Even though the Perth metropolitan area continues to grow, there are still many opportunities to enjoy nature within its boundaries.

Nearer to Nature is a program run by the Department of Conservation and Land Management to encourage us to go exploring in and around Perth’s natural areas.

The program includes opportunities for groups to book their own guided activities in places like Mundaring, Bibra Lake, North Beach, Trigg, Rockingham and Shelley.

You can sample the sights and sounds of the forest around Mundaring by joining the Forest by Night activity. You’ll learn all about the night sky and stellar navigation, as well as picking up some bush survival tips.

For those wanting to learn even more about going bush, the Bush Survival Skills course is a good option. Also staged in Mundaring at The Hills Forest Discovery Centre this activity teaches you how to tread lightly in forests, as well as the ancient and modern techniques for making survival tools.

Nearer the coast you can learn about the unique sandy and rocky shorelines of Marmion Marine Park at Trigg or Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, Point Peron.

There’s more to the coast than meets the eye with many unique forms of plant and animal life living in this ocean environment. Activities based around the indigenous culture are available with Nyoongar guides offering stories of their history, customs and spiritual connection with the natural environment.

You can join a walk through the forest demonstrating the traditional six seasons of the Aboriginal year, participate in boomerang painting, take a bush-tucker walk, listen to Dreamtime stories or learn the ancient art of indigenous tool making.

Activities are suitable for people of all ages, with a specially designed range for children as young as three.  Kids can explore watery environments for frogs, create native animal inspired art or explore a forest fairy trail.

The Nearer to Nature program can cater for groups ranging in size from 15 to more than 100.