Wave Rock in summer

How hot is Wave Rock in summer?

Hot. The Bureau of Meteorology's Hyden station averages 33.9°C in January and 33.2°C in February, with nights around 15°C.

The averages hide the spikes. Bureau figures quoted on Wikipedia put Hyden's record at 48.6°C in February, and 47°C has been reached in both December and January. Granite soaks up the sun and gives it back, so the base of the rock can feel hotter than the forecast by mid-afternoon. Shade is thin: there are sheoaks by the car park and the overhang of the wave itself, and not much else.

Rain is scarce too, with less than 20 mm in an average January. The upside is clear skies, long light and empty trails in the early morning.

What time should you visit Wave Rock in summer?

As early as you can. Be at the rock by 8 or 9am and off the granite before the middle of the day.

Self-drivers leaving Perth at first light, around 5am in midsummer, reach the rock about four hours later, by about 9am. Staying the night in Hyden is the better plan in summer: the Wave Rock Hotel, the resort and the caravan park are all close by, and you can walk the rock at sunrise and Lake Magic at sunset.

On a coach day the timing is fixed. The Wave Rock, York and Aboriginal culture day tour reaches Hyden for lunch and visits Wave Rock and Mulka's Cave in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day. The coach is air-conditioned, lunch and entry fees are included, and the walks are short, so with water and a hat it works well. Guests say the long day is worth it.

What should you pack for Wave Rock in summer?

Water, a broad hat, long sleeves, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent. A fly net earns its place too.

Wave Rock Management's travel advice is plain: cover up with a broad hat, long sleeves and sunglasses, use sunscreen of at least SPF 15, drink plenty of water and carry enough with you. It also asks visitors to use repellent and cover arms and legs in the early evening against bites.

• Water. At least a litre per person for the walks, more in the car.
• Shoes with grip. Granite gets slippery with dust, and the Hippo's Yawn loop is about 1 km.
• A fly net. Cheap, light and worth it on still, warm days.
• Offline maps. Hyden has Telstra coverage only, no Optus, says Wave Rock Management.

Snakes are part of summer in the bush. Wave Rock Management says to watch out and stay clear of snakes in the warmer months; if someone is bitten, keep them as still as possible until help arrives. Stick to the tracks and watch where you step.

What do Total Fire Ban days mean for a trip to Wave Rock?

No open fires or solid-fuel barbecues anywhere in the declared area. The rock stays open, but check Emergency WA before you drive.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) declares a Total Fire Ban when extreme weather means fire could spread fast. On those days campfires, fire pits and wood, charcoal or heat-bead barbecues are banned. A gas or electric barbecue is allowed only in a permanent public picnic area, a signposted barbecue area or at home, with the flame enclosed and 5 m cleared around it. DFES lists an A$1,000 infringement for ignoring a ban.

Wheatbelt shires also declare Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans, which limit vehicles and machinery off the road and in paddocks. For a day trip the main job is checking before you leave: the Emergency WA website, the 13 DFES line (133 337) or ABC local radio. Bushfires can close roads, and the Brookton Highway runs through a lot of farmland. See our Perth to Wave Rock drive guide for the route.

Is Wave Rock busy at Christmas and New Year?

It is the summer holiday season, so expect more families in the car park and fuller tours. Book early and use the free cancellation.

WA public schools break up in mid-December and go back at the start of February, according to the Department of Education. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day fall inside that window, and Shire offices close on public holidays. Check each tour's calendar for the dates you want; not every operator runs on every holiday.

Every Wave Rock day tour on this site has free cancellation up to 24 hours before. In summer that matters: you can hold a seat for the week between Christmas and New Year and move it if a heatwave or a fire ban turns up in the forecast.

Is the scenic flight the best way to see Wave Rock in summer?

For the heat, yes. You land early, walk the rock in the cool of the morning and are back in Perth by about noon.

The Wave Rock scenic flight and ground tour leaves Jandakot Airport at 7:30am. The ground tour of Wave Rock and Hippo's Yawn starts at about 8:30am, with time from 10am for an optional morning tea, the wildlife park or the Toy Museum, before the 11am departure and a 12pm landing back at Jandakot. The listing promises arrival "before the crowds in the cool of the morning". It is US$714 per person, needs at least two adults, and morning tea is not included.

It has one review so far, 5-star. The guest says the pilot, Liam from Kookaburra Air, was also their driver and guide, and that the flight saved "the long drive through the outback". Afternoon tours are available on request, but in summer the morning slot is the one to book.

Fly from Jandakot at 7:30am, walk Wave Rock and Hippo's Yawn before the heat, and be back in Perth by about noon.

★ 5.0 · 5 hours · from $714

Explore the Wave Rock scenic flight → Tour details

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