The Best Things To Do in Denmark WA 2023

Being Perth locals, we have visited Denmark numerous times and found the best things to do in Denmark WA, plus tips on the best time to visit, how to get there, and where to stay.

Denmark is a small town situated between Walpole and Albany. It takes about 45 minutes from Denmark to Walpole and 40 minutes to Albany.

The primary industries in the Denmark region are tourism, farming, fishing, and the arts. It’s become a popular home for alternative lifestyles, spiritualists, naturalists, artists, people who like peaceful country life, and retirees. This gives the town a “hippy” vibe.

The beaches here are stunning, the scenery is spectacular, and the food’s delicious. What are you waiting for? Read on for all the information needed to plan your trip.

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The Best Things To Do in Denmark WA

There are many things to do in Denmark, WA, and the surrounding area, but this is my list of the best things to do and see.

Greens Pool

Greens Pool is one of our favourite free things to do when we visit Denmark. The turquoise water is clear and sparkles under the sunlight, and the sandy beach is perfect for the kids to play on.

The large granite boulders make the pool so picturesque that you can’t help but take a million photos. They also protect the bay from the Great Southern Ocean, making it ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Zebrafish, silver drummer, six-spined leatherjackets, and mosaic sea stars are just some marine life you may encounter.

It’s a gradual slope from the beach into the water, so it remains shallow for quite a bit. This allows children to splash and swim without being in deep water.

The ocean is pretty cold, but our daughters braved the cold water in April.

The views from the lookout across Greens Pool and Mazzoletti Beach in the distance are beautiful. Remember your camera!

There’s a 1.5 km trail that links Greens Pool to Elephant Rocks if you want a walk.

Greens Pool is in William Bay National Park, a 15-minute drive west of Denmark.

Voted as Number 4 in Tripadvisor’s Travellers Choice Top 25 Beaches in the South Pacific region, it’s a must-visit in Denmark.

Elephant Rocks and Cove

Elephant Rocks and Cove are located in Williams Bay National Park, close to Greens Pool. The rocks are just a short walk from the car park.

If you look closely, you can see how they got their name – the rocks resemble a herd of elephants looking out to sea.

The scenery here is magnificent, and the ocean is like Greens Pool, a clear turquoise colour that contrasts against the boulders.

From Elephant Rocks, go down the stairs, walk between the two towering boulders, then you will be in Elephant Cove. This tiny sandy beach is stunning; we had it to ourselves when we visited.

Be careful at High Tide, as waves can rush through the walkway. I wouldn’t swim at this beach either, as it has a known rip and is prone to large waves.

Denmark Animal Farm & Pentland Alpaca Stud

Denmark Animal Farm and Pentland Alpaca Stud is a fun thing to do with kids. We have visited twice, and our daughters have loved it on both occasions.

Currently, the admission prices are as follows:

Adults A$15.00
Senior Cardholders A$13.00
Children (3 – 15) A$8.00
2 Adults & 3 Children A$50.00

The cost includes a small bag of food each to feed the animals. There’s the option to purchase more food for A$1 a bag (our girls bought another two out of their pocket money).

You can usually hold joeys with the supervision of one of the staff. They are super cute and a highlight of our children’s visit. The adult kangaroos around the farm are free to leave, but some choose to stay (who can blame them).

You are free to enter some of the enclosures, like the alpacas and the goats. Word of warning, don’t take food in with the goats. They can be very friendly if they know you have food!

There are baby farm animals, too, some of which can be held. Bottle feeding is daily at 3 pm.

Open Wednesday to Monday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Closed December 24 & 25 only.

2019 SCOTSDALE ROAD, DENMARK, WA, 6333.

Visit a Vineyard

Denmark and the surrounding Great Southern region have successfully produced cold-climate wines. There are now 25 wineries producing award-winning wines of incredible quality.

Riesling and Chardonnay were the first grapes planted, but there are now Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz.

My personal favourite is Singlefile Wines. Their wines are excellent, and you can bring food to picnic on their grounds.

The Lake House also has excellent reviews, with their café/restaurant open for brunch, lunch, and/or afternoon tea.

Chocolate & Wine

West Australia’s first licensed chocolate lounge, Denmark Chocolate Company, lets you enjoy their decadent chocolate alongside local wines, selected imported beers and a range of liqueurs. We have yet to visit, so let me know what it’s like.

Open daily Wednesday to Sunday 10.00 am to 4:30 pm (last drinks served at 3.30 pm during peak times).

Closed Public Holidays, May and November.

Alternatively, visit another local business in Denmark town, Pawprint Chocolate. Here you can taste their Certified Fair Trade couverture chocolate and buy some to take home.

Beaches

The beaches near Denmark are stunning, with plenty to choose from. The rugged coastline is beautiful, with ancient granite rocks and dune cliffs.

My favourite is Greens Pool for the picturesque granite boulders and clear turquoise water.

The surf is best at Ocean Beach, the closest beach to Denmark. The Denmark Surf Lifesaving Club patrols this beach on weekends from December to March. It’s a great beach for water activities such as surfing, kayaking, kitesurfing, and stand-up paddle boarding. Toilets, changing rooms, and showers are available here.

Stop at the lookout for wonderful views over the channel between the Wilson Inlet and the ocean. There is also Lions Lookout, just after Ocean Beach.

Lights Beach consists of three beaches; Eastern Beach, Central Beach, and Western Beach. Eastern Beach has a rock pool, Princess Pool, which is great for children to paddle in. It’s protected from the fierce waves by large boulders. Central Beach has large waves and is unsuitable for swimming, but the views are beautiful. There’s another lookout at Lights Beach with spectacular views over William Bay and a great place to see the sunset.

Waterfall Beach is in William Bay National Park; make a left turn at the Greens Pool car park. A creek flows over Pleistocene rock to form a small waterfall. We visited in April, and it was more of a trickle, but I’d expect it to be better in late winter or early spring. Children like to play in the stream that leads into Madfish Bay.

The waterfall is to the left of the car park on the far side of the beach. Don’t just go for the waterfall; the beach is lovely, with great views across the bay.

Parry Beach is 21 km west of Denmark in the William Bay National Park. It has views across William Bay towards Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks. Mazzoletti Beach can be accessed from Parry Beach across Parry Inlet most of the year, as the channel is completely blocked by a sand bar.  

Shelley Beach has a wide sweep of sand and is bounded at both ends by large granite boulders. Located in West Cape Howe National Park, south of Cosy Corner along Coombes and Shelley Beach Roads, it’s a remote beach. The lookout has views of Torbay and Torbay Head, Torndirrup Peninsula, and the Albany Wind Farm.

Standard park entry fees apply for West Cape Howe National Park.

Walking Trails

Many walking, biking, hiking, and water trails are close to Denmark.

The Bibbulmun Track is a world-class long-distance walk. It covers nearly 1000km from Perth suburb Kalamunda to Albany in the South West. If you’re not up to walking the whole track, it can be walked in smaller parts.

The Munda Biddi is an off-road cycling trail covering 1,000 km from Mundaring (in Perth’s hills) to Albany. Again, this trail can be ridden in sections.

Climb Monkey Rock, accessible from Lights Beach Road, for views over the Wilson Inlet, Ocean Beach, Nullaki Peninsula and William Bay National Park. The 4 km return walk from the car park is uphill and is part of the Bibbulmun Track.

Monkey Rocks has no guard rails, so it can be dangerous, especially with children.

A complete list of the trails can be found on the Denmark Visitor Centre website.

This Trails of Denmark map shows where the walks are in relation to Denmark.

Lunch at Boston Brewing Co

Boston Brewing Co is the place for lunch in Denmark. It’s always crowded with couples, families, and friends.

This family-run business started in Denmark but can also be found in Victoria Park, Perth.

I love how the Boston Brewery contributes to the sustainability of Denmark – the local Parks use empty grain bags for invasive weed collection, spent grain is given to local farmers to feed their stock, and local produce is used in their restaurant whenever possible.

They have around twelve of their beers on tap. I had the wheat beer, Hey Hay, which was good. The Right Nut Brown Ale was a winner with my husband too. 

If wine is more your style, the brewery is located on the grounds of Willoughby Park Winery.

The playground is popular with children, and the outside area fills up fast. Therefore, I’d recommend booking ahead.

Denmark Town

Denmark is a small country town located by the Denmark River. Take a walk along the river, browse the shops, or stop in one of the cafes for a coffee or bite to eat.

Bartholomews Meadery

This family-run business produces delicious honey, mead (an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey), and ice cream. If you visit their shop, look for the glass beehive where you can spot the queen and buy some honey-related gifts.

Open daily (except Christmas Day).

If you don’t have your own transport (or want someone else to drive), this Tasting Delicious Denmark tour takes you to:

• The Lake House Winery
• Denmark Heritage Cider Company
• Duckett’s Mill Wines
• Denmark Farmhouse Cheese
• Bartholomews Meadery
• Denmark Chocolate Company

Globe-riding

Denmark Thrills, at Castelli Estate, has the longest globe-riding track in the world.

Age above 8 years only.

Day Trip to Walpole

Walpole is only a 45-minute drive from Denmark, making it ideal for a day trip. Visit the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk to see spectacular Tingle Trees, Peaceful Bay, or one of the many other attractions.

This guide on things to do in Walpole provides other ideas on what to do on your day trip there. Combine this with the Youngs Sidings to Walpole Scenic Drive.

Day Trip to Albany

Albany is only a 40-minute drive from Denmark. If you haven’t been to Albany, and aren’t heading there as part of your Perth to Albany road trip, then take a day trip from Denmark.

Albany is known for its history, white sandy beaches, and the incredible Torndirrup National Park. Our guide on things to do in Albany WA details all the best attractions for your day there.

Perth to Denmark WA

Denmark is in Western Australia’s South West, 414 km south east of Perth.

International and domestic visitors will fly into Perth Airport. Find details about visas, prohibited items, currency, and safety in this Australia Travel Guide and tips on arriving into WA and other essential travel information in this Western Australia Travel Guide.

There are car hire booths at Perth airport, but it’s best to pre-book your car rental.

To compare rental car company prices, Discover Cars is an award-winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are have a high rate of customer satisfaction.

Drivenow is a good resource to compare campervan hire in Western Australia as it includes all the large companies like Britz, Maui, Jucy as well as smaller ones.

Compare Rental Cars Here.

Denmark is just under a 5-hour drive from Perth, along Albany Highway and National Route 1 (South Coast Highway).

TransWA runs buses to Albany that stop in Denmark. However, it’s hard to get around this region without a car.

Denmark Forecast & Weather

The hottest months are from January to March, where the average highs are 24/25 degrees.

The coldest months are from June to September. During this time, the temperature will be around 16/17, with a minimum of 7.

The most rain falls between May and August, with January and February being the driest months.

See the detailed 7-day forecast at the Bureau of Meteorology.

A Brief History & Settlement of Denmark WA

I want to respectfully acknowledge the Noongar People, the Traditional Owners, and First People of these lands. I would like to pay my respect to the Elders past, present, and future, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture, and hopes of the Noongar People.

The Noongar People called the river and the inlet Kwoorabup, which means “place of the black wallaby” (kwoor).

The Millar Brothers bought 20,000 acres of timber-covered land in 1895 and built a timber mill. By 1900, there were three mills, with 800 workers and their families residing in Denmark.

In 1904 Millars’ Denmark operation was closed down due to the depletion of timber. Most people left the area, and it wasn’t until 1920 that the town was revived with the introduction of the Group Settlement Scheme.

Small parcels of land were cleared for farms, mainly cattle, dairy, and orchards.

The tourism industry started when American soldiers stationed in Albany during WWII took trips to Denmark. After the war, Denmark became a popular place to holiday for Western Australians.

Western Australia Travel Guide

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