National Park | All We Need Is Right Here

Gooseberry Hill National Park

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 21:11:33 +0000

Gooseberry Hill National Park is a hilly 33 hectare which has magnificent views of the Swan Coastal Plain and provides some amazing photography and bird watching opportunities. Within Gooseberry Hill National Park is the iconic a one-way scenic drive, known as the Zig Zag, which was formerly part of the railway line which serviced the timber industry and Stratham’s Quarry. The Zig Zag leads downhill through the park and, every year in early October, the Shire of Kalamunda holds a Zig Zag Walk event, where the road is open only to pedestrians allowing people the opportunity to admire the views and see the area’s wildflowers. The Zig Zag is also used as a stage in the Targa West Rally. You can access the top of Stratham’s Quarry from the Zig Zag which is also within the Park. Stratham’s Quarry is a great picnic spot. It has also been the scene of weddings, movies, abseiling accidents and many a brown pant moment! If you’re vertically inclined, the Quarry is a great spot for abseiling and rock climbing.

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Kalamunda National Park

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 21:07:08 +0000

Kalamunda National Park is 375 hectares of native bush and is well known for its diversity of native plants and birdlife. There are also plenty of native animals including kangaroos, bandicoots and echidnas. Plant species include jarrah, marri, wandoo and butter gum. The best time to visit the Park is August – November (late winter / Springtime) when the plants of the understorey flower profusely. Kalamunda National Park is home to some extremely rare plant species which exist nowhere else. Visitors can access the Kalamunda National Park at Spring, Fern or Schipp Roads, where they will find car park areas. From these points the walk trails through the park are accessible. The other access option is to enter through either Beelu National Park or Jorgensen Reserve. Beelu National Park is to the north, and is where walkers will find the northern entrance to the bridle track which crosses the park. Kalamunda National Park is also where the famous Bibbulmun Track starts (the Northern Terminus is located on the roundabout at the start of Mundaring Weir Road), and then winds 1,000 kilometres south to Albany. The Bibbulmun Track is rated as one of Australia’s best hiking trails. Piesse Brook flows through the park before joining the Helena River, making the park and important catchment area for both the Helena and the Swan River. Piesse Brook Walk Trail, also within Kalamunda National Park is a very picturesque and popular walk.

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Beelu National Park

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:53:58 +0000

Formerly known as Mundaring National Park, Beelu National Park is situated to the west of Mundaring Weir Road in the Shires of Mundaring and Kalamunda. This beautiful 3000 hectare park includes the popular recreation sites of Fred Jacoby Park, South Ledge, North Ledge, Farrell Grove, The Dell, Gungin Gully, Pimelia Mycumbene and Grevillea Mycumbene. The Park was renamed in 2008 as an acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the area. The word Beelu is derived from the Noongar word for river or stream. The Beelu people were the original peoples of the area whose district was bounded by the Helena, Swan and Canning Rivers. Most of Beelu National Park is covered by jarrah and marri woodland interspersed with grasstrees. Wandoo can be seen in granite areas while blackbutt and flooded gums are found along the valley floors. Spring sees a spectacular display of a wide range of wildflowers. The most visible inhabitants are the birds including the threatened Carnaby’s cockatoos, Baudin’s cockatoos, western warblers, splendid fairy wrens and grey shrike thrushes. Quendas, western brush wallabies and western grey kangaroos also live in park. In terms of facilities, Beelu National Park has toilets, wood barbecues, picnic tables and a good selection of hiking and mountain bike trails. An information centre, the Perth Hills National Parks Centre (Allen Road, Mundaring – just off the Mundaring Weir Road) is located within the park and is open between 10.00am and 4.00pm to offer advice and refreshments to visitors. Two campsites are available to use within the park.

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Mundy Regional Park

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:49:18 +0000

Mundy Regional Park stretches from the foothills to the top of the Darling Scarp to Lesmurdie Falls. Sections of the park provide a virtually unbroken belt of scarp woodland to explore against spectacular views of the coastal plain and Perth City. The name of Mundy Regional Park commemorates, Mundy (or Munday), a leader of the Beelu Aboriginal people at the time of European settlement. During the early days of settlement, Mundy was one of the most important and successful negotiators for Perth’s Whadjuk community. An extensive network of walk trails is popular for the panoramic views, granite outcrops and profuse wildflower display in spring. Official walk trails include the Whistlepipe Gully Walk Trail which is a relatively easy trail allowing bush walkers to see beautiful wildflowers in bloom during spring. The Trail can be commenced from either the western end of Orange Valley Road in Kalamunda, or from the northern end of Lewis Road in Forrestfield.
Also within Mundy Regional Park is the Darling Scarp Walk. For more information on this walk trail visit the Walk GPS website.

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Victoria Reservoir

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:45:50 +0000

There are two dams at Victoria Reservoir. The Old Victoria Dam provided water for the city of Perth until 1991, when the New Victoria Dam was opened. Both dams cross the Munday Brook. The older dam was the first permanent water supply for the colony and also the first dam in Western Australia. It stood for almost 100 years before being replaced with the current dam. The new dam supplies water to the Perth Hills suburbs of Kalamunda and Lesmurdie, and also supplies the rest of the metropolitan area in times of peak demand. The area is not open to full public access; it can only be visited by the public via walking trails. Parking is only allowed well above the dam. Access to the picnic tables and the dam is via an 800 metre rough bush track, a flight of wooden stairs and then a bitumen road. Signage indicates no public to use bitumen access road. There are picnic areas at the head of the steps, and below the dam wall is another grassed picnic area. The Victoria Reservoir Walk Trail starts from the dam access road off Mason Mill Road in Carmel. The 6km trail will take you on a picturesque and enjoyable walk in Korung National Park. The trail is marked by lilac coloured triangle markers.

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Mason & Bird Heritage Trail

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:41:44 +0000

The Mason and Bird Heritage Trail is a 3km walk trail that commences from Bickley Reservoir and retraces part of the original Mason and Bird timber railway. Stopping points are marked with numbers which correspond with historical information in a brochure supplied by the WA Heritage Trails Network.

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Korung National Park

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 07:56:53 +0000

Korung National Park is located around the town sites of Karragullen and Pickering Brook. The 6000 hectare park was formerly (and unofficially) known as Pickering Brook National Park. Korung National Park is popular for bushwalking and mountain bike riding. The Munda Biddi Bike Trail and the Kattamorda Heritage Trail run through parts of this park as well as several other walk trails including the Mason & Bird Heritage Trail and the New Victoria Dam Walk.

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The Dell

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 07:45:03 +0000

The Dell is a picnicking spot off Mundaring Weir Road in Paulls Valley. A large well maintained gravel car park with designated bays. There are 6 solid fuel BBQ’s with picnic tables. There is a toilet. It is on the Kalamunda Circuit off road bicycle trail and the Munda Biddi Trail Not far from ‘The Dell’ and also accessible from Mundaring Weir Road is a large well maintained car park with designated bays and artificial gravel humps for off road cyclists to practice and access the Kalamunda Circuit.

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Bickley Reservoir

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 07:38:57 +0000

Bickley Reservoir was originally constructed in 1920-21 with the purpose of supplementing Perth’s water supply. In 1936, the Reservoir was taken out of service and the water used for irrigation until 1944. Following, Bickley Reservoir and the surrounding catchment area was set aside for recreational purposes. The Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp (located adjacent to the reservoir), was established in 1948 and is managed by the Ministry for Sport and Recreation. Activities associated with the camp include canoeing, swimming, camping and orienteering (for more information click here). Recreational activities in the catchment include picnicking, bushwalking, mountain bike riding, horse riding and llama walking. Facilities include barbecues, toilets, change rooms and tap water. There is plenty of shade available and the wildflowers are on show in the spring months from September through to November.

The Mason and Bird Heritage Trail is located near the Bickley Reservoir which follows part of the timber tramway which was used to moved timber from the former mill to the jetty at Canning River. Also in the area is the 27 kilometre Kattamordo Heritage Trail which starts at Mundaring Weir and makes its way to the Bickley Reservoir following old railway tracks. In recent years, the Bickley Reservoir has again been made part of Perth’s water supply. The Bickley Reservoir is located at the end of Hardinge Road in Orange Grove, next to Hardinge Park.

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The Bibbulmun Track

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:31:42 +0000

The Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track is located in Kalamunda. From here it stretches nearly 1000 kilometres to Albany on the south coast through some of the most beautiful natural areas of the State’s south west and passes through seven rural communities and popular tourist spots such as Mundaring Weir, Gloucester Tree and the Tree Top Walk.
The 17km section from Kalamunda to Mundaring Weir is a picturesque five hour walk at a comfortable speed. There are some rocky and steep sections through the valleys of Kalamunda National Park (well worth the breathtaking views and scenery). The section through Beelu National Park goes past some beautiful scenic lookouts and picnic spots. About half way is Calamunnda Camel Farm which has a kiosk and tea house. The track also goes past South Ledge which has picnicking facilities and toilets.
The Track was designed for use by people with varying fitness level. It can be enjoyed as a short stroll with the kids to have a picnic at a campsite, with a group on a guided event or as the physical challenge and personal achievement of a long distance walk. Well-equipped campsites with a 3 sided wooden sleeping shelter, picnic table, water tank, tent sites and pit toilet are a comfortable day’s walk apart, while towns along the way provide a wide range of accommodation for those who prefer a comfy bed.
Maps and Guidebooks can be purchased from the Bibbulmun Track Foundation, who also provide free information and advice, a Calendar of Events published twice yearly providing guided walks for all ages and fitness levels, trip planning sessions, Bibbulmun Highlight all inclusive 8-day tours and Bibbulmun Walking Breaks – self-guided walking and accommodation packages. Phone: (08) 9481 0551 or visit The Bibbulmun Track Website.

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