Categories > Guides and Tips
This guide to Perth Hills shows you all its scenic attractions!
- Things to Know
- How to Get Here
- Where to Stay
- Mundaring Weir Hotel
- Hidden Valley Eco Lodges & Day Spa
- Mahogany Inn and Distillery
- Where to Eat
- Seven Sins Perth Hills
- Masonmill Restaurant and Beer Garden
- Mason & Bird
- Things to Do
- Pose and pick fruits at S&R Orchard Perth
- Stargaze at Perth Observatory
- Have a picnic at Lake Leschenaultia
- Retail Therapy at Kalamunda Artisan Market
- Time-travel in Kalamunda History Village
- Trek through Lesmurdie Falls National Park
- Sweat it out at the Bibilmun Track
- Soak in gorgeous views at the Zig Zag Scenic Drive
- Explore the bushland at Araluen Botanic Park
Ever scrolled past an Insta dump with wildflowers, granite edges, bush tracks, waterfalls, orchards, and heritage townships thrown together? Odds are, you were looking at Perth Hills.
You see, the region shows off some of WA’s most dramatic scenery, thanks to its sitting on the Darling Scarp! The shocking bit is that it’s just less than an hour from Downtown Perth.
Perth Hills is huge, though, so hiring a guide isn’t a dodgy move if you want to know the best stops, feeds, and snooze spots. But if you’d rather save the pennies for the adventures, we have a free one below.
Things to Know
Map
Travel Time from the Perth CBD: 43 mins (43.3 km) via Canning Rd/State Route 41 and State Route 8
How to Get Here
By Train: From the Perth CBD, the Perth Hills is accessible via the Airport line, which you can board at Perth Stn Platform 8. It will take you to High Wycombe Stn, where you must transfer to bus line 276, heading to Kalamunda Bus Stn.
By Bus: Perth Hills can also be reached via a direct bus ride from Perth, mainly through bus line 655, available at Perth Stadium Bus Stn Perth Stadium Stand 7. Similar to bus line 276, it stops at Kalamunda Bus Stn.
By Car: Where to park in Perth Hills depends on your destination and plans, with the most popular spots being Perth Hills Discovery Centre Campground and John Forrest National Park, as well as the main town hubs like Mundaring and Kalamunda.
By Taxi: For those planning to hop in a taxi, we have a breakdown below of Perth’s usual taxi fares.
| Tariff 1 – 6 am to 5:59 pm | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $5.10 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Tariff 2 – 6 pm to 5:59 am (including all day Saturday and Sunday) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Ultra Peak (12 am to 02:59 am on Friday and Saturday only) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 + $4.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
Where to Stay
Mundaring Weir Hotel
From mundaringweirhotel_
Address: Mundaring Weir Rd & Hall Rd
Contact Details: +61 8 9295 1106
Check-in: 2 pm
Check-out: 11 am
Pricing: $$
Website
“Established in 1898.” Once our crew saw that tag, we had to book our stay at the Mundaring Weir Hotel, sitting pretty by the riverbanks.
Now, don’t imagine it as a dilapidated crash pad that runs on nostalgia; the 10 motel-style rooms are modern, with fancy bits like air-conditioning, TVs, and fireplaces. The sweeter part, though, is that they gaze toward gardens or the nearby woodland.
As for where to snooze, well, that depends on your group’s size, since there are no VIP suites or anything of that sort, just twin and double rooms. In our case, we opted for the roomier option and requested bunk beds, sleeping four per room.
Hidden Valley Eco Lodges & Day Spa
From hidden_valley_eco
Address: 85 Carinyah Rd, Pickering Brook
Contact Details: +61 8 9293 7337
Check-in: 2:30 pm
Check-out: 11 am
Pricing: $$
Website
Romance and peace are two things worth splurging for, and there’s plenty of both at the adults-only Hidden Valley Eco. This village-style accommodation is for luxe retreats among jarrah trees, featuring spa treatments, gourmet food, and a whole lot of R&R.
Room-wise, you’re going to be cuddling and sipping wine at their signature Eco Spa Lodges. These are all self-contained and loaded with fancy amenities, such as fireplaces and heated outdoor Jacuzzis.
Most of the lodges are similar in size and features, but if you want total zen with fancier touches, book the bigger and more private Executive Pine Lodge. What’s not to love about chilling on a Balinese daybed before having a panoramic BBQ sesh on a verandah?
Mahogany Inn and Distillery
From themahoganyinnanddistillery
Address: 4260 Great Eastern Hwy, Mahogany Creek
Contact Details: +61 8 9295 1118
Check-in: 1 pm
Check-out: 11 am
Pricing: $$
Website
Mahogany Inn and Distillery (affectionately called the Ye Olde Mahogany Inne) claims the title of the Great Eastern Highway’s oldest hotel. If that doesn’t convince you to rock up, the locally brewed spirits and mid-century rooms might.
Speaking of the rooms, they’re a proper combination of old-world looks and present-day comforts. See, they’re styled using pastel colours and natural wood, then kitted with air-conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, queen or double beds, and courtyard vistas.
Where to Eat
Seven Sins Perth Hills
From sevensinsperthhills
Address: Brackenridge Village, 1 Soldiers Rd, Roleystone
Contact Details: +61 8 6290 5162
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Thu – 5 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sun – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
With dramatic views of Roleystone, Seven Sins is pure Perth Hills magic, especially during sunsets. The contemporary and global menu just sweetens the deal.
One masterpiece we still think about is the pork knuckle, an incredibly tender and savoury cut rounded out by sauerkraut and sweet apple mousse.
A cheaper but equally decadent alternative is their fillet sandwich, stacking Swiss cheese, bacon, beef, and TLC.
Masonmill Restaurant and Beer Garden
From masonmillcafeandbar
Address: 40 Masonmill Rd, Carmel
Contact Details: +61 8 9293 5157
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Thu – 11 am to 4 pm
- Fri to Sun – 8 am to 8:30 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Masonmill is another quintessential Perth Hills spot. The scran is just as low-key as the forest location, and don’t get us started on the French gardens, mini golf course, and crisp air.
In terms of bites, carb-loaded classics, such as pizza and steak sandwiches, are what they serve best. The beer-battered fish and chips, washed with either wine or tap beer (or both), are what most patrons return for, though.
Mason & Bird
From masonandbird
Address: Zig Zag Cultural Centre, 7 Williams St, Kalamunda
Contact Details: +61 456 664 349
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 8 am to 1:30 pm
- Wed to Fri – 8 am to 8 pm
- Sat to Sun – 8 am to 2 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Mason & Bird makes a solid case for the best brekkie in Perth Hills, so we gave it a shot. Inside its wood-panelled walls, the team dug into an all-day spread of familiar snacks with locally sourced ingredients.
Toasties are the crowd-pullers, though gluten-free options are lacking. The list makes up for that by offering timeless additions: PB&J, cheese with tomatoes, bacon and eggs, and shaved ham.
That said, I picked the vegetarian burger, as per the staff’s recommendation. No regrets there; the grilled zucchini fritter patty was umami, with hints of herbiness and earthy notes.
Things to Do
Pose and pick fruits at S&R Orchard Perth
From srorchard
Address: 36 Halleendale Rd, Walliston
Contact Details: +61 417 917 773
Website
You’re bound to strike poses at S&R Orchard. In September, they open the gates for the Blossom Festival, which paints the fields with cherry blossom pink.
December to March tells a different tale, a fruity one. Nectarines and plums take over the orchard around this stretch, and you can pick them up before or after hitting the food trucks and fruit stalls.
There’s a huge chance the tots won’t be nodding off either, given the abundance of kid-friendly attractions. Last year, we had a hard time pulling ours from the bouncy castle and Ferris wheel.
Stargaze at Perth Observatory
From perthobservatory
Address: 337 Walnut Rd, Bickley
Contact Details: +61 8 9293 8255
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 10 am to 4:30 pm
- Sun – 1 pm to 4 pm
Despite being over 125 years old, Perth Observatory hasn’t dimmed the slightest. In fact, it remains a hotspot for stargazing tours, astrophotography, astronomy courses, and themed parties, including a fairy-themed one!
We booked a nighttime tour not long ago, and it was a stellar experience, owing largely to the observatory’s advanced telescopes and entertaining specialists. Our team spotted nebulae, clusters, craters, and even dead stars vividly.
There are also a handful of “sun-soaked” tours, primarily the Solar Experience, where coronal injections and auroras can be observed safely. It’s budget-friendly, so you’d probably still have enough for the cosmic art workshops or museum tours.
Have a picnic at Lake Leschenaultia
From lakeleschenaultia
Address: Lake Leschenaultia
“You’d better add Lake Leschenaultia to the itinerary.” Almost everybody in the gang said that, and who could blame them? The recreational lake is set in the bushland, has kid- and paddling-friendly waters, and turns into a stargazing spot at night.
Spotting kangaroos and birds isn’t a stretch either. What’s cooler is that lucky campers enjoying their lakeside barbecue (access to the facilities is free) just might see echidnas or possums!
Those chasing rougher escapes will also be glad to know there are orienteering and cycling trails nearby. Shade comes easily with all the trees around.
Retail Therapy at Kalamunda Artisan Market
From helloperth
Address: Central Mall
Operating Hours: Sat – 8:30 am to 2 pm
Website
Kalamunda Artisan Market is why we never go home empty-handed after a Perth Hills trip. The 150-stall market gives local artisans the space to sell arts, crafts, fruits, and other regional or home-made goods.
On top of that, the atmosphere here is communal and festive. You get to indulge in light nibbles and those famed Australian pretzels while talking to locals or vibing to the buskers.
What about the kids, you ask? If they’re not into retail therapy or home-made ice cream, let them loose at the designated play zone!
Time-travel in Kalamunda History Village
From kalamundahistory
Address: Railway Rd
Contact Details: +61 8 9293 1371
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 10 am to 3 pm
- Thu – 12 pm to 3 pm
- Fri – 10 am to 3 pm
- Sat to Sun – 10 am to 4 pm
Kalamunda History Village is stuck in the past, and not in a bad way. As WA’s biggest open-air museum, this place lets us experience Perth’s bygone years, particularly through reenactments of old industries such as timber cutting and orcharding.
Our train buffs, though, ran straight to the Locomotive G118, preserved in top-notch condition. The timber-hauling engine “owned” the Zig Zag Scenic Drive and Kalamunda Line for 49 years.
The buildings never broke the immersion spell either. Having a settler’s cottage, two National Trust-listed stations (from 1903 and 1921), a WWII boarding house, and seven establishments built in 1895 will do that to any place, honestly.
Trek through Lesmurdie Falls National Park
From exploreparkswa
Address: Forrestfield
Contact Details: +61 8 9219 9000
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
The reason we swung by the Lesmurdie Falls National Park is spelled out in the name. Yup, we’re talking about the 50-metre Lesmurdie Falls, Perth Hills’ tallest cascades and my teammate’s favourite selfie spot.
To get there, the crew took the 500-metre Base Walk, starting at Palm Terrace. It’s one of the easiest trails around, since it’s mostly flat and follows Lesmurdie Brook straight to the falls’ base.
The 3-km Valley Loop Trail (Falls Road start) and 3.5-km Lesmurdie Brook Loop (Palm Terrace start) are also fantastic paths. Both are a tad steep, but those valley panoramas and wildflower-lined passages (in spring) are worth the trek.
Sweat it out at the Bibilmun Track
From bibbulmun
Address: Bibbulmun Track, Kalamunda
Contact Details: +61 8 9481 0551
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
Anybody who completes the 1,000-km Bibilmun Track is a legend. That said, you don’t need Superman-level attributes to enjoy its highlights, mainly the wandoo, jarrah, and marri woodlands.
For starters, the starting point in Kalamunda already offers plenty of stops that don’t require an 8-week grind to reach. Lake CY O’Connor and Mundaring Weir are the best examples of that.
Soak in gorgeous views at the Zig Zag Scenic Drive
From perth_life
Address: 1 Zig Zag Scenic Dr, Gooseberry Hill
Operating Hours: Daily – 11 am to 8:30 pm
Website
The “scenic” in Zig Zag Scenic Drive isn’t a cap. This 3-km, one-way stretch in Gooseberry Hill has some of the Darling Ranges’ most head-turning sights, best soaked in during the golden hour.
Better yet, you get to enjoy the hillside, bushland, and city scenes while zigzagging through hairpin curves, hence the name.
Gooseberry Hill National Park is also along the route. It’s a 33-hectare park with seasonal wildflowers (September to November), kookaburras, kangaroos, and native trees.
Explore the bushland at Araluen Botanic Park
From araluenbotanicpark
Address: 362 Croyden Rd, Roleystone
Contact Details: +61 8 9234 2200
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 5 pm
Website
Hidden in a 59-acre native forest, Araluen Botanic Park turned us into hardcore flora stans. That’s no shocker, considering this flowery space is internationally acclaimed for its roses and camellias.
The 15-acre gardens don’t do off-seasons either. Summer pops with greens, winter comes with soft flowers, autumn features fiery shades, and spring is a proper treat to the eyes, with 250,000 tulips as the centrepiece.
