Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages is one of the landmark tourist accommodation businesses, in one of the most iconic towns in the SW of WA. Current owner’s Deb & Brian Vanallen, moved to Balingup over 12 ½ years ago with their young family. Over the past decade and a bit, they have grown Balingup Heights to become a very successful tourist accommodation business.

The Vanallen’s circa 2009

“For us it was an opportunity ‘to do the Tree Change thing’, own our own business, reconnect with nature, and immerse ourselves in a small country town. It’s been an amazing experience,” said Deb and Brian.

“We’ve been able to utilise our marketing and facility management experience, while being energised with the excitement of new challenges.”

This multi award-winning business boasts a Gold three-peat, in the WA Tourism Awards and has the distinct honour of having won Gold on the national stage at the prestigious 2019 QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards.

A truly stunning 46 acre property, it sits high above the magical village of Balingup, with sweeping views over the valley below. Watching the morning mist rise up the valley during the cooler months is otherworldly. The business consists of 6 fully self-contained cosy bush cottages, dispersed around the 25 acre hilltop bush portion of this property. Agent Joe White, of JMW Real Estate Dunsborough, explains “the unique property design could not be replicated in today’s planning framework.

“Being zoned Tourist, there is a planning framework in place which recognises the importance and legitimacy of accommodation facilities such as Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages. As a personal Tree Change location, it would be disingenuous to describe this as anything other than virtually unbeatable in the south-west area of WA.”

The quaint stone farmhouse, nestled into the hillside, has served the current owners as a manager’s house, however it could easily be converted into further tourist accommodation. Numerous other homesite choices are available if you wished to build your dream ‘forever home’ with a healthy business for a family member.

The six cottages currently target couples retreats and family getaways however with the Bibbulmun Track winding through Balingup, a location on the famed Balingup-Nannup Road and a developing cycling and mountain bike network evolving, this property is brilliantly located to capitalise on the adventure and eco-tourism trend we are currently experiencing. The business is for sale as a going concern, with all intellectual property to be handed over to the new owners. This includes a first class website, incorporating an online booking portal, active and engaged Instagram and Facebook feeds, a customer data base of over 4,500, comprehensive policies & procedures, detailed Business and Marketing plans and very strong forward bookings in place. Add to this over 440 5-star Tripadvisor reviews, and this business is primed to continue to deliver.

“With both of our daughters now at Uni and living in Perth, and family and friends spread across Australia and the globe, we’ve decided it’s time. We will always be connected to Balingup. There’s a certain magic about it that is hard to quantify.”

The business is run on a part time basis by Deb and Brian who have both continued in their professions following the tree change over a decade ago.

Nature’s hugs await you now! Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages is located 1.5 km’s west of the Balingup townsite, at the northern entrance to the beautiful Blackwood River Valley. It is one of the highest tourist accommodation properties in the South West of WA. Balingup is situated 240kms south of Perth, a comfortable, scenic 2½-3hr drive. To find out more and view the property listing on JMW Real Estate  – Click Here.