Horizons Logo
    RAC Logo
    RAC WA832 Wellington Street,West Perth, Western Australia, 6005RAC acknowledges and pays respects to the Traditional Custodians throughout Australia. We recognise the continuing connection to land, waters and community.© 2025 The Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc.)
    • Privacy
    • Disclaimer
    • Security
    • Accessibility
    • Horizons on YouTube
    • RAC on Instagram
    • RAC on Facebook
    York town centre during the day.

    Explore

    Ultimate guide to York

    Published Dec 2024

    6 min read

    Text size

    Published Dec 2024

    Text size

    By: Tatum Stafford

    York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia. Established in 1831, the town is renowned for its rich heritage, colonial architecture and outstanding natural beauty.

    Be it old-fashioned lollies for the kids, museum exhibits for history buffs or epic hikes for nature lovers, there’s something for everyone in a visit to this quaint town.

    So if you’re ready for a day filled with iconic WA history, trinket shopping and picturesque hikes, plug York into your GPS and hit the road.

    At a glance

    Distance from Perth

    96 kilometres, about 90 minutes' drive

    Why go?

    To experience some of WA’s oldest buildings, fascinating ‘old-timey’ trinket shops, and sweeping fields of canola and wildflowers.

    When to go

    Feb: The annual York Medieval Fayre, filled with mock warrior battles, blacksmith displays, duel re-enactments and archery competitions.Sep – Oct: The York Festival; two weeks of exhibitions, kids’ activities, live music, comedy and local walking tours.Sep – Dec: Wildflower season. Notable locations are Wallaby Hills Reserve, Talbot Hall Reserve and the York Bushland Garden. Grab a map from the visitor centre for a comprehensive guide to all wildflower locations across town.

    How long to stay

    You can easily do York in a day, but hit the road early so you have plenty of time to explore it. Alternatively, if you’ve got time to stay overnight and make the most of it with some self-guided drives and hikes.

    Need to know

    Opening days and hours can differ for most attractions, so check the visitor website first. If you’re interested in a digital guided tour, download the Shire of York Trails & Tours app before arriving.

    Fast facts

    Town population: 3,688 Indigenous people: Balladong Noongar

    Insider tip

    If you’re bringing the kids, complete the Tiny Doors of York trail. Organised by local volunteers and the Shire of York, it’s a fun way to explore the town on foot to meet some of the ‘tiny residents’. Collect your map of tiny doors from the York Visitors Centre.

    Related road trips

    10 unique day trips from Perth

    Perth to Wave Rock road trip

    Top things to see and do

    Self-drive 'Ghost Town' tour

    Many believe the history of York is peppered with paranormal occurrences – and one of the best ways to see the town’s (supposedly) haunted locations is on a self-driving tour. This 160-kilometre trip begins at the York Town Hall and takes you to a few old homesteads, cemeteries and the abandoned Wheatbelt town of Balkuling.

    One stop that isn’t included on this tour (but is a must-see for paranormal fanatics) is the Old York Hospital. A former matron who worked at the hospital in the 1920s noted that staff refused to go into the upstairs rooms alone, even “when the upstairs ward was full of patients.” The building was turned into a hostel in the 1980s, with many patrons reporting terrifying experiences, including doors slamming shut, groaning noises coming from inside the walls, and even a levitating teapot. It’s a private residence now, so you can catch a glimpse of it with a drive-by.

    York Bushland Garden

    The Wheatbelt is known for its spectacular wildflower season, so no spring trip to York would be complete without a glimpse of the town’s bountiful blooms. The garden is just a short walk from town, displays over 300 species of WA native flora, and is maintained by the York branch of the Wildflower Society of WA.

    Mount Brown Lookout

    It’s one of York’s most Instagrammable locations – and for good reason. The hike up to the Mount Brown Lookout is 7.5 kilometres return, and will take you over York’s original swinging bridge, through a Memorial Grove, and past plenty of local flora and fauna. Once you reach the lookout platform, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of surrounding mountains and the town centre.

    White Gum Farm

    If you’re feeling adventurous, plan a trip to White Gum Farm. This ‘adventure park’ is packed with quirky attractions, including a four-wheel obstacle course, a kangaroo sanctuary, a private air park for gyrocopter flights and the purpose-built water feature Lake Kimberley which is ideal for swimming and canoeing in warmer months. There’s also plenty of caravan, campervan and tent camping sites that are packed with amenities if you need a place to spend the night.

    Penny Farthing Sweets

    This old-fashioned sweet shop is a staple on York’s main street. Stocked to the brim with every kind of sweet, lolly, chocolate and fudge flavour you can imagine, this quaint shop is known for its friendly staff and quirky memorabilia – even including a few miniature penny farthings mounted on the wall.

    York Canola Fields

    Among tourists, York is perhaps most famous for is its sweeping canola fields. Flowering between August and September, these vibrant fields of yellow make for an excellent photo opportunity, and reflect the hard work of local farmers and graziers.

    All canola fields in York are private property – and therefore, it is illegal to touch or walk through the fields. If you’d really like to walk through canola fields, the PetTeet Park in Gilgering (a 30-minute drive from York) houses a canola crop that is purely for tourists.

    York Motor Museum

    If you fancy yourself a car connoisseur, a pit-stop at the award-winning York Motor Musuem is a must. Displaying an extensive range of vintage racing bikes, classic cars and motorcycles, the museum opened in 1979 by classic car enthusiasts Peter Briggs and James Harwood. One of the museum’s most notable exhibits is the ‘Never Never Tours’ Valiant ute that was used in “Crocodile Dundee”; signed by Paul Hogan himself.

    Getting around

    As it’s a relatively small town, cycling and walking are commonplace in York. However, if you plan on visiting natural attractions and townships surrounding York, it’s best to use your car.

    To get your bearings, pop into the York Visitor Centre for a map of the town. PDFs of the various PDF symbolcycle trails, PDF symbolself-guided walks and PDF symbolself-drives are also available.

    What to pack

    York experiences dry, hot summers and wet, cool winters. Wear comfy and light casual clothes during the day in spring and summer, but bring along warm jumpers and jackets if you're visiting in cooler months. If you’re planning on tackling some of the town’s walking trails or climbs, be sure to pack sunscreen and sturdy walking shoes.

    Travelling safely

    The drive to York from the Perth CBD is moderately easy as it's mostly on highways - but make sure you're road-trip ready with our long distance driving tips.

    Need to fuel up before hitting the road?

    RAC members get 4 cents a litre off fuel at participating Puma Energy, Better Choice, Gull and Peak service stations.

    Find out more

    Related articles

    Dirt path with sign saying 'Bibbulmun Track'.

    Explore

    7 min read

    Ultimate guide to Mundaring

    TT_toodyay_canola

    Explore

    6 min read

    Ultimate guide to Toodyay

    Image of a canola field

    Explore

    8 min read

    Ultimate guide to Northam

    RELATED

    Explore

    11 min read

    11 of the most haunted places in Perth

    RELATED

    Explore

    8 min read

    11 of Perth's most scenic lookouts

    View this post on Instagram

    View this post on Instagram

    View this post on Instagram

    View this post on Instagram

    View this post on Instagram