More travellers want a trip that gives something back: real experiences that tread lightly on the places they pass through. Kojonup, in the heart of Western Australia's Great Southern, rewards that instinct. The country around town is rich in native plants and wildlife, the food is grown close by, and the stories of the district are told by the people who live here. You can see a lot of it without a tour bus and without leaving much of a footprint.
Within that natural beauty you will also find some of the best spots for birdwatching in Kojonup and the surrounding area, which is a fine way to start a low-impact stay.
Reserves that protect the biodiversity
Kojonup is known for its biodiversity, and the district's nature reserves are the easiest way to experience it while helping to preserve it. The Myrtle Benn Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, a well-established reserve on Tunney Road, is orchid country: look carefully in spring and you will find White Spider, Mantis and Pink Enamel orchids. Farrar Dam Reserve, only 8 kilometres from town, is home to the Red Lechenaultia, Kojonup's floral emblem.
Both have marked walking trails and parking, so you can immerse yourself in the local ecosystem on foot rather than from a car window. Staying on the tracks and taking your rubbish home is the whole idea, and it keeps these spots as good for the next visitor as they were for you.
Community-based tourism
Sustainable travel is not only about the environment; it also means supporting the people who live here. Kojonup's tourism leans on community engagement, so a visit puts money and attention into local hands. Kodja Place, the town's interpretive centre on Albany Highway, tells the district's story through the eyes of its Noongar, European and Italian communities, and it is the natural place to begin. For more on that heritage, see our guide to discovering the local Indigenous culture.
Farm-to-table experiences
One of the pleasures of low-impact travel is eating what is grown nearby. Kojonup sits in fertile farming country, and the region's producers, wineries and farmers' markets make it easy to fill a picnic basket with fresh, locally grown food. Buying direct from a farm stall or a market keeps your spending in the district and cuts the distance your food has travelled to next to nothing.
Conservation and learning
Travelling well is easier when you understand where you are. Kodja Place doubles as the Kojonup Visitor Centre at 143 Albany Highway, and the staff can point you to the reserves, the wildflower spots that are flowering that week, and the walks that suit the time you have. Ten minutes there sets up a trip that respects the country you have come to see.
Where to stay
Cornwall House Accommodation sits at 72 Albany Highway in the heart of Kojonup, an easy base for the reserves, the markets and the town's attractions. Our 12 air-conditioned rooms come in queen, twin and family configurations, each with an ensuite, free WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities, a microwave and a refrigerator. There is free onsite parking and a shared camp kitchen for guests, and contactless check-in from 2pm means a long afternoon in the bush never leaves you locked out. Non-smoking throughout.
The location is central: town centre one way, the Boyup Brook road to Farrar Dam the other. Your Kojonup accommodation guide leads directly to Cornwall House Accommodation. Contact us with any questions, or book your room and travel easy.
