26th February 2025

Come for the Stories, Stay for the Feels: Hike Through WA’s Hidden History

Some trails are about the views. Others are about the challenge. But the best ones—the ones that stick with you long after the hike is over—are the ones that tell a story. Out here in WA, the land doesn’t just hold history— it whispers it, echoes it, and invites you to step right into it.

From ancient Aboriginal songlines to long-forgotten railways, shipwrecks, and wartime farewells, the stories woven into WA’s landscapes are as rich as they are wild. So, if you’re keen to lace up your boots and walk where history happened, we’ve got the perfect trails for you.

John Forrest National Park – Walk the Tracks of Time

Distance from Perth: 30-minute drive

Trail Options: Beginner to advanced (2km–41km)

As WA’s oldest national park, John Forrest is packed with history. One of the best ways to experience it is along the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, a path that follows the old Eastern Railway, built in the late 1800s to connect Perth with the booming Goldfields.

The highlight? The Swan View Tunnel, a 400m-long passage of pure darkness. Originally carved through the hills for steam trains, it was abandoned in the 1960s—but some say the ghosts of railway workers never left. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s something undeniably eerie about stepping into the cool, inky blackness.

Top trails:

• Swan View Tunnel Walk – 5km return (Beginner)
• Eagle View Walk Trail – 15km loop (Advanced)

Don’t Miss: Waterfalls after rain and kangaroos soaking up the sun near the picnic areas.

Bald Head Walk Trail – Shipwrecks and Stormy Seas

Distance from Perth: 5-hour drive to Albany

Trail Options: Advanced (12.5km return)

Albany is steeped in history—it was WA’s first European settlement and the departure point for thousands of ANZAC soldiers heading to war. But long before that, the Noongar people lived on this land, telling stories of the wild southern coastline.

The Bald Head Walk Trail takes you along the windswept ridge of the Flinders Peninsula, where the Southern Ocean crashes against sheer cliffs below. It’s a tough, undulating trek, but the views are next-level.

Don’t Miss: A post-hike visit to the National ANZAC Centre for a deeper dive into Albany’s wartime past.

The Bibbulmun Track – Walking Ancient Songlines

Distance from Perth: Various access points across WA

Trail Options: Beginner to Advanced (short sections or the full 1,000km)

The Bibbulmun Track isn’t just one of Australia’s greatest long-distance hikes—it’s a pathway through the oldest stories of this land. For over 60,000 years, Noongar people have walked these landscapes, following songlines that connect people, places, and the land itself.

You don’t have to take on the full 1,000km trek to feel its magic. One of the best sections for history lovers is from Mundaring to Helena Hut, where you’ll walk through jarrah forests once logged for WA’s booming railway and mining industries.

Top Trails:

• Mundaring to Helena Hut – 20km return (Intermediate)
• Albany Wind Farm to Sandpatch (Beginner)
• Full Track – 1,000km (Advanced)

Don’t Miss: The golden glow of the karri trees at sunset—pure WA magic.

Karijini National Park – The Timeless Heart of the Pilbara

Distance from Perth: 14-hour drive or 2-hour flight to Paraburdoo (nearest airport)

Trail Options: Beginner to Advanced (1km–10km)

Carved over two billion years, Karijini National Park is one of WA’s most breathtaking landscapes, rich in both geological and cultural history. This is Banyjima, Kurrama, and Innawonga country, and for thousands of years, the Traditional Owners have told stories of these deep gorges, towering red cliffs, and hidden waterholes.

One of the best hikes for a mix of adventure and history is Hancock Gorge, often called a “journey through time” as you descend through ancient rock layers. The hike takes you through narrow passages and into stunning amphitheaters of stone that have been shaped by water over millennia.

Top Trails:

• Joffre Falls Lookout Walk – 1km return (Beginner)
• Hancock Gorge (Spider Walk) – 2km return (Advanced)
• Dales Gorge & Fern Pool – 6km return (Intermediate)

Don’t Miss: A swim in Fern Pool, where the cool waters feel like stepping into another world.

Wave Rock – The Land Before Time

Distance from Perth: 4-hour drive to Hyden

Trail Options: Beginner (1km–4km)

Standing 15m high and stretching 110m long, Wave Rock is one of WA’s most famous natural landmarks—but it’s also one of its oldest. Shaped by wind and water over 2.7 billion years, this prehistoric rock formation is like a frozen moment in time.

But Wave Rock isn’t just a geological wonder—it’s a sacred site for the Noongar people. Known as Katter Kich, it’s believed to be the resting place of the Rainbow Serpent, a powerful creator spirit in Aboriginal Dreaming stories.

Nearby, Mulka’s Cave holds ancient rock art, telling the haunting tale of an outlaw whose story has been passed down through generations.

Top Trails:

• Wave Rock Walk Circuit – 1km loop (Beginner)
• Hippo’s Yawn & Breakers Walk (Beginner)

Don’t Miss: Mulka’s Cave and its incredible rock art—some of the oldest evidence of human life in WA.

The Stories Are Waiting—Are You Coming?

A good hike isn’t just about the distance you cover. It’s about what you feel along the way—the history beneath your feet, the connection to those who walked before, and the moments that stay with you long after you’ve left the trail.

So, where will your next adventure take you?