22nd September 2021

5 Reasons why you should party outside the (CBD) box this year

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Or at least, it will be soon. I know, I know, it’s only September… But don’t tell me you’re haven’t thought about it, because we certainly have #94daystogo. 

We celebrate the Christmas season a little differently here at the Hike Collective. Instead of heading to the city for drinks and dancing, we head into nature (we may sneak a bit of boogie in too, don’t worry). We wanted to share why, in case you fancied getting festive the way we do:

Cancel the cancelled culture

In this COVID-crazy world, our plans can change within days which makes it tricky to plan ahead – especially given pubs and clubs are the last to reopen post-lockdown life. Luckily, nature will never be cancelled! You can always enjoy the trees and the great outdoors, so schedule a day to head up to John Forrest National Park and take it all in from Eagle View. You can even follow the trail up to our local, The Parkerville Tavern, for a sneaky pint post-hike.

See the real deal Christmas Tree

Forget the tinsel this year, you want to check out a real Aussie Christmas tree. Did you know our native Christmas tree is believed to be the world’s largest parasitic tree? It has blades that stab into the roots of other plants to steal their sap from up to 110m away. It’s a bit Ebenezer Scrooge, but luckily it’s dang pretty too with gorgeous golden leaves. Spot them on our Heritage of Bickley trail, then head out to Core Cider or Naked Apple Cider for a drop.

An Alternative Christmas carol

Instead of spreading Christmas cheer door-to-door with a FA-LA-LA-LA-LA we like to listen to the sounds of Australia summer. Think of the frog’s ribbit, the Kookaburra laughing and the rustle of the leaves. For something extra special we head out onto the beautiful South Ledge on the Bibbulmun Track for some Didgeridoo sound healing while overlooking the golden views at sunset before heading back across Mundaring Weir.

Be inspired by the colours of Christmas

When you think of the festive season, is your vision clouded with red, green and gold? Well, we think Santa’s standard colours were so last season. In fact, we’re making the call – pink and blue are the hit bauble colours for 2021. Get inspired by the best of nature and head over the pond to Rottnest. There we enjoy the dreamy coastal blues and luscious pink lakes, and pair them with a scavenger hunt and some fine dining or pub grub. 

Escape the crowds

I don’t know about you, but one thing I dread about the festive season is battling those Christmas crowds. Instead of going shoulder to shoulder with the rest of Perth, find a hidden treasure just for your crew to enjoy and truly connect to both nature and to each other – that quality time that Christmas is all about! We recommend our secret spot at Araluen Botanic Gardens.