Northam surprised me with its hospitality, beautiful scenery, and charm that it has. Find out why you need to put Northam on the map of things to do when visiting Western Australia.

"Why would you go there?" was the first line that everyone mentioned to me when I told them about my trip to Northam. That, or "do you really need to go?"

The view of Avon River from hot air balloon

Easily accessible, it only took me 1.5 hours to reach Northam from Nedlands. It makes it a perfect place to have a staycation out of Perth. We all need a weekend out of town once in a while. Below you can find a list of great places that we visited within 36 hours in Northam!

Duke's Inn

Listed as the number one B&B's/Inns in Northam through Trip Advisor, Duke's Inn is heritage-listed and has been around since 1907. That's a very long time for a business to be around! It's also well-known for its food and wine.

I thought I missed out on the lunch at Duke's Inn, but everyone was there and still waiting for their food by the time I arrived! I ordered a meal that I thought will be super quick to make, a bowl of hearty pumpkin soup. My pumpkin soup is perfect and has a surprise of melted cheese that whets my appetite to find out more about Northam.

Cheesy and delicious Pumpkin Soup from Duke’s Inn

Most items on their menu are under $30, and they also have a special price for seniors and a few dishes under $10 for kids. Duke's Steak Sandwich is a popular choice on the day, along with Quesadilla. Plenty of parking spots are available at the premise, and the courtyard will make an excellent spot for group dining during the warmer days.

Bilya Koort Boodja

As a Noongar cultural centre, Bilya Koort Boodja offers a lot of interactive experiences for its visitors and in-depth information on the life of Noongar people in the Ballardong area. They have a lot of campfire stories about season, hunting, and stars. Noongar is the term used for the native people of the south-west of Western Australia.

I think the local elder Frank Davis must be one of the famous characters in Northam. Frank is a music teacher and plays the didgeridoo really well. He teaches us that there is a different sound that didgeridoo players play to describe a situation or role in their music.

Didgeridoo is a wind instrument and also act as an amplifier. The hot air from the lips will move through the hollow bark, and get trapped in the middle. At the same time, the cold air from the bottom of the didgeridoo will meet the hot air in the middle of the bark. Frank projects the sound of kangaroo, boomerang, and a running hunter through his didgeridoo.

Vincent Ryder, an elder who also excels in making tapping sticks and boomerangs, shares his experience about being part of the Stolen Generation. He was taken away when he was 10 years old and promised that his parents would see him again. I can't hold back my tears when he said that he waited at the same tree every day for his parents.

A lot of Nyoongar people from the Avon Valley region were taken to many different church missions. This was due to the politic of assimilation of black inferiority and white superiority. The traditional language was lost in the process. Based on the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) data, only 13 acquired by children out of more than 250 languages and 800 dialectal varieties.

I encourage you to visit the cultural centre to learn and appreciate more about the Noongar people. The centre opens 7 days from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Northam Suspension Bridge and Bernard Park

Right outside of the centre, you can see one of the longest suspension bridge across the Avon River. The bridge was built-in 1975. The river is a famous natural breeding ground for white swans. We spotted a few during our circuit walk around the river with Peter Weatherly, the person behind Avon Valley Environmental Society.

The white swan is a protected species, and it is advisable not to feed them because of their different digestive system. We spot a white swan with an 'angel wing', which is a defect caused by high protein or high carbohydrate.

Old Railway Station

The Old Railway Station is a public museum that has more than 1000 items on display. Including in the exhibition are stunning PMR Steam Class Locomotive and two different carriages.

In 1886, a train track was built in Northam. This signifies the trading growth, primarily through the gold rush era. The train station was the major railway service station until it was officially closed on the 14th of February 1966.

Northam Public Silo Trail

In Fremantle, there's an extensive building with giant octopus drawn on it. It's one of the famous murals in WA. The artist name is Phlegm. For over two weeks in April 2015, he painted some characters over four of the 38-metre high silos in Northam.

He wasn't alone. HENSE worked on some silos on the other side. The silos are there as part of CBH Northam Grain Terminal. I manage to visit the area after operating hours on Wednesday and succeed in getting some photos without any CBH trucks in the background.

If you go to Public Silo Trail website, you can plan your adventure in advance. Choose between the full trail, or go for cluster trail if you only have a limited amount of time.

Buckland Estate

I arrived at Buckland Estate a bit later than the group. Soul Camping set up glamping tents near a lake at Buckland Estate with a backdrop of a beautiful sunset.

Most buildings in the Buckland Estate were completed around 1872s. The estate is perfect for a rustic and glamorous wedding. To save cost on the wedding, you can source your own alcohol.

I can imagine a fun girls night out, business conferences, or even a weekend family staycation at this place. Buckland Estate has two cottages available, plenty of space for caravan and glamping, and they can provide catering for any of your event.

I had a perfect sleep and undisturbed. I think nature sounds really helps me to fall asleep. The hardest thing was leaving the comfy tent at 3:50 AM, packed all of my stuff, and got ready to go to Windward Balloon Adventures' Hangar.

Laura's Wine Bar

Laura's Wine Bar is named after Brian Klopper's late wife. It's an uber-cool small bar that reminds me of bars in Fremantle. A lot of people thought the same way too.

Brian Klopper is Northam born. He's a very well-known figure in WA, and in the 1980s some properties even advertised as "Klopperesque". These are usually the ones looking minimalistic and rustic, with triangular mullions, parasol roof and exposed brick walls.

Laura's has iron framing, parasol roof, exposed recycled red-brick, and gravity-defying brick walls vaulted ceiling. The whole bar feels very warm and welcoming. I love the addition of a fireplace at the alfresco.

Lume Restaurant

Back at Buckland Estate, Lume Restaurants' Chef and staff prepare our dinner. I opt for scotch fillet steak and tiramisu. I always have a soft spot for tiramisu. I think we are spoilt with a generous portion and delicious flavour.

Our hosts from Buckland Estate keep on pouring delicious wines. Most of us want local Avonbrook wines. Each doesn't disappoint! I definitely have to look into it more!

Windward Balloon Adventures

After giving myself a pat on the back for waking up super early, I take all of my belonging to my car. I join the group on the bus and select a dark spot to close my eyes again.

We have to be at the Northam Airfield by 4:30 AM to have enough time for a cup of tea or coffee, read the safety instruction, and prepare my mind.

Windward Balloon Adventures is WA's oldest hot air balloon operator and has been around for more than four decades. I wake up way before the world before me, and my reward is the most epic view of sunrise. We fly closely over the golden canola field and Avon river. Northam looks really picturesque.

Feel safe inside hot air balloon Northam

It's a very smooth flight, and I feel safe all the way. I take a lot of videos, and my friends think that I used drone due to the levelness of it. There are 18 people in the wicker basket, and none of us questions the expertise of Pilot Damien Hays.

We have a delicious champagne breakfast at RiversEdge Cafe in Northam after our hot air balloon ride. It's definitely an adventure of a lifetime, and I hope a lot more people will be able to experience it.

Bakers Hill Pie Shop

I spot Bakers Hill Pie Shop when I drive into Northam. I make a mental note to stop on my way back to Perth. Turns out this is part of the Northam's itinerary. I love how they open 364 days a year, 7 days a week from 6 AM to 6 PM.

I try the Butter Chicken pie, the flavour is not that strong, but the chicken is really tender. Looking back, I should have bought a few more to take home with me.

Well, the pie shop is definitely going to make it as a permanent pitstop when visiting Northam. It'll become a tradition. Don't you love it when you find an excellent pitstop during your road trip?

Thank you, Northam, for your hospitality during my short stay. It's been really nice knowing you and can't wait for another visit. Also, I need to introduce you to some great people that will definitely enjoy a trip to Northam too.

Take Me to Northam