Hiking Bluff Knoll, the highest peak in Western Australia’s South West region, has long been on my bucket list. On an impromptu weekend getaway to Denmark, my husband and I finally conquered this challenging hike!
Read on below for my guide to hiking Bluff Knoll and all you need to know before you go.
When to Climb Bluff Knoll
The best time to hike Bluff Knoll is in spring or autumn. Basically, when the sun is shining but it isn’t too hot.
I hiked the Bluff Knoll trail mid-October, on a sunny day and temperatures of mid-high 20 degrees. I wouldn’t want to hike in much warmer temperatures than that – it is a steady uphill hike and it would be tough (and potentially dangerous) in the heat of summer.
If hiking on a warm day, start the climb early, make sure you have sun protection and plenty of water.
The signs at the bottom say to be prepared for quick weather changes. It can get very windy up the top and is noticeably cooler.
In winter, sometimes you can even see snow at the top of the peak.
Best Time to Climb Bluff Knoll
The best time to hike Bluff Knoll is late Autumn (April-May) or Spring (Oct-Nov).
A calm winters day might be suitable, but be prepared for condition changes. Personally, I wouldn’t do this steep hike in the peak of summer.
Avoid going in the peak heat of the day. Start the Bluff Knoll climb in the morning, or later afternoon.
Make sure not to leave it too close to sunset – it would be challenging to climb down the steep path in the dark.
How to Get to Bluff Knoll
From Perth to Bluff Knoll is about 4 and half hour drive. I recommend driving down from Perth the day before and spending the night in a nearby town or campground.
You can drive to the base of Bluff Knoll and park at the car park there. You’ll find Bluff Knoll car park in Google Maps.
Where to Stay Near Bluff Knoll
Bluff Knoll accommodation options are limited in the vicinity of Bluff Knoll.
The easiest option to get accommodation near Bluff Knoll is to stay in Albany or Denmark the night before. Alternatively, you can camp or stay in basic chalets at Stirling Range Retreat.
Denmark
Denmark to Bluff Knoll is a 1.5 hour drive.
Denmark is a great place to stay for things to do around your Bluff Knoll hike. There are lots of cute cafes and many wineries in the area, along with stunning beaches like Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.
- Pelicans at Denmark: Cosy chalet nestled in the forest with inlet views.
- William Bay Cottages: A range of cottages with full kitchen. Close to Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks too!
- Chimes Spa Retreat: an adults only retreat with stylish suites. Treat yourself to a spa bath after completing the challenging Bluff Knoll hike!
- Karri Aura: Clean and cosy units with kitchenettes and scenic views.
Check availability of all accommodation in Denmark here
Albany
Albany to Bluff Knoll is just over a one hour drive. Albany offers lots of dining, entertainment and accommodation options.
- Jeffries Cottage: I’ve stayed in this beautifully renovated cute blue cottage located a 5 min drive from Albany town centre.
- Pelicans Albany Middleton Beach: Close to Middleton Beach, offering self contained apartments.
- Hilton Garden Inn: Australia’s first Hilton Garden Inn hotel, newly opened in 2021.
Check availability of all accommodation in Albany here
Bluff Knoll Camping
If you don’t mind camping, there are two caravan parks and campgrounds within the vicinity of Bluff Knoll. These are the Stirling Range Retreat and Mt Trio Bush Camp.
I’ve camped at Stirling Range Retreat before attempting to hike Bluff Knoll at sunrise.
Stirling Range Retreat is the closest campground to Bluff Knoll, a 10-minute drive away. It has some basic cabins, powered camp sites, non-powered camp sites and caravan sites.
The facilities include a large camp kitchen and shower blocks. Non-powered campsites start from $18 per night, per person (2023).
Mt Trio Bush Camp & Caravan Park is a little further away, a 25-minute drive from Bluff Knoll, but has more space. Those choosing unpowered camp sites can pick a spot among the bush block, with no specific sites allowing for a little more space and potentially privacy compared to Stirling Range Retreat.
Unpowered camp sites from $20 per person, per night (2023).
Camping in the National Park is also an option for those on multi-day overnight hikes. More information on camping within the Stirling Ranges can be found here.
What to Take When Climbing Bluff Knoll
- Water
- Sun protection
- Camera
- Hiking Poles (optional, but good for those that might struggle with the many steps)
Make sure you take lots of water! There wasn’t anywhere to fill up at the carpark. We had brought two drink bottles that were finished by the end of the hike.
Make sure you wear appropriate clothing and shoes, consider taking sunscreen and of course don’t forget your camera. You’re going to want it at the top!
Check out my South West Road Trip itinerary for the ultimate one-week adventure around South West WA.
Bluff Knoll Entry Fee
As Bluff Knoll is part of the Stirling Range National Park, there is an entry fee payable of $17 per vehicle (2024 pricing).
As you turn onto Bluff Knoll Rd, the pay station can be clearly seen. Use the automated machines to pay on card (make sure you put your printed ticket onto your dashboard).
With the entrance fee, if you keep your ticket you can re-use it to enter another national park on the same day. This came in handy for us when visiting The Gap and Natural Bridge in Albany later that day, and saved us from purchasing another ticket.
Alternatively, you can purchase a parks pass which allows unlimited entry into most National Parks in WA for a certain time period.
What to Expect When Hiking Bluff Knoll
We pulled into the Bluff Knoll car park just before 8am, with a quick visit to the bathroom located here (there are no other facilities on your way up).
It’s now time to begin your Bluff Knoll walk.
How Long Does It Take to Climb Bluff Knoll
How long does it take to hike Bluff Knoll? Signage at the bottom indicates the Bluff Knoll hike time is a 3-4 hour return journey. To get an idea of how steep the mountain is, Bluff Knoll hike length is only 3km to the summit… and yet it takes 3-4 hours to reach the Bluff Knoll summit!
In reality, it took us 2.5 hours return to hike Bluff Knoll. This included some time spent at the top, but we did it at quite a fast pace. So, how long does Bluff Knoll take? Anywhere from 2-4 hours on average, depending on your pace and level of fitness.
We began our journey to the summit. 5 minutes in, the terrain quickly changed from a stony path to non stop, rocky steps that wound their way up and around the knoll.
I was breathless and needing regular stops to regain my breath, despite considering myself fairly fit.
It didn’t help that Dane and his long legs were charging on ahead and I was struggling to keep up! The surface was very uneven and steep, and I personally couldn’t imagine doing it with small kids.
Although on our way down, we saw many people with small children making their way up! I guess its possible climbing Bluff Knoll with kids if you take your time.
Another amazing hike in the South West is the iconic Cape to Cape track. Read all you need to know about it here
Reaching the Summit
I felt like an eternity had passed, but we were finally nearing the peak of the bluff.
We saw only a couple of people making their way back down on our way up, but when we got there were a handful of people up there admiring the views.
After sitting on a rock and recovering for a few minutes, I could finally take in the insane 360 degree views around us. At 1098m above sea level, we felt like we were standing in the clouds.
It was an incredible sight. We were surrounded by the rolling hills of other nearby ridges, before fading into the countryside further out.
Also it was SO WINDY at the top. Be careful and pay caution that you don’t stand too close to the edge.
We spent about half an hour up the top, before commencing the hike back down.
Bluff Knoll Sunrise
Climbing Bluff Knoll and reaching the summit for sunrise is a popular activity.
We tried our luck in early April 2022. Unfortunately weather was not on our side, and Bluff Knoll was surrounded in thick cloud which didn’t lift for sunrise.
It was also insanely windy at the summit. We tried checking the weather the night beforehand as best we could, but it was not on our side this time.
We spent the night before our sunrise hike camping at Stirling Range Retreat as it is the closest option to the base of Bluff Knoll.
We set off at 4.30am, starting the hike at 4.45am with sunrise meant to be at 6.30am. Unfortunately we couldn’t see a single thing more than 30cm in front of us at the summit, let alone the sunrise!
Check out my behind the scenes video I shared on Instagram of our sunrise hike FAIL!
Looks like we’ll have to go back and give it another attempt one day soon…
Final Thoughts
On our first hike (with perfect conditions one sunny Sunday morning). 2 and half hours after we had set off, we made it back to the car park.
Tired, burning legs, sweaty faces and flies starting to stick to our backs, but insanely awed from the incredible experience we had just had.
From there, we decided to drive from Bluff Knoll to Albany for some lunch and spend a few hours exploring. The Porongorups (including the Granite Skywalk at Castle Rock) are located 45-minutes from Bluff Knoll on the way to Albany if you feel up for another adventure.
If you decide to wrap up your South West adventure there, Bluff Knoll back to Perth is 4.5-hour drive.
It’s worth noting there are a number of scenic drives around the Stirling Range National Park. Unfortunately we ran out of time, but would definitely have loved to check out these drives and their scenic lookouts another time.
For those interested, more information on these trails can be found on the Explore Parks WA site.
That wraps up my guide on everything you need to know before Bluff Knoll hiking!
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about this brilliant hike in Australia’s South West.
Summary FAQ
How long does it take to walk up Bluff Knoll?
Plan for the Bluff Knoll hike to take 3 – 4 hours return. It took me 2.5 hours return, at a fast pace.
What is the Bluff Knoll hike distance?
The hike to the summit of Bluff Knoll is just over 3 kilometres, with a return journey total distance of 6.8 kilometres.
How far is Bluff Knoll from Perth?
Bluff Knoll is 400 kilometres from Perth, with the drive taking around 4.5 hours.
When is the best time to hike Bluff Knoll?
The best time to hike Bluff Knoll is in spring (September – November) or autumn (March – May).
We are doing the bluff knoll hike tomo morning. Your advise was fantastic especially us being new to hiking. We are planning to do it early morning to watch the sunset. Just worried if it’s going to be foggy.
Hope the hike went well! Doing it at sunrise will be amazing fog or not I’m sure!
Thank you for the great info re: climbing Bluff Knoll. I climbed it when I was 37 yy in 1993, and I am planning to do it again in September with a friend who is about 70 yy. Any advice would be much appreciated for us being a little older but still young at heart! We are looking forward for the climb despite it’s only early Spring.
That’s awesome Jimmy! Take it slow and take breaks as you need and you and your friend should be able to make it to the peak OK! Maybe walker poles will help your friend too if he doesn’t have them already. We saw a lot of young kids and older people going up, but still take care to be safe! Make note of sunset time too so you make sure you aren’t coming back down in the dark. Safe travels 🙂
Thanks for a very good write up on the Bluff Knoll experience. We are going there next Saturday and will follow the tips you have given, Cheers
Azeem
Thanks Azeem, safe travels and enjoy the hike!
Have climbed up a time or two
And have Decided to propose at the summit.
She doesn’t know it I will need to find accommodation and other afternoon activity’s
And somewhere to feast.
Any ideas ladies and gentlemen?
Thanks for your colourful advice. I’m not fit in my 70’s and prepared to go slow as my lungs allow but hoping I teach the summit. Got everything x
Good luck! My parents-in-law who are in their 70’s did it last year – they took it at their own pace and used hiking poles and made it to the summit!