Collie

Collie is a town in the South West region of Western Australia.

Get in

Collie is 200 km South-east of Perth.

By bus

• South West Coach Lines, ☎ [phone]. Run a service every day from Perth (picking up from Perth Airport and Esplanade Busport) to Collie. It drops off at various places in Collie. The visitors centre might be the most useful. $50. 

By car

Turn off at the Coalfields Rd intersection on the South-Western Hwy.

By rail

The TransWA Australind train service runs twice a day from Perth the Bunbury. A connecting coach takes you on to Collie.

Get around

See

• Black Diamond Pool, Ferguson Rd (6km west of Collie on Coalfields Rd). An abandoned coal mine has formed into a deep lake that takes on a vivid blue or green hue depending on the weather. The clear water and sandy bottom surrounded by cliffs make it a good place to swim. 
• Harris Dam, Harris River Rd. A large dam that supplies Collie and surrounding towns with drinking water. A nice grassed area at the bottom of the dam wall has tables and gas barbeques. A walk trail leading to top of the dam gives a good view, but look is all you can do as any kind of activity in the water is prohibited. 
• Glen Mervyn Dam, Collie-Preston Rd (17km south of Collie on Collie-Preston Rd). A large crescent shaped dam that is a popular spot for water skiing, boating and camping. The dam wall is a good spot to observe. A walk in the surrounding bushland offers some respite from the constant sound of revving speed boat engines. 
• Miners Institute, Cnr Throssell and Patterson St. This striking piece of architecture was built in 1953 in the Art Deco style with a distinctly soviet influence. 
• Minninup Pool, Mungalup Rd (3km south of Collie). A wide section of the Collie river that is popular spot for swimming and canoeing. 
• Stockton Lake, Crossman Rd. A large lake formed in an old coal mine excavation. White chalky cliffs on the north side and reedy shore line on the south. Many water birds wade in the shallows. A popular place to swim, water ski and camp. The mine opened in 1926 and closed in 1960. An arched entrance to the mine can be found hidden in the bush on the east side of the lake. The easiest way to find it is to follow the gravel road around to the T junction where it joins a paved road, turn right and you will see it in a clearing about 50m from the junction. 
• Swinging Bridge, River Ave. A suspension bridge over the Collie River swings and sways a bit when you walk over it. A treat for the kids if they have never been on one before. 

Museums

• Collie Railway Museum, 86 Throssel St. 9AM-4PM daily. A reconstruction of the old railway station that was demolished in the 1970s. A display of railway related items including some incredible drawings of train designs from a manufacturer in Wales that were lost en route to the WA government and not seen for another 100 years. The small gift store has sells carvings in coal from Wales. Donation. 
• Coalfields Museum, 161 Throssell St. 10AM-3PM daily. A mixed bag of mining, timber, farming and general social history objects from the town. Adults $5. 

Do

Hike

• Bibbulmun Track. The track passes through Collie between Ballingup and Dwellingup. 
• Collie River Walk. A 9 km walk following the Collie River and through town. 

Buy

Eat

• Cafe De Orien, 100 Forrest St, ☎ [phone]. A wide selection of Japanese, Thai and Chinese dishes with modern cafe style presentation. Alfresco seating in covered area. Maybe the most stylish, definitely the best coffee in town. 
• Golden Bowl Chinese Restaurant, 78 Forrest St, ☎ [phone]. M-Th 11AM-2.30PM,5PM-9PM;F-Sa 11AM-2.30PM, 5PM-10PM;Su 5PM-9PM. Unlike most Chinese restaurants in Australia, the food tastes authentically Chinese. Very popular on a weekend. Main $13-$19. 
• View Street Fish & Chips, 2 View St, ☎ [phone]. 5PM-7:30PM. The only proper fish and chips place in town makes excellent crisp and fresh tasting seafood. The amount of chips in a serve might be less than you might expect but it's a case of quality over quantity. 

Drink

Sleep

Camping

Black Diamond Pool, Stockton Lake, Glen Mervyn Dam and Wellington Dam National park all offer camping areas. All except Black Diamond have toilet and campfire facilities. None have access to tap water. Bring your own.

Hotels

• Collie Ridge Motel, 185 Throssell St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: 1800 625 502, e-mail: [e-mail]. The newest accommodation in town. Neat and comfortable but characterless rooms with the usual hotel facilities. Nice bathrooms. $150. 

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