Wave Rock day trip: Hyden and the Wheatbelt route

Wave Rock day trip plans start with one number: about 340 km from Perth to Hyden, roughly four hours each way by road. That makes it a long day, but a doable one if you leave early and keep the stops simple. This guide covers the drive, what to see at the rock and nearby, and when to go.

Wave Rock is a granite wall about 15 metres high and more than 100 metres long. It stands a few kilometres east of the small Wheatbelt town of Hyden in Western Australia.

Sources for this section: Wave Rock official tourism site, Wave Rock, Hyden; Wikipedia, Wave Rock.

The drive from Perth

The Wave Rock site describes the trip as a drive of about four hours through farmland. You head south-east out of Perth and cross the wheat and sheep country of the Wheatbelt. The road is long and fairly empty, so plan around the distance.

Here is a simple way to split the day.

• Leave Perth early, ideally by 6 am, so you reach Hyden in the late morning.
• Fill the tank before you leave the larger towns. Fuel is thin on the road, and Hyden is a small town.
• Pack water, food and sun protection. Hyden has a semi-arid climate, with hot, dry summers.
• Start the drive back by mid-afternoon so you are not on country roads at dusk, when kangaroos are on the move.

If you do not want to drive eight hours, the same source says coach day trips run from Perth. Another choice is to stay a night in Hyden, which turns a rushed day into a relaxed overnight.

Sources for this section: Wave Rock official tourism site, Wave Rock, Hyden; Wikipedia, Hyden, Western Australia.

What to see at Wave Rock

The rock is the north face of Hyden Rock, a large granite outcrop. It has a curved, wave-like shape that looks like a breaking ocean wave frozen in stone. The granite is more than 2.6 billion years old, according to the Wave Rock site and Wikipedia.

The wave shape came from slow weathering at the base of the rock, where groundwater wore the granite away over a very long time. The stone above was left hanging out in a curve.

Wikipedia notes that the rock is known as Katter Kich in the Noongar language, and that it has cultural links for the Ballardong people. Treat it with respect, stay on the paths and do not climb the face.

Give yourself at least an hour here. You can walk along the base of the wall, then follow the track up to the top for wide views over the farmland.

Sources for this section: Wave Rock official tourism site, Wave Rock, Hyden; Wikipedia, Wave Rock.

Other stops near Hyden

The Wave Rock site lists several sights close to the rock. Pick two or three, not all of them, if you only have one day.

• Hippos Yawn: a rock formation near Wave Rock, shaped like an open mouth. It is a short stop and a popular photo.
• The Humps and Mulka's Cave: The Humps is a granite hill about 17 km north-east of Hyden that rises roughly 80 metres above the plain. Mulka's Cave, on its edge, holds Aboriginal rock art with more than 450 hand prints and images. The site is protected, so keep to the marked areas.
• Lake Magic: a salt lake near the rock, listed by the Wave Rock site as a local sight.
• The Wildlife Park: a small park in Hyden, also listed on the Wave Rock site.

With a full day, a good order is Wave Rock first while the light is soft, then Hippos Yawn, then lunch in Hyden. Add The Humps if you still have energy and daylight.

Sources for this section: Wave Rock official tourism site, Wave Rock, Hyden; Wikipedia, Mulka's Cave and The Humps.

The best time to go

Spring is the favourite season. Wikipedia gives the Hyden wildflower season as September to December, and the Wave Rock site says to look for wildflowers in spring. The country is green and the days are mild, so it is a good time for a walk.

Summer can be very hot. Hyden has a semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and milder winters. If you go in the warmer months, start at dawn, walk early and carry plenty of water. Winter is cooler, and the rock looks good in clear low light, but rain can make dirt roads near the sights rougher.

Check the weather forecast the night before you leave. Weather in the Wheatbelt can change the feel of a long drive.

Sources for this section: Wave Rock official tourism site, Wave Rock, Hyden; Wikipedia, Hyden, Western Australia.

Planning tips for the day

1. Book early if you want a bed. Hyden is small, and rooms are limited in the busy spring months.
2. Tell someone your plan. Phone coverage can drop out on long country stretches.
3. Check opening times and any fees with the official Wave Rock site before you go, since they can change.
4. Share the road. Farm machinery and road trains use these roads, especially at harvest time.
5. Leave nothing behind. Take rubbish with you and stay on marked tracks near the rock and the cave.

Done well, a Wave Rock day trip gives you a big, odd landmark, a few easy walks and a look at the working Wheatbelt. Just allow for the eight hours of driving.

Sources for this section: Wave Rock official tourism site, Wave Rock, Hyden.

Sources

1. Wave Rock official tourism site: waverock.com.au
2. Wikipedia, Wave Rock: en.wikipedia.org
3. Wikipedia, Hyden, Western Australia: en.wikipedia.org
4. Wikipedia, Mulka's Cave: en.wikipedia.org