Adventure Along The Edge

Depart Perth for the recreational playground of Wellington National Park near Ferguson Valley. Mountain bikers will want to stop at the Mount Lennard trails - 40km of mountain bike trails reputed to be among the best sanctioned network in WA. There are seven different trails with varying grades for riders of all levels, depending on your fitness and experience. Wellington National Park has several walk trails for hikers and nature-lovers including the relatively easy Jabitj (Running Water) Walk Trail (12km return), Kurliiny Tjenangitj (Come and See) Walk Trail (9.5km) and the Sika Dual Use Trail (10km). Experienced hikers also have a brand-new world-class walking trail the Wiilman Bilya Trail. This full-day hike stretches 20km from Wellington Dam north to end up at the Coalfields Highway, winding through magnificent blackbutt, open jarrah forest and past granite outcrops. The shady forest setting of Potters Gorge is located on the shores of Wellington Dam. Spend some time fishing, canoeing or skiing – or test out the nearby mountain bike pump track. Stop for a dip at the picturesque Honeymoon Pool. This wide pool in the Collie River is surrounded by peppermint trees. Soak up some sun on the wooden deck or slide the kayak in to tackle the Honeymoon Pool Kayak Trail - a loop trail starting at the campsite with several rapids along the way. Or, visit the former open-cut mine site at Stockton Lake, now a popular recreational spot for SUP, water-skiing, boating and camping. Overnight in Ferguson Valley.

Tackle the high ropes course in the tops of the tuart trees at Forest Adventures. Roll into Yallingup, a coastal town nestled into the hillside and overlooking one of the Margaret River region’s well-known surf beaches. Try Main Break at Surfers Point, home of the Margaret River Pro which sees top ranked surfers compete to win the World Surf Leagues’ Championship Tour. Other top surf spots can be found at Yallingup Beach, Smiths Beach and Injidup Beach. Don't know how to surf? No worries. Hire a surf board and practice the technique of surfing by taking lessons at one of the local surf schools. Next, explore one of the region’s ancient underground caves, Ngilgi Cave on an adventure tour. Crawl along the path of an Ancient Riverbed and experience another dimension of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Or, hike a section of the Cape to Cape Track, which stretches along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge between two lighthouses Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin for stunning coastal views, secluded bays and perhaps a dip in a protected rock pool. Overnight in Yallingup.

Explore Margaret River and surrounds today, beginning with an exhilarating abseil down Wilyabrup Sea Cliffs. Next, four-wheel drive the off-road tracks of the Boranup Karri Forest, or join an eco-friendly fat bike or quad bike tour through the forest. Join an Indigenous Fishing Tour to try your hand at reeling in a catch, or embark on a SUP National Park River Tour. Overnight Margaret River.

Next make your way to the inland playground of Pemberton. Test your fear of heights at the 58m-tall Gloucester Tree, or the 75-m tall Dave Evans Bicentennial tree, once fire-lookouts. Climb the makeshift ladders to their tops to see sweeping views of the tops of the karri forest. Stretch your legs on one of the nearby mountain bike trails at Pemberton Mountain Bike Park, or tackle a section of the Munda Bidd Trail. Hike a section of the Bibbulmun Track, or walk the trail around Big Brook Dam. Sit above the Beedelup Falls on the suspension bridge, watching the falls in full-flow during winter or spring. Optional: Stay another day to go four-wheel driving at the world’s largest moving sand dune system, Yeagerup Dunes, or explore D’Entrecasteaux National Park to see the hexagonal-shaped basalt columns at Black Point and the largest freshwater lake in the southern part of the state – Lake Jasper. Overnight in Pemberton.

On your way to Walpole, enjoy views at Mount Chudalup. Join a Walpole inlet eco-cruise, or bring your own kayak or canoe or hire one from the towns along the Frankland River. Overnight in Walpole.

On your way to Denmark today, stop by Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk and immerse yourself in the tops of the tingle trees. Snorkel in the crystal-clear protected bays of Greens Pool and explore the nooks and crannies at Elephant Rocks with peppermint-tinged waters surrounded by giant boulders. Go four-wheel driving on the sand at Mazzelotti Beach alongside the surge of the Southern Ocean.

Roll into Albany for coastal hiking adventure. Take a challenging coastal hike along the Bald Head Trail, soaking up views of King George Sound along the ridgeline of Flinders Peninsula. Head to the sweeping coastline at Shelley Beach, a popular spot for hang-gliding from the steep cliffs. Or, embark on a four-wheel drive adventure to Nanarup Beach and discover a secluded bay of turquoise blues. Visit The Gap & Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park and stand on the viewing platform that hangs over the edge of the cliff to watch the surge of the Southern Ocean beneath your feet. In summer months, go scuba-diving at dive wreck, The Perth; the decommissioned HMAS and 133m guided missile destroyer that encountered enemy fire in the Vietnam War. Optional: Stay an extra day to explore the biodiverse-rich Stirling Range National Park and tackle Western Australia’s second-highest peak, Bluff Knoll. Experience the reward of sweeping 360-degree views of the landscape from the top, and countless other walking and hiking trails here. Overnight in Albany.

Spend the day exploring the Porongurup National Park. Hike the 4km return trail to the Granite Skywalk at Castle Rock. The steep hike, with a final scramble over rocks to get to the ladder and viewing platform finishes with panoramic views of the Great Southern. Overnight in Albany. Optional: Stay an extra day and head to Bremer Bay during orca season (January to early April) to join an all-day charter boat tour out to the Bremer Canyon to find the largest known pod of orca in the Southern Hemisphere. Spend a few extra days here to go diving; following the Little Boat Harbour Dive Trail and spotting leafy and weedy seadragon unique to the area.

Add on an extra day during January to April and join an expedition to find orca in Bremer Bay. Optional: Stay an extra day and head to Bremer Bay during orca season (January to early April) to join an all-day charter boat tour out to the Bremer Canyon to find the largest known pod of orca in the Southern Hemisphere. Spend a few extra days here to go diving; following the Little Boat Harbour Dive Trail and spotting leafy and weedy seadragon unique to the area.

Base yourself in Hopetoun to explore the Fitzgerald River National Park. Spend the day adventuring some of the secluded beaches here to find an entire stretch of coastline all to yourself for swimming and snorkelling. Try Starvation Bay and Powell Point for surfing, or try one of the walk trails near West Beach and Four Mile Beach and you might spot humpback whales migrating off the coast. There are many beaches and spots here that experience very little light pollution, making it a fantastic destination for astrotourism. Camp under the stars or head out at night to see an amazing astrology display. Overnight in Ravensthorpe or Hopetoun.

Immerse yourself today in the Fitzgerald River National Park. The Fitzgerald River National Park can be explored in a two-wheel drive on sealed roads, as well as on foot, or on four-wheel drive tracks. If hiking is up your alley, try the Hakea walk – a relatively difficult trail that skirts the coastline for pristine beach access and high lookout points, or challenge yourself with the walk trail to the East Mount Barren summit,. Four-wheel drivers might like to spend some time exploring the Hamersley Sand Dunes. While along the walk trails and four-wheel drive tracks, lookout for unique species of wildflowers and wildlife, as this is one of the most botanically significant National Parks in Australia.

Keep the adventure rolling exploring the breathtaking loop of the Great Ocean Drive as you come into Esperance. Explore the numerouslagoons and beaches along the breathtaking 40km loop of the Great Ocean Drive - 11 Mile Beach and Twilight Beach are favourites. Go four-wheel driving at Esperance Sand Dunes and enjoy refreshments at the local brewery. Take a walk to Rotary Lookout and Walk Trail before watching the sunset at twilight. Overnight in Esperance.

Discover more of Esperance today on a tour or alternatively, explore further on a self-drive visit to Cape Le Grand National Park. Take a cruise to snorkel at Woody Island, or dive around Dive around Recherche Achipelago and Sanko Wreck. Join a fishing charter that leaves out of Esperance to reel in a catch. Or, take a scenic flight to Lake Hillier. If self-driving, explore Frenchmans Peak and hike the difficult trail to the top. Rock-climbing is popular at Frenchman's Peak and Mount Le Grand. Explore Lucky Bay; a place that lives up to its name in plenty of ways - translucent water and sand like icing sugar, not to mention sunbaking kangaroos! There are many excellent bush walking trails through Cape Le Grand National Park which traverse the rugged coast and beaches – try the Le Grand Coastal Trail, enjoy the views and then stop off for a refreshing dip in the ocean. Overnight in Esperance, or spend this night camping on the beach at Lucky Bay campground.

Spend today exploring the beautiful Duke of Orleans Bay and Cape Arid National Park. For four wheel driving along vast white beaches, camping out under a star-filled sky, colourful wildflowers, whale watching and swimming at secluded bays, a visit to Cape Arid National Park east of Esperance is a must. This untouched paradise is also known for its excellent bushwalking and beach fishing. Most of the tracks within the park are accessible only by four-wheel drive - hit the dirt and you'll be rewarded with beautiful coastal scenery of granite outcrops, sand dunes and stands of mallee trees, banksia and paperbark. Take your pick from scenic picnic spots including Thomas River, Mount Ragged or Seal Creek. Self-guided walking trails range from one to four hours and take you deep into native bushland and along coastal heaths with views over the Southern Ocean. Not surprisingly, the swimming is idyllic, while bays like Yokinup are popular for windsurfing. Overnight in Esperance or Cape Arid National Park.

Return to Perth via Hyden over the next couple of days. Be sure to visit the impressive Wave Rock, along with Hippos Yawn and Lake Magic. Thought to have formed some 130 million years ago, Wave Rock is entirely natural and measures about 15km (roughly three storeys) in height. It’s the perfect end to your Instagram highlights reel.

Head back to Perth.