Intro
This Concentric Circles: Guidance for Trails Tourism Close to Perth report has been prepared by TRC Tourism for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
Any representation, statement, opinion or advice expressed or implied in this document is made in good faith but on the basis that TRC Tourism Pty. Ltd., directors, employees and associated entities are not liable for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to taking or not taking action in respect of any representation, statement or advice referred to in this document.
We acknowledge the Indigenous peoples of the lands, waters and communities we work together with. We pay our respects to their cultures; and to their Elders — past, present and emerging.
As the most densely populated location in Western Australia, metropolitan Perth naturally represents the largest source market for trail recreation visitation to adjacent Wheatbelt and Peel regions.
As the demand for trail-based tourism grows and Perth residents look to their nearest regions for more and more varied trail-based recreation, so too has momentum for developing trail-based infrastructure in the regions, fuelled by the recognised economic and social benefits that trail development facilitates.
The inner Wheatbelt and Peel regions offer significant potential for attracting intrastate trail-based tourism in an era where people are seeking the premium of remoteness, wilderness and nature-based activity. Equally, the establishment of quality trail experiences has the potential to diversify regional economic income, support business and community enterprise development while also serving community liveability and amenity needs.
This report applies a Concentric Trails Study Methodology in order to develop a high-level strategic roadmap that can guide trail destination management and domestic trail visitation into the future aiming to achieve the right trails for the right users, in the right place, at the right time.
Generally, the study concludes that there are logical time bands that guide inbound visitation to a region:
Other key findings include:
Longer distance adventure riding (gravel grinding, bike packing) offers a significant market opportunity.
Significant growth in outdoor recreation has seen more people pursuing quality trails tourism experiences close to Perth, particularly in hiking and mountain biking.
The 1 to 2 hour travel arc from metropolitan Perth provides opportunities for metropolitan residents to pursue a broad range of trail-based activities that are easily accessible as day and overnight trip options.
The increasing interest in, and demand for trails has highlighted the need for a more coordinated approach to trails tourism destination developments in the 1 to 2 hour travel time zones around Perth.
This Concentric Circles project represents a sub-regional plan that supports the State’s guiding/strategic documents. It aims to ensure well-planned trail projects provide quality experiences for users, to best leverage and support existing trail destination attractions, and to address challenges in the potential for overconcentration of trail development in co-located regions.
Having a coordinated approach will ensure land managers, regional and tourism organisations and user groups are able to work cooperatively and cohesively to create better experiences for visitors and better outcomes for community, rather than diluting offerings by competing for the same markets.
The geographic scope of this study covers the Wheatbelt region as defined by the Wheatbelt Development Commission and the Peel Region as per boundaries identified by Peel Development Commission.
The scope of this study is defined by two types of trail-based recreation:
mountain biking
While important to trail tourism planning and economies, horse riding and motorised recreation are not within the scope of this focused study. As such this report does not make recommendations pertaining to horse riding trails or equine tourism or motocross. BMX is also not included, being restricted to small-footprint trail infrastructure and not considered a significant motivating factor for tourism-based travel.
Adventure cycling in the form of gravel grinding and bike packing will be reflected upon as they are increasingly considered as sub-sectors of mountain biking and tourism drivers in the space of nature-based cycling.
For this study, subject locations will be identified as ‘trail destinations’ as general terminology encompassing destinations that have a recognised level of trail attraction and infrastructure, or intend to.
For the purposes of planning, WA Strategic Trails Blueprint 2022-2027 classifies trails and trail networks into three significance categories: State Trails; Regional Trails; and Local Trails.
Further, it identifies trail clusters with associated parameters: Trail Town; Trail Centre; Trail Network.
Trails WA also has a ‘Trail Town’ accreditation program applied as a tailored, best practice accreditation system designed to help communities become world class trail tourism destinations. The accreditation process includes an application process across six categories.
This study does not necessarily seek to apply the Trails WA classification, and thus will distinguish destination subjects by using the term ‘trail destination’, which may still include reference to significance categories or cluster categories.
The purpose of this study is to help strategically grow intrastate tourism via trail recreation and visitation and guide trail infrastructure development to support tourism outcomes. As such, the classification of trails considered by the report is generally limited to State and Regional trails. It does not specially address the development of Local trail networks, although it does recognise the importance of Local trails and the benefit to their community. It also recognises the important role Local trail networks play in supporting State and Regional Trails as added value experiences, dispersal motivators and in providing connectivity between trail destinations and townships.
Exclusion of any trail network in this report does not necessarily imply that these networks should not be invested in, maintained and promoted for the benefit of all. Indeed, some Local networks should be proactively developed, with investments reflective of any identified role those networks can potentially play in regional trail and travel behaviour connectivity.
Responding to significant growth in both trail recreation and trail infrastructure planning and development, TRC Tourism was commissioned by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries to create a concentric circles-based planning framework that assists trail destinations in the Wheatbelt and Peel regions to better plan and coordinate recreational trail development.
TRC Tourism undertook a 3 day in-situ visit of the Wheatbelt and Peel Regions to attain a foundational understanding of the regions and their existing trail offers.
2 regional workshops and 1 Perth-based workshop were hosted, inviting land and trail managers, LGA representatives, tourism, and outdoor recreation organisations to participate in discussion around trail planning and the concept of a concentric circles framework.
Desktop research was conducted, investigating regional trail planning, strategies, planned developments and management status.
Research was also conducted into precedent studies on concentric planning principles, underlying visitor source markets, activity demand and trail user preferences.
This report — and the development of trail tourism across Western Australia — is guided by a number of stakeholders and collection of primary documents that give frameworks, strategic, and specific trail development direction for any trail destination wishing to further trail-based experiences in their region.
Communities wishing to develop trail infrastructure should always engage with the appropriate Traditional Owners and land managers at the very beginning of any project. This ensures best outcomes for sustainable development, cultural, heritage and environmental outcomes and offers best pathways for identifying and being successful in achieving funding streams to realise a project.
As a matter of priority, the foundation documents below should always be referenced and reflected upon from the beginning of and throughout any trail planning process.
Provides the strategic framework for the development of the state’s trail network, aims to increase the contribution that trails make to the visitor economy.
Identifies 59 recommendations to assist the sustainable development of mountain biking and off-road riding across Western Australia.
Tool for land managers, trail professionals and mountain bike groups by providing guidance to ensure a consistent approach to planning, designing, constructing, and managing sustainable mountain bike trails across the State.
Provides direction for the sustainable development of hiking activities and associated trails’ infrastructure in Western Australia.
Provides an understanding of Western Australia’s existing proposition as a hiking and mountain biking (MTB) trail tourism destination with insights to Tourism WA and the Regional Tourism Organisations to develop effective marketing messages and campaigns to promote Western Australia as a trails destination.
A number of masterplans and strategies apply to Local Government Areas across the study area, each of which have been reviewed for status of trail development and directions. Not all LGAs or regions are covered by trails masterplans. Documents are referenced in Appendix A.
There are a number of important plans that inform tourism planning across Peel and Wheatbelt regions:
It is recognised that there is a Destination Perth Tourism Destination Management Plan currently in draft including sub regional plans and development strategies that cover the Peel and Wheatbelt regions. The report and its recommendations are unavailable at the time of writing however it is likely to contain trail-relevant tourism recommendations pertinent to this Concentric Circles strategic analysis and should be referred to.
Figure 1: Tourism Strategy Hierarchy for the Destination Perth Region
Destination Perth is the overarching Regional Tourism Organisation ((RTO) for some (but not all) of the regions encompassed in this study.
Destination Perth is comprised of 6 subregions (with those relevant to this study in bold):
The region is supported by 2 Regional Development Commissions (Peel and Wheatbelt) whose objectives are to develop and enhance the economic development of their respective areas.
Concentric circles as a framework has been applied to this trails tourism project as a tool to analyse visitation and destination characteristics including: source market location; travel to destination times and behaviours; and location of trail destinations proximal to others, both competing and complementary.
What are concentric circles in a planning context?
effective for developing tourism and trails in natural areas, such as national parks, forests, reserves and wilderness areas with reflection to facilitation nodes.
Efficient resource allocation — c oncentric circles help to identify what resources may be needed for trail destinations and how to prioritise allocation. As the concentric circles expand outwards, resource allocation becomes less intensive, as areas become less central to the attraction. This allows planners to optimise resource allocation and ensure resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Improved visitor experience — helps ensure that visitors have a clear understanding of the different levels of attraction in the area. This makes it easier for visitors to plan their visit and ensure that they see all of the key attractions in the area. It also helps to create a sense of progression, as visitors move from the core area to the outer circles.
Increased visitor satisfaction — helps ensure that visitors have a high-quality experience in the most attractive areas. This can help to create a positive impression of the area and encourage visitors to return in the future.
More effective marketing — identifies the key selling points of the area and uses them to promote the attraction to potential visitors. Concentric circles can also be used to create a series of marketing messages, each targeting a specific level of attraction. This helps to ensure that the marketing is targeted and effective, and that potential visitors have a clear understanding of what the area has to offer.
Sustainable development — ensures that the most sensitive areas of attractions are protected from excessive tourism development. This helps ensure that areas remain sustainable and that the natural resources are protected for future generations.
Efficient trail development — helps identify the most important areas for trail development. This ensures that resources are allocated appropriately, used efficiently and that the trails are developed in the most attractive market-relevant areas.
Improved trail experience — ensures that the trails are designed to identify and showcase the most appealing areas of the attraction. This helps to create a more enjoyable and engaging trail experience for visitors.
Increased trail use — via improved experience delivery.
This study considers 3 forms of Concentric Circle frameworks that can be used to assess trail-based tourism development.
Applying foundational concentric circles to a geographical area aims to visualise and understand travel behaviour and proximity of trail destinations to the source market, in this instance, metropolitan Perth.
By identifying the source (place a visitor travels from) and the trail destination(s) (where visitors may travel to) we can assess how long it may take a source market to get to a location (based on car travel), and what, if any, clustering of trail destinations is occurring.
This helps create an understanding of market behaviour when reflecting upon preferred travel time investment matched to type of trail activity (walking, running, mountain biking) and travel modality (short trip, day trip, overnight).
The map below identifies that for the Wheatbelt Region all trail destinations assessed at Regional or above classification (visitor attractors), are located between 1 hour and 2 hours of metropolitan Perth. It shows that most trail destinations in Peel are within 1 to 1.5 hours of metropolitan Perth. Hence it dictates that to attract visitors, a destination must understand what visitors’ motivations, expectations and behaviours are when they choose to travel 1 to 2 hours for trail-based recreation. This map also identifies the current trail destination status — which destinations feature a critical mass of trail infrastructure worthy of Regional or State classifications.
Map 1: Regional locator
In understanding destination-based travel behaviour it is important to not only consider where a market source is and why they may travel to a destination, but also why they may choose an alternative destination offering a trail experience for an equivalent time investment.
This can be conceived as a competitive analysis, especially for short trip and day trip markets. However, it can also be viewed as a complementary destination analysis in terms of targeting longer stay/overnight markets: how can one destination attract visitors already visiting another, proximal trail node? This is not seeking to diminish visitation of the primary trail destination, rather it aims to understand how to best encourage dispersal of visitor engagement, extend stay and increase overall regional spend.
To create a ‘proximal’ understanding it is pertinent to apply the concentric circles with epicentres focused on each recognised major trail destination (regional or major local with developments in planning).
These have been identified as:
Map 2: Proximal locator
The map depicted prior does not identify several major trail destinations or hubs within the Perth Metropolitan area. These trail hubs (i.e. Goat Farm/Kalamunda, John Forrest NP) can act as a net barrier, their closer proximity to home addresses matched to quality trail landscapes and attractions can capture trail visitors and increase the challenge of attracting them beyond the Metropolitan Region.
These fringe metropolitan trail hubs should be considered when targeting particular trail visitors (i.e. mountain bikers), with strategies in place to leverage off or create competitive distinction from such hubs. For instance, mountain bikers regularly visiting Kalamunda/Goat Farm MTB trails may see Bindoon as a new and exciting location offering equally high-quality trail experiences and therefore choose to add the destination into their ride rotation. Gravel Grind adventure riders may be targeted with messaging that distinguishes Dryandra as a unique landscape very different to anything found closer to Perth.
Collie, to the south of Dwellingup is identified as a State/Signature destination to the immediate south of Peel Region with the $10 million development of the Collie Adventure Trails. Whilst out of scope for this study, its proximity to Peel Region, Dwellingup and location within 2-hour travel time of Perth, means it remains relevant when assessing potential trail developments in proximity.
So too, trail attractions in the Peel Region must consider the transitory nature of a large trail-based market segment whose primary target destination lies further south in the Margaret River Region.
Extending from the proximal model of concentric circle analysis, a ‘wedge dispersal’ model can be applied to conceptualise how a trail-based visitor may travel according to their potential engagement with multiple trail destinations.
A wedge overlay seeks to transform an ‘out and back’ travel itinerary reaching a single trail destination into a wedge, or ‘piece of pie’ travel itinerary that brings into play other trail (or non-trail) destinations.
This approach allows a perspective of guiding where trail or support services investments should be targeted to better cultivate tourism dispersal, extended stay visitation and increased regional spend.
The wedge dispersal model assists in understanding where a potential travel corridor can be cultivated and, in cases where a destination may not be able to compete or alternatively add trail-specific value to a nearby high quality trail node, it can still add value and attract visitation via investment focus on hospitality (accommodation and catering), other activities and attractions (cultural, heritage, food and wine) and events that leverage the initial trail-based visitation.
Map 3: Wedge dispersal
There are no specific studies or data that capture average travel -to-trail times, distances travelled, or preferences of Perth-based visitors to regional (Wheatbelt and Peel) trail destinations.
It is important to recognise inter-destination movement (where tourists travel from an originating place to destination locations) versus intra-destination movement (where tourists move around to different attractions within a single destination — or in this case, co-located regional destinations).
Further, it is important to identify if a destination’s strength is as an inter-destination attractor (i.e. Signature Trails or major trail hubs) or operates as an intra-destination attractor (i.e. local and regional trails).
Also to be considered is the significant impact of digital information in influencing destination decision making and influencing a tendency to travel to several places or participate in multi-attraction travel.
Responding to how far people usually ride when they mountain bike, 33% ride 11km to 20km while 40% ride 21km to 30km. For most people this would represent a ride of between 60 minutes to 2 hours duration6.
This report makes the assumption that a ‘day trip destination’ for mountain bikers requires a minimum of 20 to 40km of available trail accounting for 40% riders and that up to 60 minutes travel time is a limit for ‘regular’ visitation.
Extrapolating, on an assumption of avoidance of repetition, a weekend MTB destination requires likely 40 to 80km as minimum and potentially can be 1.5 to 3 hours drive time. It is generally recognised that an international Mountain Bike Trail Hub of Signature status requires 80km of trail within its networks and a supporting ‘Trail Town’ encompassing adequate long stay and activity facilitation.
This report makes the assumption that a destination-based hiking visitor from Perth metro would seek a minimum of 10km of trails with significant landscape and/or point of interest values to travel a short distance (<30 minutes travel); 15km+ for a day trip assuming 30 minutes to 2 hours travel and 25km+ of available trail experience for an overnight trip. This assumes an average of 3-4km/hour walking pace and adequate levels of trail quality and features of interest.
This study makes the assumption that a trail runner requires slightly increased minimums of available trail distances at a destination ranging from 10 to 15km for a short trip (<30 minutes), 20km to 40km+ for a day trip with 1 to 2 hours' drive time and 40 to 100km+ for multiday trail running excursions.
Exceptions to general distance versus time investment guides for all activities can be considered when a trail destination offers a laser focus on higher quality of experience, a higher concentration of points of interest/landscape features and/or concentrated variety within a lesser-distance network, supported by higher quality/diversity of off trail amenity and added value attractions and services.
Downhill MTB Parks require a concentration on quality and features of trails rather than pure distance, along with supporting trail infrastructure (jumps trails, pump tracks, skills parks). Flow trails are assessed on both length and trail features equally, whereas XC mountain bike trails require increased distances and raw technicality, with less manicured features, to be attractive to the target rider.
A shorter trail network with a higher concentration of features i.e. waterfalls, viewpoints, cultural interpretations will be of higher attraction value to walkers/trail runners than a longer trail network with fewer features or topographic interest. Stirling Range Ridge Walk in the Great Southern region is a clear example where Perth Metro residents will travel 5+ hours to engage in multiple short walks of 3-7km and up to 25km for the full Range Ridge traverse, lured by spectacular high mountain views not on offer elsewhere.
The layout of trail network also affects magnetisation to a trail destination — a stacked loop or a cloverleaf trail network is of more attraction weighting than an end-to-end trail that requires either transfer logistics to return from a finish point or an out and back journey that is often not as appealing, especially for walkers/runners, but also for mountain bikers who generally prefer single direction trails for safety.
Given proximity of between 45 minutes and 3 hours’ drive, the biggest source of visitation to Wheatbelt and Peel regions is from metropolitan Perth.
95% of visitors to the Wheatbelt in 2020/21 were intrastate, although this was impacted by COVID for the period. However, pre-COVID 2016-2018 visitation averaged 89% for intrastate10.
96% of visitors to the Peel Region in 2020/21 were intrastate, also impacted by COVID for the period. However, pre-COVID 2016-2018 visitation remained at 88% for intrastate11.
It is not known the percentage sourced specifically from Perth metropolitan (as opposed to inter-regional) however logic applies that as the biggest population centre in WA and the closest to the study market, that the majority would be from Perth metropolitan.
Perth city is located on the Country of the Whadjuk Noongar people, who have lived for at least 60,000 years. The Noongar people refer to Perth as Boorloo12.
Greater Perth is home to just over two million people (2,224,475, population density of 346.5 people per square kilometre), 77% of the state’s population. This is forecast to grow to 2.9 million people by 2031 and 3.5 million people by 2050, becoming the third largest city in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne13.
It currently ranks as the 6th most liveable city in the world and is the only Australian city to receive a perfect score in three categories (Healthcare, Education and Infrastructure) according to the Global Liveability Index 2021.
The Perth Metropolitan areas with the highest density14 at June 2021 were:
In the 3 year data analysis by KPMG, Swan saw the 9th biggest change in population nationally, with a 15,600 increase since 2019. In Perth’s eastern metropolitan region, the area saw an increase of 3.4 per cent annually between 2019 and 2022, with a total of 161,000 residents calling it home by December.
Wanneroo and Armadale both followed Swan as some of WA’s fastest-growing regions, marking an 11,700 and 9900 increase respectively.
In general, Perth’s north-west, north-east recorded highest growth. Northern Perth (specifically Highgate and Scarborough) had highest density while East Perth recorded highest density in the centre15.
As Perth’s population density and residential spread increases, it is important to recognise the impact such growth has on travel times to regional trail destinations and likely visitation behaviour. In applying a concentric circles lens to the study, it is practical to consider not one but two centres of source market, one being from the northern population centre of Perth and one from the south. Given travel time increases exponentially the longer a visitor has to travel through metropolitan Perth, a visitor in residing south of the Swan River has easier and quicker access to trail destinations in the south and east. Those in the north have easier and more expedient travel to attractions in the north and east.
Map 4 Perth metropolitan source market area
Map 5: Perth markets
According to recent data16 many Australians are favouring participating in informal recreation over structured sport. Trails offer more than traditional sports, as users can participate in a variety of different ways, with variable group sizes, at times that suit them. Many trail users are also drawn to trails to connect to nature and experience physical and mental health benefits.
WA Trails Market Research Report (2021) identifies the intrastate market — predominantly sourced from metropolitan Perth — as providing the greatest potential for trails-based visitation volume, especially for the near-to-Perth regions.
Data suggests that elevated ‘recreational’ bike riding during and after the COVID lockdown period has influenced a diversified trip purpose. Most of the bike count growth across 2020 was due to additional weekend bike riding. This suggests a greater interest in recreational bike riding among Perth residents and supports survey data indicating that by the end of 2020, a broader demographic spread of riders was using the (metro) bike path network.
AusPlay statistics for 2022 Year recorded cycling as the fifth most popular recreational activity with 15.2% of Western Australians participating in some form of cycling.
More generally, WA Trails Market Research Report records that 26% of Western Australian’s took a day trip that included a cycle experience. While the largest group of overnight visitors to WA who undertook cycling while on holiday is the intrastate (WA) market, interstate and international visitors stay for a longer time at the destination.
Although many reports focus on mountain biking as a focus discipline, there are growing markets that can be described as similar but distinct to mountain biking that also use trails and dirt roads for cycling recreation. They (along with mountain biking) are more broadly described under the label ‘adventure cycling’ defined as any style of cycling that travels off bitumen seeking an experience enjoyed in nature and on two wheels.
Most people participating in what is often called mountain biking but can in fact refer to any number of disciplines, do so for fun and enjoyment, with only a small proportion focused on competitions. A study of different adventure biking categories, quickly becomes a study of fragmentation. TRC Tourism recognises 17 categories with plenty of crossover between them.
The attractive points for adventure biking are that it enables people to choose who they ride with, generally family or close friends; it can be done anytime; it does not require a minimum level of competency (other than the ability to ride a bicycle) and allows people to choose trails to match their ability.
Regions looking to attract and facilitate the adventure biking community need to be mindful of the increasingly diverse nature of what ‘adventure/mountain biking’ actually is or is perceived to be by different markets. Curators of nature-based cycling also need to recognise that riders today demand a higher quality of experience and service across what is an increasingly fragmented market profile. The challenge for nature-based cycling regions is to target the biggest user base that best matches the style of riding best suited to the landscapes available.
Adventure cycling can be broken down into subset descriptors of mountain biking, bike packing/touring and gravel grinding. Each subset has different engagement profiles, if sometimes overlapping.
Mountain bikers use predominantly singletrack trails (although often use dirt and fire roads as connecting trails), seek more technical terrain with features that are increasingly designed and groomed for use (i.e. flow trails, jumps, berms). There are many different styles of mountain biking from cross country (XC) to all mountain, gravity, flow and downhill (DH), along with niche styles of trials, freeride, freestyle, 4X, and slalom. Rides are usually 2 hours to full day experiences. Many mountain bikers seek out extensive networks of trails and/or require a critical mass of trails to consider a destination for ride-specific travel. It is generally recognised that an international Mountain Bike Trail Hub of Signature status requires 80km of trail within a network and a supporting ‘Trail Town’ encompassing adequate long stay and activity facilitation.
Gravel grinding encompasses a fairly broad sweep of riding activity, but pertains mainly to long distance day rides — most often 100km+ — that seek out back country, dirt and fire track roads with little to no traffic. Gravel grinders will often seek high-end ascent profiles and likely compete with friends either in person or through online platforms (such as Strava). Gravel grind events — both competitive races and non-competitive challenges — are a rising phenomenon across the world, but particularly in North America and Australia where the countryside is vast and fairly unpopulated and landscapes attractive to ride through. Gravel grind bikes are versatile, adaptable and durable, with a focus on greater comfort for longer-form adventures and the types of rough, remote road routes and variable surfaces that comes with rural landscapes.
Bike pack/back country touring is the birthchild of mountain biking and backpacking. It delivers the adventurous freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, combined with the range and added thrills of riding a mountain bike. It’s about exploring remote places via singletrack trails, gravel, and abandoned dirt roads, carrying only essential gear.
While backcountry touring can be done on gravel grind bikes, it is more often undertaken on a mountain bike, which delivers better capacity for loading up with luggage while maintaining better stability — important when your load is heavy and you are rolling over rough ground. Because mountain bikes tend to move more slowly than road bikes, and carrying loads tend to be much more than on gravel grind adventures, daily distances tend to be shorter for backcountry rides, favouring roughly the 40 to 50km mark and often entailing lots of stopping en route to admire vistas, or stop at the country bakery. More determined riders can, however, surpass 100km in a day, depending on terrain, climbing profile of the route, luggage load, weather and sunlight hours.
Where gravel grinding is usually (but not always) a single day outing and orientated towards competitive or challenge-related goals, bike packing is all about slow travel exploration. It is based around multi-day, often multi-week and sometimes multi-month journeys where the focus is on exploration of places, landscapes, towns and tourist attractions: simply, it is having a grand adventure on two wheels while being mostly self-sufficient. ‘Mostly’ because while hardcore riders take pride in being an island unto themselves in terms of sufficiency, the profile of bike packing has softened somewhat with riders now often staying at B&Bs, hotels, motels and caravan parks and eating out at cafes and restaurants.
The cycle tourist is much more likely to undertake a range of other activities compared to non-cycle tourists, explaining why the cycle tourist’s average spend is much higher than non-cycle tourists. Of interest is their tendency to eat at restaurants, go to licensed venues and go shopping; all activities which would benefit the economies of Wheatbelt and Peel regions.
Mountain biking is recognised as one of the fastest growing recreational and tourism activities in the world. Some estimates on national mountain bike participation suggest that almost one million Australians engage in some form of mountain biking activity, ranging from beginner through to competition level17,
In terms of growth, mountain biking has a market opportunity to grow considerably. Mountain biking was the sixth most popular recreational activity across Australia that adults participated in more during the April to June 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. These activities, particularly those that can be done solo or physically distanced, were more immune to COVID-19 disruption.18
Data on actual participation in mountain biking in Australia is largely collated from four sources — Mountain Bike Australia’s (MTBA) statistics; Ausplay Cycling — State of Play Report (2020); Mountain Biking in Australia — An Economic and Participation Analysis (AusCycling 2021); and recent research undertaken by Instinct and Reason on behalf of the Yarra Ranges Council for the Warburton MTB Trail Hub project in Victoria.
Determining exact levels of participation in mountain biking in Australia is difficult due to a lack of consistent data at a national level. The AusCycling report found the number is likely to align closer to the 2021 AusPlay survey, which found that approximately 492,900 Australians participate in mountain biking, an increase of nearly 22% on the previous year. The data found that participation is generally skewed towards males, and that participation is predominantly casual and non-organised. TRC notes the variation range between participation numbers quoted in available reports (from 492,900 up to approaching 1 million) is likely due to the lack of capturing entry and beginner level recreational rider activity. This cohort represents a large percentage of riders who own and use mountain bikes off road but do not necessarily identify as ‘mountain bikers’ and are therefore not captured in standard data capture gateways (club membership, event participation, wheel counts).
The WA Mountain Biking Strategy 2022-2032 reports that 53,116 people participated in mountain biking in WA across 2021. A WestCycle mountain biking community survey (2021) reported 62% of respondents were riding at least once a week, with 31% of these participants riding 2 to 3 times per week.
Trail counter data from trails in various regions across WA supports increased state-wide level of interest and participation in mountain biking.
The Wambenger Trails near Collie recorded 6,059 rides in their first full month after opening, and the Murray Valley Trails (Dwellingup) were ridden a total of 111,353 times in 2021, their first full year of operation after opening. The Kalamunda Trails — one of the closest mountain bike trail networks to metropolitan Perth — were ridden a total of 139,633 times in 2021.19
Table: Demographics of basic, intermediate and competition riders20
Electric and power assisted bikes (e-bikes) represent one of the fastest growing segments of the bike industry, as they allow riders to extend their cycling distances. E-bikes help in overcoming hilly terrain or lack of fitness, can assist in rehabilitation after injury or illness, and are a cost-effective and green transport solution. They also improve trail accessibility for older riders who can access areas and ride trails that they would not normally be able to.
Australian e-bike sales have just recorded their fourth consecutive year of rapid growth. For the 2019–20 financial year sales were 48,000 units, up almost 50% from 32,500 units sold in 2018–19. Using a $3000 average retail sale price estimate would mean $216 million in annual retail sales this current 2020–21 financial year for a product category that virtually didn’t exist in Australia five years ago and is only set for further development and growth21. In WA, 15% of WA mountain bikers use an e-MTB22.
Bushwalking is currently rated in sixth position of the top 20 sports and physical activities undertaken by Australians. 1.3 million Australian adults (6.4% of the adult population) and 21,000 children participate in bushwalking activities annually, with 18% of participants undertaking bushwalking activities at least once per week.
Peak participation age for men is 55 to 64 years and for women is 25 to 34 years.
50% of Australian bushwalking participants walk for 3 hours or more on average.
Top reasons to participate in bushwalking are to be outdoors and enjoy nature, for fun and enjoyment and for physical health and fitness.
Recreational walking is currently rated in first place of the top 20 sports and physical activities undertaken by Australians.
Walking and running are two of the top five physical activities undertaken by Western Australians24.
AusPlay statistics for 2022 recorded (general) walking as the top recreational activity with 40.1% of Western Australians participating. Bushwalking specifically was sixth most popular, recording 7% or 154,900 Western Australians regularly engaging (this is an increase from 2020 figures of 4.8% or 107,000).
A brief analysis of Google Analytics data sourced from Trail WA’s website for the period 2019-2021 revealed that the majority of users are from Perth and are aged 25 to 54 years. The majority of website users are based in Australia, of which almost 84% are from the Perth region25.
Bushwalkers seek experiences in natural environments and access to diverse landscapes. Participants assess elevation, distance, aesthetics, and technical aspects of a trail to decide if it is the experience they desire. While some are motivated by the opportunity to walk or run with family or friends, others are motivated to participate in solitude. There is a segment of the population looking for more varied places to walk the dog and others seeking a personal challenge through multi-day, unassisted expeditions.
TRC Tourism research into the national multiday (overnight) walking market showed approximately 3.3 million Australians have been on an overnight walk in the past five years or have one planned in the next year. Compared with the average Australian, overnight walkers are younger. 57% of walkers are aged between 18-39, compared with 25% of the sample. Participation in walking falls away at around age 40. 45% of walkers have children under 18, compared with 14% of non-walkers. The study also found that 26% of overnight walkers sought full accommodation and meals on a trip with 43% seeking some form of shelter (serviced and non-serviced). 31% were tented hikers. The survey showed that retirees preferred fully-serviced walks while young-mid aged singles and couples with and without children preferred tented accommodation. Older couples and families preferred some form of shelter during their overnight hike.
The most common location for bushwalking is the Perth Metropolitan Region, followed by the South West, Peel and Great Southern Regions.
This correlates with data from the Bibbulmun Track Foundation which showed that campsites that are closest to Perth (e.g. Hewetts Hill and Monadnocks) receive the highest numbers of walkers, the majority of whom are Perth resident day walkers or overnight walkers (1 to 2 nights in total). More remote huts such as Long Point and Schafter Huts attract lower numbers of Perth residents (54% and 57% respectively)26.
With an estimated 20 million participants since 2010, trail running has been one of the world’s fastest growing sports, according to the International Track and Field Federation.27 Since the mid-1990s, the popularity of trail running has grown at a rate of 15% each year28. Indicative measures record the growth of trail running events as increasing 1000% in the last decade29.
In 2003 Ultra Running magazine reports that 18,000 people in North America completed an ultramarathon. In 2017 that figure had risen to 105,000, the majority on trail.
The economic spin-offs generated by trail running events can be quantified in millions of dollars — more than US$8.5 million was generated from the 2017 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB)30, considered the global pinnacle of ultra-trail running events. Chamonix Tourist Office reports that UTMB it is now one of the busiest 2 weeks of the year.
In Australia, the Ultra Trail Australia event started in Katoomba, Blue Mountains New South Wales in 2008, with 177 entries in a single distance (100km). The running festival now hosts a sell-out (capacity) 6000 across five distances. It is estimated by race organisers that 8000 to 9000 spectators/supporters also attend. The Blue Mountains City Council’s Event Strategic Plan identified the Ultra Trail event as a high yield event contributing an estimated $12.5million in 2018 to the local economy and supporting local employment and associated businesses31.
As an indicative measure, the largest trail running event in Australia (Ultra Trail Australia) is seven times as big as the largest mountain biking event (Otway Odyssey, 1000 participants); there are four time as many trail running events (450-500) as mountain biking events in Australia and the average trail running event attracts 2-4 times participation (600-800) as the average sized mountain biking event (200-300).
Health and wellbeing visitors are generally those undertaking a trail experience for the purposes of health, wellbeing and training (for a particular health, fitness or sport outcome). While they will travel longer distances for training purposes on weekends, in general this is a market taking 1 to 3 hours of any weekday or weekend for the specific purpose of training (can be skills based or fitness based, physical or mental motivators). As a guide, these visitors tend to travel up to an hour maximum for this experience, mostly between 15 to 45 minutes as a threshold. Health and Wellbeing visitors naturally transform to Day and Overnight visitors for extended engagement experiences relevant to their preferred recreation.
Day visitors are those who travel for a round trip distance of at least 50 kilometres, are away from home for at least 4 hours and do not spend a night away from home. Same day travel as part of overnight travel is excluded, as is routine travel, such as commuting between work/school and home.
In contrast to AusPlay reports, the National Visitor Survey shows that for the period 2018-2020 an average of 36.2 million people undertook a bushwalk while on a day trip. Over one-third of these trips occurred in New South Wales, and 10% occurred in Western Australia.
Although WA had a smaller number of total day trips compared to NSW, Victoria and Queensland, it has the highest number of day trippers who undertake a bushwalk. This is also higher than the national average, which grew from 5.7% in 2018 to 6.3% in 2020. This suggests that there is already an appetite amongst WA day trippers to undertake a bushwalk32.
Overnight visitors travel further to target destinations, usually 100km+, an adequate distance required to justify overnight time and monetary expenditure. This market tends to spend more in region, but frequent less often. They have higher thresholds of expectation in terms of amount, variety and quality of trails, points of interest, off trail facilitation (accommodation, hospitality) and added value activities and attractions.
In the year ending March 2020, the Perth region welcomed 5.6 million visitors, which had been steadily growing over the preceding years. COVID has had a significant impact on visitation with just under 3 million visitors arriving in 202133.
Visitation to the Perth region has traditionally been dominated by the intrastate market, with 56% of visitors being from within the state, although they command only 31% of the spend.
International visitors have been highly lucrative for the region, with 17% of the visitors attracting 28% of the spend. The interstate market is less lucrative than international, with 27% of the visitors generating 22% of the spend.
Tourism in Perth metro and its surrounding regions generates more economic activity than tourism in the rest of Western Australia’s regions put together, with a Tourism Gross Value Added (GVA) of $1.6billion, compared with regional WA at $1.5billion34. The industry employs around 24,800 people, 4.8% of the region’s employment, and has around 24,000 tourism businesses.
At only 2.7% of the region’s total GVA35, tourism is smaller than other industries in the state (such as mining and agriculture), however it contributes to the liveability and community connectedness of places, and has a low barrier to entry to encourage employment at all levels.
There are currently around 24,000 tourism businesses36, around 16,750 hotel rooms, and around 3,500 Airbnb listings in the Perth and surrounding region, with a heavy leaning to the 4½ star accommodation style.
Demand for cycling products and experiences has grown at an unprecedented rate, with the global cycling market set to increase from $130billion to $200billion in 2027. As a key market segment, mountain bikes are expected to drive a significant portion of this growth, reflecting the strong demand for mountain biking activities37.
The 2021 AusCycling report found that mountain biking participants spend between $136.9 and $630.8 million annually in Australia simply riding on local trails38. This expenditure provides significant support to retail, accommodation and food, professional, scientific and technical services industries.
In addition to this local expenditure, mountain bikers also contribute significantly to the Australian tourism industry and broader visitor economy through regular travel to mountain biking destinations. Approximately 40% of riders went on a bike-specific interstate holiday in the past 12 months, averaging a spend of $2,485.75 per trip and travelling 1-2 times per year. Approximately 65% of riders went on 1 to 3 intrastate holidays in the past 12 months with an average spend of $1707.95 per trip.
Mountain Biking in Australia: An Economic and Participation Analysis estimates average total expenditure per rider per year for Australian mountain bikers of $2,882. This is spent across transport to and from trails, meals and beverages, purchased from retailers and bike rental. This figure does not include larger expenses such as bike purchases, equipment, clothing and servicing — expenditure that would occur closer to a rider’s home location, rather than at the destination.
The report states that on average, people who mountain bike spend $27.10 per ride, with transport to and from the trails being the largest expenditure item at $12.35 per ride, followed by purchases from supermarkets and other retail shops at $7.40 and other meals and beverages at $6.25 per ride.
Because of the nature of these purchases, with the possible exception of transport costs, this expenditure would likely occur within the proximity of mountain bike trails, with purchases made before or after a ride.
In addition to general expenditure, it was identified that approximately two-thirds of mountain bikers went on a mountain bike specific intrastate holiday in the past 12 months. MTBA members were more likely than non-MTBA members to go on a holiday intrastate revolving around mountain biking. Based on the survey results, people who went on intrastate holidays to mountain bike went between 1 and 3 times a year, with MTBA members more likely to go on intrastate holidays to mountain bike more than 4 times per year39.
Western Australian mountain bikers reported that they would ride more regularly if they had closer access to trails and that they would be prepared to contribute $5 to $10 per ride towards the cost of maintaining and managing trails40.
There is very little published date on the direct spend of hiking and trail running tourists.
The 2014 Bibbulmun Track User Survey found that the average daily direct expenditure per person of all respondents using the Bibbulmun Track was $38.7141.
However, when categorised by overnight and day-walk respondents, it is apparent that respondents on overnight walks ($45.09) spent considerably more per person per day than those on day trips ($30.95). This was mainly because of the requirement to pay for accommodation as well as a comparatively higher expenditure on equipment and food.
Using spend data and average annual number of overnight walks and day walks, the report’s authors of the original report (Bibbulmun Track Foundation) were able to quantify the estimated total average annual direct expenditure by Bibbulmun Track walkers as $13.1 million.
There also exists very little economic data on trail running recreation as a market, with the exception of a recent survey42 of trail running event operators yielding some relevant data, with considerations that in general a high percentage of trail runners enter more than one trail running event per year. This means that the trail running events sector is a good indicative measure of the trail running sector more broadly.
Across the 2020-21 season there were: 119 event producers including commercial, club, and not for profit-based entities hosting an average of 331 trail running events, accounting for 1160 individual distance runs based on a survey of all AU event calendars.
A significant number of trail run event operators (40%) produced 5 or more events per year, with an average registration count of 465 per event, this accounts for an approximate 154,113 trail run event entries per year across Australia (noting that this captures likely entries to multiple events by a single participant).
With an average entry fee (averaged across all price points ranging from $20 through $2189 (multi-day) and all distances from 5km through 200 miles) of $186.50 per entry, this accounts for a spend of $28,742,075 million per year on trail running entry fees alone.
Based on a number of economic analyses provided by some event producers using post event survey data, events of economic significance (300+ participants) account for anywhere between $130,000 (300-400 participants, single day events) to $4M+ (1000+ participants, multiple day events) in local and regional economic stimulus per event, accounting for direct regional expenditure on accommodation, food and catering, fuel, and services.
There are approximately 35 trail running events across WA of which 12 are located within the study region.
Outside of region, but indicative of potential value of trail running events to regions, the Margaret River Ultra organised by Rapid Ascent, hosts more than 1500 trail runners, with organisers reporting 15,169 bed nights generated and a direct economic impact of $6.3 million.
It is important when assessing potential trail projects to have a clear understanding of the trail user market your trails will likely appeal to and be suitable for. This helps guide development prioritisation, ensuring the right trails are created for the right reasons in the right place at the right time.
Western Australian Trails Market Research Report (2021) identifies 2 types of trail visitor markets:
An additional market for this study is:
Broadly, the leisure market tends to fall within the ‘Trail users while on holiday’ and ‘Local trail user’ markets, while Active, Adrenaline and Independent trail visitors tend to fall within the ‘Destination trail user’ and ‘Local trail user’ markets. There is some overlap between segments, however.
WA Mountain Bike Strategy 2022-2027 further delineates the mountain bike market segments as:
Surveys show hiking activities have wide demographic appeal: bushwalkers range from children accompanied by parents through to retired seniors. Equally, trail runners are spread across a wide range of age groups as entry barriers (skill, equipment, access) are extremely low.
A diverse range of available experiences allows participants to select an experience according to their capability and how much time they have, resulting in an activity that can be enjoyed at any stage of life43.
Bushwalkers and trail runners seek experiences in natural environments and access to diverse landscapes. Participants assess elevation, distance, aesthetics, and technical aspects of a trail to decide if it is the experience they desire. While some are motivated by the opportunity to walk or run with family or friends, others are motivated to participate in solitude. In some instances, the activity is a by-product of a different recreation focus such as birdwatching, wildflowers, geographic, cultural or heritage interests.
The WA Hiking Strategy 2020-2030 identifies 3 categories across the participation spectrum:
Most locations host trails and pathways of some form, however not all trails and trail networks qualify specifically as a ‘trail destination’, that being a place that offers an appropriate amount and desired type of trails attractive to an inbound visitor travelling for the purposes of nature-based recreation.
Trails are classified in an overarching trails hierarchy.
Below: Figure 3 Classification of trails hierarchy
This structure allows for appropriate development decision making regarding the appropriate type of trails required and levels of trail infrastructure investment.
Any mountain bike trail destination should meet the minimum trail classification standards applied to mountain biking trails. Western Australia Mountain Bike Management Guidelines defines the significance hierarchy of mountain biking trail destinations as:
Note: respected trail builders, World Trail, recommends that any mountain biking hub of international or interstate significance should be located within 2 hours from a major gateway airport.
Western Australia employs a Trail Classification System that provides a standard five level, colour coded system to indicate the degree of difficulty of mountain bike trails. The classification enables visitors to understand the nature of the trail before beginning their ride and allows them plan their ride for enjoyment, appropriate level of challenge and safety.
This matrix incorporates both IMBA’s Trail Difficulty Rating System and Dafydd Davis’ mountain bike Trail Classification and Grading System. This matrix gives detailed specifications for trail tread, turns and technical features.
Figure 4: Mountain bike trail short classification descriptors44
Figure 5: Australian walking track grading system
Any walking trail destination should have its trails assessed, classified and grades advertised via pre-trip and in situ information.
There is no official alternative designation for trail running trails. At present, trail runners refer to and make destination and intended activity decisions based on the available Australian Walking Track Grading System where available.
There is also no official quantitative framework (as per mountain biking) that categorises walking trails and networks into the specific hierarchical national/signature, regional and local designation.
‘Trail Town’ is an accreditation assessed by Trails WA. It denotes a population centre or popular recreation destination that offers a wide range of high-quality trails as well as related services, facilities, businesses, strong branding and supportive governance of a standard to attract international visitation.
A Trail Town incorporates trail centres and typically has multiple trail networks. A Trail Town may also consist of a number of sites, hosting several signed and mapped trails of varying type and classifications. Current recognition covers destinations with a focus on Mountain biking or Hiking. In addition to the town’s main accredited activity, other complementary activities can include, for example, equine and paddle trails.
A Trail Town must have a minimum of 3 days’ of trail activity of exemplary standard.
Mountain Bike (MTB) Trail Towns must host a minimum of 80km of sanctioned, signed, high quality and purpose built single track MTB trail.
Hiking Trail Towns must host a minimum of 45km of sanctioned, signed and high-quality purpose built hiking trail. Regional and Local designations.
Benefits of great trail experiences:
Characteristics of great trail experiences:
The study region is supported by 2 Regional Development Commissions (Wheatbelt and Peel) whose objectives are to develop and enhance the economic development of their respective areas.
The study region encompasses trail landscapes located between 45 minutes and 3 hours of metropolitan Perth. There exists a diversity of landscapes and topographical offerings across both regions attractive to hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers. However, large parts of the Wheatbelt region in particular do not offer high value trail-centric landscapes and tourism offerings at a regional or state classification level. This report will focus on trail destinations of a regional plus classification that offer high quality trail-based recreation with limited reference to local trails positioned within proximity deemed to offer added value and dispersal propositions linked to primary regional trail offerings.
The Wheatbelt region spans 154,862 square kilometres and has a diverse landscape from white beaches to hills and streams, located across 43 Local Government Areas, allocated into four regional clusters: Central Coast, Central Midlands, Central East, Avon and Wheatbelt South.
Agriculture is the main producer providing good local tourism product of olives, vegetable, wine grapes, honey and citrus fruits to name a few. There is an excellent tourism drive along the Wheatbelt Way which provides visitors with a free app to download that educates them on the region.
Trail-based regions of interest to this study include:
Shire of Wandering
Adjacent LGAs that do not have significant destination trail-based attractions that may maintain a supporting role as dispersal activators of a trail-based travel itinerary include:
Map 6: Wheatbelt regional map
(Note: out of scpe, project relevant trail hub)
The only trail of (limited) significance to the mountain biking market is the Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail.
Yanchep offers a local-regional walking destination courtesy of the number and overall length of its trail network including connection to several long-distance trails.
Only one major trail is suitable for mountain biking (local significance only). It does not feature the experience quality of other walk destinations within Perth metropolitan (John Forrest, Bells Rapids area etc), however does stand as an alternative walks destination for the northern metropolitan region, and offers (a degree of) connectivity between Joondalup and Yanchep. Active Transport planning may develop connecting pathways to further activate Yanchep trails.
Development opportunities are limited due to National Park status.
The Shire of Gingin is to the north (in scope), however offers only trails of local significance with limited opportunity for significant development.
The Shire of Gingin has a range of attractive landscapes, notably the coastal area anchored by Gingin, Guilderton and Lancelin, and, further inland, rolling hills and farmlands. The Moore River and the coastline are two of the Shire’s greatest natural attractions with some local level walking trails in place: There are no formally recognised mountain bike trails.
Existing trails include:
The Shire's Trails Masterplan recognised that there is limited potential for significant trail-specific development. Short walks can be upgrades as added value activities in support of the region's strength in water-based activities (windsurf, dive, snorkel, swim, surf, kayak, canoe) and in food, wine, arts and crafts.
Gingin Shire is natural northern oceanside hub for trail-based activity in Yanchep NP to its south and may act as a wedge dispersal attractor linked to expected increase in Bindoon visitation driven by major trail development in that location (to the east).
Primary market source opportunity identified in targeting population centres in the northern suburbs of Perth for day and weekend visitation, using local trails as added value propositions and/or itinerary suggestion Gingin as component of mixed coast-plus-inland activity trip (bush and beach).
Bindoon is a developing trail destination with potential to achieve Regional classification.
Bindoon is set to become a major Regional mountain biking destination with the near-completion of:
Community bike parks (Clune Park, Muchea, Maryvale Downs)
Walking trails in and around Bindoon (Chittering LGA) are mostly short, easy walks:
Close proximity to northern Perth metro
With a focus on the advanced development of the Bindoon Mountain Bike and Adventure Park, Bindoon has the opportunity to further develop into a Regional trail destination notably for mountain bikers, offering the only major mountain bike facility to the north of, and within close proximity to, the heavily populated Perth Metropolitan area. It represents a closer MTB destination than other equivalent facilities (once Stage 2 is complete).
Opportunity is to be found in the further development of cycling-based experiences, namely as a trailhead for a long-distance adventure ride linking Toodyay, Northam and on to Midland. Such a route would add value to Bindoon’s base trail encouraging extended stay and onward (or inbound) dispersal from neighbouring townships of note (Toodyay, Northam).
Additionally, there is opportunity to further strengthen Bindoon’s trail destination status by identifying and further developing walking trails, both within the Adventure Park site and further afield linking the township to other points of geographical and heritage interest. This would deliver added-value propositions, activities for non-riders (friends and family of riders staying in town), and facilitate potential trail running (or off-road duathlon) visitation and events.
Middle proximity to Perth Metro
Located 85km east-northeast from Perth, Toodyay is a popular heritage visitation target for day trippers attracted by its National Trust listing as an Historic Town. The town features an array of studios, galleries, boutique shops, accommodation, wineries, eateries and family entertainment.
With reference to trails, Toodyay is a good base to explore the popular Avon Valley National Park (albeit located to the far side of the park relative to Perth), the Avon River being its major geographical feature of interest.
It does not currently feature enough trail-based attractions to be considered a trail destination, nor should it seek to be given its proximity to other trail destinations, Bindoon to the north east and York to the south, along with Northam which has stronger trail development potential.
Toodyay, therefore is positioned as a support and added-attraction hub, offering more activities, accommodation and catering for trail visitors spread across the region, encouraging dispersal and extended stay. Its strength lies in attraction of overnight accommodation for non-camping visitors wanting to explore nearby Avon Valley National Park, and for adventure cyclists, existing or potential based on proposed adventure ride links incorporating Toodyay, specifically the proposed long distance cycle route Bindoon-Toodyay-Northam-Midland.
Northam currently has a limited range of trails across the different trail user types. None of the existing designated trails in the region are characterised by formalised trail towns or centres. Experiences vary from short walks (less than 1km), to half day walks/trail runs and mountain bike rides, through to multi-day bushwalks/rides. The Region as a whole contains 64km of designated sanctioned trails (walk, MTB, cycle, horse).
Notably, Northam is the terminus of the longer distance Kep Track (hike, ride, equestrian). Existing trails include:
Northam is also home to the The Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge on the foreshore of the Avon River in Northam’s CBD. This high-quality regional tourist attraction offers an interactive educational experience that recognises the rich Aboriginal and environmental presence in the Nyoongar Ballardong region.
The only existing trail of Regional significance in Northam is Kep Track, although its trailhead experience and infrastructure is lacking and it currently finishes outside of the township.
Northam’s overall trail destination status would be significantly improved by upgrades to existing trail quality, connectivity and a focus on local trails aligning to start/finish at the Bilya Koort Boodja Centre. This would further emphasise the strength and opportunity for Aboriginal cultural tourism and entwining cultural heritage and storytelling into each connected trail experience.
A development prioritisation of Northam’s potential strength in multi-mode shared use trail (walk, run, ride, paddle) and existing opportunities to be leveraged in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and storytelling space, gives a pathway to potentially becoming a Regional Trail Destination of significant differentiation to others in the study, and specifically to that of nearby (but connected) York, which has prioritised strengths in mountain biking development.
Further feasibility investigation of the Avon River Trail (proposed) is supported under this analysis.
Leveraging the potential for paddle trails connected to walk trails and the guided tour and hire opportunities available would deepen and differentiate the experience offering and tie into Northam’s heritage as the start of the famous Avon Descent paddle event.
Mount Ommanney has potential for added value development, currently proposed mountain bike, shared use and walk. Technical mountain biking development would remain at a local, added value level, with nearby York better placed to leverage that particular ride market.
A town of historical significance, York features two imposing and unique landforms of Mount Bakewell and Mount Brown which offer opportunities to create a collective trail network of Regional note, encompassing the town centre, the Avon River, and potentially both peaks. Wongborel/Mt Brown has organically developed into a mountain biking (and hike/run) network of significance, albeit all trails are officially unsanctioned.
Trails include:
Ideally located only an hour east from Perth, York already has significant tourism value in its heritage, agricultural/produce and event offerings. Further, it has developed a moderate amount of trail offerings, notably along the Avon River and on the slopes of the imposing Wongborel/Mt Brown, which is a particular magnet for mountain bikers (including events).
Ideally situated with Northam and Toodyay to the north, and Beverley/Pingelly to the south, it is the stand-out eastern trail epicentre and ideally located as a dispersal attractor for visitors further north or south.
Beverley offers local trails with no trail or network of Regional status, however as a township node en route between York to the north and Dryandra (Pingelly/Narrogin) to the south, its trail and heritage offering is identified as an added value that should be captured in regional trail-destination marketing. It has a strong adventure cycling (road, gravel grind and bike packing) background (past Beverley Heroic backcountry road ride) and should be considered for any development of Adventure Cycling as a linked destination piece, with consideration to identifying dirt/gravel road routes in preference to sealed roadways, and well-placed points of interest/features. May be preferentially linked north to York and west to Wandoo National Park for gravel grind loops. Any development of Pingelly to the south via Dryandra makes Beverley well placed as a dispersal driver for the Adventure Cycling market, with other trails and historical attractions as add-on drawcards.
Pingelly currently seeks to develop approx. 10km of mountain bike trails along with a pump track and skills park in its town centre. This would not mark the township as a trails destination, especially given it is located farther from Perth Metropolitan than other trail destinations in study that (already) contain more trail stock.
Pingelly’s strength lies in its proximity to the Dryandra Woodlands, which in conjunction with Narrogin to the south and Williams or Boddington to the west, could collectively become a more significant trails destination, especially for adventure riders (gravel grinders and bike packers).
Narrogin has existing if informal mountain bike stock. Pingelly’s development of 10km of trail adjacent the town centre adds collective weight to the overall offering.
The primary strategy beyond implementation of any trail-centric local trails would be to develop the service offering: quality accommodation, food, beverage and local produce, along with potentially an event that bases from Pingelly, but uses Dryandra as the exploratory visitation zone.
In this way, it remains possible for Pingelly to develop a ‘cycling culture’ as per its MTB and Cycling Strategy, without requiring significant trail infrastructure development beyond local trails.
Foxes Lair, the Commonage and Railway Dam were all recommended in the Pump Track and MTB Trail Feasibility Study as appropriate sites for development of purpose designed mountain bike trails of up to approx. 20km. Such development would remain as a local trail designation, however if considered as a component of nearby Dryandra Adventure Ride potential, and in collaboration with local MTB trail development in nearby Pingelly (north), Narrogin would have high value as an added-value proposition for cycle tourism and increase dispersal and potential extended stays according to the Wedge model of trail destination travel.
Short walking trails in Dryandra including:
WA’s newest National Park. Stronghold for some of Australia's rarest and most vulnerable wildlife, including numbats, woylies, brushtail wallabies, chuditch, quenda and the mound-building malleefowl.
Yornaning Dam MTB trails/Kooloot Biddi Trail.
No planned trail developments at present within the Dryandra Woodland proper, although 2011 Dryandra Woodland Management Plan proposes development of mountain bike trails in the western region of the park, and recommends linking Dryandra ride experiences to Narrogin offerings.
Potential as an adventure cycling (gravel grind/back country bike packing) zone requiring no physical trail construction.
Dryandra Woodland Management Plan (DPAW)
Mentioned in Narrogin Pump Track and Mountain Bike Trail Feasibility Study 2019
2011 Dryandra Woodland management plan proposed development of mountain bike trails in the western region of the park, however no development has since been initiated. Cyclists already use the fire roads and management roads and the nearby township nodes of Narrogin and Pingelly to the east are well placed to leverage tourism/economic benefits from this destination if developed as an adventure cycling destination.
Narrogin and/or Pingelly are, even with proposed mountain biking developments, not in and of themselves at a capacity or of a magnetism to achieve Regional trail destination categorisation. However, should Dryandra be positioned and developed (not ecessarily requiring new trails, given adventure cycling focuses on dirt/backcountry roadways within landscapes of significance), the overall Dryandra and surrounding townships would collectively become a critical mass of attraction, enough to be considered a Regional Trail destination. Any mountain biking and/or walking trail development in the Dryandra/Narrogin/Pingelly region therefore has added impetus as added value infrastructure, albeit remaining individually as local developments.
As a region inclusive of Dryandra, Narrogin, Pingelly and townships to the west of Williams and Boddington, the Dryandra Woodlands would be at the epicentre of a collective trails destination of Regional worth.
Located between Boddington to its west and Dryandra Woodlands zone to the east, Wandering’s only significant trail offering within Shire are sections of the Munda Biddi and Bibbulmun Track in the north (and not feasibly connected to the village of Wandering. There is no other significant trail infrastructure approaching Regional significance.
Any trail local development potential should be focused on identifying and improving any short walk/day walk or loop walk sections of the Munda Biddi and Bibbulmun, and any likely connectivity corridors.
Wandering village could potentially be identified as a western base for exploring the proposed Dryandra Woodland adventure ride zone and/or walking trails, and therefore should be included as a service base (accommodation potential) in collective messaging alongside Pingelly, Cuballing, Narrogin and Williams, pending availability of such services. It may also leverage nearby Boddington’s development of local-level trails, both ride and walk, again as an alternative hospitality base.
Future development being investigated for a walk trail from the Williams Nature Reserve to McKenzie Road lookout
Opportunity to connect to surrounding towns via disused rail trail. Multiple creek/river crossings requiring infrastructure investment
Limited existing or opportunity for walk or ride trails beyond local significance. Williams village could potentially be identified as a western base for exploring the proposed Dryandra Woodland adventure ride zone and/or walking trails, and therefore should be included as a service base (accommodation & catering potential) in collective messaging alongside Pingelly, Cuballing, Narrogin and Wandering, pending availability of such services. It may also leverage nearby Boddington’s development of local-level trails, both ride and walk, again as an alternative hospitality base.
Extension of Collie to Darkan Rail Trail through to Williams and Narrogin, placing Darken as a stop-over node.
Shire of West Arthur with Darken as its main township hub offers local level and added value trail experiences primarily via the Collie to Darken Rail trail.
Any extension of the rail trail through to Williams in the north east, or development of spur trails would bring much needed connectivity, and unlock the potential to tap into an adventure ride market looking to ride from established trail destination Collie in the east all the way to proposed adventure ride destination, Dryandra Woodlands and associated support villages. Non technical off road routes such as rail trails are highly attractive to adventure riders (gravel grinders and bike packers).
There is leverage opportunity in developing potential accommodation, catering, added value attraction as a support/facilitation/transit node for the ride market coming out of Collie.
The West Arthur locality therefore remains a support node best suited to offering added value attractions and facilitation to visitors targeting nearby trail destinations.
Limited potential for trail-specific development given non-appropriate landscapes. Short walk and cultural interpretation opportunity at Boyagin Rock. Leverage potential development of nearby Pingelly and Dryandra as an adventure ride zone targeting through visitation from the north (Beverley etc) based on Wedge Dispersal model of encouraging tourism flow from one trail destination to another.
Ensure any relevant itinerary marketing includes Brookton/Boyagin Rock.
Boddington
The region has extensive wetlands that are of international and national significance and support diverse and unique flora and fauna. There is a variety of tourism experiences ranging from historic towns such as Pinjarra, to the Serpentine National Park and other regional assets that provide a base for nature tourism.
Peel hosts Western Australia’s only trail destination of National Significance in the Dwellingup Adventure Trails, with Dwellingup aspiring for recognition as a ‘Trail Town’ by Trails WA. Jarrahdale has aspiration for Trail Town designation, noting the accreditation program as at June 2023 only recognises destinations with a focus on Mountain Biking or Hiking.
A comparatively small region with a high concentration of significant landscapes, Peel hosts a high density of trail-based destinations. This creates the imperative to ensure its trail-based destinations are diverse, complementary, add value to each other and do not unnecessarily compete for similar markets.
Map 7: Peel regional map
The Shire is a significant destination for horse riding with a strong equine community and trail offering. Equine trails are out of scope for this report, however notable for representing possible added value drawcards for trail-based visitation. Jarrahdale is accessible to 32 trails/networks comprising 20 bush and urban walking trails, two shared use trails, two mountain biking trails/networks and eight bridle trails/networks.
Existing walk trails include:
Existing MTB trails include:
Trail events include:
As the closest trail destination to South Perth Metro source market, Jarrahdale and Serpentine NP offer accessible trail experiences across a diversity of trails in high quality landscapes. Its strength lies in equine and walk/run trails (heavy concentration of trail run events) more so than mountain biking.
Jarrahdale must compete with a strong gravitational pull-through of trail visitors exerted by more significant trail destinations to the south in Dwellingup, Collie and Margaret River. This requires Jarrahdale to develop a stronger focus on experience differentiation, targeting of the day trip market and attempting to slow/stop the through-travel markets for extended stay options.
Trail developments should concentrate on features of differentiation from other trail destination offerings in the south and on developing quality trail tourism facilitation in terms of accommodation, hospitality and added value attraction, which destinations such as Dwellingup may lack (i.e. accommodation variety and quality).
Mounts Loop Trail project seeks to link the town of Jarrahdale to the Bibbulmun Track and offers an excellent opportunity to attract the weekend Perth Metro walking market, especially if fully developed as a loop.
Boddington Williams Reserve Trail Network Broad Concept
Boddington Trail design and experience site assessment
Peel Regional Trails Strategy 2019
Perth and Peel Mountain Bike Masterplan/Boddington Local Trail Plan
Boddington is located only 30 minutes’ drive to the east of the Signature trails Destination of Dwellingup, with plans for significant mountain biking development as identified in the Perth and Peel MTB Masterplan. It is popular with weekend visitors and features a redeveloped Hotham Park recreation area including pump track and kayak launch onto the Hotham River. It’s biggest event in non-trail: the Boddington Lions Rodeo is the state’s biggest.
This places MTB trail development as added value/dispersal trails. There is some risk of oversupply with consideration to any MTB trails developed to a differentiated style and feature level of Dwellingup — nominally XC as noted in Boddington Williams Reserve Trail Network Broad Concept) MTB, given Dwellingup’s more manicured MTB supply.
Boddington is on the far fringe of Dryandra Woodlands and therefore has potential as a dispersal attractor capturing visitors travelling from Dwellingup across to Dryandra Zone for the unique landscapes and biodiversity experiences available there (especially for long distance adventure ride market, potentially spreading from Munda Biddi).
Cycle-based visitation to Boddington would be strengthened with the development of the Boddington — Dwellingup Rail Trail as proposed in the Boddington Strategic Community Plan 2019-2029.
Collie — another major trail development zone — is located further south, the challenge for Boddington is to convince visitors to travel east prior to travelling further south (or en return route), using the collective pulling power of both proposed local trails and the Dryandra Adventure Ride Zone (proposed).
Dwellingup is in its final phases of trail development and stands alone as Western Australia’s highlight multi-user Signature Trail Destination. There remains some development to be complete, however the destination’s main challenge moving forward is off trail in building its capacity to deliver on accommodation, food and catering.
Rental crises have restricted access to hospitality and tourism workforce, in turn restricting operational capacity for many trails-related businesses. This limits capacity and impacts negatively on visitor experiences.
Harvey represents opportunity for one of only two ocean-side trail regions in the study area (the other being Mandurah to the north). There are no significant formal trails in region at present, although walking trails around Lake Preston, Myalup and Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park are used by locals (and some visitors — although none are currently ‘destination’ trails).
Proximity to Munda Biddi presents opportunity to link the township of Harvey to the trail, potentially creating a loop trail. Water catchment areas may present challenges with route alignments, however adventure cycle routes can be created using back country roads as alternative link options.
Harvey is an en route locality for trail visitors headed south from Perth or Dwellingup to Collie or Margaret River, presenting opportunity to capture the transit market overnight. As such, consideration should be given to facilitation measures, including opportunity to improve accommodation, catering and added value attractions, especially water-based activities (i.e. soft adventure paddling). This would dovetail with in-draft Harvey Region Trails and Adventure Plan that positions the region as a ‘gateway’ destination, making added-value activities the key ingredient (recognising that Dwellingup to the north and Collie to the south offer higher level of offerings in the mountain biking sphere in particular, and Margaret River and the Cape to Cape offer a higher level of offering in the walking sphere).
NB: paddle trails (outside scope of this report) have received funding for development
Mandurah is positioned as a major coastal destination, known for its beaches, waterways and coastal paths. It has limited available landscapes for the development of specific Regional-level trails, however is ideally sited as a major accommodation and added attraction destination. It lies within proximity to major trail destination Dwellingup (and is the nearest large city /facilitation centre for that destination, which has limited serviceability/capacity for accommodation and catering).
A major point of difference is the availability of paddle trails and family-friendly local trail options, along with the beach aspect and convenience of higher density of holiday services and entertainment.
With development of some in planning trails, including the Yalgorup National Park eco-attraction concept, Mandurah can seek to leverage overnight and extended stay trails visitors by focusing messaging in its diversity of accommodation and catering, along with added value events and offerings (i.e. paddling) to target and attract visitors focused on Dwellingup and those travelling further south to Collie/Margaret River region.
Waroona is strategically and beneficially located adjacent to a number of recognised trail destinations including Dwellingup to the immediate north and Collie to the south.
Dwellingup has limited serviceability/capacity for accommodation and catering and no public transport access, making Waroona an ideal facilitation extension zone and alternative access node for Dwellingup visitors. It is also a transit capture zone for through-traffic travelling further south to Collie or Margaret River.
The Waroona 2023 Strategic Community Plan notes the “development of new trails and enhancement and promotion of existing trails” as an objective with the production of a Waroona Trails Strategy noted as the success measure.
Implementation of the Peel Trails Strategy, which encompasses the Waroona Local Trails Plan, with prioritisation of the Waroona Lakes Trails and links west to Munda Biddi/Murray Valley.
A further minor point of difference is the availability — albeit only minorly-activated — of wetland and coastal walking/paddling opportunities on the western coastal fringes within Waroona Shire.
Long distance trails by their nature cross many LGA jurisdictions and regions. They provide excellent marketing focus as major trail products but also operate as attractors to short trip, day visit and overnight visitors not looking to undertake end to end journeys.
For Wheatbelt and Peel regions, they can act as visitation catalysts and stay extenders if sub-sections and experiences are included in regional trail tourism marketing. They can also be targeted as components of other regional trails (existing or planned) that loop off them; and act as connectivity corridors linking other trail experiences and towns.
Where intersecting with identified trail-centric LGA’s in the study area, and especially where interacting with or routed nearby townships and other proposed significant trail developments, recognised long distance trails should always:
Map 8 Long distance trails
Western Australia’s premier long distance off-road cycling experience. Starting in Mundaring, the 1000km trail meanders through scenic river valleys and the magnificent forests of the state’s South-West. Joined by purpose-built track, the Munda Biddi (which means path through the forest in the Noongar language) uses a network of bush tracks, firebreaks, and disused railway formations and has sections suitable for cyclists of all ages and experience levels.
One of the world’s great long distance walk trails, stretching 1000 kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth hills, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast. The Track offers a range of experiences from an eight-week adventure staying in the 49 campsites, to day walks staying in rural towns.
The multi-use 75km Kep Track uses the rail formation between Mundaring in the Perth Hills, to Northam. It is vested in the National Trust with management responsibility falling with Shire of Mundaring and Shire of Northam. The alignment follows an old railway reserve with some sections of on road riding within the Shire of Northam along Clackline Rd and Weribee Road. At Mundaring it connects with the 1000km Bibbulmun Track eventually joining Albany on the south coast. It also has connectivity with the Munda Bidda Track and Kattamorda Track.
28-kilometre one way trail based on the movement of Yellagonga and his people between Lake Joondalup and Yanchep. It extends from Neil Hawkins Park in the south to Yanchep National Park in the north, traversing tuart and banksia woodland, coastal heath and former wetlands.
Three-day, 52-kilometre walk between Yanchep National Park and Neaves Road, in the Melaleuca Conservation Park, traverses the National Park as well as the inland coastal plain. There are three overnight campsites along the way.
Map 9: Proximal locator (2)
The following table gives oversight of approximate travel times between townships that host some form of notable trail asset. Proximity can used as a guiding measure in reflecting upon the appropriateness of either further trail development or designation as a support node for nearby trail destinations.
Bindoon MTB Trails (in development)
Local walk trails
Toodyay 40 mins
Northam 1 hour
Yanchep 50 mins
Walking trails (various)
Adventure Cycle (gravel road)
Toodyay 20 mins
Northam 40 mins
Bindoon 40 mins
Northam 20 mins
Avon Valley National Park 20 mins
Start of Avon Decent paddle
Kep track
Shared Use (hike/MTB) Short walking trails
York 20 mins Avon
Valley National Park 45 mins
Mt Brown shared use trail network (MTB focus)
Avon River trails
Heritage trails
Avon Valley National Park 1 hour
Beverley 20 mins
Kalamunda/Goat Farm (MTB Trails)/John Forrest 50 mins
York 20 mins
Pingelly 30 mins
Kalamunda/Goat Farm (MTB Trails)/John Forrest 1 hour 15min
Limited trails
Proposed local MTB trails
Dryandra proximity
Beverley 30 mins
Narrogin 30 mins
Dryandra 30 mins
Boddington 50 mins
Dwellingup 1 hour 20 mins
Dryandra 20 mins
Pingelly 20 mins
Narrogin 20 mins
Boddington 40 mins
Williams/Wandering 30 mins
Narrogin 40 mins
Jarrahdale 50 mins
Dwellingup 50 mins
Pingelly 15 mins
Narrogin 45 mins
Dryandra 45 mins
Jarrahdale 1 hour 25 mins
Dwellingup 1 hour 30 mins
Dwellingup 1 hour
Boddington 30 mins
Collie 40 mins
Dwellingup 1 hour 15 mins
Boddington 1 hour
Dryandra 50 mins
Dryandra 40 mins
Pingelly 50 mins
Narrogin 1 hour
Dwellingup 30 mins
Jarrahdale 1 hour
Jarrahdale 40 mins
Dryandra 1 hour 20 mins
Dwellingup 40 mins
Boddington 51 mins
Harvey 50 mins
Mandurah 50 mins
Collie 50 mins
Dwellingup 25 mins
Mandurah 35 mins
The Concentric Trails Planning Strategic Directions sets out core considerations for Local Governmental Areas and their Councils, land managers, tourism organisations and trail user groups. The check list below helps better plan for appropriate trail development to achieve the right trail(s) in the right place for the right reason at the right time.
In coordination with current and future trail tourism planning processes, the Concentric Circles framework should be reflected upon to offer geographic overview and visitation driver analysis for best planning of trail destinations. The modelling can be used to define certain factors pertinent to a trail destination and how they may guide development priorities.
Where does a trail destination sit with reference to the core source market(s) — Perth (Perth North/Perth South) — and how do factors such as travel times, and ease of access affect ability to attract visitation?
Where does a trail destination sit with reference to other proximal trail destinations? Are there other major, potentially competing trail destinations nearby? Do they vie for the same market? With reflection should a destination choose to grow their trail offering or choose to leverage off an existing co-located destination focusing on other non-trail tourism strengths (activities, accommodation, catering, events)?
Can a destination encourage dispersal by becoming an attractor that complements a nearby major trail destination? What is the attractor, trail or otherwise?
A trail destination and associated trail development should meet the minimum requirements of integration with broader strategic plans:
Trail development should procced according to a core design philosophy of connectivity. Trails should offer visitors and local community the ability to access landscapes easily, logically, with connections to and between townships, trailheads, other trails and attractions.
The Concentric Circle framework identifies not only preferred trail destination development zones. With reference to the Wedge Dispersal model, it also identifies and values adjacent locations of interest for their added value attractions, facilitation services and dispersal motivators. Destinations that do not have capacity or justification for large scale development often remain of value to the broader regional trail tourism offering with local trails offering added activity targets, other activities and attractions such as water-based recreation, equine tourism, local produce, festivals and events, cultural centres and heritage values increasing overall destination attraction.
A trail network of regional significance should be capable of hosting events as as showcase attractors of visitation.
Any destination seeking support for trail development should meet trail destination development criteria:
A strategic focus on primary Mountain Biking trail clusters that are existing, in final phase or mid phase of significant development: Bindoon, York and Dwellingup and associated primary trail network destinations. Consideration given to supporting added-value hubs only where located a minimum of 1-hour (approximately) drive (70-100km) away, and destination meets other development criteria as above.
A focus on improving hero linear trails to better serve short trip, day trip and limited overnight experiences, including addressing connectivity with townships and other trail nodes, quality of experience, with a preference for developing cloverleaf, loop, stacked loop/branch trail development.
Further to the defined requirements for a Hiking Trail Town, it is recommended to develop quantitative quantitative measures to enable the identification of hike trail destinations as Local, Regional or State/Signature, as per existing mountain bike trail hierarchy guidelines, to better guide investment prioritisation.
Conduct a more comprehensive trail experience audit of identified trail-relevant LGAs to capture more detailed foundation data (including trails, attraction features and facilitation capacity) to be used in planning and marketing activities moving forward.
Establish Trails Development Regional Working Group for Wheatbelt Inner covering LGAs with recognised trail destinations and aspirations to foster better inter-LGA coordination.
Develop a Wheatbelt Trail Destinations Masterplan (inner north, east and south region focus) to mirror the existing Peel Regional Trails Masterplan.
Develop and promote trail-based itineraries based on short, day trip and overnight trail destinations using Wedge Dispersal Model for priority identification.
Identify and invest in opportunities for the increased development of Indigenous cultural attractions and storytelling attached to trail destinations, as appropriately informed and led by relevant Traditional Owners and Knowledge Keepers.
Develop (or identify) collaborative channels for Wheatbelt and Peel to coordinate cross (intra)regional and inter-LGA trails marketing efforts with a focus on itinerary and diversity marketing.
Potentially develop trail marketing content campaign based on Concentric Circle Arc via Trails WA channels (trail destination and itinerary development).
Identify and develop accommodation potential and capacities in trail destination townships and transit nodes, especially relevant to Dryandra-Pingelly-Narrogin region. Identify and seek solutions for hospitality and tour workforce accommodation.
Recognise the growth in ‘adventure ride’ market — requiring less trail development/investment and more conceptual itinerary/route development — by supporting the development of long-distance trail (ride) extensions and new planning, including Bindoon-Toodyay-Northam-Midlands proposal and Dryandra adventure ride zone. Conduct desktop audit of all regional disused railway corridors to identify viable and desirable off road adventure cycling routes/link opportunities between other trails/destinations.
In support of 10.12, develop a State-Wide Long Distance Adventure Cycling Strategy (Gravel Grind and Bike Packing/MTB Touring) — see NSW Adventure Cycling Strategy example. Reference all current long distance adventure cycling route proposals and disused railway corridor audit recommended.
Identify the potential to grow or establish new trail-based events to drive visitation including regional series of MTB events with a node in each identified zone (North, East, South) plus gravel grind events organised and digital facilitation challenges. Support (via marketing assistance, grants etc) existing trail running events. Investigate potential for non-competitive walking events.
Recognise and plan for:
Support ongoing development of York MTB Trail Concept Planning with further investigations into upgrading of York walking trails and feasibility of summit trail to reach Regional classification.
Investigate connective development of Bindoon walking trail network to expand current MTB development to better support multi-user visitation base.
Identify and develop Dryandra Zone including Dryandra Woodlands, Narrogin and Pingelly as an adventure cycling (gravel grind/bike packing) zone, establish best suggested routes/itineraries anchored between Pingelly, Narrogin and Boddington (or Williams/Wandering), encourage support servicing (accommodation, food and beverage, bike hire and servicing, added value activities), explore opportunities to activate Lions Dryandra Woodland Village (cycle-specific accommodation, catering and related events), plug in added value attractions (conservation heritage story, day time Numbat spotting).
Continue the coordinated trails approach underway in the Peel Region through ongoing implementation and review of Peel Trails Strategy supported by the continuation of Peel Trails Committee that has representation from Peel Alliance, Peel Development Commission, Shire/City’s LGA, DLGSC, DBCA.
Finalise Langford Park MTB facility upgrades. Messaging focus on attracting day-use visitors from Perth Metro as alternative destinations to Goat Farm, Kalamunda, Manning Park, Kwinana, Byford.
This report has drawn on stakeholder feedback, workshops and insights into the characteristics of domestic trail tourism in the Wheatbelt and Peel regions and the profile of outdoor active visitors seeking to experience nature-based attractions within 1-3 hours of metropolitan Perth.
The surrounding region has a wide range of quality trail-based experiences including national parks and significant trail destinations such as Dwellingup. It also hosts numerous destinations seeking to grow their trail-based visitation and invest in trail infrastructure and associated development.
The Concentric Trails analysis provides high-level strategic roadmap to guide this trail destination management and development into the future with a view to improving coordination between regions, LGAs and destinations.
The adoption of a hub and spoke analysis model as outlined by the Concentric Circles approach could be used to consider how to best plan for trail-based experiences and to guide aspiring trail destinations in how to develop trails appropriately: the right trails for the right users, in the right place at the right time. Whilst it seeks to decrease the risk of over-supply of competing trail developments it does not discourage trail infrastructure development in general, and recognises the importance of continued investment in local trails for regional community use, noting such trails also serve purpose of added value attraction and resulting tourism dispersal.
Through the Concentric Circles prism, land managers can better plan how visitors connect from the city to the sub-regions guided by their motivations, behaviours, and expectations. Such a planning framework can become a basis to overlay key experience themes e.g. mountain biking, hiking, trail running and guide how best to plan for and cater to visitation, while also leveraging supporting activities and services.
It also can guide planning priorities by identifying appropriate trail development and where alternative complementary development (i.e. accommodation, services, added value activities) may be preferentially focused upon.
There are a number of challenges to be faced, not the least being fragmentation of land management and inter-LGA coordination and cooperation across such large areas. This is especially pertinent given trails — and indeed trail visitors — rarely recognise or adhere to the invisible administrative boundaries of local government, which establishes cooperation between organisations and administrators as project-critical when it comes to trail development.
Any future trail development should be undertaken with specific coordination anchored in communication between trail and tourism officers within LGAs, major land managers such as DPAW and state-based administrative agencies. The Trail Development Series should be used as a guiding document and all trail proposal and trail frameworks should be agreed by all relevant stakeholders.
Other challenges are those consistent to any trail development planning: funding, maintenance and management concerns, all queries that must have solutions in place prior to further trail development action.
The Concentric Circles Trails Development study reveals that there have emerged natural epicentres for trail-based visitation centred on Dwellingup (southern zone), York (eastern zone, developing) and Bindoon (northern zone, developing) with a significant skew towards mountain biking development. These destinations are adequately located at sufficient proximal distances that justify ongoing investment in their growth without risk of source market cannibalisation or trail oversupply.
The gap in this spread across Peel and Wheatbelt is located in the Dryandra (south-east) region, however the landscape and existing trail supply does not warrant large scale investment in major (destination-based) mountain biking infrastructure. Rather a collectivisation of attractions and facilitation centres in a zone format — inclusive Dryandra, Pingelly, Narrogin, Cuballing, Wandering and Williams — could be developed to represent a ‘destination’ with a focus on adventure riding. Some mid-level development of local mountain biking infrastructure (Narrogin and Pingelly) would represent added value drawcards for the destination as would developing appropriate, improved hospitality and event-based drivers. Existing woodland walks and the biodiversity, flora and fauna (including daytime Numbat spotting) add further value to the visitation proposition.
Other trail destinations across the study area — Toodyay, Northam, Boddington, Jarrahdale — warrant ongoing development with a strategic lens of ensuring investment is directed appropriately to strengthen diversification (i.e. a focus on walking trails where landscape permits, or an alternative rider engagement profile such as adventure riding); improve connectivity (to other significant trail destinations); and support trail tourism facilitation (added value events, activities and hospitality offering).
A major gap exists in the storytelling and representation of Aboriginal cultural and heritage linked to trail experiences. The strongest proposition to advance a trail centre with a stronger Indigenous focus in Northam and surrounds, predicated on some mid-level trail development centred on the Bilya Koort Boodja Centre.
The combination of a growth in longer distance adventure riding (gravel grinding, bike packing), relatively lower level of required investment (pending on or off-road sections and gaps in preferred routing), opportunity for mass event capacity building, and connectivity improvements means a focus on investing in adventure riding zone, route, itinerary and facilitation is clearly identified.
The Concentric Circle analysis also makes clear the importance of identifying the trail tourism market and the differences in travel requirements based on being located in the north or south of Perth Metropolitan area. Further, it highlights the challenges of drawing day trip visitors out beyond the significant trail-based offerings of high-quality networks and national parks located within the Perth Metro area and therefore more easily and quickly accessible to that market. This highlights a need to capture and invest in factors of added value, hospitality and facilitation in any destination intending to attract a visitors interested in trail recreation.
Recommends:
Recognises limited scope for significant trail development beyond local significance.
Identifies opportunities within the Shire of Chittering to provide high quality mountain biking experiences for ratepayers, that also have significant new tourism attraction potential.
Vision: “Chittering Shire will be a highly regarded mountain biking destination for day trippers from Perth, and will be appreciated by residents and prospective residents for its mountain bike friendly approach and commitment to quality mountain bike trails and facilities.”
Cycling and Mountain Biking Masterplan for Pingelly
Vision: