Spring is the perfect time of year, especially when you live in Perth. From the picture-perfect blue skies to the mid-to-high twenty-degree days, it’s no wonder we’re the envy of the world. It’s also when Spring into Armadale — which runs from August 1st to November 30th — is in full swing.
This annual festival brings together a variety of events and activities celebrating art, culture, food, wine, and community. Whether you’re a foodie, a hiking enthusiast, or planning a family outing, the month of October is packed with must-see events.
Here are our top picks so you can start planning your perfect day out in the Perth Hills Armadale.
Events worthy of the bucket list
The Kelmscott Agricultural Show: A must-visit family event
Once again bringing the country to the city, the Kelmscott Agricultural Show is back! This two-day spectacular is chock-full of entertainment, with exciting activities, stalls, food, and adrenaline-pumping rides for the whole family. Look forward to groovy tunes and dancing, magic shows, log-chopping demonstrations, and animal displays, plus riverside arts and crafts market stalls. Don’t forget to stop by the Perth Hills Armadale Visitor Centre marquee to pick up local goodies and your free show bag.
When: Friday, October 18th to Saturday, October 19th, 2024
Where: Rushton Park Showgrounds
Cost: Free for kids under five, $13.00 for kids under 16, and $22.00 for adults
Grab your kilts and join the fun at Armadale Highland Gathering and Perth Kilt Run
Celebrate all things Scotland at WA’s largest Highland Gathering event. Expect kilts, bagpipes, and a medieval fair. You don’t need to be Scottish to take part in this annual Armadale tradition.
The Perth Kilt Run kicks the morning off, bringing with it an array of colour and joy as hundreds of participants race to the finish line. But the excitement doesn’t stop there — you’ll have all day to experience Scottish arts and crafts, highland dancing, bagpipe competitions, and the hotly-contested heavy events. While you’re at it, see what your taste buds think of haggis, meet Scottish dogs, kick up your heels with live music from some of Perth’s best folk bands, and wander around the medieval stalls.
When: Sunday, October 6th, 2024
Where: Champion Lakes Regatta Centre I Henley Drive, Champion Lakes
Cost: Free
Wildflower Ramble
Wandering through 19 hectares of beautiful bushland, the wildflower ramble will take you through an exceptional range of diverse plant communities. Expect to see a wide variety of vegetation in this transition zone between the coastal plain and the scarp and Darling Range. The walking paths are easy, although sandy in parts.
When: Saturday, October 12th, 2024
Where: Banyowla Regional Park I Meet at the end of Cockram Road, Kelmscott
Cost: Free
Challenge yourself with a Wungong Gorge Extreme Endurance Hike
Do you want to push yourself to conquer steep, rocky hills? Or are you training for a big trek and need to improve your endurance? If so, Off The Beaten Track WA has just the thing for you. They’ve designed a challenging 18-kilometre, guided endurance hike through Wungong Regional Park, featuring calf-burning hills and breathtaking views. You’ll be pushed both mentally and physically, but no doubt you’ll leave feeling empowered and exhilarated.
The hike isn’t for the faint hearted, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. A nutritious morning tea is also included, alongside complimentary use of hiking poles, sunscreen, and repellent. Plus, you’ll get access to all the hike photographs.
When: Saturday, October 5th, 2024
Where: Wungong Regional Park
Cost: $70.00
Raise your steins at the Last Drop-Toberfest
Dig out your lederhosen and ready your beer-belly because Last Drop-Toberfest is here. Think German fare, live music, games, cocktails, and beer, of course! Known for its Tudor-inspired and charming appearance, Last Drop Elizabethan is the perfect location for such festivities. What better place to celebrate than an English-style tavern in the picturesque Armadale Hills?
When: Saturday, October 26th, 2024
Where: Last Drop Elizabethan I 25 Canns Road, Bedfordale
Cost: Free
Free activities to kickstart your spring
LiveLighter are here to help you find free and low-cost ways to get moving in your area. We’ve got the ultimate place to get you started and build those healthy habits. The City of Armadale and LiveLighter are teaming up with local businesses, Kookaburra Yoga and Off The Beaten Track WA, to offer free activities to get you moving this spring.
Kookaburra Yoga
Join Kookaburra Yoga in Bedfordale for beginner-friendly yoga classes. The sessions are 60-minutes long and available on Friday mornings and Saturday mornings and afternoons from Saturday, August 31st to Saturday, November 30th. No experience is needed, although booking is essential via Kookaburra Yoga, as numbers are limited to 30 people per class.
When: Saturday, August 31st to Saturday, November 30th, 2024
Where: 210 Carradine Road, Bedfordale
Cost: Free
Off The Beaten Track
Join Off The Beaten Track WA for a scenic walk through Casuarina trees and parrot bush, where you can spot western spinebills and New Holland honeyeaters. If you’re lucky, you might also see cheeky red-tailed black cockatoos nesting and socialising. Your guide will highlight their favourite wildflowers in the park, and you’ll enjoy one of Bungendore’s charming trails with fellow nature lovers. Booking is essential via Off The Beaten Track WA or Perth Hills Armadale Website.
When: Saturday, October 12th, 2024
Where: Robin Ramble, Bungendore Park | Wattle Road, Bedfordale
Cost: Free
Feature trail
The City of Armadale is home to more than 115 reserves comprising 1,080 hectares of bushland. Whether you’re keen to explore the marri and jarrah dominated woodlands on the Darling Scarp or banksia woodlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, there’s so much to see.
Explore a hidden gem at Armadale Settlers Common
Nestled in Bedfordale, Armadale Settlers Common is a 383-hectare bushland reserve that forms part of the Darling Range Regional Park. Fondly known as The Common, the area is rich year-round in an array of fauna and a whopping 318 plant species. It’s also home to a network of walking trails ideal for hiking, orienteering, picnicking, and photography.
If you’re interested in attending any of these must-experience events, head to the Perth Hills Armadale Visitor Centre to collect your Spring into Armadale festival program and reserve your place.
For more inspiration on what to do this October, visit the Perth Hills Armadale Instagram and Facebook pages. Your next Perth Hills Armadale escape starts here.
