Nestled along the Darling Scarp, the Perth Hills comprise some charming townships, sweeping from Gidgegannup in the north to Serpentine Jarrahdale in the south. Known and loved for its country allure, natural beauty, and quaint villages, activities in the region are just as broad as the geographical bounds. Best of all? It’s only a short 30-minute drive from the Perth CBD, close enough for a day trip but charming enough to want to stick around.

Meandering your way through the Perth Hills on one of these three day trips is an ideal way to spend your Sunday. 

Day Trip One

Start the morning at Kalamunda Farmers Market

With the delightful autumn weather now set in, it’s a great time to head to the hills to indulge in some of WA’s best fresh, seasonal produce. And, if you’re keen to support local farmers, producers, and artisans, it’s all the more reason to kick off your Sunday morning at the Kalamunda Farmers Market. 

Grab a coffee and pastry for breakfast, and wander the stalls brimming with fresh produce, organic meat, and plants. There’s also live music and activities to keep the kids entertained. 

Markets run every Sunday from 8:00 am until noon in Kalamunda’s Central Mall.

Discover the delights of the Bickley Valley on a wine trail 

Whether you are intent on sampling, winery hopping, or lunch location scouting, the Bickley Valley Wine Trail has you covered. There’s a bounty of boutique wineries and cideries to explore, all set against vistas of vineyards, orchards, and forests.

Some trail highlights include the laidback Core Cider, the award-winning cellar door experience at Myattsfield Vineyards, and The Packing Shed at Lawnbrook with vine and orchard-covered hill views — a beautiful photo opportunity.

Join a guided day tour at the Perth Observatory

Revel in the beauty of the verdant Bickley Valley with a scenic drive to WA’s oldest observatory. The Perth Observatory is known for uncovering 35 minor planets between 1970 and 1999 and co-discovering Uranus’s ring system and the super-earth exoplanet OGLE-2005-BLG-390lb.

You’ll discover the Observatory’s prolific history on a guided journey through time, from its beginnings in Mount Eliza in 1896 to Bickley in 1966. More than just a historical tour, you’ll also see the Meridian, Astrograph, and Calver telescopes, learn about timekeeping, and explore the museum packed with historical instruments. 

Sunday guided tours start at 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:00 pm.

Day Trip Two 

Head on an adventure ride-out

Pull on the cowboy boots and buckle up for a horse-riding adventure at Jarrahdale Equestrian riding school. For those wanting to connect with nature and its many inhabitants, a peaceful horseback ride through the countryside might just be the perfect way to while away the hours. It’s never too late to learn a new skill, so whether you’re a horse fanatic or a complete novice, all are welcome. 

Meet the koalas 

If you’re more into native fauna, head to see the koalas at Cohunu Koala Park. Located on 14 hectares of Australian bushland, only 40 minutes from the Perth CBD, guests are invited to feed the kangaroos and wallabies, throw some banter with the 30 talking parrots, and visit the many park inhabitants, including dingoes, emus, and deer. You can even take a 10-minute safari train ride around the park.

Long lunch at Millbrook Winery

Hidden among thick jarrah forest, the boutique Millbrook Winery is known for its curated menu that reflects the chef’s ethos around sustainability and locality. It doesn’t get much more local than crafting dishes from fruit and vegetables grown in the kitchen’s flourishing garden and orchard. Expect calamansi-cured scallops, pan-fried ricotta gnocchi, and line-caught fish, all to be enjoyed with matching wines. It’s also the picture-perfect winery for a photo opportunity.

Wander Araluen Botanic Park

Walk off lunch at a place rich in history and beauty. Founded in the 1920s, Araluen Botanic Park is home to a unique display of exotic and native plant species, including over 300 species of camellia and Western Australia’s most extensive rose collection. But, it’s best known for its iconic annual Tulip Festival, which lights up the stunning bushland backdrop with a kaleidoscope of colour each August.

Bush walk at The Common

Armadale’s Settlers Common, fondly branded as ‘The Common’, is home to a network of fabulous walk trails ideal for walking, hiking, picnicking, and nature photography. The 282-hectare bushland reserve rests on the Darling Scarp and forms part of the Darling Range Regional Park, a diverse flora and fauna habitat, including some 318 plant species. 

Settlers Common East, the smaller of the two trail networks, has both gravel trails and paved paths for pram and wheelchair access, along with many opportunities to stop, rest and picnic. On the other side of Carradine Road, the trails are all gravel and much longer.

Day Trip Three

Fill up at the Gidgegannup Bakery

Throw the bikes in the car and fuel up on pastries at the Gidgegannup Bakery before tackling the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail. With a motto of ‘good honest food’, the bakery is all about fresh, locally sourced ingredients cooked to perfection. Headed up by an Italian pastry chef, there’s a range of cakes and baked treats originating from both Europe and Australia. Whether you’re in the market for a quiche, filled roll, handmade pie, slice, or simply a barista-made coffee, you can’t go wrong with this beloved pit stop.

Go bike riding

Get your heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing by taking the bikes for a spin. Use the Pedal and Pint website as your Railway Reserves Heritage Trail guide.

There are 59 kilometres of history-steeped trail to explore, from Bellevue in the west to Woorolooin the east. The trail visits every village in the Shire of Mundaring, as well as passing through John Forrest National Park, the oldest gazetted National Park in Western Australia, where you’ll find the tumbling National Park Falls, Hovea Falls, and the historical and (rather spooky) Swan View Railway Tunnel.

For an easy ride, swing into Lake Leschenaultia, named after the blue Leschenaultia flower. While there, grab a caffeinated brew at Reflections Coffee and Kiosk and enjoy it with a view of the shimmering cobalt water reminiscent of the bloom’s magical tones. The area spans over 168 hectares of bushland, frequented for its canoeing, swimming, cycling, and barbeque amenities. 

Hop back on the bike and head off on a mini tour de pub. The first stop is the Chidlow Tavern, followed by a cycle to the Perth Hills residents’ favourite, Parkerville Tavern, for lunch. The return journey is 24 kilometres, so go wild on the menu — it’s so good it’s hard not to.

Enjoy lunch at the Parkerville Tavern

When you feel the hunger activate and need a hearty feed after gallivanting around the hills, make a beeline for the Parkerville Tavern. ‘The Parky’ — as the locals so lovingly call it — sports a history spanning over a century. The double-storey federation-style pub, nestled in a wooded valley in the heart of the Perth Hills, was initially established in 1902 and now plates up classic pub grub with a sprinkling of contemporary finesse. Think smoked paprika squid, gin-cured salmon, tofu bites, chicken parmigiana, steak sandwiches, and pizzas from the outdoor oven.

To learn more about the Perth Hills and what to do there, visit Experience Perth Hills and Destination Perth. For visual inspiration, follow along on socials at @destinationPerth #SeePerth and @experienceperthhills #experienceperthhills.

This article is sponsored by Destination Perth and Experience Perth Hills.

All images supplied