15 Exciting Day Trips From Perth

Perth is a fantastic place to live and there is so much to do within the city itself, but the busy city life can be draining. Sometimes we all just need a little getaway and these 15 day trips from Perth are perfect ways to recharge those batteries.

There are beaches, forests, animals, caves, wineries and loads of other things included. There will be a day trip to suit everyone in this list.

We have personally done every trip on this list, often more than once, so we can guarantee that they are all a fantastic way to spend a day off. Let us know in the comments which one is your personal favourite!

15 Amazing Day Trips from Perth

Yanchep

You may be under the impression that Yanchep is just another suburb of Perth, however there is enough to do here to easily occupy a full day. Head up the coast early and spend the morning enjoying the beautiful Yanchep Lagoon. This is easily one of the best beaches in Perth and a great place to spend a sunny weekend morning.

When you start to get peckish you’ll want to jump back in the car and drive inland towards Yanchep National Park. There is a beautiful heritage listed pub here with a large beer garden frequented by cockatoos, kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets and more. The meals here are good quality and the large portions will fuel you for the rest of the afternoon’s sightseeing.

There is a ton of stuff to do in the national park, if you are motivated enough you can fit it all in, or just pick and choose. The absolute must see spot is the koala boardwalk. It’s only a short stroll but you’ll see plenty of koalas up close in the surrounding trees.

A nice walk will help to to burn off that big pub lunch. There are a number of walks in the park of varying lengths. The woodlands walk and the wetlands walk are some of the shorter ones. The ghost house walk clocks in at 12.4km but is really nice if you are up to it!

There are a couple of caves within the park, one of which can be explored with a guide at set times of the day. The Crystal Cave can be booked online here and is $16 per adult and $8 per child for a 45min tour.

Lancelin

An easy hour and a half drive north from Perth you’ll find the small township of Lancelin. The major drawcard here is the massive dune system that can be explored in a variety of ways. If you have a 4WD vehicle then you can drive out onto the dunes and explore that way. If you have a normal vehicle then don’t stress as there are loads of other fun options.

The easiest way to set yourself up for success is to pre-book your day with the adventures of your choice. Check out this awesome experience which offers a solid two and a half hours of tearing up the dunes on quad bikes, buggies and sandboards. I guarantee this is the best way to see the Lancelin sand dunes!

If you don’t go down that route then at the entrance to the dunes you will find a hire company that rents out various gear such as sandboards, quad bikes and dune buggies. Pre-book your sandboard hire here to avoid disappointment.

You have to give sandboarding a try while in Lancelin but be prepared to take a few dives! It’s harder than it looks but you can always just go down on your bum and still have loads of fun.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself on the dunes, head into town and pay a visit to the Endeavour Tavern. This pub officially has the best beer garden in W.A. and the views are sublime. Grab a pizza and a drink of your choice then gaze out upon the sandy beach and the sun heading towards the horizon over this beautiful stretch of coast.

Mandurah

This is an easy day trip from Perth as it is located along a major highway, making travel times minimal. Mandurah is split by a beautiful river leading to a large estuary and is crisscrossed by canals, making it a beautiful place to spend some time off of dry land.

Start your day trip from Perth nice and early so you can get out on the water before the heat really sets in. There are a bunch of options to explore the waterways and estuary depending on your preference.

Sometimes the best way to see all the highlights is with someone who knows exactly where to find them. This river cruise includes lunch and will take you on a 1.5hr trip around the waterways looking for wildlife, especially dolphins. Oh and did I mention it’s on a pretend pirate ship! This is great if you have kids, but if you want a more low-key experience see here for a similar cruise on a regular boat.

If you’re looking for some good exercise to start the day then you can hire kayaks from Mandurah Boat and Bike Hire. You can paddle around at your own pace and check out all the beautiful canal side houses and if you are lucky, get up close with some dolphins!

For the adventurous you can also hire motorboats and explore further afield. The smaller boats can be hired without a licence and are super fun to motor around and possibly have a little picnic on the water.

Once you’ve gotten enough sun and salt for the morning you can switch to a more relaxed vibe and head into town for some lunch. Dolphin Quay is another main attraction in Mandurah and a great place to find a meal with water views.

Catch 22 offers tapas and drinks and has an amazing view, especially at sunset. It’s a small place but if it’s full then you can head to the Oceanic Bar and Grill, this is also right on the water and looks back onto Dolphin Quay. Off of the quay, the Eastern Foreshore is also lined with restaurants and bars.

The outskirts of Mandurah also have some great things to see. Lake Clifton Thrombolites are worth a visit as they are the oldest living organisms on Earth and it is amazing to look upon them and imagine all that they have survived through.

For a little treat to take home with you, visit Vineyard 28 or Peel Estate wineries. The former specialises in some Italian varieties that can be quite hard to find in W.A and are really delicious. The latter has a really lovely little cellar door and beautiful grounds.

Rockingham

Rockingham is known for it’s beautiful beaches and marine life. In and around the water is definitely where you’ll want to be on this day trip from Perth.

The main attraction here is definitely Penguin Island. Not many people realise that you can see cute little penguins only just outside the city! A visit here is a must and while here you can also explore the surrounding Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

The best way to see the stunning waters and all the marine life is on this 1 hour cruise. Your ferry transfer to the island is included as is the penguin feeding show. You’ll also have the best chance to spot seals and dolphins.

If you want to explore at your own pace while getting in some exercise, then you can hire kayaks by the hour. The islands are close enough to paddle around as long as you have a moderate level of fitness. See Rockingham Kayak Hire for details.

Point Peron is another great spot to visit in Rockingham. There is a short hike around the point that offers beautiful ocean views and several lookout platforms.

Check out Latitude 32 along the oceanfront esplanade for a really nice meal. This is a great way to finish up a busy day and wind down before heading home.

Swan Valley

With everything else that Perth has to offer, you wouldn’t believe that there’s also a high quality wine region right in the backyard! The Swan Valley produces some really top notch wines and the landscape is as pleasing to the eye as the wine is to the palate.

There are a couple of different ways that you can see the Swan Valley. If you drive your own vehicle or take a hire vehicle then you will be able to take in some of the nice hikes in the area.

Our top recommendation is Bells Rapids Park near Upper Swan. There is a beautiful hike along a nice bubbling river and up some hills for fantastic views over the area.

After working up an appetite you can head to one of the 40+ wineries or many craft breweries for lunch. It’s hard to recommend a particular one. Have a browse of the full list here to get some ideas, or just drive around until you find the perfect spot!

If you love your wine like I do, the only proper way to see the valley is on an organised day trip. This way you can taste as much as you like and be exposed to a selection of the best and brightest producers.

The best type of tour is one that takes you on a cruise up the river to start the day and then switches to a bus to explore the wineries and breweries.

With the highly rated tour that we recommend below you’ll see two wineries, two breweries and the Margaret River Chocolate Company.

This full day tour includes the river cruise, lunch, all wine and beer samples, cheese board, chocolate tasting and return journey to Perth!

Jarrahdale

You only have to travel 60km outside of Perth to completely escape the city and immerse yourself in nature. A trip to the quaint little town of Jarrahdale will have you immersed in the forest and breathing easier in no time at all.

It’s all about the outdoor activities around here and you can start the day out right with one of several great hikes. If you’re up for a proper trek then check out the Kitty’s Gorge trail. It’s 14km so will take some time but the halfway point is at Serpentine Falls so it’s a great place to refresh with lunch and a quick dip.

For a less intense walk you can drive to the falls and hike Baldwin’s Bluff. Serpentine Falls itself is lovely to see when the water is flowing and is only a short stroll from the carpark. Your best bet is to visit in the winter or spring months to see the falls in full swing.

If you prefer to get around on two wheels then head to Langford Park for the mountain bike trails. This area is also lovely just to walk and picnic in, surrounded by the large leafy trees.

After the morning’s exercise you probably deserve some wine! Millbrook Winery has an amazing cellar door, situated right beside a lake and surrounded by lush vines. The wines are as good as the scenery and for many years they have made my favourite Sauvignon Blanc.

Just 15 minutes outside Jarrahdale on the way back to Perth you might also stop in at Cohunu Koala Park. At this small wildlife park you can see and interact with a wide range of native wildlife including emus, kangaroos, koalas and birds.

Rottnest Island

This is the quintessential day trip from Perth and a must see while visiting the city. This little slice of paradise is only a 30min ferry ride from Fremantle but will transport your mind much further from the city. With some of the best beaches in Western Australia, there’s truly no better way to spend a hot summer’s day!