Get ouf of... Perth

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Your ultimate weekend adventure guide, in WA.

1. Shoalwater Sound, Rockingham

45 min / 49 km south
Activity: Sea kayaking.
The Drawcard: Boasting a number of smaller limestone outcrops and the dual-crowns of Penguin and Seal Islands, Shoalwater Sound is a paradise for paddlers. Beginners can revel in the shielded safety of the islands, whilst the more experienced can pop out beyond the reef and chase some good swell. A well-timed lunch stop will coincide with the daily Penguin Island feeding, while the resident population of sunbaking seals are always looking for playmates.
Fuelstop: Be sure to make a pit-stop at Rockingham for fish and chips on the Esplanade.
Website

2. Yalgorup National Park

1 hr 20 min / 132 km south
Activity: Hiking.
The Drawcard: Yalgorup NP is the kind of natural gem that people speed past on their way to other, more well-known locations. It’s very rarely inundated and with 10 separate lakes strung-out along the neighbouring coastline, Yalgorup makes for sensational, solitary hiking. Pack a swag, a pair of binoculars to spy on the myriad of waterbirds that frequent the park, and your togs for a dip in the ocean.
Fuelstop: Pop into the quaint seaside village of Preston for a quick snack and essentials.
Website

3. Rottnest Island

90 mins west by ferry
Activity: Camp... and explore!
The Drawcard:  When Rottnest Island separated itself from the mainland just over 700 years ago, it isolated some jaw-dropping flora and fauna and created some truly unique environmental conditions. Therefore, in recommending ‘Rotto’ as a weekend getaway, there are only two words that need uttering: GO, EXPLORE! Jump on a ferry, scoot around on a bike, snorkel ‘til you’re shrivelled, surf, hike, sail, dive, paddle, get lost... and then flop down with a coldie in the Alison campgrounds overlooking Thomson Bay. Ahhh...
Fuelstop: There are shops, restaurants and amenities on the island to cover every need.
Website

4. Jurien Bay

3 hrs / 258 km north
Activity: Sea kayaking and fishing.
The Drawcard: Sheltered by a string of islands and reefs, Jurien Bay is a pleasant throwback to the sleepy fishing towns of yesteryear. Home to a healthy crayfishing industry, it is the perfect place to dip a paddle, tow a lure and spot whales. Hit the ocean early in the day, then spend the afternoon meandering amongst the spectacular Pinnacles before sleeping under the stars in an idyllic beachside campsite at Sandy Cape Recreational Park.
Fuelstop: Whilst on the Brand Highway north, stop in at Cataby for a leg-stretch and a snack.
Website

5. Kalamunda

30 min / 26 km east
Activity: Mountain biking.
The Drawcard: Here’s a little secret for those in the eastern states - the hills above Perth are home to some of the sweetest mountain bike trails in the country. Take the Munda Biddi Trail as an example: 950km of beautifully maintained tracks that meander from Perth to Albany through an undeveloped natural corridor of pristine forest. With purpose-built camping shelters dotting the trail and plenty of hop-in, hop-out towns along the way, the Munda Biddi can be tackled in short bursts, or over a few leisurely weeks. Of course, there are also a myriad of short, fast loops peppering the hills which the folks at Kalamunda Cycles are more than happy to fill you in on.
Fuelstop: No bike ride is complete without a coffee - you can sit and watch the world unfold at the Merchant Tea and Coffee House in Kalamunda.
Website

6. Moore River National Park, Guilderton

1 hr 40 min / 114 km north
Activity: Canoeing.
The Drawcard: Explore the beautiful Moore River by canoe from the picturesque seaside base of Guilderton. The river is paddleable upstream for about 12 km from the river mouth throughout the year and it’s also possible to do some more exciting downstream runs from higher up after good winter rains. In the national park itself, there is a fantastic campsite at Lane Poole reserve, but be warned: it’s becoming increasingly popular with school holiday crowds!
Fuelstop: How can you go past the cold beer and genuine 1973 prices of the Guilderton Country Club? Stop in for a hot feed and a long chinwag.
Website

7. Margaret River

3 hrs 30 min / 285 km south
Activity: Caving.
The Drawcard: When the words Margaret River spring to mind, caving isn’t always the first activity on the list. But it should be, as the area between Cape Leeuwin (to the south) and Cape Naturaliste (to the north) is home to more than 150 known caves - some of which are internationally renown as speliological masterpieces. There are six caves open to the public (both guided and self-guided) and a very active caving community willing to show you around underground.
Fuelstop: How can you cave without wine and cheese to come home to? Stop in at Margaret River Dairy Company, and take your pick from hundreds of wineries in the area.
Website

8. Lancelin

1 hr 30 min / 127 km north
Activity: Windsurfing, kitesurfing.
The Drawcard: Sitting in the shadows of an elbow-shaped headland jutting out into the Indian Ocean, Lancelin is Western Australia’s mecca of all things windy. In the summer, powerful southwesterlies whip up the coast and wind-junkies flock from all corners of the globe to get in on the action. There’s also some solid beach and reef breaks for surfers, the wreck of the Gilt Dragon just offshore for divers and some of the best fishing in the country.
Fuelstop: Lancelin Bakery. Cherry-ripe slice. Heaven!
Website

9. Dwellingup

1 hr 30 min / 117 km southeast
Activity: Whitewater rafting.
The Drawcard: Dwellingup is an adventure-lover’s playground with fantastic hiking, biking and fishing on show. But when the waters of the mighty Murray River are up, there is just one activity on everyone’s mind: whitewater rafting. Dwellingup Adventures run one-day trips that kick-off with a bone-crunching 4 m drop out of the Baden Powell water spout, however there are plenty of low-key options on this spectacular river, especially from November to April when the waters tone down.
Fuelstop: The Millhouse Cafe and Chocolate Company, on Dwellingup’s main street is the perfect place to replenish those spent calories.
Website

10. Wellington National Park

2 hrs 20 min / 199 km southeast
Activity: Hiking.
The Drawcard: When the weather is hot, there is no more serene place to hike than the magnificent Wellington NP, through which the iconic Collie River valley snakes. Tackle the trails in the morning, spend the hottest part of the day lazing beside a flowing river and then snuggle up at night beside a roaring fire. Densely populated with ancient Jarrah, Marri and Yarri (Blackbutt) trees, the park also comes alive in the spring when countless wildflowers flourish.
Fuelstop: The Wellington Dam Cafe located near the dam lookout does a mean marron sandwich.
Website