One of the most inspiring weekend adventures near Perth would have to be Wave Rock. Near the small town of Hyden lies a rock that has to be seen to be believed. Made out of multicoloured granite, the rock reaching up to 14m in height and 110m long, feels like it is about to tumble down on you just like you were in the massive surfs of Hawaii. Although, thankfully, the difference here is that the 2.7 billion year old rock is frozen in time, the wave being formed 60 million years ago by subsurface chemical weathering, occurring below ground before it was exposed.
It is an easy walk around the rock where you can be awestruck by the rock from underneath or climb to the top where you can feel like you have conquered this mammoth structure.
Wave Rock
Wave Rock is not all you can enjoy in Hyden. There is a cave in the same park where Mulka, the subject of Aboriginal legend was said to live and you can see what is said to be his handprints on the roof of the cave, amongst other Aboriginal rock paintings. There are other interesting rock formations in the area including Breakers, Hippo's Yawn and the Humps. The salt lakes are close by to tour and, if you go between June and November, Western Australia's wildflowers come out in full force, their beauty insurmountable, renowned as being one of the most spectacular wildflower displays in the world.
Hippo's Yawn
Being the edge of the desert, it can get hot but there is Lake Magic nearby where you can swim, canoe or sail. If feeling like driving a little bit further, it is possible to see the rabbit proof fence, completed in 1907 to keep rabbits and other agricultural pests out of Western Australia's pastoral areas, it stretches for 3253km.
You could fly to Hyden in an hour but the 3.5 hours (approximately) drive east of Perth is not boring as the drive takes you through the wheatbelt of the south west of Western Australia.
