgrimage. The Pinjarra Bakery’s pies have become so well-regarded, the bakery has opened branches elsewhere in the region. You can also try Port Kennedy, Waroona and Maddington, but the originals are from Pinjarra. The Pinjarra Bakery’s menu includes a red wine and garlic beef pie, plus a satay chicken and vegetable effort.

Pinjarra accommodation options include the historic cottages of Fairbridge Village and the Pinjarra Resort, which has an outdoor pool.

Attractions near Pinjarra, WA

Ultimately, Pinjarra suffers from being neither here nor there. If you want the coast, Rockingham has the penguin tours and Bunbury has the Koombana Bay dolphin cruises. If you want the Perth Hills, then stick around Serpentine Falls in the Serpentine National Park to the north near Jarrahdale. And, if you want the forest walks of the Peel Region, then Dwellingup or Lake Navarino are better bases on the drive from Perth to Bunbury.

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Peel things to do Western Australia