Bickley: Starry Skies, Wine and Reservoir Views

In Bickley, the history of astronomical research, wine and landscapes come together in different ways. Perth Observatory tells the story of its former tasks, such as timekeeping and surveying positions; guided tours turn your attention to the southern night sky. Plume Estate Vineyard adds its own distinctive touch to Bickley Valley, while the Bickley Reservoir Trail offers views across the valley, reservoir and city. When planning your stay, you can consider which of these interests you most.

Observatory: A History of Research and the Night Sky

The heritage museum at Perth Observatory is devoted to the history of the observatory as an astronomical research facility. Its main tasks in the newly established colony of Western Australia included timekeeping and surveying positions. The history of the institution is thus connected to the tasks that were important to the young colony. Perth Observatory is also the oldest observatory in Western Australia.

The history of individual instruments also offers a distinctive way to explore astronomy: Perth Observatory’s Lowell Telescope made discoveries related to the ring system of Uranus, among others. Visitors interested in this history of research will find a different focus at the museum than they would at a sky observation.

On the night-sky tours, knowledgeable volunteers use telescopes to guide visitors through the southern night sky. They show nebulae, dying stars and star clusters, as well as the Moon and planets when visible. The tours combine a guided experience with specific observations; whether the Moon and planets can be seen depends explicitly on their visibility.

The guided daytime tours include a visit to the Indigenous Astronomy Centre Worl Wangkiny. The tours therefore have different focuses: during the day, the centre is part of the programme, while the night-sky tours use telescopes to view celestial objects. These two perspectives give astronomy in Bickley both a cultural and an observational context.

Wine in Bickley Valley

Plume Estate Vineyard is a family-owned boutique winery in Bickley Valley. Its wines are available at the cellar door and online. Guided wine tastings feature a selected range of artisan wines. They explore not only the grape varieties, but also winemaking and the history of individual vintages.

The cellar door seating area offers a selection of share plates that pair well with wines produced at the winery. Wine also plays a specific role when booking a table: only guests who purchase wine can reserve tables. The age restriction across the entire property is also important to bear in mind when planning: it is open exclusively to guests aged 18 and over.

Reservoir Trail and Landscapes

The Bickley Reservoir Trail begins at the Hardinge Road Carpark in Bickley. In the area around Bickley, the trail follows a ridgeline through Wandoo and Sheoak forests and passes granite outcrops. The views stretch across the valley and the reservoir below to the city.

The forest, exposed granite outcrops and views of the valley and water offer several distinct landscape experiences along the trail. This excursion has a different focus from the observatory tours or a winery tasting: here, the ridgeline and views of the surrounding area shape the experience.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kings Park, Northam, South Guildford, Mumballup, Perth, Mindarie, Meadow Springs, Yallingup.

For the main travel overview: Western Australia.