Spring into Parks brings new ways to explore WA this spring

By: Natalie Pugh

Spring is a good excuse to get outside, and the WA Parks Foundation’s annual Spring into Parks campaign is bringing hundreds of adventures, activities and experiences to parks and natural places across Western Australia.

Now in its eighth year, the campaign returns from 18 September with a focus on the ways spending time outdoors can support health and wellbeing, while encouraging people to discover the biodiversity, cultural significance and conservation values of WA’s parks, marine parks and reserves.

There are plenty of ways to get involved throughout spring, but if you’re looking for something to add to the calendar this month, a few events stand out.

Take on a month of hiking in Esperance

The Month of Hiking Festival runs throughout October, encouraging locals and visitors to explore Esperance on foot and set their own walking goals.

Participants can use the Pacer app to find trail inspiration and track their kilometres, with the community working towards the ambitious goal of collectively hiking the equivalent distance of a lap around Australia.

The festival is open to all ages and abilities, so you don’t need to be a seasoned hiker to join in. From shorter local walks to longer adventures, it’s a chance to see more of the Esperance region one trail at a time.

Get your hands dirty at Gather and Grow

On Thursday 22 October, Gather and Grow will bring the Esperance community together at the Forage Community Garden at the Cannery Arts Centre.

The free event will offer hands-on gardening activities led by a trained permaculture guide, with local native plant nursery owner Rick sharing advice on native plants and sustainable gardening.

After getting stuck into the garden, visitors can sit down for morning tea and take home a native plant, seeds or fresh produce to continue their growing journey.

The event runs in the morning from 9am to noon, with another session from 3pm to 4pm, and everyone is welcome, including families, grandparents with grandchildren, travellers and dogs.

Build your own bush shelter in Yanchep

Families can swap the usual Saturday activity for sticks, fabric, ropes and pegs at Hut Building Day in Yanchep National Park on Saturday 24 October.

The free two-hour session, run by Educated by Nature, will have participants working together to design and build their own shelters while learning simple knot-tying skills and exploring the history and science behind shelter building.

The activity runs from 10am to noon, with registration required and limited places available. Park entry fees still apply.

Capture a memorable moment

If your camera roll is already full of wildflowers, wildlife and weekend walks, the Memorable Moments in Nature Photo Competition is another way to get involved.

Running from 1-31 October, the competition invites photographers of all ages to capture the moments that make spending time in WA’s natural places memorable, from wildflower displays and wildlife encounters to landscapes and everyday moments outdoors.

The competition is open across WA, with prizes on offer and more details to be announced by the WA Parks Foundation.

Beyond these featured events, the broader Spring into Parks program includes Ways to be Wild, encouraging people to explore activities including walking, paddling, birdwatching, camping and stargazing, alongside a 30 Days of Wellness challenge designed to make spending time outdoors a regular part of the month.

With activities happening across the state throughout spring, Spring into Parks is a good prompt to try somewhere new, revisit a favourite trail or simply spend a little more time outside.

Event details