Winter in the Great Southern is a time of quiet beauty and wild possibility. The air is crisp, the skies are vast and dramatic, and the land reveals a deeper kind of magic. It’s a season where the trails take on new life – mist clings to valleys, orchids bloom at your feet, and every walk feels more intimate, more alive.
Morning light filters slowly through cloud, painting forests and peaks in silvery hues. Cool temperatures invite longer strolls, allowing you to move with ease through coastal heath, ancient granite, and forested ranges. Kangaroos graze along the trail’s edge, birds call through damp trees, and offshore, whales pass along the southern edge of the continent.
In winter, the wild doesn’t just wait to be seen – it invites you to wander with it. Read on to discover some of the Great Southern’s must-do winter hikes.
1. Bluff Knoll – Stirling Range National Park
6.8 km return | Half day | Grade 4
Rising from the plains, Bluff Knoll is the highest peak in southern Western Australia and is a popular winter hike. Cooler conditions make the steady climb more comfortable, with mist often settling in the gullies and frost marking the surrounding heath. On rare occasions, a light dusting of snow adds an alpine feel. From the summit, expansive views and a sense of quiet make the effort worthwhile.
2. Toolbrunup Peak – Stirling Range National Park
4 km return | Half day | Grade 5
As the second-highest peak in the Stirling Range, Toolbrunup offers a rewarding challenge for experienced hikers. The trail includes loose scree, short scrambles, and steep switchbacks that require care and concentration. In winter, changing weather adds atmosphere as clouds drift across the ridgelines and views shift with each step, revealing glimpses of the surrounding range through passing mist.
3. Mount Hassell – Stirling Range National Park
3 km return | Half day | Grade 4
Mount Hassell offers a shorter climb that starts in open shrubland and winds through granite outcrops dotted with winter wildflowers. At the summit, wide views stretch across the Stirling Range and parts of the Great Southern, often accompanied by nothing more than the sound of wind moving through the trees.
4. Bald Head Walk Trail – Torndirrup National Park
12.5 km return | Full day | Grade 4
A narrow spine of sand and granite leads you between two bodies of water – the Southern Ocean on one side, King George Sound on the other. Winter’s wilder moods suit this place: banksias burn gold against charcoal skies, whales breach in the distance, and salt spray drifts on the wind. It’s exposed, demanding, and utterly exhilarating.
5. Peak Head Track – Torndirrup National Park
4.8 km return | 1 – 3 hours | Grade 4
For a shorter coastal hike, the Peak Head Track winds through low heath bright with seasonal colour before reaching a rocky headland. Swells roll in below, and on clear days, the view stretches far across the Southern Ocean.
6. Castle Rock & Granite Skywalk – Porongurup National Park
4.7km return | 1 – 3 hours | Grade 5
This popular trail begins with a steady climb through towering karri and marri forest, where winter mist often hangs between the trees. A short scramble and ladder climb lead to the Granite Skywalk, a suspended platform with sweeping views across farmland and toward the Stirling Range. In winter, the light brings a striking clarity to the landscape.
7. Bibbulmun Track – Denmark Section
Choose your distance | Grade 2 – 4
Choose a day-walk section of the Bibbulmun Track near Denmark, perhaps a riverside stretch beneath tall karri trees, or a sandy ridge walk toward Peaceful Bay with ocean views in the distance. After rain, the forest feels especially fresh, with soft ground underfoot and the scent of damp earth and leaves in the air.
8. Monkey Rock – Denmark
2.2 km return | 1 – 3 hours | Grade 4
A swift climb through peppermint woodland leads to a granite balcony high above Wilson Inlet and the Southern Ocean. Bring a thermos, settle on a sun‑warmed boulder, and watch winter clouds roll in from the far horizon.
Post-Hike Warm Ups
After the hike, the Great Southern offers plenty of ways to thaw out as you wind down and savour the moment.
Settle in beside a stone fireplace at one of the region’s cosy cellar doors and let a bold shiraz or cool-climate pinot soothe your tired limbs. Cafés and bakeries in towns like Denmark, Albany, and Mount Barker serve up hot meals, seasonal soups and rich coffee, exactly what cold hands and hungry bellies crave.
For something slower still, book into a wellness escape like Chimes Spa Retreat. Warm outdoor baths and massage therapies are the perfect companions to a day spent walking with the wild.
Walking With Story
Beneath each trail lies a deeper layer of meaning. The Great Southern is Noongar Country, and many of these paths cross land that has been travelled and known for thousands of years. Seek out opportunities to connect with these stories through guided walks or interpretive signage, and let each step become part of a larger journey.
Whether you’re climbing into cloud on a mountain trail or standing at the edge of the continent as whales pass below, there’s a winter adventure waiting for you in the Great Southern.
Let the season draw you in and the land guide your steps.
Find out more at discovergreatsouthern.au
Disclaimer: Always hike to your ability and check local weather and track conditions before setting out. Trails in the Great Southern can be remote and challenging—ensure you’re prepared with appropriate footwear, warm layers, sufficient water, and navigation tools. Let someone know your plans and expected return time. In an emergency, dial 000.
