Bibbulmun Track

The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long-distance walks, running almost 1,000 kilometres through the forests and coast of Western Australia's South West, from the Perth Hills town of Kalamunda to the historic port of Albany on the Southern Ocean. Named for the Noongar people of the region, it is marked throughout by the distinctive Waugal serpent symbol.

End-to-end thru-hikers take six to eight weeks, but the track is designed for flexibility, with dozens of access points allowing day walks and shorter multi-day trips. It passes through towering karri, jarrah and tingle forests, granite outcrops, river valleys and, in its final stretch, wild coastal heath and beaches. A chain of some forty timber shelters with rainwater tanks spaces the route roughly a day's walk apart.

Difficulty is moderate. The terrain is rarely steep, but the sheer distance, sandy sections and exposure demand fitness and planning. The trail shelters are free and first-come, first-served; no permit is needed, though thru-hikers arrange food resupply through the towns strung along the way. Water reliability in the drier northern half must be checked before setting out.

The best walking season is the cooler months from April to October, when temperatures are comfortable and wildflowers bloom through spring. Summer heat and fire risk make the northern forests unsuitable, and sections may close on days of extreme fire danger. With wandering black cockatoos, quenda and wildflower-rich understorey, the Bibbulmun offers an immersive journey through the unique flora of Australia's south-western corner.