Families responded enthusiastically to HikeWest’s recently concluded Family Hiking Program; discovering the joys of hiking near Perth. The program offered a total of eight free guided walks in nature at seven different bushland locations across the Perth Metro and Peel regions. A total of 197 participants – an average of 25 per walk – benefited from the program between September 2025-June 2026.
The short bushwalks were specially designed to be fun and engaging for children, and relaxing for adults; and to boost family wellbeing through experiencing the great physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors together, away from screens and daily distractions.
Focus group research in collaboration with NaturePlay, that preceded the program, delivered valuable insights for developing tailored resources for children on the hikes. The resources proved extremely popular with the kids and ensured the hikes were a social, fun experience for them and their parents.
The research also identified the hurdles that keep many families from exploring the outdoors – like lack of experience, safety concerns, not knowing where to go, and cultural and language barriers. The program was in part designed to tackle those issues, making bushwalking accessible and fun for everyone. HikeWest also supplied a new information flyer of family-friendly walks in Perth and surrounds.
A number of the walks were guided by the WA Family Bushwalking Club (WAFBC) – a successful collaboration with a HikeWest member club. Having club people leading the delivery on the day, added value in terms of local knowledge of the trails and natural environments, and got participants talking with more experienced club hikers about the opportunities for ongoing parcipation, including through club membership. Not surprisingly, snacks provided at the end of the walks also proved to be a popular additional catalyst for that social interaction.
HikeWest is grateful to Nature Play WA for jointly delivering the initial phase of the program, and to the WA Government for funding support through a Hiking Participation Program grant.
Posted August 2026.
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