Karnup: Wetland, Nature Trail and Wine

Discover Karnup through its wetlands, walking trails, settlement history and wine. Paganoni Swamp showcases a distinctive natural landscape; the Don Shepherd Nature Reserve Trail crosses the site of the former township, while Peel Estate Wines offers tastings and a monthly market. When choosing your holiday rental, you can weigh up whether nature, a short walk or wine and market dates should be the focus of your stay.

Paganoni Swamp: Wetland and Wildlife

Paganoni Swamp is a Conservation Category Wetland and the largest wetland in the Stake Hill wetland chain. Mammals living there include, among others, quokkas, quendas and brush-tailed phascogales. Its biodiversity gives the area a distinctive natural appeal: if you are interested in wildlife and wetlands, you will find plenty to consider when planning your trip.

You can walk on informal tracks and firebreaks around the wetland. The small car park and access gate are on the south side of Paganoni Road, where the powerline easement through the park meets the road. This landmark helps you plan your access point. No specific walking time is given for the route around Paganoni Swamp, so plan according to the time you have available.

A Nature Trail on Historic Ground

The Don Shepherd Nature Reserve Trail is on the site of the former township of Karnup. The area was settled as part of the Soldier Settlement and Group Settlement Scheme of the 1920s. The trail runs for about 575 metres to Lugg Road, on a surface of crushed limestone or mulch. Jarrah, banksia and marri grow along the trail; the understorey features flowering shrubs, orchids and other wildflowers. The historic site and plant life offer different things to discover along this short trail, without requiring you to plan a longer walk.

Wine Tastings and a Monthly Market

Peel Estate Wines was established in 1979. Wine tastings are offered daily at the Peel Estate Cellar Door from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. The Local Farmers Market at Peel Estate Wines is held on the second Sunday of every month from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Alongside nature and local history, Karnup also offers a regular market date and wine tastings as distinct interests to include in your trip. If a market visit is important to your plans, check the date in advance.

These themes make for different ways to shape your stay: Paganoni Swamp and its tracks appeal to nature lovers, the Don Shepherd Nature Reserve Trail combines a short walk with plant life and local history, and Peel Estate Wines adds a focus on wine and markets. Looking for a holiday rental in Karnup can therefore start with deciding which of these interests you would like to shape your days.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of the City of Rockingham

The City of Rockingham also offers a range of nature and activity options; it is the wider destination and should not be confused with the places mentioned in Karnup. The City of Rockingham has 37 kilometres of coastline. The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Paddle is an 8-kilometre kayaking trail along the Rockingham coast. Dolphins, seals, penguins and pelicans live in the protected Shoalwater Islands Marine Park; Cape Peron offers coastal views across the park. Other water activities include coastal diving and snorkelling among limestone caves at Point Peron, as well as windsurfing and kitesurfing at The Pond in Safety Bay.

For a walk at a different pace, the Anne Mueller Environmental Walk is an easy, 3-kilometre loop around Lake Richmond, rich in birdlife, including Australian pelicans, black swans and white-faced herons. A boardwalk at Lake Richmond also offers views of a threatened thrombolite community. Comparing the kayaking trail, coastal dive trail and walking loop can help you decide which experiences to prioritise during your trip in the wider destination of the City of Rockingham.

Discover more destinations: Leeman, Shadforth, Dongara, Bibra Lake, Porongurup, Rosa Glen, Pemberton, Torbay.

For the wider travel overview: Western Australia.