Jerramungup is the western gateway to Fitzgerald River National Park – one of the largest national parks in Australia. Here, you can explore a botanical wonderland of rare plants and marvel at one of the greatest shows on Earth as southern right whales come to shore to calve.
To reach the farming community of Jerramungup and enjoy an authentic country town experience, drive five hours south from Perth, or take a one hour 15 minute flight from Perth to Albany and then take the two hour drive east.
Fitzgerald River National Park is Jerramungup’s 329,000 hectare backyard – a biodiversity hotspot that’s home to nearly 20 per cent of all the plant species in Western Australia.
Explore the varied and spectacular landscapes in a four wheel drive, take to the river in a canoe or bushwalk among 1,800 beautiful, bizarre and rare plants species, many of which can only be found within the park.
In spring, the landscape is a glorious kaleidoscope of vivid wildflowers, while in winter you can view the southern right whales from the cliffs at Point Ann and Trigelow Beach as they come in to the secluded bays of the whale nursery to calve. It’s also one of only three places in Australia where you can see large numbers of these gentle giants and their playful babies so close to shore.
Hit the Jerramungup Heritage Trail to immerse yourself in local history, taking in the Old Powerhouse, the former War Service Office and Major Colin Cameron’s plaque in Roe Park, which was named after John Septimus Roe, the first Surveyor General. You’ll also see Jerramungup Town Hall, known as ‘Root Pickers Hall’ as it was paid for by volunteers picking mallee roots.
As an agricultural district, Jerramungup is known as a hub for sheep farming, wool and grain production, but it’s also famed for its fresh water crayfish. Be sure to taste this local delicacy during your stay – you’ll find a range of hotel, motel, bed and breakfast and caravan park accommodation to choose from.