Summer is the easiest time of year to get out of the city for the day. If you have time off over Christmas, New Year or into February, a day trip breaks up the break without committing you to an overnight stay. With plenty of good destinations a short drive from the metro area, we have rounded up eight of our favourites.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is a straightforward summer day trip, and February is still a fine time to visit. With warm weather and clear water, it suits swimming, snorkelling and exploring the island by bike. It can be busy in peak season, but if you are willing to ride further around the island you will still find quieter beaches and coves.
Two operators run the crossing. Rottnest Express departs from B Shed at Victoria Quay in Fremantle, Northport at Rous Head in North Fremantle, and Barrack Street Jetty in the Perth CBD. Rottnest Fast Ferries departs from Hillarys Boat Harbour and takes about 45 minutes. Check timetables before you book, then grab a bike and follow our day trip itinerary to work out where to stop.
Fremantle
This one is technically not far from Perth, but it is still worth a day of its own — plenty of eating options, second-hand and vintage shops, boutiques, and a few beaches thrown in for good measure. Start at Ootong & Lincoln on South Terrace in South Fremantle for coffee, take your time through the South Fremantle shops, then head for the Fremantle Markets and a swim. Time it for a Friday, Saturday or Sunday — those are the only days the markets trade, along with Monday public holidays. For a fuller plan, use our guide to 48 hours in Fremantle.
Swan Valley Wine Region
The Swan Valley is our personal favourite and has something for everyone. Sitting at the base of the Perth Hills, the Swan Valley wine region has vineyards, distilleries and artisan markets within easy reach of each other. We recommend starting late morning with a tasting at Harris Organic Wines on Memorial Avenue in Baskerville, open 11am to 4.30pm Thursday to Monday — weekday tastings need to be booked ahead, weekends do not. Break for lunch, then finish with an afternoon at Old Young's on West Swan Road in Henley Brook, where you can work through the spirit range in the tasting room or book a gin or cocktail masterclass. The distillery opens at 11am daily.
Penguin Island
Another gem just off the coast at Rockingham is Penguin Island, reached by a five-minute ferry from Mersey Point in Shoalwater. It is home to little penguins, the world's smallest penguin species, and neighbouring Seal Island — about a kilometre north — carries a colony of Australian sea lions that tour boats take in on the way past.
A few things have changed here, so plan around them. The island's Discovery Centre closed permanently in 2023 and there are no longer any penguin feeding sessions; the colony has declined sharply and the island is now managed more tightly to protect it. The island is open daylight hours from 15 October until the first week of June, and closes for the winter breeding season. It also closes at short notice on days between 1 December and 28 February when the forecast tops 35 degrees, so check before you drive down. There are no food outlets on the island, so bring what you need for the day — or save your appetite for lunch on the Rockingham boardwalk afterwards.
Serpentine Falls
If you want something close to Perth and mostly outdoors, Serpentine Falls is a good option. Pack a lunch, because there is nowhere to eat nearby. Entry is $17 per standard vehicle, or $8 per person for vehicles carrying more than twelve, and the park is open 8.30am to 5pm with no vehicle access after 4.15pm. Dogs are not permitted.
There are walks to suit most people: the Serpentine Falls Trail is a 1km stroll from the car park, Stacey's Loop is 1.9km, Baldwin's Bluff is 6km return, and Kitty's Gorge runs 7km each way through forest and granite outcrops. Hot tip: the falls area regularly reaches capacity before 10am in peak season, so arrive early and consider one of the longer walks to get away from the crowd. Swimming at the falls has been subject to closure over recent summers, so check the Parks and Wildlife Service alerts before you plan a swim.
Lancelin
Lancelin sits 127km north of Perth, about an hour and a half on the road, and it is a quintessential beach town with a couple of things you cannot do anywhere else nearby. The sand dunes on the outskirts of town are the drawcard — the biggest in Western Australia, open every day from sunrise to sunset, and free to enter. Take a 4WD up and over them, or hire a board and try sandboarding. In town, the Endeavour Tavern on Gingin Road looks straight out over the water to Lancelin Island, and the coastline is worth a snorkel while you are there.
Wellington Dam & Black Diamond Lake
This is the long one — Wellington Dam is around 195km south of Perth, roughly a two-hour drive, and about 30 minutes from Collie — but it earns the distance. The dam wall carries *Reflections*, an 8,000 square metre mural painted by Australian artist Guido van Helten and opened in February 2021. It is believed to be the largest dam mural in the world, and it was painted by one person over four months, drawing on real photographs of Collie's history. There is an amphitheatre and a lookout facing the wall, and you can walk across the dam itself between 9am and 5pm daily. Entry is free.
From there, Black Diamond Lake is about 5km west of Collie. It is a former open-cut coal mine, and the startling blue of the water comes from the low pH left behind by the mining. People do swim there, but they swim at their own risk: signs on site say as much, the Shire of Collie tests the water through the warmer months, and anyone with sensitive skin should limit their time in it. Check the Shire's notices before you go.
Mundaring Weir
Staying with the theme of big water, Mundaring Weir is much closer to town — about 39km east of Perth — and has some genuinely good walks. A walkway runs across the dam wall with 360-degree views over the reservoir, the Helena River and C.Y. O'Connor Lake, which is worth doing if you are comfortable with heights. Entry is free and the site opens daily until 6pm from November to April, and until 5pm from May to October. Swimming and other water contact are prohibited, as it is a working drinking-water supply. Afterwards, the Mundaring Weir Hotel is a short drive away for a cold pint and a bowl of hot chips.
With all of the above in mind, now is a good time to get out and cover some ground close to home. If you have a large group and need transport to and from any of these spots, our team of sales consultants can help plan a custom itinerary — call (08) 9351 8980.
