Hovea Falls, WA: When is the best time to see this Perth Hills waterfall?

In the John Forrest National Park near Perth, photo-friendly Hovea Falls is best seen when there’s water flowing in winter or spring. The 2.3km Hovea Falls walk will take you to this Perth Hills waterfall.

Hovea Falls in the John Forrest National Park, near Perth, is not your conventional waterfall. It doesn’t have the dramatic height of Wallaman Falls in the Girringun National Park, Queensland. It doesn’t have the force and water flow of Jim Jim Falls in the Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. And it doesn’t have the picturesque forest setting of Narracan Falls near Moe in Gippsland, Victoria.

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The best time to see Hovea Falls, WA

However, Hovea Falls still manages to look rather cool. This is because the waterfall cascades along a series of rock slabs. The vertical drop isn’t all that impressive, but on a near-horizontal level, the flow of the water across several smoothed slabs looks pretty impressive.

Granted, this Perth Hills waterfall doesn’t look all that good after a dry spell, when Hovea Falls could reduce to little more than a trickle. But come after a decent spell of rain, and this Western Australian waterfall is worth looking at. Aim for winter or spring for the best time to see Hovea Falls.

Hovea Falls in John Forrest National Park near Perth, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

Drive from Perth to Hovea Falls

John Forrest National Park is the oldest national park in Western Australia. It’s in the Perth Hills just outside Perth, and a short diversion off the Great Eastern Highway.

You can easily drop by if driving from Perth to Northam, or Perth to Kalgoorlie. The drive from Perth to Hovea Falls should take around 41 minutes.

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Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.

Hovea Falls walk

From the nearest car park, it’s an easy walk to Hovea Falls. The Hovea Falls Loop is about 2.3km long, and starts out following the considerably longer Eagle View Track.

You then branch off down the Hovea Falls track, and watch the water flow down the sheet of granite.

Can I swim at Hovea Falls?

It is not possible to swim at Hovea Falls. The rock pools created by the cascade are too shallow to properly enter. You can feasibly paddle, but that’s about it.

Hovea Falls entrance fee

There is no specific entrance fee to visit Hovea Falls. However, there is a cost for entering John Forrest National Park, which amounts to the same thing. The John Forrest National Park entrance fee is $15 per vehicle.

For more information, visit the John Forrest National Park section of the WA Parks and Wildlife Service website.