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The low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth is known as the Darling Range, though commonly referred to as the Perth Hills, is a popular day trip or weekend getaway destination. Also referred to as The Darling Ranges or Darling Scarp, the range extends generally north of Bindoon, to the south of Pemberton, and easterly to include Mount Bakewell near York and Mount Saddleback near Boddington. These pages focus on that section of the range to the east of the City of Perth, an area containing numerous outer suburbs, sleepy villages, farms and orchards, all set in natural bushland largely protected by national parks.

Walking tracks lead deep into woodlands of Eucalypts, Jarrah and Wandoo, where natives animals including kangaroos, wallabies and a variety of birds are regularly seen. In spring, native wildflowers, for which the state of western Australia is famous, colour the lush understorey. Creeks that are little more than rock pools in summer, are fed by winter rains, and cascade over races and waterfalls along the escarpment.

The Darling Range is also geographically interesting as it is here that some of the oldest rocks on earth are exposed. The granite, gneisses and quartzites are believed to be more than 2,500 million years old.

The range’s close proximity to Perth has led to the development of a range of visitor facilities. These include Bed and Breakfast accommodation, cafes, restaurants, arts and crafts stores and roadside fruit and vegetable stalls.