The best outdoor climbs in Perth are half about the climb, half about the adventure.
It’s 5.30 a.m. Perth city lights are in my rearview mirror, the orange glow of the morning sun greeting me ahead. The ripples of the hills is a silhouette, but its many faces I know well despite the early morning hour that has most of Perth and the Perth Hills covered in darkness.
I can see the bush growing, the houses, highways and cars fewer as I dip deeper toward Greemount for a pre-work climb with a buddy visiting from Sydney. He’s shocked there’s much climbing at all in Perth—”Isn’t the whole place dead flat?” Jimmy asked me. I scoffed, as Nedd Brockman had made the same mistake on his run across Australia. “Nope, far from it,” I said. If you know where to look.
Yes, you’ll need to venture outside the city limits to find places for rock climbing and outdoor bouldering in Perth, but it’s well worth it. I mean, hey, don’t we all agree life’s better in nature?
Here are the top spots for outdoor climbing or bouldering in Perth, WA:
1. Mountain Quarry, Greenmount
Arguably the most popular spot for a sport climb in Perth, Mountain Quarry in Greenmount is very well developed with a tonne of bolted routes. If you’re after traditional rock climbing, you won’t be disappointed but it’s the sport climbing that outnumbers all others (over half of all routes are sport climbs).
The main wall has the highest and probably better lines of any Mountain Quarry wall. At 55 metres, Shield of Achilles has my vote as the number one climb in the area, a technical test piece with small holds, delicate footwork and just enough pump to make you earn the send.
There’s plenty of bouldering available underneath Main Wall, with several boulders for a vertical play. Jimmy and I set up here for a while and remained stuck on a series of problems on Right Boulder. Needless to say, I was late for work.
Climbing on offer: Sport / Traditional / Bouldering / Abseiling
How to get there: Head east on Great Eastern Highway. Turn right onto Coulston Road, then left onto Hudman Road. The quarry is at the end of Hudman Road.
2. Wilyabrup, Margaret River
Southbound on Forrest Highway, you’ll arrive in the southwest’s crown jewel, Margaret River. Along the coast—specifically on the Cape to Cape hiking trail—lays a series of seacliffs with ocean views known as Wilyabrup.
At Wilys, you’ll find over 300 routes spanning trad climbing and bouldering, with cliffs ranging from 8 to 22 meters. Whether you’re a beginner or chasing the toughest grades, there’s something here to test your skills. It’s a super popular spot down south, and the Perth Rock Climbing Facebook group will help you find a partner if you’ve just arrived in the Margaret River region.
If you can find it, Margaret River Rock: A topo guide to rock climbing in WA’s south west is a great resource on climbs in the area.
Climbing on offer: Sport / Traditional / Abseiling
How to get there: From Margaret River township, take Caves Road north and turn left onto Willyabrup Road. Park in the dirt carpark and follow the signs to the climbing area.
3. Copper Rocks, Dunsborough
An amazing area by the ocean in Dunsborough, Copper Rocks is a super fun spot for a few problems on some salty boulders. Access is simple, so a visit can easily be made if you’re out exploring the southwest and looking for a fun coastal boulder to add to your adventure list.
Climbing on offer: Bouldering
How to get there: After taking the Busselton Bypass to Vasse, follow signs to Dunsborough via Caves Road. Copper Rocks is located near the coast, southwest of Dunsborough.
4. Bob’s Hollow, Boranup
The most picturesque spot on this list, Bob’s Hollow offers some of the best limestone climbing in WA, with a super steef cliff and overhang for sports climbers. The grades here will suit a range of climbers, mostly intermediates. Be sure to check the weather as it cops all the Indian Ocean has to offer on a strong westerly wind.
Just right of the big fin feature, Dependence Day is my favourite line at Bob’s Hollow, a long climb passing by a deep cave. The temptation to rest in it is always there, which does give you the reward of unreal coastal views but taints the accomplishment of sustaining the burn all the way to the top, sans rest.
Climbing on offer: Sport / Traditional / Abseiling
How to get there: From Margaret River, take Caves Road south towards Boranup. With a sedan, you can take Conto Road and park at Conto Spring. A 45-minute walk on the beach will get you to the cave. If braving the epic but infamous Bob’s Track in your 4WD, take it all the way to its 3-kilometre end and then walk to the base of the cliffs. Explorers beware: Bob’s Track is only for very experienced 4WDers. Trust us.
5. Statham’s Quarry, Gooseberry Hill
I’ll forever have a soft spot for this place as It’s where i first learned to climb. Statham’s Quarry is a well-loved climbing spot in Perth, with a solid mix of routes for all skill levels. There’s around 50 climbs on offer, spanning from beginner-friendly grades in the low teens to more challenging routes pushing into the high 20s.
Sport climbing dominates the scene but you’ll also find great top-rope options and the occasional trad line. The quarry’s walls rise between 20 and 25 meters, so it’s an exciting vertical playground for climbers of all styles.
Climbing on offer: Sport / Traditional / Bouldering / Abseiling
How to get there: Travel east on Great Eastern Highway to Kalamunda Road. Turn left onto Kalamunda Road, then right onto Gooseberry Hill Road. Turn left onto Ridge Hill Road, and the quarry entrance is on the right.
6. Boya Quarry, Boya
If you’re looking for a change of scenery in the Perth Hills’ climbing circuit, then Boya Quarry is a good option.
The quarry rises to about 30 metres, with a few sub-30-metre climbs on offer, all the way down to about 10 metres. You’ll have about 30 climbs to choose from and probably far less climbers to compete with than the number in Statham’s or Mountain Quarries. Loose rock is a serious concern here, so be wary when you climb.
Climbing on offer: Sport / Traditional / Abseiling
How to get there: Head east on Great Eastern Highway. Turn left onto Scott Street, then right onto Coulston Road. The quarry is located by turning right at the end of Coulston Road onto Hudman Road.
7. Churchman’s Brook, Roleystone
One of the only cliffs in the area for a decent climb, Churchman’s Brook pioneered the sport in West Australia when it was first accessed in 1975.
Churchman’s Brook is not only one of the best spots to climb in Perth, but it’s home to arguably some of its hardest routes. The Gates of Mordor line on Collaboration Wall was labelled the most difficult to accomplish back in the day and is still up there for many reasons. The rock is technical, slabby and slippery.
Climbing on offer: Sport / Traditional / Abseiling
How to get there: Drive southeast on Albany Highway. Turn left onto Brookton Highway, then right onto Soldiers Road. Turn left onto Churchman Brook Road; the climbing area is near the reservoir.
8. Fern Road Crag, Paulls Valley
Amidst the many mountain bike trails in Paulls Valley lies the Fern Road Crag. Here, dozens of routes are on offer for the beginner climber, plus a range of intermediate bolted lines for the avid sport climber. It’s the perfect introduction to new climbers, with a low, slabby granite wall being the main feature.
The good news is that there’s still plenty of lines yet to be added to the relatively modest list you can find on thecrag.com or in local topo guides.
Climbing on offer: Sport / Traditional / Bouldering / Abseiling
How to get there: Take Great Eastern Highway toward Midland, then turn onto Morrison Road and follow it east. Continue along Mundaring Weir Road, before turning right onto Fern Road. Keep an eye out for parking spots near the crag.
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This list is by no means exhaustive, and if you’re hungry for off-the-beaten track climbs in Perth, then you’ll be spoiled for choice once you break into the WA climbing circles. The Perth Rock Climbing Facebook group is a great resource for meeting other climbers, as is the Climbers Association of Western Australia.
Perth might be a coastal city but the number of climbers in the place is astounding. The scene is super vibey and the options for outdoor climbs in Perth and greater WA seemingly endless. Now you’ve got no excuses. See you on the wall!
