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Address

New Norcia Benedictine Community
New Norcia Road
New Norcia WA 6509

Getting There

Main Office

T: +61 8 9654 8018
F: +61 8 9654 8097
E: information@newnorcia.com.au

Friends of New Norcia / Volunteering

T: +61 8 9654 8018
E: friends@newnorcia.com.au

Museum & Art Gallery

T: +61 8 9654 8056
E: museum@newnorcia.com.au

Group Accommodation & Education Centre

T: +61 8 9654 8018
E: groups@newnorcia.com.au

Communications

T: +61 8 9654 8018
E: communications@newnorcia.com.au

Guesthouse

T: +61 8 9654 8002
E: guesthouse@newnorcia.com.au

Roadhouse

T: +61 8 9654 8020
E: roadhouse@newnorcia.com.au

Visit New Norcia

People visit New Norcia for many reasons; for spiritual retreat, to join a tour and see inside the magnificent buildings or sometimes just to walk around the town and enjoy the peace and beautiful scenery.

In this section you will find all the information you need for your visit to New Norcia. Details of places to eat and places to stay, details of the town tours and information about some of our favourite things to do in Australia’s only monastic town.

We recommend your first port of call is the Museum & Art Gallery to speak to one of the staff about the attractions and experiences New Norcia has to offer. The Museum & Art Gallery is also a Visitor Information Centre and is the point from which town tours leave.

Stay at New Norcia

There are so many different options for accommodation at New Norcia.

The Guesthouse is perfect for a quiet, retreat like experience - a world away from the rigours of modern life. You can join a Benedictine retreat here or be housed in the Hermitage for a silent retreat. Groups can be accommodated in the Old Convent or the historic boarding school colleges. Smaller groups are also able to book the Hostel, with its comfortable rooms, neo-classical architecture, scenic deck and heritage veranda, as well as St Ildephonsus' Cottage.

Please click on the areas on the right for more information.

Eat & Drink

Hospitality is a tenet of the Rule of St Benedict, the Rule by which the monks of New Norcia live, so wherever you choose to eat in town, our aim is for you to experience warm monastic hospitality.

Education & Research

From the earliest days of its foundation New Norcia has been focussed on education. The first Abbot, of New Norcia (Rosendo Salvado) established the Aboriginal girls and boys schools and the second Abbot of New Norcia, Fulgentius Torres built and opened the European girls and boys schools, which closed in 1991.

Since the closing of the schools, New Norcia's school buildings and grounds have been utilised by groups undertaking education programmes.

However, New Norcia also has a tradition of research and academia, with its impressive archival records and library collection, and scholars and researchers alike have delighted over the years in the information available in the town's records.

This section also provides information on the archives and library and provides link to forms which will give you access to the records of New Norcia.

Protecting a Unique Heritage

New Norcia is Australia’s only monastic town and has a unique heritage. Founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine Monks, the town has had many purposes; a mission, a monastery, a provider of education and now as a place of spiritual retreat.

Delve into the town's unique history, discover the ongoing and completed work necessary for the upkeep and restoration of this special part of Australia.

But it is not only the majestic buildings set amongst the Australian bush that sets New Norcia apart; its history is also encapsulated in the archival records of New Norcia and in the library and museum collections.

In this section we also have information about how you can donate to New Norcia to help the Community restore and maintain this treasure.

What's Happening at New Norcia

We hold a diverse array of events throughout the year at New Norcia.

Each year we host a full programme of events including a spiritual retreat programme presented by the Institute for Benedictine Studies, dinners at the New Norcia Hostel and a few other surprises!

Watch this space for all the updated information about "What's on at New Norcia".

News

Travelling by Car

New Norcia is 132km north of Perth, Western Australia and is situated just off the Great Northern Highway. We recommend you allow two hours to comfortably reach us from Perth and three and a half hours from Geraldton.

Petrol is available from the New Norcia Roadhouse. It is open 7.30am - 5pm (or 8.30am - 4pm on Public Holidays) and is closed on Christmas Day.

Bus Timetables

A TransWA Bus Service (N2 Route) arrives and departs from the New Norcia Roadhouse.
Arrivals:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 11.25am
Sunday at 1.40pm
Departures:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 2.50pm

For bookings, call 1300 662 205 or visit www.transwa.wa.gov.au.

Telecommunications

Only Telstra 3G or Next G mobiles work at New Norcia. There is no public internet access in New Norcia, however there is coverage for Telstra mobile broadband systems.

Camino Salvado Pilgrim Trail

The Camino Salvado follows the Pilgrims Trail from St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco to New Norcia in the Wheatbelt. The trail is 201 kms long and travels out of Perth city via the beautiful Swan River foreshore. It travels via Bells rapids, site of the famous white water Avon Descent, and passes onto Walyunga National Park – a place of spiritual significance for the Whadjuk People. The trail then travels to the Chittering Valley, the Julimar Forest, out to the town of Bolgart and the final leg to New Norcia.

Find out more at Camino Salvado or look at the website of the Salvado Trail Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation set up to ensure the maintenance of the trail.

Tour Companies

There are a few companies we recommend to visitors seeking an authentic experience of New Norcia.

Luxury Outback Tours

Phone: +61 8 9385 6422
Website: Luxury Outback - New Norcia Tour

Great Western Coach Tours

Phone: +61 8 9490 2455

Kandu Holidays Tailored Tours and Small Charter Hire

Phone: +61 8 6161 3985
Website: Kandu New Norcia Tour

Tours with a Twist

Day tours from Perth with a lunch or a high tea
Website: www.tourswithatwist.com.au
Phone: 0438 846 602
Email: info@tourswithatwist.com.au

Cascade Tours (Group Bookings)

Phone: +61 8 9378 9994

Adams Pinnacle Tours

Website: www.adamspinnacletours.com.au
Phone: 1300 061 812

Local Attractions

New Norcia is part of the picturesque Avon Valley, stretching from Beverley in the south to New Norcia in the North. The region boasts seven intriguing localities for you to explore; Beverley, Chittering, Goomalling, Northam, Toodyay, York, New Norcia and Victoria Plains. For more information on the experiences this region offers go to http://www.avonvalleywa.com.au/.

Carrah Farms offer personalised walks during the wildflower season through private bushland. Tickets can be booked through www.carrah.com.au. Carrah is 20 minutes from New Norcia.

Read an article about New Norcia on "Travel the World without leaving Australia".