The history of Perth Observatory, telescope tours beneath the southern night sky and a family-run boutique winery give Bickley a varied character. The heritage museum explores the history of the facility; at Plume Estate, wine and guided tastings take centre stage. The Bickley Reservoir Trail adds views across the valley, reservoir and city. This gives you a choice of different ways to spend your time, from culture and stargazing to wine and scenery.

Observatory and night sky

Perth Observatory in Bickley is the oldest observatory in Western Australia. Its heritage museum explores the facility’s history as an astronomical research institution. In the newly established colony of Western Australia, timekeeping and positional surveying were among its main responsibilities. These were distinct functions: timekeeping involved providing accurate time, while positional surveying involved measuring locations. This brings the observatory’s practical role in the colony into focus alongside its astronomical research. Among other things, the Lowell Telescope made discoveries about the ring system of Uranus.

On the night sky tours, knowledgeable volunteers use telescopes to guide visitors around the southern night sky. Objects viewed include nebulae, dying stars and star clusters; the Moon and planets are also included when visible. The guided daytime tours have a different focus and include a visit to the Indigenous Astronomy Centre Worl Wangkiny. The formats therefore have different emphases: at night, observing celestial objects is the main focus, while the daytime tours include a visit to the centre.

Wine and tastings at Plume Estate

Plume Estate Vineyard is a family-run boutique winery in the Bickley Valley. Its wines are available at the cellar door and online. Guided tastings feature a selected collection of handcrafted wines, accompanied by information about grape varieties, winemaking and the history of individual vintages. The entire estate is open exclusively to guests aged 18 and over. The cellar door seating area offers a selection of dishes to share that pair well with wines produced at the estate. Tables can only be reserved by guests who purchase wine. The age restriction applies to the estate as a whole, while the purchase requirement applies specifically to table reservations.

Bickley Reservoir Trail near Bickley: forest, granite and views

The Bickley Reservoir Trail starts at the Hardinge Road Carpark. Near Bickley, it follows a ridge through Wandoo and Sheoak woodlands and past granite outcrops. The trail offers views across the valley, the reservoir below and all the way to the city. The trail is defined by its forest, granite and views, while Perth Observatory is focused on the history of research and stargazing.

Discover more destinations: Yanchep, Yallingup, Drummond Cove, Waggrakine, Point Samson, Boyup Brook, Ringbark, Kendenup

For the main travel overview: Western Australia.