Best Hiking Trips in the South West of Western Australia
Best Hiking Trips in the South West of Western Australia
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The down south road trip is one of the great Western Australian traditions (or #douth as the young people now call it) with the basic concept of loading the car up with your family/friends and setting off for a weekend adventure (or possibly longer). There is great music, food stops, wineries and if you’re feeling active, plenty of great outdoor activities to partake in. One of the great things about these trips is the number of options you have when it comes to settling on a final location.
Depending on what you are after, there is a great variety of options to cater for everyone in the South West with mountains, surf breaks, wineries, cosy country towns and some absolutely world class forests. With so much choice the only worry is narrowing down your options to where you want to visit first. Here are a few fantastic road trip locations that offer great hiking experiences to base yourself out of for your next #douth trip.
Albany
Distance from Perth – 450km (5 hours)
Steeped in history and home to some of the greatest and truly breathtaking scenery in the South West, Albany is easily a place you can spend a few weeks and not experience everything it has to offer. With direct access from Perth along Albany Highway covering such a large distance is a breeze and there are plenty of small towns to stop in at for a sausage roll or pie. When you arrive the greater Albany area provides excellent hiking, sight-seeing, food stops, wineries, paddling and swimming. Close to the town centre is the opportunity to explore and take a trip back in time with a visit to the National Anzac Centre, which will eventually form a hiking/mountain bike trail network around the surrounding hills. Further out you have the majesty of the Stirling Range and the Porongurups or the wildness of the coastal walks, namely Bald Head Walk Trail, Two People’s Bay and the Bibbulmun Track. Albany is one of my favourite places in the world and really is a hiker’s paradise any time of year.
Highlights
– Torndirrup National Park
– Stirling Range
– National Anzac Centre
– Porongurups
– Wineries
– King George Sound
– Kalgan River
– Bibbulmun Track
– Two People’s Bay
Check out Inspiration Outdoors guided tour from Albany to Denmark on the Bibbulmun Track
Bridgetown
Distance from Perth – 250km (3 hours)
Picture winter in the South West and I’m guessing you are thinking rolling green hills, cosying up in front of a warm fire with a glass of wine and driving through pristine forests. If this comes to mind then Bridgetown is your place with an abundance of small B&Bs, wineries and walk trails to explore. Located on the South Western Hwy amongst the fertile farming land of the Blackwood River Valley, Bridgetown is the ideal winter getaway. With a great loop drive between Bridgetown, Nannup and Balingup providing the opportunity to get out and explore the area, you will certainly earn that warm fire and bottle of wine in the evening as you watch the sun set over grassy hills. There are several hiking trails of varying length ranging from the wildflower walks around Nannup, the Golden Valley Tree Park in Balingup, the immersive forest walk at Bridgetown Jarrah Park to the longer Greenbushes Loop.
Highlights
– Blackwood River
– Bridgetown to Nannup Drive
– Golden Valley Tree Park
– Bridgetown Jarrah Park
– The Cidery
– Greenbushes
Dunsborough
Distance from Perth – 250km (3 hours)
An extremely popular long weekend #douth trip is the pilgrimage to the Dunsborough area. You can guarantee that any public holiday weekend will empty the suburbs of Perth and this is the destination of choice for good reason. A very laid back area, Dunsborough, Yallingup and Margaret River is synonymous with wineries, breweries, restaurants and all kinds of food producing wonders. Booking a holiday home and enjoying a few days relaxing in this gorgeous part of the world is one of life’s delights and the area is home to some amazing trails to make you really feel like you earned all the treats that were procured along the way. Around Dunsborough there are several hikes including the Cape Naturaliste Track, Meelup Reserve Trail and Bunker Bay Loop that perfect compliment the longer 135km Cape to Cape Trail that runs N-S along the coast. If you don’t feel like lugging a big backpack around and would rather a comfy bed at the end of each day then check out Inspiration Outdoors range of options for the Cape to Cape from basic pick-up/drop-off to the full tour experience.
Highlights
– Cape to Cape Trail
– Cape Naturaliste
– Wineries Galore
– Breweries
– Restaurants
– Caves
Pemberton
Distance from Perth – 325km (4 hours)
Home to the giants of the forest, the famous Karri trees that are found only in Western Australia, Pemberton is the perfect escape for anyone looking for a nature based experience. Nestled deep in the South West, Pemberton is the only Trail Hub on the TrailsWA website and offers a range of activities from small sightseeing walks to immersive forest walks. No matter your age, experience or trail preference there will always something to suit you. For the casual visitor looking to get out and see some spectacular scenes make your way to the famous Gloucester Tree for a 53m climb on steel pegs bolted directly to the tree or simply check out the impressive Karri forest not far from the car park. Other attractions in the area include the Cascades, Beedelup Falls, Big Brook Dam and the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree that offer maximum value for very little effort. For those looking for more of a challenge or love their camping then the Warren National Park is for you with the 10km Warren River Loop Trail taking you through the forest and into some of the more beautiful campsites in Western Australia. If a forest escape is what you are after then Pemberton is the place for you.
Highlights
– Gloucester National Park
– Lavender and Berry Farm
– Warren River National Park
– Pemberton Wine Centre
– Karri Valley Resort
– Bibbulmun Track
– Pemberton Mountain Bike Park
Check out Inspiration Outdoors guided tour from Pemberton to Donnelly River on the Bibbulmun Track
Walpole
Distance from Perth – 420km (5 hours)
Perfectly located in-between the rugged Southern Ocean and the unique Tingle forests, Walpole is one of those places that you want to keep coming back to. Home to one of the more famous attractions in the South West, the Tree Top Walk, there is so much more to explore if you have the time. Being one of the longer drives from Perth you would be amiss not to enjoy a few more days in this lush paradise exploring the hiking, canoeing and mountain bike trails along with the ample food and beverage merchants along South Coast Hwy. The range of hiking trails in the area is amazing with short family walks like Circular Pool and the Swarbrick Art Loop up to longer trails in the Nuyts Wilderness Area or along one of the best rated sections of the Bibblumun Track. When you have experienced the towering forests and the weather is right then head to one of the many great locations along the coast for a dip in the Southern Ocean. Greens Pool is an idyllic spot that makes for a great swimming location and an even better photo stop. If peace and quiet is more your thing then a multi-day walk between Walpole and Denmark is one of the highlights of the Bibbulmun Track. Check out Inspiration Outdoors guided tour along this section of the Bibbulmun.
Highlights
– Tree Top Walk
– Frankland River
– Mt Frankland
– Greens Pool/Elephant Rock
– Bibbulmun Track
– Nuyts Wilderness Area
– Peaceful Bay
-Mark Pybus
Guest blogger
