No better way to explore WA than with a little adventure!
Whether you have lived in Western Australia all your life, only for a few years or are traveling from elsewhere – there are nature adventure experiences to be had for all.
So get out of the city and try one of WA’s many nature meets adventure experiences.
Bluff Knoll
Put your sneakers on and let’s go for a hike up Bluff Knoll.
Standing 1,099m above sea level climbing Bluff Knoll is a round trip of about 6km and takes 3-4 hours, and can be achieved by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.
Also Popular: Climbing Bluff Knoll
On a clear day at the top, it seems like you can see forever and the view that needs to be experienced in person to be believed.
Please note it’s important to be well prepared for the trek, especially in the colder months as many people have been exposed to the cold weather during climbs (even snow).
Also Popular: Snowing in Western Australia – Bluff Knoll Winter Show
Location: Stirling Range National Park (view map)
Time from Perth: 4 hours 45mins
Where to stay: Mt Trio Bush Camp & Caravan Park
Surf and Wine
Yes this is a thing! Obviously, you don’t surf and wine at the same time.
While Margaret River is an amazing region for many reasons, there are 2 specific reasons that Margaret River is known the world over – surfing and wine.
Here is your chance to combine the two in a unique Margaret River experience. Never surfed? Never wined? Enjoy an unforgettable Margaret River surfing lesson and a personalised winery tour all in the same day.
Location: Margaret River Visitor Center (view map)
Time from Perth: 3 hours
Cost: $135 per person
For more information visit saturationsurfaris.com.au
Where to stay: Wharncliffe Mill
Sandboarding
Welcome to Australia’s premier sand boarding destination – Lancelin.
Located only 1.5 hours from Perth you will find rolling hills of pure white sand, home to Australia’s best sand boarding dunes.
The dunes are perfect for amateur and professional adrenaline seekers and are free to visit – however boards can be hired from Have A Chat General Store for $10 an hour.
While you are riding the dunes take a moment to capture the panoramic views of Lancelin and the coastline – made even better when visited during dawn or dusk.
Location: Beacon Rd, Lancelin (view map)
Time from Perth: 1 hours 30mins
Where to stay: Ledge Point Holiday Park
Sky Diving
Are you one of those crazy people who would like to jump out of a perfectly good plane?
Take in a birds-eye view of the Busselton coastline and famous jetty while you skydive from your preferred height of 8,000, 10,000, 14,000 or 15,000ft. Closer to Perth, jumps are also available above Rottnest Island.
For more infromation visit skydivegeronimo.com.au.
Location: Hangar 6, Airport Dr, Busselton (view map)
Time from Perth: 2 hours 25mins
Where to stay: Busselton Villas and Caravan Park
Valley Of The Giants
Ever dreamt of walking amongst the trees?
The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is located between Denmark and Walpole in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park approximately 4.5 hours from Perth.
This truly unique experience will see you positioned 40 metres above the ground amid the spectacular heights of the tingle forest canopy and the best part is that it’s suitable for children of all ages, wheelchairs and strollers.
For more information visit parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au.
Location: Valley of the Giants Rd, Nornalup (view map)
Time from Perth: 4 hours 30mins
Where to stay: Coalmine Beach Holiday Park
Helicopter Tours
Explore our stunning coastlines via a scenic helicopter tour.
While we mightn’t have the bright lights of a Las Vegas helicopter tour we do have some of the world’s best coastlines.
It is one thing to explore our beaches in person, but it is another to see our beaches at a grand scale in a helicopter.
For more information visit scenichelicopters.com.au
Location: Margaret River and Broome
Where to stay: Margaret River: Wharncliffe Mill Bush Retreat and Eco Tours, Broome: Palm Grove Cable Beach.
Kayaking
Not an adrenaline seeker? Kayaking might be more your speed.
From north to south you will find tranquil rivers and stunning gorges perfect for kayaking action.
Most notable kayaking destinations within Western Australia are Blackwood River amongst the tall timber forests of the South West and the Murchison River in Kalbarri National Park, which is a few million years old – with time having helped carve a majestic gorge through the park.
For more information visit nannup.wa.gov.au and kalbarritours.com.au.
Location: Nannup and Kalbarri
Where to stay: Nannup: Nannup Caravan Park, Kalbarri: Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park.
Gloucster Tree and Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree
Were you good at climbing trees when you were a kid?
How about climbing a tree 61m or 75m high?
Did you know: Before the introduction of spotter planes to look out for fires, a network of fire lookout trees spread out across the south-west forests. From the top of these trees, foresters would scan the landscape around them for the first signs of fire.
No longer used as a look out for bush fires, you can now scale these giant Karri trees up to a platform in their upper branches for spectacular views of the surrounding Karri forest.
For more information visit pembertonvisitor.com.au.
Location: Gloucster Tree: Burma Rd, Pemberton (view map), Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree: Old Vasse Rd, Pemberton (view map)
Time from Perth: 3 hours 30 minutes
Where to stay: WA Wilderness Camping
Fat Bikes
This isn’t your normal mountain bike riding.
Fat bike is another amazing way to see the coast and remote beaches in Margaret River. The bikes provide three features in hearty proportions: traction, suspension, and flotation.
Equipped with obese tyres, fat bikes allow you to see more of the spectacular coastline and forest of the Margaret River region up close and personal.
For the ultimate riding experience, Capes to Coast adventure will see you ride from the Boranup lookout to the Indian Ocean.
For more information visit capestocoast.com.au
Location: Wellington National Park, River Rd, Worsley (view map)
Time from Perth: 3 hours
Where to stay: Wharncliffe Mill Bush Retreat and Eco Tours
Whale Sharks
Want a breathtaking experience?
Experience wonder up close and personal with the biggest fish in the world.
Enjoy a day out on the Ningaloo Reef, marveling at the size (reaching lengths of 12m), grace and beauty of the biggest fish in the world as you swim alongside it in the pristine waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
For more information visit ningaloowhalesharks.com
Location: Coral Bay (view map)
Time from Perth: 11 hours 30mins
Where to stay: Bayview Coral Bay
WA Camping, Web Resources
Parks WA
The official website of the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, this site is the gold standard for camping in Western Australia’s National Parks and wilderness areas. The site features vital information about what to see and do, along with booking campsites online.
WesternAustralia.com
The most comprehensive and detailed information guide for anyone looking to visit and explore Western Australia – Western Australia.com.
This article was originally published by So Perth.
