Winter in Perth, or perhaps a better definition from the Noongar calendar, Djilba (Aug-Sep), is the best time of year to get out and explore the fantastic trails we have. With the coldest and wettest part of the year over, the days start getting longer, and the wildflowers and orchids will be out in force. Pack your bag, grab the camera, and plan a trip out to one of these amazing spots.
Eagle View Walk Trail, John Forrest National Park
One of the best trails in Perth, and the premier trail in John Forrest National Park, the Eagle View Walk Trail offers a great variety of scenery, and the recently upgraded trail provides a much better walking experience. Running parallel to Jane Brook for the first section, you get lovely valley views, including a couple of waterfalls, before climbing up to join the mixed Jarrah and Wandoo Forest for the remainder of the trail. With a sprinkling of granite, lots of colour from the wildflowers, and a few flowing creeks, this will deliver a fantastic day out.
Two Mountains Hike, Monadnocks Conservation Area
Taking in a section of the Bibbulmun Track accessed from Albany Highway, the hike from Sullivan Rock to the Monadnocks Campsite will get the blood pumping, and the legs burning. Climbing up and over both Mount Vincent and Mount Cuthbert, you are not short on epic views from both slopes across the expansive Jarrah Forests. Mix in the impressive wildflower display, and some quality forest leading to the Monadnocks Campsite, this is a popular hike for a reason. You can loop back via the flatter but less impressive Herold Road, or tackle the hills again by walking back the way you came.
Quenda Trail, Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary
The middle option in terms of length at the privately owned Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary, the Quenda Trail provides all the highlights of the longer Numbat Trail, with great views over the Avon River Valley, sections of golden Wandoo, and plenty of wildflowers and orchids. If you are up for the extra challenge, then the Numbat Trail provides an extra loop off the Quenda Trail but for an all-natural experience, the Quenda Trail is the one to pick.
Mundaring Weir to Hewett’s Hill
Another lovely section of the Bibbulmun Track close to Perth, there is plenty of variety to enjoy as you hike from the dam wall to the first of the campsites along the 1000km Bibbulmun Track. Getting great views of Lake CY O’Connor from the Golden Lookout, you walk through some scenic forest before reaching the iconic three-sided shelter at Hewett’s Hill that is the first stop for many heading all the way to Albany. Head back the way you came, and enjoy a well-earned meal at the Mundaring Weir Hotel after your hike.
Mark Pybus is a Perth-based hiker, photographer, and writer who shares his hiking experiences at The Life of Py.
Published July 2025.
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