BUSHLAND RETREATS

ADVENTURE CAMPS, RETREATS AND RUSTIC WEDDINGS ARE SOME OF THE DIVERSE OFFERINGS YOU CAN EXPECT TO FIND FROM DARE ADVENTURES AND JARRAHFALL BUSH CAMP, SET AMONG ANCIENT JARRAH TREES AND NATIVE BUSHLAND. BY MADELEINE STEPHENS.

With a full 12 acres to explore, Dare Adventures and Jarrahfall Bush Camp are renowned in Dwellingup as the ultimate locations for outdoor adventure camps and rustic, fairytale weddings, having welcomed countless guests over the years.

Recently owners Clayton and Lauren Fredericks have added to the offering, and then some.

The pair have run Dare Adventures for the past 15 years, specialising in school camps and leadership activities that promote team building, confidence, communication and decision-making skills. Bushwalking, mountain biking, kayaking, abseiling and a flying fox are some of the adventurous activities on offer when students come to stay at Dare Adventures. It also runs jam-packed Adventure Days and Adventure weeks to keep the kids busy during the school holidays.

In 2019, Clayton and Lauren purchased the land that encompassed Dare Adventures and expanded the property to make space for its latest venture, Jarrahfall Bush Camp, a rustic wedding and accommodation space for alternative weddings set in stunning bushland.

Clayton and Lauren have recently spent more than $1.5 million renovating for school camps to provide activities like archery tag, flying fox, rock wall, music jam sessions and mountain biking for the kids. Close by is the iconic Nanga Bush Camp, also renowned for decades of hosting action-packed adventure camps for school groups and as a great location for families looking for a peaceful, naturebased place to connect.

Nanga Bush Camp has three bunkhouses which can cater for up to 100 people each and cottages of various sizes where groups can book in for retreats. Weddings are also a specialty for Nanga Bush Camp. Imagine saying your vows with your nearest and dearest, immersed in the ancient jarrah forest, or on the bank of the babbling waters of the Murray River as the sun twinkles through the trees…heaven.

Noble River Estate is one of Dwellingup’s premier wedding and private retreat accommodation venues.

Have the wedding of your dreams celebrating on the balcony of Noble River Estate’s country-style lodge, overlooking 34 acres of natural jarrah forest, undulating valleys, scenic lakes - completely immersed in nature. At Noble River Estate you can choose from indoor and outdoor reception areas, and accommodate up to 40 people in quaint, log-style, self-contained forest cabins.

Jarrahfall’s bathrooms, building new private rooms with ensuites and giving the dorm rooms a fresh coat of paint. In 2022, construction of a brand new, 200 seat function centre was completed.

Jarrahfall Bush Camp is located in the Lane Poole Reserve, and is the perfect choice for that bush setting, destination wedding. Situated only 12-minutes from Dwellingup, this 35-acre property has plenty of wedding ceremony locations to choose from. The accommodation is simple, however, the real drawcard is being surrounded by the ancient native jarrah and marri forest. Kangaroos, cockatoos, emus, blue wrens and a large selection of bird species can regularly be spotted on site.

“You can have a bush wedding on our property with up to 150 guests sharing the experience,” Clayton says. “It’s also not too far from Perth so while it’s still classed as a destination wedding, people have the option to drive home if they choose.

“You’ve got the best of both worlds.”

The open spaces on the property can also be used for events and private functions, with capacity for about 1,000 people. Jarrahfall Bush Camp hosts family campout weekends, including the Easter long weekend campout, the ‘Ring of Fire’. The weekend features live music and utilises Dare Adventures’ facilities