Bibbulmun Track
The world-renowned Bibbulmun Track gives you the opportunity to get right into the bush for a closer view of magnificent wildflower displays. Passing through jarrah forests, ancient karri and tingle trees and coastal heathlands, over 2,000 species of plants occur along the 1000 kilometre track.
Winding from Kalamunda in the Perth hills to Albany on the south coast, the Bibbulmun Track is easily accessible, passing through nine rural communities and popular tourist spots such as Mundaring Weir, Gloucester Tree and the Tree Top Walk.
300 wildflowers are featured in a walkers field guide - ‘Wildflowers of the Northern Bibbulmun Track and Jarrah Forests’ which is available from the Bibbulmun Track Foundation.
Cape to Cape Track
The Cape to Cape Walk Track runs for 135 kilometres along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge between the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in the far south west of Western Australia. It features spectacular coastal and forest scenery, a fascinating geology and history, and wonderful wildflowers in spring.
Because of its numerous access points, this walk trail offers many alternative walk options ranging from stroll of an hour or two to hikes of several days, while the entire Cape to Cape Track makes a superb 5 – 7 day challenge. You can choose to camp out along the track, or make use of the wide variety of excellent accommodation available in this popular Australias South West holiday region.
The Cape to Cape Track lies almost wholly within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and is managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
For more information about the Cape to Cape Track visit the Friends of the Cape to Cape website www.capetocapetrack.com.au. Or for other information about the national park visit www.naturebase.net.
Coastal Plains Walk Trail
The Coastal Plains Walk Trail is a 55 kilometre trail which starts within the Yanchep National Park north of Perth and ends in the Melaleuca Park west of Bullsbrook. It is a challenging three-day walk and is recommended for experienced walkers only.
The trail features four campsites (Sharpcott's, Ridges, Moitch and Pricklybark) each with a hikers hut, water tank and bush toilet. The trail is a true delight in autumn and spring when the coastal smokebush and native buttercups form a carpet of wildflowers.
As the area walked in is a coastal plain the track is sandy. Also the track does not go near water or the coast, hence it is 'coastal' in name only, therefore the only source of water is the campsites.
The trail head is approximately 6 kilometres north of the McNess House Visitors Centre within the park. The southern terminus is 2.7 kilometres east of Pricklybark campsite on Coopers Road.
Be prepared and seek advice from Department of Environment and Conservation
on (08) 9561 1004 before you set off.
O'Connor Walk Trail
Located in the hills to the east of Perth, this trail follows a historic rail formation from opposite the Mundaring Weir Hotel, to the site of the former No 2 Pump Station, part of the original Goldfields Water Supply Scheme and now on the National Trust’s Golden Pipeline. From the No 2 Pump Station site the trail winds through some delightful jarrah forest including a short section of the renowned Bibbulmun Track on its way back to the hotel. The trail also includes a lookout with great views over the weir.
Interpretation signs along this trail explain the importance of the railway to the development of the weir and pump stations, life at No 2 Pump Station and the role of the forest in water catchments.
The Mundaring Weir precinct offers picnic and barbecue facilities and no visit is complete without a half hour or more at the refurbished No 1 Pump Station with interactive and multi media exhibitions that describe the technical background and human story of the construction and operation of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.
Brochures are available at No 1 Pump Station, the Mundaring Weir Hotel and tourist information centre. For more information call the National Trust on 9321 6088 or visit www.goldenpipeline.com.au
The O’Connor Trail and Weir Walk are linked by a short path and can be completed as one walk or two separate walks.
The trail is 5.3 kilometres long and takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete.
Dryandra Woodlands
Less than two hours from Perth, Dryandra Woodland is one of the prime places in the South West for viewing native wildlife.
Although the numbat is probably Dryandra's best known inhabitant, woylies, tammar wallabies, brushtail possums, tawny frogmouths, kangaroos and wallabies are regularly seen by visitors to Dryandra. More than 100 species of birds live in the area, including the mound-building malleefowl.
Dryandra is a fascinating area with lovely remnant woodlands and spectacular wildflowers in spring. The open, graceful eucalypt woodlands of white-barked wandoo and pink powderbarks once covered much of the Wheatbelt before so much of it was cleared for farming. Thickets of rock sheoak provide habitat for several of Dryandra's rare species, including tammar wallabies and red-tailed phascogales.
The Department of Environment and Conservation has developed a series of great walks and trails for you to enjoy by foot, bicycle, horseback or in the comfort of your car. They vary in length from one to more than 25 kilometres, and cover most of the features in the area. Times given are generous to allow for maximum enjoyment.
One of the most interesting walks is the Ochre Trail, which describes some of the modern and ancient Nyoongar culture of the Dryandra area and features an ochre pit used by Aboriginal people for trading and decoration for ceremonial occasions. Scarred trees and stone arrangements provide further clues about traditional Aboriginal customs and culture.
The Barna Mia animal sanctuary, located in the heart of the Dryandra Woodlands, enables visiters to observe five threatened mammals and two conservation-dependant animals at close range. They also learn about the management techniques being applied to aid in the conservation of many species.
Jarrahdale
Located just 50 kilometres southeast of Perth in the Jarrah forests of the Darling Scarp, Jarrahdale was Western Australia's first timber town in 1872.
It is a picturesque, historic town with numerous old timber cottages surrounded by forest. There are many beautiful walk trails through the area, and delightful picnic spots in Gooralong and Langford Parks.
There is much to see and do in the area which includes beautiful parks, art galleries, restaurants, wineries and wildlife.
Tourist information and walk maps are available here or at the Old Post Office/Museum, open weekends and public holidays.
The Jarrahdale Heritage Society regularly runs guided walks showing Jarrahdale's most historic and beautiful sites. Visit the Jarrahdale Walks and Parks page for dates.
Mount Frankland
Drive 29 kilometres north of Walpole through farming area and National Park to Mount Frankland in the Walpole Wilderness.
Climb to the peak of this imposing granite monadnock for a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape, or enjoy the walk trail around the base. The trail starts at the car park and winds its way around for 1.5 km finishing at the base of the summit walk. The 1 km summit walk doesn’t take long to complete but a reasonable level of fitness is required due to the steepness of the climb. The panorama of vast forests and wetlands of the Walpole Wilderness Area stretching as far as the eye can see in all directions is worth the effort.
Set in Mt Frankland National Park, the trails are great places for birdwatching.
A shelter, toilet, water and barbecue facilities are also available.
Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
The Railway Reserve Heritage Trail follows the routes of two former railways and is unique in providing a 40 kilometre loop entirely on railway formations.
The length of this extensive trail, spanning from Bellevue to Mount Helena in the
Perth hills, provides a challenge for walkers and riders. It covers a wide range of terrains with scenic views and numerous points of historical and natural significance. Attractions include a disused railway tunnel, views from John Forrest National Park (including waterfalls in winter / spring), Mundaring Sculpture Park, Goldfields pipeline and villages. The area also features wineries and tea-rooms.
Many of the reserves are now community parks providing picnic tables, toilets and other facilities. There are large distances between some townsites, some sections are sandy in places and signage is a little limited so keep a map handy.
Many points along the trail are accessible by road. It is suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Stirling Ranges
The Stirling Ranges are a range of mountains and hills in the South West region of Western Australia, 337 kilometres south-east of Perth. It is over 60 kilometres wide from west to east, stretching from the highway between Mount Barker and Cranbrook in the west, eastward past Gnowangerup. Notable features include Toolbrunup, Bluff Knoll (the tallest peak for a thousand kilometers or more in any direction and most popular tourist attraction), and a silhouette called The Sleeping Lady which is visible from the Porongurup Range.
The Stirling Ranges are one of the richest areas for flora in the world. Ninety families, 384 genera, and over 1500 plant species occur in the Stirling Ranges, 87 of which are found nowhere else. This represents more than a third of the known flora of the South West. Unfortunately many of these species are very sensitive to Phytophthora root rot fungus that can be spread on walkers boots and shoes. Please be extra careful to stay on the trails and keep your footwear clean when walking in the Stirlings.
The Stirling Ranges are protected by the Stirling Range National Park, which was gazetted in 1913, and has an area of 1159 kilometres squared. Popular recreational activities in the park include bushwalking and climbing. There is a camping area on Chester Pass Rd near the turn-off to Toolbrunup.
Bluff Knoll (1073 metres), the park’s highest and most popular ascent, has a well-built path involving a three-hour-return slog. The weather can often surprise you from the unseen, southeast side: no matter how hot you may feel in the car park before beginning the climb, take a sweater with you. There are better views looking onto the park’s eastern summits from the west: Talyuberup, halfway along the scenic drive and around 800 metres high, is a short, steep ascent to magnificent views, while Toolbrunup (1052 metres) is among the harder climbs in the park, with some exposed scrambling – allow a tough half-day to get there and back.
There are opportunities for overnight walks given favourable weather and conditions. Before heading off, discuss your plans with a Department of environment and Conservation ranger (Phone (08) 9827 9230 or 9827 9278) whose residence is at Park Headquarters, near Moingup Springs by the park campsite off Chester Pass Road. There is another ranger at the turn-off to Bluff Knoll.
Walkers should always carry water and be prepared for sudden weather change. Mountain mists, wind chill and rain can occur on the mountains at any time and there are even snow falls most winters on the peaks.
For other walks look up the Stirling Range National Park web pages on Naturebase.
Yanchep National Park
An hours drive north of Perth, Yanchep National Park offers six or seven interesting bush walks ranging from an easy 500 metres to a challenging three and a half days. Discover pristine wetlands, coastal woodlands, amazing caves, lakes and historic buildings. Maps are available from the visitor centre.
The Coastal Plain Walk Trail goes through the park that also features indigenous cultural experiences and guided walks to discover the six Nyoongar seasons with their accompanying bush tucker.
Read more about Yanchep National Park or phone (08) 9561 1004
For more information on trails go to http://www.toptrails.com.au
last updated 28/07/09
