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So... Currently working for a firm in London, which involves WFH in the north 90% of the time and a handy 15 mins pedal from quality trails. Having had a couple 1-2-1 calls with the Aussie equivalent of my manager+1, it seems likely that I am about to be offered the same position in Perth, WA. It wouldn't have to be permanent, maybe 2-4 years.
Anyone any knowledge of the MTB scene out there? Any tips on good locations for renting? Will be moving with my mrs, no kids. TIA!
A friend worked there for a while and we went out to visit. Really nice place surrounded by interesting places to visit, albeit quite a bit of driving. Don't know much about places to live but it's crazy expensive so allow for that. It's also a long way from the rest of Australia which is already a long way from the rest of the world. Lots of outdoorsy people there. Freemantle is also nice if the commute isn't too bad
Really good riding scene up in the hills and growing all across WA. I'm back in the UK now but loved on Perth for nearly 7 years and have family there.
Kalamunda trails are the best place to start. Really good mix of stuff. Stupidly hot in summer mind!
Hop in the car for a few hours (you will get used to this ha) and Collie, Nannup, Dwellingup, Margs have great trails as well wi to the bonus of great food and beer.
PM me if you want.
You will struggle with 15min pedal to trails though as would say the nicer suburbs to live in are quite a trek. As someone mentioned Fremantle is lovely. Make sure they are paying you Perth wages.... It's not the cheapest place in the world, although if geo is a clue you will do ok.
Although.... If they mention working up north.... Its warm... Really bloody warm.
Why you worried about biking? Just go!👍😁
Lived here since 2009
Rental market is utter cack at the moment. Prices are high and generally people are finding it very competitive to get a house AND at an affordable price.
There are tonnes of MTB trails. But "Perth" is used to describe anything from Joondalup to south of Mandurah (you'll see people talking about NoR and Sor - north of the river and south of). Fremantle IS lovely but also super pricey. Friends have just bought in White Gum Valley for $1.2 million dollars. Around $400k will get you a modest 4x2 with a bit of land, maybe a pool. Further you go from the city the cheaper the prices (somewhat).
Kalamunda, Goat Farm, Dwellingup, Turner's Hill, Jarrahdale then you've got stuff about an hour and a half south - Margaret River, Bunbury etc You will need a car and there's not much in terms of urban trails unless you look at Manning Park which is mostly non-sanctioned trails in Fremantle but there's a brigade of ant-bikers and ongoing nonsense there....)
You get used to travelling. I'm down near Rockingham about 40 mins from the CBD. I don't go to the city much - Kings's Park. There's big shopping centres everywhere which are just carbon copies of each other.
Things to be aware of. Casual racism. Macca's / Chicken Treat EVERYWHERE, drive through bottlo's (off license), prices ($12 for a crap pint), things being close when normal people would be open (try getting fish and chips at 10pm on a friday) oh... ordering fish and chips and waiting for them to cook some oven chips and a crap bit of gelatinous fish, terrible curries, fantastic coffee, parmis, 40c Christmas, bushfires, redbacks, thongs, terrible drivers, cheap fuel, $45 for a pack of 20 smokes, ordering things off the internet which arrive from UK quicker than items ordered from east coast.
The heat. It's a dry heat and brutal. Summer riding is less than fun. It's super hot. There's no breeze or cooler air through the trees, if you fall off, either a snake, or a knife shaped plant will maim you. Today it's 28c and we'll be getting hotter and hotter until March.
Oh. Christmas morning on the beach, in the bluest of seas, drinking some bubbles is utterly fabulous.
Sorry for the waffle feel free to ask more questions!
I've never MTB'ed in WA, only long bushwalks (Cape to Cape and Bibbulmun section), but there's a great sounding bike route called the Munda Biddi.
And a reportedly good 4 day race https://capetocapemtb.com/
Good craft breweries too - i wrote an article on the Margaret River brewery scene for the West Australian newspaper earlier this century.
I have a geologist friend who fled UK in 1992 to make his millions in Oz and has been in Perth ever since. He's an ultra-runner and currently recovering from having a bit of brain tumour removed - otherwise i'm sure he'd be happy to advise. And i guarantee he'd say jump.
In Perths defence..... you can also pay $12 dollars for an absolutely fantastic beer. But the standard commercial offerings are pretty awful!
Aphex is right though, summer riding is basically a no no, unless you get up at daft o clock. Pea gravel is hilariously terrifying to land in and pretty much every australian plant is spiky.
I'm back in Perth this christmas ,and to be honest we are seriously considering moving back.
I’m heading to Perth and Busselton in April for a family get-together but looking at options for riding whilst I’m out there. There’s a bike hire place and some trails at Dunsborough out to Cape Naturaliste - anyone been there?
Hairy Marron in Margaret River hires bikes I think and thats riding distance to Carters Road trails etc. Im pretty sure theres a new(ish) trail network around Meelup now as well which is right next to Dunsborough. Dunsborough, Meelup and Eagle Bay is stupidly pretty.
Lots of areas to Google, thanks!
Thankfully I'd be on a Perth appropriate package, and don't need to be in the office more than once a week or so, so that gives some flexibility as far as housing goes. I've spent a couple of weeks in the CBD a few years ago so have some understanding of the cost of living out there, the first night out was a shock to the bank balance! I've had an electric company lease for the last two years so the car prices out there will be a big shock too.
Might have to take up surfing then in the summer! I struggle on the rare occasions it reachs 30'C in the UK...
WildHunter2009
Full Member
In Perths defence….. you can also pay $12 dollars for an absolutely fantastic beer
Feral's "Hop Hog" is real nice.
unless you get up at daft o clock.
Even night riding can be 30c plus you will get a face full of spider webs and maybe some huge orb spiders.
Margs is great and the Hairy Marron (imho) are the friendliest bike shop and has a great cafe. Just Margs is a bit of a trek from the city and on long weekends you'll be stuck in traffic with Perthians travelling "douth" in V8 Landcruisers and Patrols.
Bibbulman track is the longest single trail (at least in the southern hemishphere) but large parts are very tricky riding as mentioned, pea gravel is a b11tch!
Many people mtb in winter and road bike in summer (although riding on roads in 40c+ heat is face meltingly hot. Get a paddle board and hit the beach, kite surf down in Rockingham, swim in the sea and enjoy our amazing beaches. Oh and we get the most amazing sunsets over the ocean too. Something you dont get in Eastern states.
It's not a terrible place to be. It certainly beats Wolverhampton
#perthisok
https://trailswa.com.au/trails/trail-types/mountain-bike
Even night riding can be 30c plus you will get a face full of spider webs and maybe some huge orb spiders.
That's no different on the east coast to be fair. But you get used to it - both the heat (i'm most comfortable exercising around 0-10 c, but my body adjusts) and the spiders (they're harmless).
Personally i prefer to be on a bike in a forest out of the sun in the heat rather than exposed on the water and at risk of sunstroke.
dovebiker
Full Member
I’m heading to Perth and Busselton in April for a family get-together but looking at options for riding whilst I’m out there. There’s a bike hire place and some trails at Dunsborough out to Cape Naturaliste – anyone been there?
If it's Meelup trails I think there was some damage last year during some fires - not 100% if they've sorted them. April should still be warm but not as brutal as the summer months.
https://www.trailforks.com/region/dunsborough-mountain-bike-park-17317/
There's a huuuuge difference between being out in the forest in the sun, riding a 30lb mountain bike with full protective kit on through the Perth summer, through a tinderbox when we've had high 30s for three months. I'm gonna suggest the beach might be a little cooler than the forest in this scenario.
I know where I'd rather be too! This is my beach.
Not going to lie... i'm counting down the days till that view! Though given its finally gotten cold here it will be a shock.
Should add, if you have a decent bike here it might be worth shipping it out. Perths got some decent shops but the choice is a lot more limited than here. Lots and lots of Giant, Trek and Surrey Hills levels of Santa Cruz out on the trails.
Should add, if you have a decent bike here it might be worth shipping it out.
Yeah, reckon i'll bring the 140mm trail bike, and sell the 170mm enduro monster before moving over. The road bike has gathered cobwebs for the last two years but it looks like it may get more use out there. My memory is that the cycle path network is pretty good?
https://trailswa.com.au/trails/trail-types/mountain-bike/blockquote >
Great resource, thanks for that.Get a paddle board and hit the beach, kite surf down in Rockingham, swim in the sea and enjoy our amazing beaches.
Do people paddleboard or swim on the river? Keen to live near the water as far as possible, but will have to be the ocean if the river is a no go.
Do people paddleboard or swim on the river
Most definitely they do. Paddleboard, jetski, swim, canoe, dragon boats, sail, party boats.
There's BBQ's everywhere free to use and you can cook your dinner while watching the sun go down.
