A brand-new spring hiking festival is launching in one of Australia's most beautiful regions
First, Aussies were obsessed with music festivals. Then, food and drink fests took over the scene. Now, a new type of festival is marching into town… Debuting this September, Perth Hills WanderFest is a first-of-its-kind hiking festival offering nature enthusiasts the chance to experience the beauty of Western Australia in spring.
You don't have to be a hardcore hiker to join the adventure. WanderFest's inaugural program features five wildly different guided walks tailored for beginners, pros, youth, seniors and people with accessibility needs. Led by local experts, these hikes are also extremely inclusive in terms of price, with all tickets available for just $30.
Never been hiking before? This is your sign to start. The beginner-friendly three-kilometre F.R. Berry Reserve walk in Gidgegannup winds through woodlands and past wildflowers to a stunning waterfall, revealing one of Perth Hills' most underrated pockets of wilderness.
Consider yourself a hiking pro? You can take on the advanced 16-kilometre Kitty's Gorge trek in Jarrahdale. Warning: your legs will burn, but the breathtaking views of Serpentine Falls at the end will make every step worth it.
Little adventurers can join the family-friendly, 3.4-kilometre Piesse Brook return hike in Kalamunda; seniors can take it easy on the gentle five-kilometre Armadale Settlers Common loop in Bedfordale; and those with accessibility needs can sign up for the mostly flat three-kilometre Lake Leschenaultia walk in Chidlow, which is suitable for wheelchairs, prams and walking aids.
Perth Hills WanderFest is happening over the King's Birthday long weekend in Western Australia from September 26 to 29. While you're there, you might as well make a weekend out of it. Stock up on snacks at the local markets, reward yourself with a pub feed post-hike and rest your legs at a cosy B&B. WanderFest tickets go live on July 1, but all the hikes are ready for you to explore here.
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Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
A brand-new spring hiking festival is launching in one of Australia's most beautiful regions
First, Aussies were obsessed with music festivals. Then, food and drink fests took over the scene. Now, a new type of festival is marching into town… Debuting this September, Perth Hills WanderFest is a first-of-its-kind hiking festival offering nature enthusiasts the chance to experience the beauty of Western Australia in spring. You don't have to be a hardcore hiker to join the adventure. WanderFest's inaugural program features five wildly different guided walks tailored for beginners, pros, youth, seniors and people with accessibility needs. Led by local experts, these hikes are also extremely inclusive in terms of price, with all tickets available for just $30. Never been hiking before? This is your sign to start. The beginner-friendly three-kilometre F.R. Berry Reserve walk in Gidgegannup winds through woodlands and past wildflowers to a stunning waterfall, revealing one of Perth Hills' most underrated pockets of wilderness. Consider yourself a hiking pro? You can take on the advanced 16-kilometre Kitty's Gorge trek in Jarrahdale. Warning: your legs will burn, but the breathtaking views of Serpentine Falls at the end will make every step worth it. Little adventurers can join the family-friendly, 3.4-kilometre Piesse Brook return hike in Kalamunda; seniors can take it easy on the gentle five-kilometre Armadale Settlers Common loop in Bedfordale; and those with accessibility needs can sign up for the mostly flat three-kilometre Lake Leschenaultia walk in Chidlow, which is suitable for wheelchairs, prams and walking aids. Perth Hills WanderFest is happening over the King's Birthday long weekend in Western Australia from September 26 to 29. While you're there, you might as well make a weekend out of it. Stock up on snacks at the local markets, reward yourself with a pub feed post-hike and rest your legs at a cosy B&B. WanderFest tickets go live on July 1, but all the hikes are ready for you to explore here.
Time Out
3 days ago
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Here's who gets the most (and least) public holidays in Australia
Ah, public holidays. They go hand-in-hand with long weekends and the sweet, sweet joy of a four-day work week – two things we can easily get around! In Australia, we're lucky to score up to 13 full-day public holidays each year, with the exact number depending on where you live. So which state or territory should you move to if you want to maximise your free days off? Australia currently has nine annual public holidays that are celebrated on the same day nationwide, including New Year's Day, January 26, Good Friday, Easter, Anzac Day, Christmas and Boxing Day. But some holidays, like the King's Birthday and Labour Day, vary in date depending on the state or territory. Throw in a few local public holidays, and it becomes clear that some Aussies are getting more sleep-in days than others. The Australian Capital Territory and Victoria both benefit from the most full-day public holidays in Australia, with 13 days off in 2025. The ACT gets two bonus days off for Canberra Day (March 10) and Reconciliation Day (June 2), while Victoria gets the Friday before the AFL Grand Final (September 26) and the Melbourne Cup (November 4). However, if we include part-day public holidays, the Northern Territory and South Australia both also score 13 days off. The Top End gets long weekends for May Day (May 5), the King's Birthday (June 9) and Picnic Day (August 4), plus part-day holidays on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight). Meanwhile, South Australia gets Adelaide Cup Day (March 10), the King's Birthday (June 9) and Labour Day (October 6), plus the same half-day public holidays as the NT. On the flip side, Western Australia and New South Wales have the fewest full-day public holidays, with just eleven each. One of those is the King's Birthday, which most states celebrate on June 9 – except for WA and Queensland. WA pushes its King's Birthday public holiday to the fourth weekend of September to space it out from WA Day on the first Monday in June. This sparked a bit of debate recently, with West Coasters arguing that it doesn't make sense for them to work while the rest of the country is offline. In response, WA Premier Roger Cook announced that he's considering changing the King's Birthday holiday to align with the East Coast. He also revealed that an extra public holiday is on the table. The new public holiday regime could come into play as early as next year, but is more likely to be introduced in 2027. Looks like NSW might need to start rallying for an extra public holiday too! Which state has the most public holidays in Australia? ACT – 13 Victoria – 13 Northern Territory – 13 (12 full days + 2 half days) South Australia – 13 (12 full days + 2 half days) Tasmania – 12 (11 full days + 2 half days) Queensland – 11.5 (11 full days + one half day) NSW – 11 Western Australia – 11 🏖️ How to turn 20 days of annual leave into more than 50 🤔 Find out when Australia's next public holiday is ⭐️ The best long weekend getaways in Australia
Daily Mirror
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Five-word warning for Brits visiting tiny island flooded with over 6m tourists
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