The Best Walks in Perth & Surrounds for Your Next Weekend Hike
These boots were made for walking, especially on eight of the best walking trails Perth and surrounds has to offer.
It’s no surprise our vast state has countless walking trails; many registered and some that only the locals know about. Year-round mild temperatures teamed with incredible scenery leave you with no choice but to lace up your hiking boots and hit the best walking trails Perth and surrounds so effortlessly provide. Set yourself up for success with a hearty breakfast and be prepared for the track ahead with some of Perth’s best sandwiches. And don’t forget, leave no trace and only take photos and memories.
The Numbat Walking Trail - Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary
Only an hour out of Perth in the stunning Avon Valley, Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary offers a number of spectacular walking trails through jarrah, wandoo and powderbark forest combined with heathland and riparian habitat.
We're partial to the Numbat Walking Trail, a medium-hard 12 kilometre track that takes approximately 6 to 9 hours to complete. This solid day walk also incorporates parts of the Quenda and Possum trails . It provides a wonderful challenge to experienced walkers, and will reward them with a wide variety of natural features from creek lines to granite outcrops and wildflower displays, to open powderbark forest.
Self-guided walks can be arranged during our open season. Find out more here.
Length: 12km
Time: 6 to 9 hours
Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary has now closed for the season - back in 2024
Clenton Road, Gidgegannup
Bush to Beach Trail
The western suburbs aren’t only known for the swanky homes of Perth’s elite. Cradled by the Swan River, the Bush to Beach Trail begins at Rosalie Park in Shenton Park and forms part of the Whadjuk Trails. Suitable for all levels of walkers, the unsealed section to Reabold Hill in Bold Park requires a moderate level of fitness. You’ll need about half a day to thoroughly enjoy this one-way trail ending at Grant Street in Cottesloe, rewarding your efforts with views of the Indian Ocean and Perth skyline. It's one of the best walks Perth has to offer.
Length: 16.3km one way
Time: 5 hours
Lions Lookout Trail
Within Korung National Park, you’ll meander through wandoo woodlands, granite outcrops and towering forests along the Lions Lookout Trail. Against a backdrop of sweeping vistas of Perth’s Swan Coastal Plain and the Bickley Brook Valley, this trail is a leisurely way to spend the afternoon and begins and ends at the Welshpool Road East car park in Lesmurdie. Time your visit between August to October during wildflower season for even more inspiring vistas. It's one of the best walks in Perth for stunning scenery.
Length: 4km loop
Time: 1-2 hours
Wadjemup Bidi
See the island of Rottnest from a whole new perspective with a hike along the Wadjemup Bidi.
Spanning 45 kilometres and threading its way through the island, the Bidi — meaning "trail" or "track" in Noongar — is made up of five sections. Each unique stretch displays culturally and environmentally significant landmarks, providing balanced opportunity for historical reflection and celebration of the island’s natural beauty.
With five walking trails to enjoy, they cover all the best bits of the island and many places you can only reach by foot. Each section is accessible along the bus stops around the island, so you can pick and choose which ones you want to do without worrying about how to get back to the main settlement.
Sitchu Tip: Make sure to pack your flippers and snorkel to enjoy the many amazing snorkelling spots around the island. Or, bring a book and your towel, find a secluded beach and relax in the sun.
Length: 45 kilometres
Rottnest Island, Western Australia
Kitty’s Gorge
The Kitty's Gorge Walk is a delightful trail hidden away in the hills near Jarrahdale. It's a fantastic hike, especially when the waters of Gooralong Brook and the Serpentine River are flowing.
Along the way you get to explore the lush forests and granite gorges that have been carved into the landscape over millions of years, with a great variety of wildflowers lining the trail from winter into spring.
The grand finale of the trail is Serpentine Falls, sitting pretty at the turnaround point of the hike. This is a popular swimming spot during the warmer months, with excellent BBQ facilities also on hand to ensure a perfect day out for your group of friends or family.
Length: 17.5km loop
Serpentine National Park, Jarrahdale
Lake Monger
Situated in Glendalough and running adjacent to the Mitchell Freeway, the 3.5km trail around Lake Monger is practically a walk in the park for the locals. Start at any of the car parks around the 110-hectare lake and enjoy the interpretative plaques providing historical facts. Since you’re only five kilometres from Perth’s CBD, the iconic skyline hovers nearby with views from the Dodd Street end of the walk. One of the most relaxed and charming walking trails Perth can be proud of.
Length: 3.5km loop
Time: 1 hour
Hot tip: You could combine the Lake Monger trail with a food trail in nearby Leederville.
Baigup Wetland
The Baigup Wetlands is home to over 80 native birds and fauna and the one-kilometre boardwalk is a leisurely stroll many enjoy in the soft dusk glow or golden aftermath at sunset. The trail hugs the Swan River from the Kelvin Street/Swan View Terrace in Maylands to the Garrett Road Bridge in Bayswater, where there is a car park, toilets, picnic area and playground. With a flat Grade 1 rating, this is accessible for all fitness levels, including wheelchairs and prams.
Length: 2km round-trip
Time: 40 minutes
Noble Falls Walk Trail
A leisurely stroll along Wooroloo Brook rewards with blooming wildflowers in spring and waterfalls in winter. The Noble Falls Walk Trail begins and ends at the Noble Falls picnic area opposite the tavern off Toodyay Road. Good news: You mightn’t even need to walk that far along the 3.6km trail to see the falls or abundant wildlife.
Length: 3.6km loop
Time: 1 hour
Hardey Road Bushwalking Circuit
Except for those living in the Perth Hills, most Perthians probably haven't hiked the Hardey Road Bushwalking Circuit in Glen Forrest, that trails through Beelu National Park. Apart from the kangaroos, kookaburras and lizards, you’ll probably have it all to yourself, which is a thrilling prospect as it’s rumoured to be haunted after an alleged murder occurred in the 100-acre Hardey Vineyard, which burnt down in the 1940s. The undulating scenery and the occasional mountain biker catapulting over boulders and streams are worth the fear factor.
Length: 5.6km loop
Time: 2 hours
Ghost House Walk Trail
While we’re feeling all spooky, the Ghost House Walk Trail through Yanchep National Park takes you by rambling historic sites, including the remains of the Ghost House, tuart forests, banksia woodlands and the coastal heath. While in the national park, don’t miss the koala boardwalk caves, a visit to the Chocolate Drops Tearooms or a well-deserved bevvy at the Yanchep Inn.
Length: 12.4 kilometres
Time: A day
Hot tip: Enhance the experience with an overnight stay and follow one of the other trails, such as the two-kilometre Wetlands Walk Trail or the challenging three-day trek along the Coastal Plain Walk Trail.
Bibbulumun
We couldn’t miss one of the greatest walking trails of all time, best experienced between April and December either on a guided tour or independently. Signposted by serpent markers, the Bibbulmun Track spans from the Northern Terminus in Kalamunda in the Perth Hills for 1000km south to the historic town of Albany at the Southern Terminus. Trekkers from around the globe visit WA to tackle the entire track passing through 22 national parks and attractions such as Mundaring Weir and the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. But if an eight-week adventure across 49 campsites is out of the realm, day walks are available with overnight stays in country towns such as Dwellingup, Collie, Pemberton and Walpole.
Length: 2km – 1000km
Time: A day to 8 weeks
Hot tip: The track can be challenging and steep depending on the section, so preparation and bushwalking experience are recommended. To plan your trip, check out the Bibbulmun Track.
Before tackling some of the more challenging tracks, improve your stamina at these fitness and pilates studios in Perth. Check out Trails WA for more information before setting off.
