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The new trail reinventing WA as a mountain biking hotspot

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
Dwellingup’s new mountain bike network has cemented its spot among the top outdoor destinations in Australia.

Known among locals as a resplendent natural paradise, Dwellingup in Western Australia’s Darling Range is quietly becoming a magnet for outdoor thrill seekers – and its new mountain bike trail is only adding to the buzz.

Where is it?

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails in Western Australia
Your next outdoor adventure awaits in the regional town of Dwellingup. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Just over an hour’s drive from Perth, the charming town of Dwellingup is the perfect destination for lovers of nature and adventure. One of only two accredited Trail Towns in Western Australia, this little pocket of paradise is home to everything from scenic hiking tracks and mountain biking trails to pristine waterways and wild swimming holes.

The newest addition to this already epic line-up is the Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails, a 68-kilometre network that takes in the region’s top highlights. With stage two of construction completed earlier this month, the trail is now officially open to the public and has since received a flurry of visitors.

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails in Western Australia
The new network is part of the Dwellingup Adventure Trails initiative. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

“It’s a world-class facility here. We are genuinely spoilt for trails," says Tony Tucknott, Dwellingup 100 course director. “The DBCA [Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions] has done a fantastic job. The trail network that’s out here is so enjoyable, so flowy, so fast."

It’s all part of Dwellingup Adventure Trails, a multimillion-dollar project aimed at establishing the region as a leading trails destination. Since its launch three years ago, multiple tracks across Dwellingup have been built under the initiative.

The Turner Hill Mountain Bike Trail and Marrinup Circuit have also received extensive upgrades, with an additional $1.7 million invested into ongoing trail support and infrastructure development.

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What to expect

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails in Western Australia
There are 68 kilometres of biking trails to explore. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

The interconnected Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails span 68 kilometres, weaving through jarrah, marri and wandoo forests, along the winding Murray River and past some of the region’s best natural attractions.

Many trace sections of Lane Poole Reserve, a 55,000-hectare mecca known for its abundance of flora and fauna. Bikers are encouraged to look out for kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, echidnas, woylies and even quokkas.

Quokka in Western Australia
Keep an eye out for friendly quokkas along the way. (Image: Getty/Philipp Boettcher)

While mountain biking may have a reputation for being rough and rugged, the rise of mountain biking tourism has seen the sport become more accessible. Similar to the newly opened Great Southern Trails in NSW, the Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails welcome bikers of all abilities, with a range of tracks that vary in length and difficulty.

Not sure where to start? Beginners should check out the Emu Run, a gentle 1.6-kilometre trail that takes less than an hour to complete. For something a little more challenging, try the BFG trail, a 2.5-kilometre downhill track that detours off longer tracks, Blaze and Solitary.

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails in Western Australia
A rise in mountain biking tourism has seen the sport become more accessible. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Marrinup Circuit, Turner Hill and Go Loco are perfect for more experienced mountain bikers. At eight, 11 and 18 kilometres in length respectively, they take up to three hours to complete. The best part? A number of tracks connect to the iconic Munda Biddi Trail, a multi-day adventure stretching over 1000 kilometres between Mundaring and Albany.

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But that’s not all…

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails in Western Australia
Pitch a tent at one of Lane Poole Reserve’s riverside campgrounds. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Not a huge fan of mountain biking? No stress – the Dwellingup Adventure Trails are as diverse as their surrounds.

“As well as mountain biking, there’s a fantastic network of walks. Some new ones, but also existing trails that we’ve improved. And then you’ve got the kayak and canoe trails on the river, so there really is something for everyone," says Rod Annear of WA’s Parks and Wildlife Service.

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails in Western Australia
Explore from the water along a kayak and canoe trail. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

You’d be remiss not to bring your hiking boots and hit one of the bushwalks, from the 1.3-kilometre Marrinup Falls Walk Trail to the newly upgraded King Jarrah Walk Trail. Or explore Lane Poole Reserve on horseback along the 17-kilometre Les Couzens Bridle Trail.

If you’d rather have an on-water adventure, take to the Murray on a kayak or canoe trail. Along the way, there are plenty of spots to stop for a picnic or a dip in the water, as well as campgrounds for multi-day adventurers with new canoe launch facilities at the Yarragil and Stringers sites.

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trails in Western Australia
Get your bearings on the visitor centre’s practice track. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Keen to explore the Dwellingup Adventure Trails? The town’s visitor centre is the ultimate one-stop shop, where friendly locals are full of expert advice at the information desk. You’ll also find interactive maps, touch-screen displays and a VR preview of the trails to ensure you’re fully prepared before heading off.

The surrounding precinct has everything you need pre- and post-adventure, from a practice track and tool tree to showers and toilets. There’s also a cafe, locker room, kiosk, laundromat and gift shop, as well as on-site parking.

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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Theatre, art and music: Our top picks from this year’s Perth Festival lineup

Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy

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    Blend the addictive energy of dance, creative cinematic movies, captivating theatre, and energising music during Perth Festival.

    Perth Festival has extraordinary roots. Born as a summer community experiment back in 1953, the brainchild of Professor Fred Alexander, it’s now Australia’s longest-running international art-based festival. From its first event at University of Western Australia, it now spans across Noongar Boodjar country (Perth City) bringing worldclass performances into the hearts of ardent festivalgoers. Hundreds of curtain calls, including numerous free events, are set to linger and leave a lasting impression on those who seek thrills that fill life’s in-between spaces. Featuring unmissable highlights from 6th February to 1st March, we’ve done the legwork for you – here’s what’s on, and where:

    1. East Perth Power Station

    East Perth Power Station during Perth Festival
    See East Perth Power Station come alive. (Image: Jessica Wyld Photography)

    Abandoned, run-down and shutdown in 1981, East Perth Power Station, located on the banks of the stunning Swan River, was reinvented in 2025 as an entertainment venue for the Perth Festival. Pack a picnic, bring the family and kick back under paperbark trees at Casa Musica – a free event featuring a melting pot of world-class musicians from Australian shores and around the globe. The diversity will have you bopping until the final encore.

    A decade after David Bowie’s passing, his powerful music lives on in the electrifying show, Rebel Rebel. Powerhouse vocalists join Perth Symphony Orchestra for one incredible night showcasing the singer-songwriter’s iconic hits. Illuminate your world through the eyes of First Nation Noongar artist, Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo in a free event. His distinctive paintings and Dreamtime stories decorate the Power Station’s walls depicting spiritual beliefs. Or settle in to watch British indie pop singer-songwriter, Nilüfer Yanya.

    2. St Mary’s Cathedral

    Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth
    Take in Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth. (Image: Anja Schutz)

    Step into the lofty ceilings of Perth’s grandest cathedral, St Mary’s, and soak up choral harmonies. Dating back to 1865, the stained-glass reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper are a talking point, add talented maestros, and the stage is set to enthral.

    The international line-up is impressive. Master Irish fiddler, Martin Hayes takes to the stage with exquisite lyrical compositions from his native land. Åkervinda, an award winning Swedish quartet, weave stories of love, loss, and resilience into harmonious Nordic folk songs. The USA Grammy Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth, break all the rules. Hear their voices echo through the arched vaulted ceilings.

    3. Lotterywest Films

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    Discover the Lotterywest Films program. (Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy)

    One of the festivals longest-running favourites, Lotterywest Films run a rich tapestry of cinematic features showing until 29th of March. Pack a picnic, cushions, popcorn and pop a cork under a Somerville Pine Tree as the sun sets and screenings begin. Cinema lovers, choose your poison from thrillers, deep-dive documentaries, tearjerkers, raunchy rom-coms and side-splitting comedies. The program is fantastically full, the filmmakers the best in the business, and the outdoor setting, unequalled.

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    guests at The EMbassy as part of Perth Festival
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    5. Unusual locations

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    Sit back under starry skies and soak up dynamic dance at Ballet at the Quarry: Incandescence.  Four exclusive classical and contemporary acts illuminate the amphitheatre’s stage as Perth City twinkles at nightfall. Mystery excites the mind. West Australian Opera returns again with another ‘secret opera’. Be led from an undisclosed meeting point and let the music lead to the secret.

    6. A View From A Bridge

    A View From A Bridge special event at Perth Festival
    Share your innermost thoughts at A View From A Bridge.

    Free, connecting strangers, and inclusive to everyone, artist, Joe Bloom’s collaborative project, A View From A Bridge has one prop – an old red telephone. Talk into the receiver, share thoughts, innermost feelings, memories, hopes and dreams as Bloom captures you from afar. The freedom to speak through the telephone movement has a worldwide following. A range of clips will be shown online.

    What else to do in Perth

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    Taste the best of Perth at eateries like Shadow Wine Bar.

    Endless blue skies crown Perth during February, making it the perfect time to explore Australia’s most western capital city. The city might be compact, but it packs a punch when it comes to what’s on. Perth Cultural Centre houses the city’s art-scene venues: Western Australian Art Gallery, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

    After exploring the city’s alleyways, hidden corners, and main hub, savour worldclass food in Perth’s vibrant eateries. Award-winning restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafes can be found throughout; the leisurely eat-and-drink scene is literally mouthwatering, so book extra nights.

    Start planing your 2026 trip to Perth Festival at perthfestival.com.au.