Articles & Guides

Stories, guides and practical tips for exploring Western Australia. 79 articles and counting.

Zig Zag Scenic Drive walks worth the short stop

Zig Zag Scenic Drive walks worth the short stop

Zig Zag Scenic Drive walks don't need a full day pack. Here's which short stops in the Perth Hills actually earn the brake lights, and which don't.

Perth to Fremantle by bike: the full commuter run reviewed

Perth to Fremantle by bike: the full commuter run reviewed

Twenty-odd flat kays along the Swan River, one annoying pinch point and a decent coffee stop at the end. Here's the Perth to Fremantle bike commute, rated properly.

When a Perth trail day should really be a South-West weekend

When a Perth trail day should really be a South-West weekend

Some walks are worth a quick Perth day trip, others aren't. Here's how I work out when a South-West weekend trip beats the long drive-home grumble.

Why autumn is the best time to walk the Perth Hills

Why autumn is the best time to walk the Perth Hills

Cooler mornings, reopened trails and empty carparks make Perth Hills in autumn the season I'd actually recommend, once the summer crowds and fire closures clear.

Whiteman Park bike loops: flat, shaded and underrated

Whiteman Park bike loops: flat, shaded and underrated

Whiteman Park's bike loops are flat, mostly shaded, and quieter than the riverside runs everyone raves about. Here's what the surface and gradient actually look like.

Serpentine Falls walk: what the track notes leave out

Serpentine Falls walk: what the track notes leave out

5.4km, grade 3, granite that turns to soap when it's wet. Here's what the Serpentine Falls walk actually asks of you, once you get past the car park sign.

Canning River path: Perth's quieter riverside ride

Canning River path: Perth's quieter riverside ride

The Canning River path skips the Swan's crowds and selfie traffic. Here's the surface, the gravel bits and why it's flat out worth the detour.

Beeliar Wetlands walk: a quiet Perth loop most locals still miss

Beeliar Wetlands walk: a quiet Perth loop most locals still miss

The Beeliar Wetlands walk is a proper quiet loop south of the river that most of Perth drives straight past on the way to somewhere louder.

Dwellingup by bike: the old timber town's rail-trail hub explained

Dwellingup by bike: the old timber town's rail-trail hub explained

Dwellingup by bike means one thing on the trail network: the old timber town where the Munda Biddi Trail meets a servo, a pub and a decent bakery. Here's how the loop actually rides.

Day trips from Perth built around a walk or a ride

Day trips from Perth built around a walk or a ride

Skip the driving and let a walking track or bike path shape your day trip from Perth. Here's how I plan mine, hills to river, with real gear and timing tips.

Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail: a WA rail-and-water history ride

Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail: a WA rail-and-water history ride

The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail traces C.Y. O'Connor's water scheme out of Mundaring. Here's the honest read on surface, gradient and whether it's worth the saddle time.

Lake Leschenaultia swimming and walking in the Perth Hills

Lake Leschenaultia swimming and walking in the Perth Hills

Lake Leschenaultia swimming in Mundaring is quieter than the postcards suggest, with a sandy shore, hills walking tracks and history as an old goldfields reservoir.

Rottnest Island by bike: the full loop broken down properly

Rottnest Island by bike: the full loop broken down properly

The Rottnest Island bike loop is 22km of sealed road, wind and gravel patches near the coast. Here's what the full loop actually involves, gear-wise and effort-wise.

PSP commuting vs riverside leisure riding: which suits you

PSP commuting vs riverside leisure riding: which suits you

Principal shared paths and riverside loops solve different problems. Here's how to pick between PSP commuting and leisure riding around Perth based on your actual ride, not the postcard version.

Riding Perth in summer without cooking yourself

Riding Perth in summer without cooking yourself

Perth summer riding done right: earlier starts, shaded paths over scenic ones, correct tyre pressure, and a proper backup plan for the days that hit 40.

Perth Hills waterfalls that only run in winter, and where to find them

Perth Hills waterfalls that only run in winter, and where to find them

Perth Hills waterfalls only run for a few soggy months each year, and timing matters more than the walk itself. Here's what actually flows, and when.

Kwinana Freeway path: how far south you can actually ride

Kwinana Freeway path: how far south you can actually ride

The Kwinana Freeway path looks endless on the map. I rode the real southern limits, checked the surface, and found where it actually gets rough.

Whiteman Park on foot: what kids actually enjoy

Whiteman Park on foot: what kids actually enjoy

Forget the paid attractions list. Here's what actually gets a reaction from kids walking Whiteman Park, from the Bennett Brook Railway to Mussel Pool.

WA's old rail trail bike paths: a quick tour

WA's old rail trail bike paths: a quick tour

A rundown of WA's rail trail bike paths built on old railway corridors, from the Perth Hills grade to the flat run into Swan Valley, gravel and all.

Lake Monger's loop: black swans and a stroller-friendly path

Lake Monger's loop: black swans and a stroller-friendly path

Lake Monger's loop is one of Perth's easiest stroller walks, with black swans, flat paths and two solid route options depending on your pram game.

Kalamunda to Mundaring: Bibbulmun Track section done properly

Kalamunda to Mundaring: Bibbulmun Track section done properly

Twenty-two kilometres of jarrah forest between two Perth Hills towns. Here's what the Kalamunda to Mundaring section of the Bibbulmun Track actually delivers, and what it doesn't.

The coastal walks you need to time around the tide

The coastal walks you need to time around the tide

Some of WA's best coastal walks turn dangerous or disappear entirely at high tide. Here's how to time your coastal walks properly, from Esperance to Ningaloo.

Small-group walking tours in the Perth Hills worth booking

Small-group walking tours in the Perth Hills worth booking

Small-group walking tours through the Perth Hills get you past the lookout car parks and into the bush properly, without the big-bus shuffle.

Reid Highway shared path: the northern suburbs commuter route

Reid Highway shared path: the northern suburbs commuter route

The Reid Highway shared path links Malaga to the coast through Mirrabooka and Dianella. No scenery, but the surface and gradients are honest.

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