The new trail reinventing WA as a mountain biking hotspot

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.

“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.

What to expect

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.

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.

But that’s not all…

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.

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.

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.

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

The new trail reinventing WA as a mountain biking hotspot

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

Where is it?

What to expect

But that’s not all…

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