Perth's autumn scenery is truly breathtaking! As we enter the cooler months, you'll find all sorts of changes to the landscape: red flowering gums, sand bottlebrush, yellow autumn lilies and banksias in bloom, gushing waterfalls and refreshingly cool days. It’s the perfect time to rug up, get out that picnic basket, gather your best buds, and experience all that’s magical about our very special corner of the world.
Murray River
The tranquil Murray River flows in from the Peel Inlet and meanders 134km into the Peel Region, past quaint towns and unspoiled forest - it's the heart of the Murray and Waroona regions, and a favourite getaway spot for many Perth families. There's something truly soothing about being on and around the Murray, and you can experience that in many ways - boating (including houseboating!), canoeing, bushwalking, fishing and much more.
A great place to start is Pinjarra, with its gorgeous Heritage Walk, tasty fare and heritage streetscape. Get a wholesome brekkie at quirky artisanal cafe Jarra Infusion, explore the Edenvale Heritage Precinct, and enjoy a magical stroll around the river - it's a perfect way to spend a few calm hours. In Waroona, you can check out Mooriel the Cow's latest fashion choices; enjoy a bushwalk or birdwalk at the Drakesbook Weir or Waroona Dam, and be humbled by the Southern Hemisphere's largest thrombolite at Lake Clifton, where you can see what life was like when the earth first began.
To really make the most of life on the Murray River, you won't want to miss Mandurah Cruises' half-day Murray River Lunch Cruise, as you explore Mandurah's picturesque waterways and the Peel Inlet, by cruising down the serene, winding Murray River and taking in an array of flora and fauna, listening to magical birdsong, and enjoying a delicious lunch on-board. Perfect for your self-care day, or maybe even a romantic trip for two!'
Dwellingup
Nestled in deep forest and rich with native wildlife and birdlife - there's something truly magical about Dwellingup that's hard to explain until you've been there, but anyone who has will rave about it! Dwellingup is particularly beloved for its hiking and biking trails, and you can find plenty of great info on these at the Dwellingup Trails and Visitors Centre.
The centre is quite a tourist attraction in itself, too, with state-of-the-art tech, VR experiences, and the iconic, fully restored 1938 Mack Truck fire tender. There's also the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway in its backyard, which is a must-do in itself: an opportunity to travel back in time on a restored vintage train as you venture deep into the forest. Their restaurant train has just reopened, complete with 1919 Vintage Dining Car and 1884 Club Car: truly a dining experience from days gone by!
There's so many trails that you’ll want to spend more than a day here. Fortunately, there’s a wide variety of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from camping in the bush (check the weather first!) and modest cabins, to luxe life. A particularly magical place to stay is the Dwellingup Retreat, a newly renovated heritage home and a great forest escape.
Bickley Valley
This magical little spot in the Perth Hills near Kalamunda is a hidden treasure beloved by folks in-the-know! It's also a particularly splendid place to view colourful autumn leaves. The town is really special during autumn with plenty of special venues to choose from, including Core Cider, La Fattoria, and MyattsField Vineyard.
As you can imagine, the walking trails in the Bickley Valley are seriously magical too! The nature-loving folks at Off the Beaten Track WA do a very special Bickley Valley Hike Wine Dine experience; you'll be totally immersed in the valley as you hike with likeminded people from Bickley Reservoir to Victoria Reservoir, past babbling brooks, through gorgeous wandoo woodlands and over granite outcrops before enjoying a two course modern Australian lunch and wine tasting.
Serpentine-Jarrahdale
More magical forests! The Serpentine National Park is a great place to visit and includes Serpentine Falls with its cool, emerald-coloured waters. Jarrahdale, the local town, is named aptly after the Jarrah forest that surrounds it. The town is full of art and history, as well as delish pub fare and locally produced wine which you can sample at a number of wineries just outside of town such as Millbrook Winery. Serpentine-Jarrahdale is a perfect spot for nature lovers, with its forests, parks, rivers and natural attractions: some of our faves include the Heritage Trail & Railway Trail and the Kitty's Gorge Walk Trail. The nearby Millbrook Winery, is especially beautiful this time of year, with its stunning vistas of the rolling landscape. You enjoy wine tasting at the cellar door, lunch in their restaurant, or find your own picnic spot by the lake.
Chittering
The tranquil town of Chittering is only a half-hour drive from Perth's northern suburbs, but it feels like a completely different place! Chittering is home to the quaint townships of Bindoon, Muchea and Wannamal. It's the perfect day-trip or short break destination with a number of accommodation options that include farm stays, B&B's and even tiny cabins - check out Heyscape and Wild Whispers!
You'll find farmgate experiences, unspoiled bushland and wetlands, and seriously stunning scenery. We love the artisan cheese tastings at Local Goat, the award-winning Bindoon Bakehouse, and the pure, unprocessed bush honey at Little Eeden Farm Apiary. You can also get to know a wide range of native plants at the Muchea Tree Farm - the autumn blooms are truly spectacular!
Toodyay
About 40 minutes drive south-east of Chittering, the picturesque town of Toodyay is also well worth a visit for its walking trails and Toodyay Food and Picnic Trail; you'll find seasonal produce for your picnic basket, and meet growers and producers of dates, olive oil, wine, breads, pastured meats and more. There's also nature reserves, unspoiled bushland and riverside areas that are perfect for getting your autumn scenery fix.
Fremantle and Rottnest Island
Fremantle's heritage architecture is pretty magical in itself, and makes a great backdrop for your Insta feed; a stroll around Bather's Beach and the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour to enjoy the cool ocean breeze really feeds the soul. You also won't want to miss the gorgeously colourful Aboriginal rock art. From Fremantle, you can take a ferry to Rottnest Island, which is blissfully quiet during the cooler months, so the flora and fauna are relatively undisturbed and you can beat the heat and crowds. We particularly love the Wadjemup Bidi walking trail, which you can enjoy by yourself or join a guided tour with the Hike Collective.
Swan River
The Swan River is the heart of Perth City, an aquatic playground and place of respite and joy for many generations. Some particularly magical spots in autumn include the scenic Matilda Bay, the Baigup Wetlands and Peninsula Farm in Maylands, and the Bells Rapids walking trail in the Swan Valley.
And for a truly memorable way of experiencing Perth's rivers in a different light, join GoGo Active Tours as you paddle slowly down the Swan River in the Swan Valley wine region. Departing from Mandoon Estate, these tours combine gentle paddling, local history, and stunning natural scenery, offering a relaxed and memorable way to explore one of Western Australia’s most iconic regions. Add on a wine tasting and lunch after your paddle to truly soak up the vineyard views as they show off all their autumn colours.
Mettam's Pool and Bailey's Beach
Head north to Trigg Beach for two very special adjacent snorkeling spots - Mettams Pool and Bailey's Beach. Mettams Pool is renowned among locals as a great spot for snorkelling, and it's calm conditions make it perfect for beginners and kids too. It’s a teeny cove with a reef, making it a great snorkelling spot in calm conditions. Bailey's Beach is a beautiful, yet smallish beach that's similarly calm, but a bit quieter than Mettams Pool - meaning you can enjoy having this usually secluded mini-beach all to yourself!
From autumn leaves to red flowering gums, bird habitats to riverside wetlands, there're so many magical and natural spots to enjoy autumn in Perth, and plenty of tasty fare and fun things to do along the way. Enjoy your autumn travels as you explore our amazing city!
