Balingup is located on Bibbulmun Track map 4 - Blackwood.
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Walter Padbury, whose historic homestead Ferndale still stands on the Nannup Road, first settled the Balingup district in 1859. In the 1880s, tin mining and timber milling industries were established, and extensive tracts were cleared for dairy farming and apple orchards, to supply WA's booming goldfields. Balingup was declared a township in 1888 and is now part of the Donnybrook-Balingup Shire.
The name Balingup is thought to have come from a Nyoongar named Balya or Balunga, who lived in the area. Today, Balingup is famous for its wonderful scenery. Rolling green hills are shrouded with mist in the winter; spring brings acres of beautiful blossoms; lush orchards, glowing sunsets and spectacular night skies are the features of summer, and autumn has its own amazing array of colours. And the people of Balingup are warm and friendly the whole year round!
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Getting there
Balingup is located 246km south of Perth, a drive of approximately two hours and forty-five minutes, via the Kwinana Freeway, Old Coast Road, Australind Bypass and the South Western Highway. Turn right at Nannup Road and left at Nannup-Balingup Road.
Alternatively, take the TransWA Australind train from Perth City Railway Station to the Bunbury Passenger Terminal, with a bus connection to Balingup, or the coach from the Perth East Terminal to Balingup. These services may not be available every day, so walkers are advised to check in advance.
Balingup to Collie is a drive of 64km, taking approximately 50 minutes, driving north chiefly along Grimwade Road. Balingup to Pemberton is 96km; a drive of one hour and ten minutes south along the South Western Highway.
There are no licensed transport providers in Balingup. Bridgetown (29 km south-east of Balingup along South Western Highway, a drive of twenty minutes) has a taxi service allowing walkers to be transferred to the Track in the Blackwood area.
In addition, some providers of accommodation will transfer you to the Track, provided you are using their accommodation.
Accommodation & service providers
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Balingup is a small town with a range of accommodation that includes a camping ground, a ‘backpackers’, self-contained units, and B&Bs. It has a few cafés and specialty shops, as well as a small general store with limited supplies, a pub and a restaurant. There is no pharmacy, no bank and no mobile phone coverage (including CDMA)._JPG)
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The Bibbulmun Track Accommodation & Services Guide has extensive information about walker-friendly services, their location in and between towns, and discounts offered to members. The Guide contains 144 pages of essential information at a cost of only $12 RRP.
Along the Track...
Less than 10km south of Noggerup campsite, walkers can enjoy a significant stand of virgin jarrah forest, a reminder of how the landscapes appeared before being modified by European settlement.
The descent to Balingup Brook is steep but the walk along the brook into Balingup itself is picturesque and rural.
South of the town, the trail climbs through the Golden Valley Tree Park, which is planted with hundreds of different specimens of trees and graced with several picnic spots. It is an ideal place to pause and spend some time exploring.
The Track then climbs to the rim of the Blackwood Valley, and offers some spectacular views of the forests, plantations and picturesque farmlands of the valley, which dominates the walk south to the river crossing at Southampton Bridge.
The first karri trees on the Track are to be found at Karri Gully just north of the Brockman Highway, between Bridgetown and Nannup. After crossing the Brockman Highway, the Track meanders through fairly flat lands clothed in a mix of jarrah and karri forest.
Suggested walks
Day walks:
- Southampton Bridge to Blackwood campsite return (7.8km, steep). Southampton Bridge is 15km south of Balingup on Southampton Road.
- Kirup-Grimwade Road to Balingup one-way (15.9km). The Kirup-Grimwade Road is 3.5km west of Grimwade.
- Greenbushes Loop Trail (15km, including 5km on the Track) is a circuit walk which links the old tin mining town of Greenbushes to the Track. The mine is still in production and is the world's largest producer of Tantalum . It has an excellent lookout, which is well worth a visit. This walk can be combined with a visit to the Eco-Cultural Discovery Centre.
Overnight walks:
- Balingup to Blackwood campsite return (35.4km, two days, one night).
- Balingup to Karri Gully one-way (40.2km, two or three days, one or two night(s). The Karri Gully picnic site is on Brockman Highway, approximately 28km west of Bridgetown and 20km east of Nannup.
For more information visit our day walk webpage and check out the Balingup day walk map pack, which has further suggestions.
Although Pemberton is the next town south of Balingup (Balingup to Pemberton is a walk of 157.8km, which takes approximately eight days, seven nights), Donnelly River Village is a popular intermediate starting point. There are 56.2km between Donnelly River Village and Balingup, usually walked in three days, two nights.
Collie is the next town north of Balingup – Balingup to Collie is a walk of 81.6km, which takes approximately four days, three nights.