Trains arrive into and depart from Exmouth Station daily. Check the Moovit app or website for up-to-date information.
On 1 May 1861 the railway opened with eleven carriages conveying 550 people from Exeter. There was also a line to the docks and trains ran beyond to Budleigh Salterton, Newton Poppleford, and Tipton St John.
Manor Gardens
The gardens at Manor House were designed by Harold Peto, one of the country’s most celebrated landscape architects. They combine the styles of Italian, Byzantine, and ancient Roman gardens with an important collection of classical sculpture.
You can visit the gardens at any time of year, but you may need to pay a small entrance fee. The gardens are also open for a few events throughout the year, such as Community Days and wild flower planting.
The seafront gardens are a huge attraction for visitors to Exmouth and are well cared for by East Devon District Council. They were once part of the Marpool Hall estate and include fine mature trees, including a Lucombe Oak planted in 1726 and wide spacious lawns. They are also home to a number of water features and a large pond with fountains and a boating lake.
During the summer, the gardens are bursting with colour thanks to the annual seafront festival that takes place every June. There are a variety of performances and activities across three days, from live music to dance, art workshops, and a seafront arts trail.
The route is mainly on pavements and paths and is suitable for wheelchair users, small mobility scooters (4mph), power chairs and larger mobility scooters. The route is also accessible to families with pushchairs.
A La Ronde
A La Ronde is a one-of-a-kind 16-sided house that was built by two spinster cousins after returning from their Grand Tour of Europe. They were inspired by the 6th-century Byzantine Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna for the quirky geometrical design, which features a central octagonal structure. The sisters filled it with souvenirs from their travels, including a shell gallery, feather frieze and a melange of oddities.
It is believed that Jane Parminter was the driving force behind the building of A La Ronde. She and her sister Mary returned home from the ten-year-long trip as cultural tourists, and the house was designed as both their cottage and an art display case for their treasures. Mary continued to decorate the house between 1811 and her death in 1849, but it is generally assumed that Jane was responsible for the overall vision of A La Ronde.
The house is now a Grade I listed building and the site also includes the Point-in-View chapel, an almshouse and a manse. It is managed by the National Trust.
The grounds of the property are open to the public, and include a large walled garden with a rose arbour and a collection of 18th-century statues and other sculptures. Other attractions include the world’s oldest galloping carousel, which was featured at Expo 67.
Town Beach
Located right by the township, Town Beach is a perfect spot to take a dip or explore the sand for treasures the tide has washed up. Surfing, stand up paddleboards and fishing are all popular pastimes here too. The beach is also a famous vantage point for whale sharks during the months of August – November.
You’ll find plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby too if you’re looking to fuel up. If you prefer something a little more relaxed, why not head to Manor Gardens and pack a picnic? Or, you can enjoy a meal at the local brewery and pub, The Froth Craft Brewery.
For some unique things to do in Exmouth, you can’t go past the Hawkridge Bird of Prey Centre. This thriving sanctuary is open 365 days a year and offers real hands-on experiences with these incredible creatures.
The beaches around Ningaloo are also a well-known nesting site for the three species of turtles that call this area home. During mating and nesting season, which runs from September to December, you can see a plethora of turtles on the shores as they prepare to hatch their eggs. A number of tour companies offer turtle watching and nesting tours as part of their Ningaloo experiences. The Ningaloo Reef Marine Park is a World Heritage-listed marine conservation reserve, so make sure you respect it.
Bullara Station
Bullara Station, located between Coral Bay and Exmouth on the Burkett Road, is a working cattle station that offers visitors a genuine outback experience. The station is massive (over 250,000 acres) and spans across a diverse landscape offering a multitude of activities.
Guests can camp in either powered or unpowered sites at the station. The newest style of accommodation is glamping, where you sleep in a Tepee tent with a comfortable foam mattress, solar and battery powered lighting, crockery and cutlery and a camp kitchen. The station also has two self-contained cottages, Hale Hut, which can be booked together or separately and sleep up to 6.
A top notch cafe with amazing scones (GF available) is at the entrance to the property. The famous Damper tasting at 5pm 3 days a week, burger nights on Fridays, a variety of dinner cookouts each week and other special events are part of the station stay experience at Bullara.
The homestead at Bullara is a one of a kind place to stay. Designed by Priest Architect, Monsignor John Hawes it is full of interesting history and a great base to explore the region from. There are many walking trails on the property and a curious kangaroo and a herd of sheep to meet. It is a short drive to Exmouth Gulf and a good spot to base yourself for day trips to Ningaloo Reef.
