A local’s guide to Dwellingup

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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Let a local show you around their town for an insider’s guide to all the best bits of Dwellingup.

In 2001, Peter and Monique Tippett made a tree change from the northern Perth suburbs with their two young kids. Settling in Dwellingup in the Darling Ranges to train as fine furniture designers/makers, they never looked back. Fast forward to 2017, when they bought a rundown commercial/residential building on the town’s main street. Casting an artistic eye (Monique is also a visual and sculptural artist), they transformed it into Lost Eden Creative: an art gallery, artist residency and bespoke short-stay accommodation, Gallery House.

Lost Eden Creatives Gallery House Interiors, Dwellingup, WA, Australia
Have a relaxing stay at Lost Eden Creative’s Gallery House. (Image: Lost Eden Creative)

Showcasing a mix of established and emerging artists in curated monthly exhibitions, the dynamic exhibition space has become a focal point in the WA art scene. And as for the kids? You’ll find Pete and Mon’s daughter, Ebony, in the site’s side garden at Garden Eats, a food van in a horse float that serves up fresh vegan dishes and the best coffee in town. Here, they show us around town.

All about Dwellingup

Where exactly:

‘Where trails meet’, Dwellingup is a 90-minute drive south of Perth in the Murray River region of Western Australia and one of the nine towns the long-distance Bibbulmun Track passes through.

Population:

Approximately 400.

Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup, West Australia, Australia
Go on canoe adventures on the Murray River. (Image: Chad Gerber)

What’s it all about?

A charming old timber town flanked by forests of majestic jarrah trees, Dwellingup makes for a weekend country break ripe with outdoor adventures, heritage excursions, fresh local produce and nature-inspired creativity. Claiming the title of Western Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town in the 2021 GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards, its allures are many: head to the 55,000-hectare Lane Poole Reserve for bushwalks and mountain bike trails through forested valleys and canoe adventures on the Murray River (‘dwellingupp’ is a Noongar word meaning ‘place near water’). And take a scenic trip back in time with the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway on one of three historical trains that run along former timber-industry tracks, before sampling the fruits of local orchards, checking out galleries and soaking in some country hospitality.

Mountain biking through the forest trails of Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup, WA, Australia
Ride a mountain bike through forested valleys. (Image: Tourism WA)

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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Pete & Mon’s Perfect Itinerary:

8:30 am – Garden leave

Rise and shine at Gallery House in the centre of town. Step out the door and grab a coffee at Garden Eats in the gallery garden.

Lost Eden Creative, Garden Eats, Outside Dining, Dwellingup, WA, Australia
Try fresh vegan dishes at Garden Eats. (Image: Lost Eden Creative)

9:00 am – Get pumped

Take a stroll through town and drop into Dwellingup Silver to browse its jewellery inspired by nature on your way to the new Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre. Let the kids loose on the bicycle pump track while you have a bite of brekkie at Waypoints Cafe.

10:00 am – Into the Forest

Hire a canoe or a mountain bike at Dwellingup Adventures next to the info centre and head down to Lane Poole Reserve and breathe in the forest air on the Murray River or get your heart racing on the world-class Murray Valley downhill trails; there’s one for everyone.

Canoeing the Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup, WA, Australia
Hire a canoe and explore the iconic Lane Poole Reserve. (Image: Tourism WA)

12:30 pm – Gallery Graze

Back in Dwellingup, and via a stop at Crossroads Gallery, fuel up and feel good at Garden Eats beside the Lost Eden Creative Art Gallery. Ebony at Garden Eats will serve you the tastiest and healthiest food in town from her cute, refurbished horse float. Then exercise your mind in the gallery space, which holds monthly exhibitions by established and emerging contemporary West Australian artists.

Ebony at Garden Eats, Lost Eden Creative, Dwellingup, WA, Australia
Ebony at Garden Eats will serve you the tastiest and healthiest food in town. (Image: Lost Eden Creative)

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2:00 pm – All Aboard

Take a trip on the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway’s Steam Ranger, a two-hour journey through the forested hills outside Dwellingup.

Tourist Railway's Steam Ranger, Dwellingup, WA, Australia
Take a trip on the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway’s Steam Ranger.

4:00 pm – Cider and sunset

Head to Wine Tree Cidery on Holyoake Road. Enjoy a cheese board and farm-made cider on the timber verandah overlooking the orchard as the sun gets ready to set.

4pm drinks with friends, Wine Tree Cidery, Dwellingup, WA, Australia
Enjoy a cheese board and farm-made cider with friends. (Image: Chad Gerber)

6:00 pm – Country hospitality

It’s the Dwellingup Hotel for dinner. Relax in the cosy country pub atmosphere. Meet some locals and/or fellow visitors to town. You better be hungry; the meals are hearty and generous.

8:00 pm – Day’s end

A minute’s stroll from the pub and you’re back at Gallery House. The outside fire pit deck is perfect for toasting marshmallows while talking about the day and planning for tomorrow, and all the things you didn’t get to do on this one fine day.

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Why this luxurious Broome resort is the ultimate stay

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
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    With its prime position on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, lush tropical surrounds and exceptional dining, wellness and leisure experiences, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa is the perfect base for exploring the spectacular Kimberley region.

    For many travellers, Broome is the gateway to the wild grandeur of the Kimberley – a launch point for epic 4WD journeys along the legendary Gibb River Road, rugged outback tours and expedition cruises tracing the remote coastline. Whether you’re arriving dust-covered from the red dirt or preparing to venture deep into the region’s untamed landscapes, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa offers the perfect place to begin or end the adventure. The only fully integrated resort in Broome, the property unfolds along meandering pathways that wind through lush tropical gardens, past tranquil lily ponds and hand-carved timber sculptures that subtly guide guests towards reception.

    Location

    camel ride along cable beach broome
    Let friendly staff help you book a camel ride on Cable Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA/ Matt Deakin)

    Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa lies just steps from the famed Cable Beach, where the silhouettes of camels crossing the shoreline at sunset have become one of Australia’s most enduring tourism images. The only beachfront resort in Broome, it’s also just a few minutes’ drive to the centre of town, where guests can wander through Chinatown and peruse its pearl stores and galleries or catch a movie beneath the stars at the heritage-listed Sun Pictures.

    The friendly team at the resort’s tour desk can also help tailor your stay, whether that’s an iconic camel ride along the beach, a visit to Willie Creek Pearl Farm to discover how the gems are harvested or a guided tour to see the ancient dinosaur footprints revealed among the rust-red rocks of Gantheaume Point at low tide.

    Style and character

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome lobby
    Walk into an eclectic blend of influences and eras.

    Few resorts capture the essence of their surroundings quite like Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa. First opened in 1988, the resort is a celebration of Broome’s rich multicultural past, from its Japanese pearl divers to Chinese merchants. The result is an eclectic blend of influences and eras. The resort features wide timber verandahs, corrugated iron walls and tin roofs designed to temper the tropical climate. To keep it breezy, Broome’s signature lattice (a distinct painted timber lattice detailing iconic to the tropical architecture of the Kimberley region) has been used across the resort with two functions – allowing a breeze through while maintaining privacy.

    Scattered throughout the manicured gardens is an impressive collection of rare Asian and international artefacts. Chinese bluestone lions stand sentinel at the entrance, while terracotta warrior horses, vermillion Japanese torii gates and traditional Shishi (lion-dog) statues lend an air of quiet grandeur. Fragrant with frangipani blossoms and shaded by century-old boab and mango trees, the grounds are also a haven for native wildlife. Birds provide a constant soundtrack, while wallabies and tiny lizards rustle through the foliage.

    Rooms

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome Price Jones Suite
    Sleep in comfort and style.

    The extensive accommodation options span studios, bungalows, club apartments, villas and suites. Family bungalows draw inspiration from the grand homes of Broome’s pearl masters, translating that heritage into generous layouts, high ceilings and verandahs that open to the gardens. Studios and villas are perfect for couples and solo stays, pairing soft coastal tones with private balconies or courtyards. While club apartments and suites are designed for longer stays, offering multiple bedrooms, kitchen facilities and seamless indoor-outdoor living.

    Food and drink

    kichi kichi at Cable Beach Club Resort broome
    Tuck into an Asian fusion menu at Kichi Kichi.

    The dining scene at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa reflects Broome’s position at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean and Asia, where coastal produce meets a tapestry of multicultural influences.

    Contemporary Asian fusion dishes – from crisp fried pork belly and roast Peking duck breast to Burmese lamb curry – deliver bold, vibrant flavours at Kichi Kichi. While the handmade tortellini filled with pearl meat and prawn served at atmospheric Italian restaurant, Cichetti, is the kind of dish that you will remember long after the final bite. Elsewhere on the menu, find effortless flair across dishes like Wedge Island octopus, market fish crudo and silky goat’s milk panna cotta.

    As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, Sunset Bar & Grill becomes the place to be. Here, guests gather over freshly shucked oysters, cured meat platters and buckets of sweet Exmouth prawns. Or, for a quieter evening in, guests can retreat to the comfort of their room and order from Cable Eats, the resort’s in-room dining service.

    Pools

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome ocean pool
    Relax by the adults-only Ocean Pool.

    Two distinct pool settings invite guests to shape their day exactly as they please. Drift into the calm of the adults-only Ocean Pool, where attentive service delivers dishes such as grilled prawn skewers and salt-and-pepper calamari straight to your cabana or sunbed well into the afternoon.

    The mood at the family-friendly Kimberley Pool – framed by a cascading waterfall, the heart of the resort’s recreational precinct – is decidedly more playful. Here, younger guests are catered for with a dedicated kids’ menu of familiar favourites including chicken nuggets, fish and chips and ham-and-cheese toasties, while parents can graze on more refined poolside fare, such as fried squid, soba noodle salad and gourmet burgers.

    Chahoya Spa & Salon

    Cable Beach Club Resort broome Chahoya Spa
    Book a treatment at Chahoya Spa.

    Chahoya Spa brings a refined sense of indulgence inspired by its Japanese name, meaning “pamper”, with signature treatments including the Kimberley Dreamtime ritual and Chahoya Pearl Massage designed to soothe tired bodies and quiet busy minds. There is also an on-site salon providing personalised cuts, colour services and restorative hair care, ensuring guests leave feeling polished and renewed.

    Other facilities

    yoga class in the buddha sanctuary at Cable Beach Club Resort broome
    Join a yoga class at the Buddha Sanctuary.

    Wellness continues at the Buddha Sanctuary, a serene open-air pavilion just beyond the main resort grounds, where yoga classes are held six days a week amid ornamental gardens and a striking 3.5-metre hand-carved crystal Buddha statue. Beyond the sanctuary, the resort caters to every pace of stay, with a children’s playground, mini golf, tennis courts and a fully-equipped gym. Guests can also browse the resort’s boutique gift shop, home to Allure South Sea Pearls – the brand behind Broome’s first dedicated pearl boutique in Chinatown.

    Book the ultimate Broome getaway at cablebeachclub.com.