Perth Day Trips

Perth the capital of Western Australia was the final destination of our road trip of from Darwin. We loved Perth so much we decided to extend our stay a few weeks to immerse ourselves in the vibe of the city and explore some of the nearby locations by taking Perth day trips to nearby towns. Although we managed to see many places there are so many more we didn’t get to see.

Therefore, to plan our next visit or for anyone that intends visiting Perth we reached out to ask fellow bloggers to share some of their favourite spots, for Perth Day Trips.

John Forrest National Park

By Nadia from Healthy Mindful Glow

Located just 40 minutes from the Perth CBD is one of Australia’s oldest conservation areas, John Forrest National Park. John Forrest is the perfect destination for day trips from Perth, especially for people looking to escape the hustle and the bustle of the city and explore the unique wildlife that Western Australia has to offer.

John Forrest National Park is best known for its picturesque hiking trails as well as the two waterfalls that flow in winter and spring. There are seven hiking trails in total, ranging from a leisurely 300m walk (Jane Brook Promenade), to a 16km moderate difficulty loop (Eagle View), perfect for more those more determined hikers.

Being protected since 1898, John Forrest National Park is flourishing with native wildlife. If you visit during spring, you will be able to experience the explosion of wildflowers. Witness the beauty of the heart-leaf flame pea and the feather flower. In fact, the area is home to over 500 species of flora!

Year round, birdwatchers will delight in spotting some of the 90 bird species, including majestic wedge-tailed eagles. Visitors may be lucky enough to see an echidna and the Western grey kangaroos can be commonly seen throughout the park, especially in the early morning or late afternoon.

The Park is accessible by paying a $12 entry fee per vehicle, and there are various car parks around the site with ample parking. There are toilet, barbecue, and picnic facilities within the national park, but you can also finish off your day trip by relaxing with an ice-cold beer at John Forrest Tavern. Just expect a visit from a local Kangaroo and protect your hot chips from the cheeky magpies! 

Swan Valley Wine Cruise

By Alan from Frequent Traveller

For memorable Perth day trips a cruise along the swan river is hard to beat. Combine the cruise with a visit to one of Swan Valleys top wineries and it is one trip you will remember for many years. During our stay in Perth, we had the pleasure of taking a full day Swan Valley Gourmet Wine cruise with Captain Cook Cruises.

Departing from Barrack Street Jetty in the centre of Perth’s CBD, the cruise took us past the picturesque skyline of the city while sampling many wines of the local region. Stopping off for a tour of Sandalford Estate Winery and enjoying a gourmet lunch we learnt about the history of the Swan Valley from our expert guides and what makes this area one of Australia’s top wine producing locations.

The return cruise was full of excitement as we were entertained by the talented staff of the cruise while sampling yet more wines from not only Swan Valley, but also many of the excellent wines from the Margret River region.   

For anyone visiting Perth, no stay would be complete without taking a cruise along the Swan River. One of the most spectacular rivers in Australia.

Lancelin Sand Dunes

By Luke from Wild About BC

A short 1.5-hour drive North from Perth will take you to Lancelin Sand Dunes. This is an awesome escape from the city for the day and ideal for those who are looking for something a bit more adventurous. The sand dunes can be found directly inland from the town of Lancelin and the dunes are the highest in Western Australia. The whole area is around 2 kilometres long and you’ll easily enjoy a full day out here.

The sand dunes are open for 4-wheel drives, dirt bikes and ATVs so you can enjoy a day ripping around here. It is such a fun way to spend a few hours. Another of the most popular activities here is sandboarding and you can rent sandboards from several places in Lancelin as body boards and surfboards won’t slide well down the sand. Climb to the top of some of the three storey tall dunes and make your way down in style on your sandboard.

You don’t need a 4-wheel drive to visit here as you can drive to the edge of the dunes and walk around the area. From the top you’ll get stunning views over the sand dunes, surrounding farmland, Lancelin town and out to the coast, especially at sunrise or sunset. This is one of the most fun days out you can have near Perth and is perfect for adventurers who want to get some adrenaline going.

Driven Swan Valley Wine Tour

By Bailey from Destinationless Travel 

The Swan Valley is a beautiful wine region located just outside of Perth city. One of the best ways to visit the Swan Valley is on a day trip on a driven tour. This way, you explore all of the best attractions the Swan Valley has to offer and learn a lot at the same time with the help of your guide.  

Besides that, you’ll also be able to enjoy wine tastings at many different cellar doors without having to worry about having a designated driver – your guide will take care of that! You’ll be picked up and dropped off at your accommodation in Perth, so you can enjoy all the wine that the Swan Valley is famous for, and you’ll likely end up a little tipsy! 

Many Swan Valley tours from Perth also include stops at other attractions in the area too including a chocolate factory and other boutique shops. 

From Perth, the Swan Valley is about a 40-minute drive. Driven tours there usually last for about 6 hours. You can expect to pay around $120 AUD per person for a tour that includes wine tastings and even lunch! Of course, if you don’t want to do a guided tour, you can always drive yourself to the Swan Valley and do your own “self-guided” tour. Most of the wineries in the Swan Valley have cellar doors that are open to the public, and most of them also offer free tastings! Whistler’s Chocolate Factory also offers free chocolate samples, so be sure to stop there too! 

The truth is, no matter how you visit the Swan Valley you’re sure to enjoy it. It is one of the best things to do in Perth, so don’t miss out! 

Visit the town of Collie

By Megan from The Common Adventure

Looking for somewhere to head on a day trip from Perth? Located just 2 hours out of Perth is the regional mining town of Collie. Even though the town is small, Collie is a destination filled with so many unexpected attractions!

Throughout the Collie River Valley in the Wellington National Park you’ll find plenty of options for spending your day in the area. Here you can go hiking, swimming, fishing, take a scenic drive or head into town for a coffee or pub meal.

The two most popular spots to visit in the area are Honeymoon Pools and Black Diamond Lake. Both are great swimming spots, especially during the warmer months. Honeymoon Pools is beautifully shaded, with cool running water to play in. From here you can take a hike along the Collie River to find spots to go fishing for brown trout and rainbow trout. Black Diamond Lake is an extremely unique spot, popular for its turquoise blue water.

If you feel like exploring the area by car, follow the scenic Lennard Drive which will take you through the Wellington National Park. The drive begins at the bottom of the dam wall near the Kiosk by the Dam. As you drive, keep an eye out for The Rapids, Big Rock, Little Rock and Long Pool.

Wellington Dam is a great spot if you’re looking for a day out on the water. There are areas designated for motor boats, or take a canoe to paddle around the dam.

With so many natural attractions, the hardest part about your visit will be choosing which one to experience!

Check out Things to do in Dunsborough

By Luke from The Coastal Campaign

Dunsborough is one of the most incredible places in Western Australia and makes for an amazing day out from Perth. This small coastal town is full of boutique shops, great restaurants, wineries, breweries and some sensational beaches. It is 250 kilometres south of Perth and will take around 2 hours 45 minutes to drive here.

One of the best things to do here is to drive along Cape Naturaliste to discover some of the beaches and the best thing is that most of them are not even busy. While all the beaches along the cape are beautiful, the pick of the bunch are Castle Rock, Meelup and Bunker Bay. These beaches have white sand, crystal clear blue water and are surrounded by deep orange rocks that provide an amazing contrast of colour. And if you visit between September and November, make sure to keep an eye out for whales swimming just off the coast.  

Once you have had your fill of relaxing at the beach you can enjoy one of the wineries like Wise or Palmers or if you prefer locally brewed beer then check out Eagle Bay Brewery. All of these places also serve delicious food or you can try out some of the other great restaurants or pubs in town to get a bite to eat.  

It might make for a longer day trip from Perth but it is absolutely worth the journey as Dunsborough is such a beautiful place with so many great things to do.

Penguin Island Day Visit

By Ariana from World of Travels with Kids

One of our favourite Perth day trip is to Penguin Island in Rockingham.  There are many things that make it a great excursion, but let’s start with its accessibility – it’s a 45 minute drive from the Perth CBD to the Penguin Island ferry terminal, meaning that you don’t spend hours in the car before the day’s adventure begins.  (Or, better still, it is also 100% accessible using public transport which is a bonus for those travelling without a car).

Even though Penguin Island is located less than a kilometre offshore, you still need to catch a fun little ferry over to the island.  You could spend the day sunbathing, kayaking or doing some short hikes – and that would be fulfilling. However, we highly recommend doing one of the talks at the Penguin Island Discovery Centre and getting a close up look at the penguins the island is named for.  If you just do the ferry and the discovery centre it’s a budget friendly day – if you are looking to see other sea life like sea lions and seals, then a cruise in Shoalwater Bay is highly recommended.  It is, however, an extra cost!  We cover our day at Penguin Island in our detailed a day visit to Penguin Island.

Perth day trips to Margaret River

By Kate from Miss Tourist

This beautiful sleepy surf town is a favourite day trip amongst Perth locals and visitors alike. Not only is it a popular spot for surfing some of the best waves on the west coast, but Margaret River also boasts lush wineries, sheltered bays, and plenty of opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities. If you are lucky enough to visit in winter, make sure to keep your eyes on the horizon as Margaret River boasts the longest migratory period for Antarctic whales in Australia!

Margaret River makes for the perfect day trip thanks to its relatively close location to Perth and its relaxed atmosphere with the ability to give you the holiday feeling every day of the week. Make sure to explore the huge chambers of Mammoth Cave or any of the 150 limestone caves found in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Visit the farmers market every Saturday morning and catch an incredible sunset from surfers point.

Looking for accommodation at Margaret River? See our recommendations for the best places to stay here.

Take day trips from Perth to Rottnest Island

By Victoria from Guide Your Travel

Rottnest Island might just be the most popular day trip from Perth. Many travellers actually come to the city just to visit the island which is no surprise considering how beautiful it is. The ferry to Rottnest Island leaves from the little seaside town of Fremantle which sits south of the city centre of Perth. Trips to Rottnest can get quite popular during the warmer months so definitely book in advance if possible.

The ride takes around 30 minutes and can get a bit bumpy during rough seas. It’s more than worth it though! The beaches of Rottnest Island are absolutely gorgeous and some of the best in the area. The Basin and Salmon Bay are some of the most beautiful on the island and should be high on your list of things to see. The best way to get around Rottnest Island is by bike. There are only very few cars allowed on the island so biking is a lot of fun.

Keep an eye out for the little marsupial animals called quokkas. They inhabit Rottnest Island and are popular photo subjects. They’re very friendly towards humans but be careful not to feed them as it might harm their ecosystem.

The Pinnacles

By Alana from Family Bites Travel

When we lived in Western Australia, we always included a visit to The Pinnacles Desert whenever we had a visitor. The 2-hour drive north of Perth makes it ideal for day trips from Perth by car. 

The Pinnacles are 25,000 to 30,000-year-old limestone formations found within the Nambung National Park.  The Pinnacles are unique limestone structures. It is like wandering around an alien landscape.

It is a beautiful and wondrous place to visit. To view the Pinnacles, you can either drive the desert loop, stopping along the way to explore the rock structures. There is a lookout and is a highlight to see the entire landscape. The drive is one-way, and there are only a few places to stop, so make sure you stop whenever you can.

The Nambung National Park is a naturally beautiful area but surrounded by little else. It is good to either bring a packed picnic lunch or incorporate a visit to the closest town – Cervantes. If you need fuel, Cervantes is the nearest town, a 25km drive north.

Lake Thetis is somewhere to visit when you are visiting the Cervantes and Pinnacles desert region. You can see living fossils called marine stromatolites. We saw native wildlife when we saw walked around the lake. The Pinnacles region makes for the ideal day trip from Perth.

Last words on Perth Day Trips

This is a snapshot of some of the many places to visit from Perth. There are of course so many more nearby and further afield.

So, whether you’re a local of Perth or visiting as part of a road trip throughout this vast state of Australia, we hope we have inspired you with our list of day trips from Perth. Do you have a favourite day trip from Perth? let us know!

You may also be interested in our article on where to stay during your visit to Perth.

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