When most people think of WA's South West, they think Margaret River wine trails and Pemberton karri forests. But tucked just two hours southeast of Perth in the Collie River Valley lies one of the region's most genuine, unhurried, and deeply rewarding destinations and a local guide who knows it better than anyone.

Forest Explorers is a passion-led, nature-based tour operator based in Collie, neighbouring the stunning Wellington National Park. Run by a lifelong rural local with a deep love of natural environments and local history, Forest Explorers offers guided experiences that take you off the beaten track and into the soul of WA's South West, from vibrant wildflower walks and fascinating heritage tours to a breathtaking new dam mural and trail transfers for serious bushwalkers.

The Tours

Wildflower Wonders

WA's wildflower season is one of the natural world's great spectacles, and the Collie River Valley is one of the South West's most beautiful places to experience it. Forest Explorers' Wildflower Wonders tours range from one to five hours and take you through local nature reserves and the Wellington National Park, guided by someone who has spent a lifetime learning these landscapes.

Whether you're a seasoned botanist or someone who simply wants to wander through a carpet of colour with an expert by their side, these tours offer an intimate, unhurried connection with WA's iconic wildflower season that group bus tours simply cannot match.

The 8,000sqm Dam Mural Tour Wellington National Park

One of the most exciting new additions to Collie's visitor experience is an extraordinary 8,000 square metre mural at the Wellington National Park dam, a work of art on a scale that has to be seen to be believed. Forest Explorers takes you right to it, with guided commentary that brings both the artwork and the stunning natural surrounds of Wellington National Park to life.

It's a completely unique experience: art, nature, and local storytelling combined in one of WA's most beautiful park settings. There is nothing else quite like it in the South West.

Heritage & Taphouse Tours

Collie is WA's only inland coal-mining town, with a rich and fascinating history that shaped both the landscape and the character of the community. Forest Explorers' Heritage Tours bring that story to life through guided walks and local knowledge that no guidebook can replicate.

And after a day of exploring? The Heritage Taphouse Tour adds a perfectly social finish, discovering Collie's local craft beer scene and the stories behind it. It's history, culture, and a cold drink, all rolled into one.

Trail Transfers Bibbulmun Track & Munda Biddi Trail

For serious bushwalkers and mountain bikers, this is the one that changes everything. Forest Explorers offers licensed and accredited 4WD trail transfers for up to four people along two of Australia's most iconic trails, the Bibbulmun Track and the Munda Biddi Trail, both of which pass through the Collie region.

Trail transfers solve one of the biggest logistical headaches for long-distance walkers and riders: getting your gear, your vehicle, or yourself between trailheads without backtracking. Having a knowledgeable, accredited local operator handle that for you means you can focus entirely on the trail, not the logistics. Whether you need a drop-off, pick-up, or vehicle shuffle, Forest Explorers has it covered.

Why Collie is Worth Your Time

Collie is one of those South West towns that surprises people. It sits at the gateway to Wellington National Park, a 17,000-hectare expanse of Jarrah and Marri forest, dramatic river gorges, and the beautiful Collie River and serves as the perfect base for exploring both the park and the broader Collie River Valley.

It's the kind of place where the pace slows, the air is clean, and the landscape does the talking. And with Forest Explorers as your guide, you'll leave knowing it far better than if you'd simply driven through.

Plan Your Forest Explorers Experience

Forest Explorers is bookable through WA Holiday Guide. Tours operate 9 am–5 pm and can be tailored to your group and interests, from a one-hour wildflower walk to a full five-hour immersive day in the bush.