The hills are a life

The first reaction from our friends when we told them of our move was 'why do you want to go to the hills?'. This question is usually followed by 'but it's miles away from anywhere'. This is quite funny, really, when you consider that said hills are just to the east of Perth - the most remote city in Australia. It could be argued that the hills are closer to the Eastern States than is Perth.

It's all about the view!

The hills to the east of Perth are fairly untouched; that is to say there is an abundance of natural bushland and scrub, whose inhabitants are mainly of the winged and four-footed variety (not to mention the scaly non-footed variety). There are amazing walking trails and cycling trails. A fair amount of Perth's history can be found on these trails, many of which follow or cross the historic railway. 

Imagine how fit I'll be by Christmas
with all these walks on my doorstep!

The attraction for us is the reasonably-priced block of land (half an acre-ish), which is surrounded by the aforementioned bushland and not suburban rooftops and cars. I have a feeling that, although I'll spend an extra ten minutes on a train (or an extra twenty minutes in my car) when I return from work in the city, it will be nice to feel the city stripping away from me as I make my way past the concrete walls, and through to the tree-lined roads instead.

Approximately 40 minutes by car from Perth CBD, up the Great Eastern Highway, is a lovely village called Mundaring. It is home to a vibrant shopping precinct, lovely cafés, and possibly the State's most loved bakery! But the visitors to the area are mostly drawn to Mundaring Weir, an enormous construction that controls the flow of water to the goldfields, and agriculture areas. 

The stunning Mundaring Weir

To describe this area of the hills as 'picturesque' would be an understatement. There are so many things to do here including a tour around the pump house, strolling around the dam (a loooong walk!), and having a barbecue in one of the many park areas with lush green grass, picnic benches, and visits from the local kangaroos.

My only regret for this area, is that it is frequented by an abundance of visitors on motorbikes. I suspect they appreciate the long roads and amazing views, but they can't possibly appreciate the tranquillity of the area - sadly, nor can the rest of us when the bikers are visiting!