Check out this itinerary for your visit to Denmark, WA. From beaches and books to art and alpacas, this itinerary has everything you need for your trip down south.
Not to be confused with the nation of Denmark, Denmark, WA, is located on the south west coast of Australia. If you’re planning a visit to Denmark, WA, save time and stress by checking out this list of places to visit, including attractions like the sweet-as-pie kangaroo above to all the stops for the sweet tooth in the family.
Where is Denmark, Western Australia?
Denmark is located on the south coast of Western Australia, about five hours south of Perth. It’s a small town of about 2500 and a place that many people pass through on their way to Albany or on their lap around Australia. It’s also a beautiful location for a relaxing getaway.
If you’re travelling down from Perth, there’s a few ways to get to Denmark. You can either go via Bunbury and the South West and South Coast highways, or head down Albany Highway all the way to Mount Barker, where you can turn off the highway and head towards Denmark. Out of those two choices, Albany Highway is the more direct route. This itinerary will take you via Albany Highway on the way down, and back to Perth via the South West Highway. Google Maps also suggests going via Collie and Boyup Brook, but I’ve never tried that route before — if you have, let us know if you’d recommend it!
When to visit Denmark, Western Australia
Denmark, WA, is a place to unwind, a place to stretch your legs and revel in the crisp, fresh air. Anytime is a great time to visit the south west of WA, but Denmark arguably offers its most stunning weather in spring and summer, and with pristine beaches, it’s no wonder! If you’re visiting in winter, be sure to plan ahead to check for seasonal closures, and to swap your togs for a scarf, coat and beanie. If you’re visiting in warmer weather, throw in a few extra hours or days to chill out on the beach. Spring can still be a bit chilly down in Denmark, so don’t forget some warm clothes for cooler weather.
Visit Denmark, WA: Here’s your 4-day itinerary
Day 1: Driving from Perth to Denmark
Pack the Esky, load the boot and get ready to soak up the views on the drive down to Denmark. With the WA wildflowers in full bloom, there’ll be plenty of oohs and ahhs along the way. A five-hour drive south-east of Perth, head down Albany Highway and make your first stop at The Williams Woolshed. Stop for homemade pies, muffins, french toast, fish and chips, barista-made coffee and kombucha; with space for the kids to run around and slide in a bit of learning at the Shearers Yarn Museum. Browse the speciality stores where you’ll find a wide array of giftware, clothing, Ugg boots, preserves, chocolates, toys and jewellery.
An hour and a half down the road, you’ll find Kojonup. With an eclectic mix of stores, park up on the main road or down at the Kojonup Visitors Centre – The Kodja Place. If you weren’t quite hungry in Williams, Kojonup’s Black Cockatoo Cafe cooks up a mean burger and quality fish and chips for the little ones. Visit the Kodj Gallery and Storyplace for a small fee or for a gold coin donation you can take a stroll around the Australian Rose Maze and explore Yoondi’s Mia where the little ones will find two mia, bush shelters used by traditional Noongars.
As you approach Mt Barker, turn right onto Muir Highway and left onto Denmark-Mount Barker Road and right onto the South Coast Highway. Before you check in, take a short detour up to Rockcliffe Winery and Gelateria. Not only does Rockcliffe offer premium wine, but they also offer artisan gelato with a remarkably smooth texture. Rockcliffe’s owner, Stephen Hall, trained in Italy under master artisan gelato maker, Massimo Conti and award-winning gelato maker, Antonello Adamo. This is not a stop to be missed.
On rare occasions, you may be lucky enough to indulge in Hall’s unique creations such as stracciatella and a delicious date and halva flavour, whilst any day, you can savour creamy vanilla, mango sorbet, honey ginger, strawberry, raspberry, pistachio and bacio, a hazelnut and chocolate gelato. The honey ginger is sweetened with local honey and includes real ginger, which Hall says is a real labour of love. Strawberry and pistachio are a favourite among many, and Steve recommends a scoop of raspberry and chocolate. You can have a taste of Italy, right here in Denmark, WA.
With its undulating and coastal landscape, Denmark offers a diverse mix of accommodation options. If you have little ones or teenagers, consider Big4 Denmark Ocean Beach, located a short walk away from Ocean Beach and Wilson Inlet. The holiday park offers plenty of sites for camping and caravans, as well as deluxe cabins overlooking the wetland, playground and jumping pillow. Bring a basketball or tennis racket and hire pedal cars to zoom around the park. Denmark Supa IGA is the perfect spot to pick up gourmet food for an easy dinner on the veranda or by the fireplace.
The South West of WA is a biodiversity hotspot, so expect to see plenty of kangaroos, as well as kookaburras, possums, bandicoots, goannas, pelicans, lorikeets, rosellas, blue wrens and ducks, and at night, fall asleep to a symphony of frogs.
Day 2: Beach, burgers and baby animals
The mornings are stunning in Denmark – consider a morning walk at Ocean Beach, or wandering to Lions Lookout, McGeary’s Rock, and Black Hole Rock, where you might even spot seals riding the waves to shore.
Keep your breakfast light because Denmark’s got the goods. First stop: Bartholomews Meadery. Head west along the South Coast Highway, where you’ll find a quaint, bee-like cottage nestled in the forest. Indulge in tasting pure, unprocessed honey and varieties of mead before savouring Bartholomews’ ice cream, sugar-free and naturally sweetened with honey.
Continue west and stop at Jassi Leatherworks to browse quality, handmade ugg boots, toys and sheepskin products. Just a stone’s throw away, you’ll find the Denmark Good Food Factory, where you could stay an hour or more. Let the kids run loose playing soccer golf, which is complete with a larger-than-life spider and quidditch-style hoop. There’s also a cubby and slide for the smaller ones and resident peacocks. Now for the serious stuff: all the food. Denmark Good Food Factory is home to cider, toffee and sauces, all made on-site, led by husband and wife team, Jon and Gill Atkinson.
They arguably offer the best burgers in Denmark and Denmark’s biggest ice cream. Made in-house, flavours for your inner child include mango, Maltesers, salted macadamia coffee, strawberry, passionfruit, chocolate, mixed berry, nutty brittle, lemon sorbet, vanilla, coconut and banana, cookies and cream and nutty brittle, flavoured with chilli for ironically, just the right amount of warmth. Jon introduces new flavours regularly, with fresh fruit depending on the season, including nectarine, peaches and figs.
Head back east and left onto McLeod Road. Depending on what day it is, you may be lucky enough to visit Inner Vision Studio where you can pick up art and jewellery crafted with polymer clay.
Further north on Scotsdale Road, spend an hour or two at Denmark Animal Farm and Pentland Alpaca Stud. The farm offers a leisurely stroll under the trees, where you can enter many of the enclosures and get up close and personal with joeys, alpacas, camels, goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs and more. Pick up a bag of animal food at the front desk to feed the animals and at 3 pm, join in the fun of bottle-feeding the baby goats, calves and lambs.
As you head back into town, stop at Denmark Chocolate Company and savour handmade chocolates, local wine, beers and liqueurs and of course, a delectable hot chocolate. Hidden amongst the hills, take a deep breath and relax as you walk through their cottage garden complete with rambling vines and flowers in bloom.
Lastly, jump back on the South Coast Highway and head back west about 3km and turn left at William Bay Road. This will take you to the famous William Bay National Park, home of Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks. It’s one of the most photographed locations in Denmark, WA, and was redeveloped not too long ago, with improved parking and amenities.
Day 3: Art, books and brews
Drive or walk around town to the Michael Cartwright Gallery, Old Butter Factory Galleries and the Riverfront Gallery. Located right next to IGA Express on Horsley Road, The Riverfront Gallery is home to local artists, including Sarah Bondini, Margaret Dowdell, Alison Clarke, Claudia Hart and more, hosting a collection of paintings, water colours, jewellery, pottery, scarves, gifts and homewares.
Continue next door to Tea House Books which is everything you’d expect from a small-town bookstore, complete with coffee and leather lounges for you and toys to keep the little ones busy.
Located next door to the bookstore, Paw Print Chocolates captures the essence of Denmark.
Chocolatier, Kelly Howard draws upon sustainably sourced products to create handcrafted chocolates reminiscent of WA’s Denmark region, including Karri Bark. Selected flavours are ready for tastings, such as Finger Lime and Coconut, Kakadu Plum and Cranberry, Old Time Ginger, Quandong and Cranberry, Lilly Pilly and Pear, Forest Floor and Peppermint Tangle (taste them allll!).
Around the corner, you’ll find Darkside Chocolates on the South Coast Highway. Previously a winemaker, John Wade crafts delectable chocolates with flavours such as aniseed myrtle, roasted wattleseed, native pepper pots and kalamansi butter caramel.
Now, if you’re feeling ready for lunch, head east to Boston Brewing Co. where the food is as sensational as they say. With indoor seating by the fire, outdoor seating among the vineyards and complete with a playground, this is one stop you won’t be rushing.
Finish off the day with a sunset at Lights Beach, just east of William Bay National Park. A breathtaking location, Lights Beach boasts not only untamed surf but also pristine, sheltered coves, perfect for exploring, fishing, or simply watching the sun go down.
Day 4: Cheese, trees and all the sweets
Start with a late brekkie: head up to Ducketts Mill Wines and Denmark Farmhouse Cheese for gourmet toasties. Roll up the tree-lined driveway and through the double doors and you’ll find handmade cheese in abundance, preserves and fudge, cured meats, wine, chocolates, nougat, gourmet crackers and if you’re lucky, artisan bread – everything you need for a gourmet platter. Fill up that Eski! All nougats, jams, chutneys and cheese are made on site, boasting over fifteen varieties of feta, varieties of cheddar, gouda, havarti, swiss, with their most popular being chilli triple cream camembert and green peppercorn triple cream camembert.
After your Mouse Trap toastie or Cara’s Reuben, feast your eyes upon their in-house gelato, cakes and cheesecakes including gluten-free options. Duckett’s gelato is made in-house; chocolate devotees can revel in a choice of six flavours, including chocolate, choc licorice, choc blood orange, chocolate rum and raisin, choc mint and choc vanilla swirl. Additional flavours include neapolitan, apricot and passionfruit, vanilla and raspberry, vanilla and blueberry, vanilla, salted caramel, coffee, pistachio, custard and cream and unicorn, bubblegum and sky-blue caramel. Must. Stop. Here.
As you head home via Bunbury, make a stop at the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, not far from Walpole. Pram-friendly and wheelchair accessible, enjoy a peaceful walk through the 40-metre high canopy and afterwards, take a stroll along the Ancient Empire Walk. The majestic tingle trees are unique to Western Australia’s southwest, and can’t be found anywhere else in Australia.
Next stop on the South-Western Highway is Manjimup, an hour and a half from the Tree Top Walk. The perfect place to burn off some energy, Manjimup’s Heritage Park features an adventure park complete with a flying fox, a 17metre high slide, toddler play area, visitors centre, historical exhibitions and the delicious PARK cafe.
A short thirty-minute drive away is Bridgetown, a beautiful river-side town offering galleries, diverse retailers, scrumptious bagels at FATS and of course, the Ooh La Lollipop shop. Click here for more ideas on what to do in Bridgetown.
Lastly, the kids will love you for stopping in Donnybrook where they can run wild at the Apple FunPark.
Opening days and times will vary, so be sure to check attraction websites for more information. Enjoy your trip!
You might also be interested in my article about Peter Rabbit Cottage in Bridgetown, WA.
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