Start your day with a quick drive down to The Colony of Midland, a bright and welcoming café just a few minutes from the park. The crew here serve excellent coffee using locally roasted beans. The cafe overlooks Weeip Park which is blessed with a fun playground - perfect for those getting their caffeine fix whilst tiring out the kids at the same time.

For lunch, The Mudpot is a great choice. It’s a small Sri Lankan restaurant tucked into Midland’s main street, and it punches well above its weight. The menu is full of fragrant curries, sambals and rice dishes that are big on flavour but still easy enough for a casual midday stop. It’s the kind of place where you’re greeted with a smile and leave feeling like you’ve discovered a local favourite.

Come evening, we made the short drive out to Mandoon Estate in Caversham. The estate sits right on the banks of the Swan River and is home to Wild Swan, one of the region’s most celebrated dining rooms. The menu champions Western Australian produce — on our visit, the Confit Wagin duck stole the show, perfectly matched with a glass of Mandoon’s own shiraz. Whether you’re seated inside the elegant dining room or on the terrace overlooking the vines, it’s one of those meals that lingers in memory.

If you’d rather stay in, the park makes it easy to self-cater. You’ll find a spacious Camp Kitchen, communal BBQs and plenty of outdoor spots to enjoy a quiet dinner under the gum trees.

No trip here is complete without exploring the Swan Valley, just a short drive from the park and one of Western Australia’s oldest wine regions. We spent an afternoon winding between cellar doors and art galleries, stopping at Sandalford Wines for a long lunch before stocking up on handmade chocolate and honey from roadside producers. If you’re travelling with family, Caversham Wildlife Park is nearby and a real hit with the kids.

When you’re ready to swap vineyards for vistas, the Perth Hills make a brilliant contrast. About 15 minutes drive away, the roads twist through bushland and small country towns that feel a world away from the city. We drove up to Kalamunda for the Sunday farmers market and walked a short section of the Bibbulmun Track before tackling another short bushwalking trail at Lesmurdie Falls. 

For a dose of the seaside, make the 25-minute drive to Scarborough Beach. We like to head there late in the afternoon when the heat eases off and the ocean glows gold in the sunset. There’s a long promenade lined with cafés, bars and ice-cream shops, so you can take your pick between fish and chips on the sand or a cocktail with Indian Ocean views.

The park sits in a handy spot just a few minutes’ drive from Midland’s main centre, where you’ll find supermarkets, cafés and shops for all the essentials. If you’re planning a day out in the Swan Valley or Perth Hills, you can be on the road and exploring in under ten minutes.