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.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

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.

With unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).

As the sun slowly rises over the languid waves and fine sand of Broome’s Cable Beach, the morning colours shift from rich apricot to pale gold and frosty pearl. Remnants of life reveal themselves in the subtle shadows – crab claw marks, towel impressions, footprints. Life here is unhurried, but don’t be fooled. This town is continually shifting like the desert dunes that surround it.

And with a $75 million upgrade – offering easier and more inclusive access for people of all abilities – it’s getting even better.

Cable Beach upgrade foreshore redevelopment stage 1 — Discover the Cable Beach redevelopment.

The addition of comfortable and welcoming spaces has begun (and will continue). This means visitors will be able to spend longer enjoying this beautiful environment, while knowing that the upgrade will create a more environmentally protected setting that preserves the natural character visitors come for. Come sunset, soak it in all the better thanks to the already improved foreshore areas, made for lingering while the light changes. And for the kids, a new splash park and accessible dry playground will make it easy to while away the hours.

Think you know what a day at this beach is like? Think again.

Morning colours

car on cable beach at sunrise — Cable Beach comes alive after sunrise. (Credit: Tourism WA)

As the sun colours the sky, Cable Beach shows signs of life (and not just the aquatic kind). Locals and visitors alike float in the cool water as it laps the shore, landlubbers explore the coast on foot, runners pace and beachside yoga classes bring quiet movement to the day.

When the sky is blue and the sun is firmly in position, head down to the well-known Cable Beach House for a long, slow breakfast overlooking the ocean. Think fresh tropical fruit, eggs cooked your way and strong coffee in the warm morning breeze.

Afternoon adventures

camel train on cable beach in broome at sunset — Join a camel train at sunset. (Credit: C J Maddock)

When you’re ready to explore, carve a path along the Minyirr Park Trail – a gentle 1.5-2km track through coastal bushland with spectacular views of the dunes. Refuel at the nearby Spinifex Brewery for lunch with its low-key, outdoor beer garden. There’s even an outdoor playground if you’re travelling with young humans.

Walk off your lazy lunch by watching (or joining) one of the beach soccer or volleyball games, or even try Silent Beats Broome – a silent walking disco through the dunes. Or book a spot on the famous camel trains, watching the sun drop below the horizon along the way. They’re a constant reminder of the fascinating history, landscape and cultural mix in this part of the country.

Evening degustation

server at Cable Beach Club — Stop into the Cable Beach Club. (Credit: Tourism WA)

As the day closes, watch the world-famous Cable Beach sunset from the appropriately named Sunset Grill at Cable Beach Club. This open-air terraced dining spot overlooking the beach is the kind of place where the view takes centre stage.

While you sip on a lychee, lime & lemonade mocktail or a local beer, enjoy the bustle of life and nature outside as the day comes to an end.

For dinner, nab a table at the Bali Hai Cafe, where they offer pan-fried crispy barramundi, Abrolhos Island scallops and deep-sea snow crab. When you’re ready for bed, check in to Pinctada Hotel Broome – a lush, tropical resort with palm-dotted gardens and a large, lagoon-style pool to cool off in.

Beyond the beach

Beyond the wide, open beach and never-ending sky of Cable Beach, there are many more reasons to visit North West Australia. These are just a few.

Unmatched experiences

Shinju Matsuri Festival's popular Long Table Dinner on cable beach — Join Shinju Matsuri Festival’s popular Long Table Dinner. (Credit: Tourism WA)

Engage with the history of the land and its people on an Indigenous cultural tour exploring everything from the local wildlife to the tastes of bush tucker. To understand the importance of pearling to this town, take a tour of Chinatown, or head outside of town to the live pearl harvests at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, one of Australia’s oldest pearl farms.

Learn why Japanese pearlers were central to Broome’s pearling success and visit the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, where 900 Japanese pearlers were buried – a testament to the risks and rewards of this dangerous profession.

And book ahead every spring for when communal tables, freshly cooked local fare and festoon lighting fill the beach for the extremely popular Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach. It’s a highlight of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, along with the Floating Lanterns Matsuri, where you can personalise a lantern and gently release it into the sea to honour those you love.

Dining discoveries

Further your culinary adventure at the laid-back Sunday Sesh at Matso’s Broome Brewery. Chow down on smoked crocodile or Aussie barramundi while kicking back to a local DJ as the heat of the day fades.

For more tunes, the beautiful outdoor Bay Club at the Mangrove Hotel is a great choice for dinner with live music, DJs or an event that stretches on into the early hours. Still hungry? Pop by Johnny Sausage for Italian-influenced meals paired with impeccable wines.

Natural beauties

Gantheaume Point cabnle beach broome — Experience the striking colours of Gantheaume Point. (Credit: Tourism WA)

Avoid the crowds and head to Town Beach for a quieter vantage point to see the phenomenal Staircase to the Moon – a natural illusion where the rising full moon is reflected on the tidal flats, creating a shimmering ‘staircase’ stretching up to the sky.

Just south of Cable Beach are the deep red cliffs and dramatic ocean views of Gantheaume Point, where 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen, revealed at low tide. Or head to Roebuck Bay to visit the internationally significant wetlands, where vast tidal flats are home to shorebirds and coastal fauna.

Between October and March, watch turtles nesting and hatchlings emerge from the sand. You’ll be holding your breath as they make their way down to the shoreline, ready to start their life in one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes.

For more on Cable Beach and Australia’s North West, visit australiasnorthwest.com.

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…

WA’s Top Tourism Town for 2026 is a hidden Kimberley gem

Perth’s iconic Cottesloe Beach readies for $30 million redevelopment

This ‘floatel’ is offering a new way to sleep on water in the Kimberley

A once-in-a-century eclipse is taking place in 2028 – and the Kimberley is the world’s best place to see it

Exploring an icon: inside the massive upgrade to Broome’s famous Cable Beach

With unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).

Morning colours

Afternoon adventures

Evening degustation