A day trip to the Perth Hills

Just a 45-minute drive east of Perth, you'll find the picturesque Perth Hills. A place of charm and character, the Perth Hills offer the opportunity to wander through townships, meet local winemakers, marvel at national parks and take a step back in time at heritage attractions.

Here’s how to spend a day in the Perth Hills.

Morning

8 am: Depart Perth and travel 45 minutes east to Mundaring. Be sure to take the short detour off the Great Eastern Highway at Park Road to take in the breathtaking views from the Perth Lookout in the John Forest National Park. After arriving in Mundaring, stop in at the local visitor centre for information and maps of the area.

9 am: Browse the latest exhibition at the Mundaring Arts Centre near the centre of town before picking up a coffee from a local café – Cafe Mojo is one of the best.

10 am: Hop back in the car and drive ten minutes to the Mundaring Weir; it’s one of the world’s greatest engineering projects. Walk across the massive concrete wall until you reach the Number 1 Pump Station Museum, where you can learn more about C.Y. O’Connor, the engineer behind the project.

11 pm: Continue south through magnificent State Forest to Pickering Brook and enjoy a scenic journey along the Perth Hills Cider and Brew Trail. The trail offers an incredible array of hand-crafted flavours from apple and pear ciders to European-style boutique beer. A highlight of the trail is CORE Cider House; it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch. Choose between the set menu at the bistro, the casual eats in the Cider Garden and the 180-degree orchard views in the Harvest Room.

Afternoon

1:30 pm: Follow the trail south to the beautiful Araluen Botanic Gardens where you can immerse yourself in seasonal displays of colour and natural beauty, walking trails, terraced gardens and water features. During spring (September to November), the gardens are filled with a colourful tulip display.

2:30 pm: Travel 20 minutes west to Armadale, a town bursting with history and heritage. Take your pick of attractions including the Elizabethan Village, the Bert Tyler Vintage Machinery Museum, the History House Municipal Museum, Minnawarra Park Historical Precinct and the Armadale Outpost Telegraph Centre. If you’d prefer to taste the region’s local produce, head to Raeburn Orchard, Borrello Cheese and Brackenridge Village.

3:30 pm: From Armadale, follow the scenic drive north-east about 30 minutes to Carmel and Bickley, where you can pick up fruit from roadside stalls, visit the majestic Lesmurdie Falls and enjoy tastings from a number of wineries. Myattsfield Vineyards is a must-visit; enjoy the amazing views over a glass of wine.

4:30 pm: Continue north to Kalamunda – the perfect place to end your day with its quaint village feel, heritage attractions and art galleries. Visit the Kalamunda History Village, the largest folk museum in Western Australia, and peruse the cultural exhibitions at Zig Zag Gallery.

6 pm: Enjoy a scenic drive back to Perth via Kalamunda Road.