Perth and Surrounds Archives

Tims Thicket beach

Tims Thicket Beach location and access

Tims Thicket beach is well known among 4WD enthusiasts. It is the closest to Perth 4WD beach, in the south. The drive from Perth is just over an hour south, past Mandurah. Tims Thicket beach is also easily accessible. The 4WD access track is only about 1km or so and is relatively easy.

Beach and activities

The beach itself is quite pleasant and long enough for a nice drive (2km long). Some parts are rocky and add beauty to the landscape.

Other parts are sandy and are great for young families. The winds can be strong there but it still makes it a nice beach, if you like outdoors and appreciate nature.

There is no shortage of birds – both on shore and up in the air.

Above: Caspian Tern (top left), Caspian Tern and Pied Cormorants in flight (top middle), bird of prey, potentially of one the Kites (top right), Pied Cormorants (bottom).

Facilities

There are no facilities, although there is a rubbish bin and the sign at the beginning of the track, where everyone stops to deflate and inflate tyres. From that point there is also a pedestrian beach access going uphill over the steps. Overall, Tims Thicket beach is a nice introduction to a novice 4WD enthusiast and it also makes it an enjoyable day trip for anyone who is into beach driving, fishing or exploring new places.

Bungendore Park

Hiking at Bungendore Park

Bungendore Park is a bushland reserve with diverse flora and fauna and is a great place for hiking. The park is part of Wungong Regional Park. It is located near Armadale, approximately 30km south east of Perth. There are 2 entrances to this nearly 500 hectar park: from Dryandra Drive off Albany Highway and from Admiral Road near Southern Hills Christian College. There are 5 hiking trails within the park, varying in length and difficulty and it is one of only a few parks where dogs are allowed. I chose the shortest walk, which is 2,3km Whistler Walk. It is an easy and very pleasant walk for those who are in nature appreciation.

Easy walk at Bungendore Park near Armadale, 30km from Perth.

Flora and fauna

Mixed Jarrah-Marri forest is very much alive with numerous sounds. Cicadas are particularly active at this time of the year (early December). And of course, there are sounds of whistlers, which are easier heard than seen. There are not many flowers blooming at the beginning of summer and they are mostly fringed lilies and some eucalyptus trees.

Thysanotus sparteus Leafless Fringed Lily

But Christmas spiders are out (below).

These tiny cute creatures are less than 1cm. There are also other names for a Christmas spider and its official name is Austracantha minax. Christmas spider is most active during months of December and January, hence it is common name.

December is also the time when Christmas Tree (above), officially known as Nuytsia floribunda, is blooming. It is lovingly called Christmas tree because it flowers in time for Christmas preparations and decorations. Its bright orange flowers are an absolute delight and such a beautiful decoration of the bush by nature. Bees love it too!

Other info

Yes, you can take your dog to the park! And it is free.

Korung National Park

Korung National Park, is in Western Australia, 26 kilometres south-east of Perth. It was formerly known as Pickering Brook National Park. There are 2 designated hiking and mountain bike trails (Carmel walk and Lion’s Lookout) in the park. Both have an abundance of wildflowers in spring. We visited Lion’s Lookout.

Lion’s Lookout walk

Lion’s Lookout Walk within Korung National Park, just off Welshpool Road in Lesmurdie is a great hiking trail to do in winter and spring. With wide but bumpy track going up and down, and at times being challenging, it was fun for our kids. They were running up and down the slopes, while the adults were struggling to go down on some steep sections.

Man and two children going uphill in the bush

Lion’s Lookout is a loop trail, 4km long. The highest point of the track offers great views over Bickley Reservoir and Perth city.

Wildflowers at Korung National Park

There are plenty of widlflowers along the way. We find looking at wildflowers so fascinating, that went to the trouble of learning their names, so we know what we are photographing.

Banksia armata (above left). Blue Squill Chamaescilla corymbosa (above top right). Drumstick Isopogon sphaerocephalus (above bottom right).

Hairy Jug Flowerr Adenanthos barbiger (above right). Honeypot Dryandra Banksia nivea (above top right). Leschenaultia Biloba (above bottom right).

Milkmaid Burchardia congesta (above left). Pincushion Coneflower Isopogon (above top right). Scaevola glandulifera (above bottom right).

Pimelea ciliata – White Banjine (above left). Swamp spider orchid (above top right). Tetratheca species (above bottom right).

Calytrix glutinosa (above left). Stypandra glauca – Blind Grass (above centre). Philotheca spicata Pepper and Salt (above left).

Facilites at Korung National Park (Lion’s Lookout)

After the walk (or before) you can enjoy a picnic on the grass or at the picnic tables provided near carpark while enjoying the views of the city. There are picnic tables, shelter, bbq and rubbish bins (but no toilets) there.

Additional information

The entry to the park is free. Unfortunatley, no dogs are allowed.

Cape Peron (Rockingham)

Cape Peron (Rockingham), 45 minutes’ drive south from Perth, is a long stretch of land, surrounded by the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. It is a popular place yet with plenty of space and a few entrances to the beach.

With numerous limestone reefs, overhangs, caves and swimthroughs close to the beach, it is an interesting place for exploration whether it is snorkeling, skuba diving or just walking.

There is plenty of marine life to observe.

Colourful crab hiding under the rock at Cape Peron (Rockingham)

The waters are quite shallow and safe for swimming.

Child swimming at Cape Peron (Rockingham)

Children swimming in shallow waters of Cape Peron (Rockingham)

The underwater is amazing to explore but sand boarding on the beach was fun for our kids too.

Cape Peron (Rockingham) is a great place to visit as a day trip, especially in summer, when the weather is hot.

Serpentine Falls and Dam

Serpentine Falls is a popular attraction within Serpentine National Park, 55km southeast of Perth in Western Australia.

While the Falls is the main attraction in the national park, there are a number of different hiking trails from short to long and challenging. We were satisfied with a shorter (1km) Serpentine Falls Trail to enjoy the actual waterfall and the flora along the way, then having a picnic while watching the kangaroos and spotting many different types of birds.

Lemon scented Darwinia (above left). Banksia sessilis (above right).

Red Wattlebird at Serpentine Falls National Park

Main picnic area at Serpentine Falls National Park (above left). Red Wattlebird Honeyeater (above right).

The main picnic area in the park is one of the places where western grey kangaroos are extremely friendly, so it was possible to take the shots like these ones.

Serpentine Dam

At the edge of the Serpentine National Park, on the eastern side, on Kingsbury Drive in Jarradale there is a Serpentine Dam picnic area with playground, toilets, picnic tables and bbq. The views of the Serpentine reservoir surrounded by the bushland are quite spectacular and the abundance of birdlife in that area is amazing.

Serpentine Dam (above left). Australian Ringneck (above middle and right).

Australian Laughing Kookaburra (above left). New Holland Honeyeater (above middle). Splendid Wren (above right).

In conclusion, this is a great place to visit as a day trip. It is probably best enjoyed in cooler months. In spring the variety of wildflowers are blooming. Autumn and winter are great for hikes too.

Avon Valley National Park

Avon Valley National Park, 1-hour drive from Perth, a great place for hiking and camping. We found it not as popular and busy as some other national parks closer to the city. With no sealed roads, it is a bushland area, spanning 4800ha.

Avon Valley National Park is a place to go camping. It has 5 camp grounds with basic facilities, which include picnic tables (some with shade), fire pits and toilets. Camping fees apply. As we haven’t camped there, we can’t provide more information but you can find it on this website.

Homestead campground in Avon Valley National Park — Homestead campground in Avon Valley NP

There are no defined hiking trails but, nonetheless, it is a great place for nature lovers. It has a few species of eucalyptus and grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) and is one of the best places to see wildflowers.

Grass tree bushland at Avon Valley National Park — Grass tree bushland

Even in November (which is not the prime month for seeing wildflowers) we managed to spot a few of them.

Wildflowers

Rhodanthe chlorocephala Pink white everlasting (above).

False Boronia (Lysiandra calycina) – above (left). Lobelia species (above right).

Whistlepipe Gully

Whistlepipe Gully is a moderate difficulty 3.5km return hiking trail in Mundy Regional Park in Kalamunda, Perth Hills. The trail follows the creek up one way and down the other way. There are many picturesque small waterfalls, cascades and rock pools along the trail, as well as flat rocks to rest or have a picnic.

Rapids along Whistlepipe Gully trail — One of the many small waterfalls

We visited this place in June and enjoyed winter weather, stopping many times to admire nature in its amazing forms, colours and patterns.

The Whistlepipe Gully track has a few slopes and rocks. From the highest slope you can enjoy the views of Perth city behind the coastal plain.

The view of the Perth city form Whistlepipe Gully trail. — The view of Perth city from the trail

There is limited parking at the northern end of Lewis Road in Kalamunda and there are no facilities. It is dog friendly and there is no fee to pay to enter.

In conclusion, it is a great place to spend a day or a half, especially during cooler weather. ILooking for other places near Perth? Check out what we’ve visited.

Picnic along Whistlepipe Gully — Having a rest during our hike at Whistlepipe Gully

Wireless Hill Park

If you are looking for a place to see wildflowers around Perth, Wireless Hill Park in Ardross is one such place. It is a bushland that has been reserved for the communication station (operated between 1912 and 1968), thus not open for housing development and this is what made the bushland thrive. The Park has a dedicated wildflower walk with informative signs (thanks to the Friends of Wireless Hill volunteers for looking after the park and the plants). park also has a picnic area, a nature-based playground and Telecommunications Museum. The kids enjoyed their play, while I admired wildflowers. Perfect afternoon!

There are a lot of kangaroo and cat’s paw flowers in the park.

A variety of different orchids is another highlight of Wireless Hill Park. Wild orchids are delicate, quite small and easy to miss. But when you spot one, kneel down and take time to look, you will see intricate beauty and uniqueness of nature’s creation.

Pansy Donkey orchids are quite common while Jug Orchids (above) are more difficult to find.

Caladenia arenicola – Carousel Spider (above left). Lyperanthus serratus rattle beak orchid (above centre). Pink Fairy Orchid Caladenia latifolia (above right).

Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

Ellis Brook Valley Reserve is recognised as the richest wildflower location in Perth Metropolitan area. It is home to over 550 varieties of spring flowers.

Wildflowers at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

The best time to visit the park is during spring when most of the widlflowers are blooming. It can be very hot in summer and sometimes the park is closed during hottest time.

One of the most fascinating wildflowers in Ellis Brook Valley Reserve for me was Drosera. It is the plant that loves insects and insects love this plant :). Drosera (or Sundews) capture and digest insects using their long tentacles with a sticky gland on top. These droplets look like dew glistening in the sun (hence the name Sundew). They are very pretty to human eye, and attractive to insects. The glands also produce enzymes to digest the insects. How creative nature can be!

Birdlife

The reserve is home to a lof of birds, including splendid fairy wrens, cockatoos and honeyeaters.

Splendid Fairy Wren at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

Walking trails

Ellis Brook Valley Reserve is also an excellent hiking place. There are four hiking trails of various length and difficulty. Reserve also has picnic facilities with bbqs, picnic tables and toilets.

Walking trail at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

Sixty Foot Falls trail is the most challenging but definitely worth the view. It looked quite magnificent in September with the water flowing at the waterfall.

Sixty Foot Falls at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

Views of the Perth City on top of Sixty Foot Fall at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

Location

Ellis Brook Valley is located on Rushton Road in the suburb of Martin, in the Gosnells region and is half an hour drive from Perth.

Best waterfalls around Perth – Lesmurdie Falls

Lesmurdie Falls, located within Mundy Regional park, approximately 22km east of Perth, in the hills, is one of the most spectacular waterfalls around Perth. You can view this 50 meter waterfall from a number of a places within the park, approaching it from the top or the bottom.

We started our day with the Cascade trail – a centrally located, 300 meter trail. As we walked along, admiring many different cascades, we absorbed the sounds of nature – the gurgling of the flowing water, the cheerful chirping of the birds and crackling of the dry leaves under the feet. It was a bright sunny day but without the heat of summer.

After the lunch we walked to the top of the Falls, where there are a couple of viewing platforms.

Then we hiked down to the bottom of the Falls (2km return trail) to get the best view of the Falls. It was a picturesque trail, where we spotted lots of wildflowers and a kookaburra.

Lesmurdie Falls is a great place to go hiking, relax and enjoy nature. Spring is the ideal time to visit, when waterfall is flowing and wildflowers are blooming.

While we do not have dogs, I must mention that it is a dog friendly place.

What a wonderful day, full of impressions and exercise, it was!

Category: Perth and Surrounds

Tims Thicket beach

Tims Thicket Beach location and access

Beach and activities

Facilities

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Bungendore Park

Hiking at Bungendore Park

Flora and fauna

Other info

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Korung National Park

Lion’s Lookout walk

Wildflowers at Korung National Park

Facilites at Korung National Park (Lion’s Lookout)

Additional information

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Cape Peron (Rockingham)

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Serpentine Falls and Dam

Serpentine Dam

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Avon Valley National Park

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Whistlepipe Gully

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Wireless Hill Park

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Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

Wildflowers at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

Birdlife

Walking trails

Location

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Best waterfalls around Perth – Lesmurdie Falls

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Tims Thicket Beach location and access

Beach and activities

Facilities

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Hiking at Bungendore Park

Flora and fauna

Other info

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Lion’s Lookout walk

Wildflowers at Korung National Park

Facilites at Korung National Park (Lion’s Lookout)

Additional information

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Serpentine Dam

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Wildflowers at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve

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Walking trails

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