Top 10 Hikes in Western Australia

Hiking in Western Australia can lead you through sandy beaches, desert landscapes, and secluded swimming holes, just to name a few treasures. With 112 National Parks, the Coral Coast, and the Golden Outback all home to the expansive state, there's plenty to explore. To help you get out there, we've put together a list of 10 of our favourite day hikes for varying skill levels around Western Australia.

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Caution: Before any hike, always check relevant park management websites for updated information on track conditions, closures, or dangers. Also note that WA's heat requires necessary precautions. Water sources aren’t always readily available, so be prepared with your supply. Avoid hiking on exposed trails in sweltering temperatures, and always let someone know your itinerary before you head out.

1. Rocky Pool Walk, Kalamunda

• Duration: 1-3 hours

• Length: 4.8 km loop

• Elevation Gain: 202 m

• Need to know: This track is not recommended for beginners, due to a lack of trail markers and steep, loose footing along sections. Anticlockwise will give you a sharp incline, while clockwise features a sharp decline.

This idyllic walk traverses through the valleys of Kalamunda National Park, using a section of the multi-day Bibbulmun track. Hikers are rewarded with a refreshing dip in a swimming hole, surrounded by a turquoise clay pit and granite boulders. If you time your walk right, you’ll enjoy seasonal wildflowers and plenty of wildlife among your valley views.

2. Coastal Track, Cape Le Grand National Park

• Duration: 6 hours one way

• Length: 15 km one way

• Elevation gain: 641 m

• Need to know: Some sections of the trail are rated as difficult, especially the granite sections which become slippery when wet. Plan your walk October-December or February-April to avoid peak summer heat.

If you want to get a real sense of Australia's coastal beauty, hike the Cape Le Grand trail. An 8-hour drive southeast of Perth, Cape Le Grand National Park invites you into Hellfire Bay's waters and treats you to gorgeous views of the Recherche Archipelago. The 15 km hike can be done in a day, with most hikers starting at Rossiter Bay, walking towards a view of Lucky Bay in the distance. There are some sections across the coastal section of the walk where you will cross granite for extended periods which are slippery when wet, so plan accordingly!

3. Nancy Peak, Porongurup National Park

• Duration: 3 hours round trip

• Length: 6.6 km loop

• Elevation Gain: 479 m

• Need to know: Porongurup National Park charges a fee to enter and there are no amenities found along the way.

In the south of the state, just 40 minutes north of Albany, lies the Porongurup Ranges. These massive granite domes erupt from the surrounding flat lands, offering an ideal opportunity to capture a seemingly endless view of the region. The Nancy Peak circuit walk is a relatively easy trail that traverses the range’s main peak, beginning at the Porongurup car park. On its way to the summit, the trail passes the unique ‘Tree in the Rock’ and winds through karri forests and glades of mosses before emerging on granite outcrops. Enjoy views of the Stirling Ranges and the Southern Ocean before continuing over a few peaks and snaking back down to the car park via a pass between Nancy Peak and Devils Slide.

4. Manning Gorge, Mount Barnett Station, Kimberley

• Duration: 1-3 hours round trip

• Length: 5.8 km out and back

• Elevation Gain: 122 m

• Need to know: This trail is exposed, so be sure to head out early, wear sun protection, and bring water. The waterfalls may not be flowing in the dry season.

Accessible only by four-wheel drive, this is a short but challenging hike underneath the heat of the sun. However, the hike to Manning Gorge is worth it for that cool dip at the end. Much of the hike is across broken and loose rocks, with some scrambling as you make your way to a cool oasis.

Make this an overnight hike and camp by the evocative pools on the Manning River. Managed by the Kupungarri Community, you are welcome to respectfully explore the incredible rock art that surrounds the area.

5. Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range National Park

• Duration: 3-4 hours round trip

• Length: 6.3 km out and back

• Elevation Gain: 648 m

• Need to know: It’s not recommended to walk this trail in extreme heat, wet, or windy conditions. The weather here is unpredictable — always pack layers and a rain jacket.

One of the most popular day hikes in Western Australia, Bluff Knoll is an absolute treat. The trailhead can be found within the Stirling Range National Park, which features the only major mountain range in the southern half of the state. Bluff Knoll is the highest peak in the park, and the up-and-back track to the summit not only rewards you with impressive views over the landscape, but wildflowers, birdlife, and rock formations.

6. Yanchep Rose Trail, Yanchep National Park

• Duration: 3-4 hours

• Length: 12.9 km one way

• Elevation Gain: 180 m

• Need to know: This route is exposed, so plan to wear sun protection and take plenty of water with you.

For a bit of history and natural beauty, walk the Yanchep Rose Trail in Yanchep National Park. Passing colourful WW2 bunkers and onto a lookout point, you’ll find views of the city, river, and coastal plain. If that wasn’t enough, there are koalas and kangaroos afoot, as well as the eye-catching Yanchep Rose.

7. Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Yallingup, Cape to Cape Track, Margaret River

• Duration: 4-6 hours one way

• Length: 14 km one way

• Elevation Gain: 210 m

• Need to know: The best times to visit are September – November.

Margaret River is well known for producing excellent wines, but it's also famous for this spectacular coastal track. Not for the faint-hearted, the entire trail winds 123 km from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, connecting each destination’s lighthouse via some of WA’s most pristine beaches. The trail consists of old 4WD tracks, constructed pathways, firm well-graded tracks, rough stony paths, and sandy beaches, plus multiple entry points for day hikes. We suggest starting at the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and ending at Yallingup, which will meander along panoramic views, wildlife, and end at the popular Yallingup surf breaks.

8. Kingfisher Trail, Walyunga National Park

• Duration: 1.5 hours

• Length: 5.8 km loop

• Elevation Gain: 129 m

• Need to know: The Walyunga National Park charges a fee to enter.

Located in Walyunga National Park, this track walks through a forest of burnt eucalypt trunks and an impressively thick understory of regrowth. The track follows the Swan River upstream to Syd’s Rapids, a meandering stream in drier months and a roaring river in winter. If you're lucky, you may be able to spot kangaroo along the trail.

9. Whistlepipe Gully and Lesmurdie Falls Loop

• Duration: 2-2.5 hours

• Length: 6.8 km loop

• Elevation Gain: 278 m

• Need to know: Dog-friendly, on a leash. Arrive early on weekends, this track gets crowded fast.

This circuit combines two walks in the Mundy Regional Park — Whistlepipe Gully and Lesmurdie Falls. This track is relatively easy and features a few hill climbs along that way, leading you to great vistas. Even better, it's common to spot kangaroos and hear croaking frogs while walking along!

10. Meelup Reserve Trail, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

• Duration: 1.5-2 hours one way

• Length: 6.9 km point to point

• Elevation Gain: 78 km

• Need to know:

The Meelup Reserve Trail offers coastal treats to any day hiker. A fairly simple walk, you'll meander along the beaches of Geographe Bay, with plenty of spots to dip into the waters, whale watch, and gaze at the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse. Once you've had your fill of the beach, you'll wind your way past beach shacks and into coastal scrub to make your way to...you guessed it — another beach! Meelup offers up white sand and tranquil waters, sheltered from the prevailing winds, making it a great spot for the whole family.

Finally, you'll ascend a hill only to descend into Eagle Bay for more beach time, but this time with a cafe. A pretty dreamy walk, if you ask us.