Alright so you’ve booked a trip to Black Diamond Lake down near Collie, but feel like making a weekend of it. Of course, you can’t camp at Black Diamond, but did you know there’s an equally adorable little swimming hole just around the corner, where you can also camp?

No, we’re not talking about Stockton Lake (although we will soon enough), we’re talking about its very romantic little neighbour, Honeymoon Pool. So grab that special someone, and read on below.

What Is It:

Honeymoon Pool is a popular little picnic, camping and swimming spot in the Wellington National Park. It’s one of a few in the area, including Black Diamond Lake and Stockton Lake.

It’s a tranquil, shady little spot just off the beaten track, perfect for a day’s picnicking by the water, or night or two of chilled bush camping.

Where Is It:

The Honeymoon Pool campground is situated on the banks of the Collie River about half-an-hour west of Collie and two hours south of Perth.

If you’re coming from Perth it’s straight down the Forrest Hwy, before a left turn onto Raymon Rd onto Coalfields Hwy. From there head down Welling Dam Rd before veering off onto River Rd and follow the signs!

What To Do:

It’s just close enough for a day trip from Perth, but why not pack the tent and spend the night? It’s a small camp ground (20 spots), so bookings are essential, and the camp grounds are nice and sparse – a couple of gas barbies, picnic tables and toilets and that’s about it.

The tranquil waters at Honeymoon Pool are perfect to cool off in, or you can launch your canoe/kayak and do a bit of exploring under the shady peppermint trees that line the water’s edge.

In the bushland surrounding there are also some great walking and cycling trails, and if you’re a 4WDing fan, there’s a few trails in the surrounding areas you can hit up.

What Not To Do:

Head down expecting to camp without booking first! It can get pretty popular, especially in the warmer months, so make sure you book ahead (It’s $15 per adult per night, although cheaper for concession card holders and kids).

There are fire pits on the camp grounds, but especially during summer make sure you check ahead with regards to fire bans.

As we said, it can get pretty busy and it’s not the biggest swimming hole going around, so make sure you play nice and be mindful of letting everyone enjoy the serenity.

Anything else?

There’s plenty of beautiful inland lakes and walking trails in the area, so don’t be afraid to do a little exploring and see what you can find.

Check in with the rangers with regards to water quality in the area too, as it can get hazardous at different times of the year. Of course you can always just play it safe and keep your head above water.

While summer in Perth obviously means BEACH, it’s also a ripper time of the year to learn to surf. The big winter swells are long gone, and with them the icy cold water – replaced with sun, sand and of course, you!

Summer’s gentle (see: tiny) swells are perfect for beginners to get out there and hang ten. Not surprisingly, Perth has a bunch of a great surf schools around the joint to suit people of all ages and skill sets.

Scarborough Beach Surf School

Self-proclaimed as the oldest surf school on the planet (and who are we to argue?), Scarborough Beach Surf School has been ripping it up since 1986. So it’s fair to say they know their way around a green room. They operate small classes (only 4-6 people/instructor) for longer (2.5 hours instead of 1.5), all at very descent prices. And they offer a heap of different levels depending on where you’re at.

Go Surf Perth

Another company operating down at Scarborough, you’ll find the Go Surf team at Brighton Beach in summer, and Leighton Beach in winter. They also cover all the bases, along with private 1-on-1 lessons, and even corporate or birthday party packages. And if you’re looking to shake the kids off for a few hours over the holidays, they offer multi-day school holiday courses too.

Surfing WA Surf School

Another mainstay of the Perth surf school scene, this one’s an arm of the state’s surfing governing body, so you know it’s legit. Operating off Trigg Beach for over three decades, the organisation has 7 full-time staff and over 20 coaches. Kids, teens and adults are all catered for, with a maximum of 8 students per class. Classes run at 7am and 9am every Saturday/Sunday.

Big Wave Surfing School

Despite their name, Big Wave Surfing School are actually more focused on the little ones, specialising in kids and families. Operating at Secret Harbour, the family owned and operated school is all about getting your kids cool, calm and confident in the ocean. They offer a comprehensive variety of levels to suit groms of all ages, along with courses of different lengths to save $$.

Aloha Surfhouse

And finally, if you’re a little wary of the ocean or cold weather, why not hit up Aloha Surfhouse in Joondalup? Their indoor wave breaks every day of the year, and has a variety of different settings to suit all levels. You can also bodyboard, check out their adventure climbing wall, or organise a little wave party with your friends.

The year is 2019 and dating has never been more…convoluted? And those meticulously-crafted on-line profiles, workshopped opening lines and deciding how long to leave someone left on “seen” all count for nothing if you line up a terrible first date. The old dinner and a movie is so passé – if you want to get ahead in the dating world you gotta think outside the box and veer away from the beaten path. And fortunately for you Perth is home to an influencer’s flooded story bar’s worth of options to impress that special someone, here’s a few of selections:

Whet your whistle at Whipper Snapper Distillery

Located in Bickley just a short 25km out of the city, the Perth Observatory will provide the perfect backdrop for a couple of dreamers to look upwards into the fresh night air and pondering of the universe. There’s plenty of night tour options, and for the more adventurous folks out there you can abseil down the Telescope Dome during the month of June – head to their website for more info.

Double up at the Galaxy Drive-In Cinema

Going to the movies has traditionally been a stock standard dating idea, which is weird when you think about it – why go somewhere with someone to not talk for two hours? At Perth’s only drive-in theatre you can have the best of both worlds as you watch movies while getting to know your date in the intimate surrounds of your (presumably-not-falling-apart) car. Weekends are for double-header showings, or drop by during the week for just a single movie, and establish early your all important film compatibility.

Get spooooky in the Freo Prison

The Fremantle Jail hosts Torchlight Tours every Wednesday and Friday night, providing the perfect opportunity to test your date’s bravery. Plus you’ll get a ghoulish history lesson from one of their experienced guides, and ample opportunity to provide a comforting hug should things get extra haunting down there.

Feast at the brand new food truck park, Perth Mess Hall

The Perth Mess Hall has just opened up, taking over the Heritage-listed Old Swan Barracks in Northbridge with a rotating band of food trucks to choose from every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during winter. There’s over 60 different trucks in the mix, so you’re not short on options and will surely avoid any menu disagreements.

Brunch it up at Casa Bianchi

Casa Bianchi‘s eclectic layout, lush gardens, koi ponds and cane furniture all combine for a splendid late morning date with that potential future significant other. It’s also dog friendly, if you wanna show your puppy pal off early in proceedings, and the casual atmosphere will keep it breezy.

Shoot some hoops and dunk a taco at Donnie Taco

For those more sporting inclined, how could you argue with the combination of some casual hoop-shooting followed by a tasty taco or two at Donnie Taco in West Perth? The perfect spot for a brekky or lunch date, show off your skills (or lack there of) with a few hoops afterwards. They have some great deals during the week as well – just head to the website and make your first date a slam-dunk.

Get cozy by the fire at Mrs Brown Bar

Okay so this might be more of a traditional date night spot, but as we head towards the colder months its hard to go past Mrs Brown Bar’s indoor or outdoor fireplaces for a cosy, get-to-know bottle of vino. Plus it puts you in the centre of the action in North Freo, with some great food options nearby or cop some live music at one of the best, Mojos Bar.

Find love on the fairway at Oasis Supa Golf

If the bright neon lights and pop culture panache of Holy Moly feels like a bit too much, why not head to Oasis Supa Golf in the Swan Valley and upgrade to the (super) big boys league. With oversized clubs and balls along a shorter course it’s a lot easier than normal golf, along with being an excellent chance to get outdoors and get some fresh air.

Send down some sexy strikes at Ten Pin Bowling

Ten Pin Bowling has had a bit of a comeback in recent years, with venues like The Lookout and Amplifier installing them as an added value element to drinking and music, both of which are good options if you want to combine your bowl with a boogie and booze. We also challenge you to take a trip down memory lane and head to the one of the classics – nothing will get your date in the mood like the nostalgic sounds of glam 80s and 90s rock’n’roll, the clanging of pinball machines and the smell of succulent, chicken salt-coated hot chips on offer at old school bowling lanes like Rosemount Bowl in North Perth or Super Bowl in Melville.