7 Off-The-Grid Western Australia Towns To Visit In 2025
Not every Western Australia travel story should be in Perth or Broome. Some travelers prefer to take the more tranquil course and discover the towns with untamed wildflowers, fewer crowds and lines, and maybe even some emus crossing the road without warning. Western Australia’s undiscovered towns do not put on any airs; they just keep doing what they have been doing for decades. Many were timber outposts, port supply points, or tiny rail settlements that lasted long enough for their modest main street to still hold surprises: quirky galleries, giant trees, camel rides, and unfiltered ocean views. Fuel up, tune out, and get going.
Toodyay
Here is where emus roam, mills creak, and Christmas sneaks in 10 months early. Begin your journey at Connor’s Mill, a three-story mill that used steam power to grind wheat and later switched to hydro. Then visit the Free Range Emu Farm, where some wide-eyed birds give the impression of owning the valley. Maybe they do. And yes, it’s Christmas year-round at Christmas 360, a strange shop filled with tinsel, Santas, and elf wine stoppers.
To fuel up after, take the Toodyay Food & Picnic Trail, which offers stops to pick up local honey, chutney, and olive oil. Make sure you visit during the Toodyay International Food Festival to see Duidgee Park and Stirling Park transform into an open-air buffet of spices and sauces.
Bridgetown
Western Australia’s winter capital leans into its cool-climate charm with cozy spots and forest adventures. Start at the Brierley Jigsaw Gallery; its walls are decorated with thousands of odd and colorful puzzles. Then take a few steps to Ooh La Lollipop, a candy store and a memory of the past with jars of lollies and the hum of friendly chatter.
After the sugar high, take a stroll along the Blackwood River Walk, a flat path that winds under trees along the water’s edge. Loop back toward town and explore The Rabbit Hole, where local artists exhibit and sell their work, including paintings, mosaics, jewellery, homewares, gifts, and cards. In June, July, and August, check out Fridgetown Fest to celebrate the local people, businesses, history, and lifestyle through art, culture, music, food, exhibits, and events.
Kojonup
Aboriginal stories, rose mazes, and spring blooms meet in one off-grid rural stop in Kojonup. Start at The Kodja Place, where narratives from Indigenous and settler societies come together. Outside, the Australian Rose Maze encourages you to wander through blooms that symbolize these stories.
Take a stroll to the Kojonup Military Barracks, one of Western Australia’s oldest buildings, which now hosts exhibits on local history. You’ll also find the Myrtle Benn Flora & Fauna Sanctuary, where you can walk trails through native bushland, exploring wildflowers and birdlife. Visit in October for the Bloom Festival, when open gardens and floral displays take over the region.
Coral Bay
This small coastal town makes a big splash in marine adventure. Coral Bay is the only place in Western Australia where you can swim with both whale sharks and humpback whales. Ningaloo Marine Interactions runs in-water tours, like whale shark and humpback whale adventures, and opportunities to snorkel with manta rays and explore coral gardens. Prefer to stay dry? Jump on a glass-bottom catamaran and glide over coral gardens and stingrays in Bill’s Bay.
On land, Paradise Beach offers calm water, picnic space, and easy snorkeling. Stretch your legs on the Coral Bay Walk Trail, or cool off with a gelato from Sweet Ningaloo.
Exmouth
With sharks, stingers, and frothy beers, Exmouth doesn’t disappoint. Head to the Ningaloo Centre to explore aquariums, fossils, and cyclone tunnels. Then take a walk through town to grab a coffee at The Social Society Exmouth or a cold lager and fresh seafood at Froth Craft Brewery, which is also a live music venue.
The Exmouth Community Markets show off the town’s handmade glory every second Sunday. Mauritius Beach has soft sand, few people, and a clothing-optional vibe if you’re feeling brave. End the day at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, a short drive from town, where red cliffs meet the sea and sunsets are spectacular.
Walpole
You don’t visit Walpole for noise or neon. You come for giant trees and impressive summits. Paddle the Walpole-Nornalup Inlet, where dark water mirrors thick forest. Or join the WOW Wilderness EcoCruise to hear tales of towering trees and elusive wildlife.
On land, the Mount Clare Summit Trail weaves through towering karri and tingle trees before reaching the coast for sweeping views. Nearby, visit the Giant Tingle Tree and step into its living hollows. Finish at the Swarbrick Art Loop, a trail where mirrored walls, forest poetry, and sculpture turn the forest into a gallery.
Denmark
Don’t let the name trip you. This Australian coastal town wasn’t founded by Danes. It was named after a friend of the settler Dr. Thomas Braidwood Wilson. While the town is small, the Shire of Denmark punches above its weight.
Start your day with the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, about 45 minutes west of town. Here, suspended bridges guide you through towering tingle trees. On your way back to town, stop by Denmark Animal Farm & Pentland Alpaca Stud to feed goats or pose with alpacas. Nearby, the Denmark Chocolate Company blends sweets with countryside views. Wrap it up at Greens Pool, a bay where smooth granite boulders turn crashing waves into ripples.
Off the Grid, On Your Radar
These towns aren’t dependent on crowds, trends, or hype, just quiet confidence with good scenery and captivating stories. You’ll find, from coral coasts to forest trails, what big cities can’t always give: space to breathe, time to notice, and moments that stick with you. You won’t get curated photo opportunities or five-star pampering. But you’ll find emus, ghost stories, rose gardens, giant trees, and enough soul to make you want to stay a little longer. Let the cities get loud. Western Australia’s real magic starts where the road narrows.
