About this park
Close to Perth, scenic views, walk and bicycle trails, historic buildings, lots of wildlife – all you need to do is pack a picnic!
A quick 30-minute drive from Perth and you will arrive in Western Australia’s first and oldest national park.
You will find an abundance of beautiful spots to have a picnic or use one of the barbecues. There are two waterfalls that flow in Winter and Spring which is also the best time of year to see the stunning wildflowers.
There are many walk trails that lead you through jarrah, marri, flooded gums, swamp peppermint and paperbark trees and the spooky Swan View Tunnel. You might even see some of the native wildlife such as the western grey kangaroos lazing in the park.
Bring your bicycle to explore the Railway Reserves Trail or walk one of the other many trails, visit the lookouts and capture that perfect pic for Instagram of the views of Perth and the Swan Coastal Plain.
Safety information
Plan when to visit. Read this safety information about bushwalking and horse riding. Consider traveling with a personal location beacon (PLB). In the event you need to be rescued it could save your life!
The park has many waterfalls and risk areas. Extreme caution must be undertaken to avoid slippage and falling in such areas.
Gallery
John Forrest National Park Improvement Project
To ensure visitors can continue to experience and enjoy the park, some improvements will be made which will revitalise and diversify the activities available to visitors.
The improvements will make the park more accessible to a broader range of visitors and allow more people to enjoy the natural beauty. Read more about the John Forrest National Park Improvement Project.
Every kid in a park
The Every Kid in a Park project, by Nature Play WA, connects kids with WA's greatest assets - the amazing outdoors!
It supports families of children of all abilities in accessing and enjoying local parks, nature reserves, beaches, and national parks all around Western Australia with free resources such as an app, an activity booklet and much more.
Discover family resources for exploring John Forrest National Park at Nature Play WA.
Activities
Bushwalking
Cycling
Horse riding
Mountain biking
Picnicking
Plants, wildlife and fungi
Visit the Atlas of Living Australia for a list of species recorded in John Forrest National Park.
Traditional Owners
We recognise and acknowledge Whadjuk people as the traditional owners of John Forrest National Park.
Nyoongar people are known to have lived in the Midland to Guildford area before European settlement. There is anecdotal evidence that the area was once used as a hunting place and Jane Brook Valley was an ancient travel route that Nyoongar people used to cross the Darling Scarp to the more open country in the east. Jane Brook is also of cultural significance, with a connection to the Dreamtime serpent, the Waugal. The rocks in and along the brook are said to be the droppings of this mythical creature.
