1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see Photo Galleries)

3) 3D map view

4) Satellite imagery

5) Route profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

[Click on map for full page version]

Wandoo and balgas with Mount Gorrie behind

(from south of Helena River), Sept. 2004.

[Click on photo for larger version]

More photos.

Click here

for Google Maps image

of the walk area. -Use zoom bar

for road details.

Step 1: Left Click here

For fly-in to waypoints and route on image of the walk area.

Or Right Click to

 "Save Target/Link As..."  kml file.

Step 2: Left Click here

For fly-in to 3D view

 of the walk area.

Or Right Click to

 "Save Target/Link As..."  kml file.

Hint: For enhanced 3D effect, set 'Elevation Exaggeration'

in Google Earth to "3" (via 'Tools' menu, 'Options' & 'View' tab).

       Route profile

Approx. 60 kms east of Perth along Great Eastern  Highway to Flynn Road turnoff (on right approx. 2km before The Lakes) then further 6km down Flynn Road (good condition dirt road).

17 kms (95% off-track)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

440m (positive elevation change)

YES

See Google Map for start point on road map.

(Use zoom ladder for detail. Select 'Hybrid' to add satellite imagery.)

About 50m  before Flynn Road ends at Albercorn Road (on left), turn right down a dirt track for about 150m and park at 'START' point before the track crosses stream (Wariin Brook).

Important access issue (2008):   Walkers need to be aware that this walk area and many others on WalkGPS lie within drinking water catchment areas.  In 2007 DoW in effect recommended a prohibition of all traditional off-track bushwalking activities across the entire Perth region catchment areas covering 4500 sq km, far beyond the limits of  existing or proposed Reservoir Protection Zones (see map). By March 2008, in the face of growing community outrage, the DoW has reconsidered its published position, advising that it would now be allowing walkers ‘free-to-roam’ access to the forested water catchment areas outside of the RPZs. The community, including visitors to WalkGPS, need to remain vigilant to ensure that commonsense continues to prevail over regulatory zealotry.  See also Home page: 'Access' and Related access issues on WalkGPS, and link below to "Mundaring Weir Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan".

e.g. In north, follow Cavern Road NE to Flynn Road or SW to Gorrie Road (then 6.5km NNW on Gorrie Road to Great Eastern Hwy). In south, follow Wellbucket Road west, then north to cross Helena River and meet Gorrie Road (follow north).

/Highlights:

Although this walk is almost entirely off-track, it involves mainly easy walking through open wandoo woodlands and some ‘kangaroo pasture-lands’ north and south of the Helena River, about 16 km upstream from Mundaring Weir. There are a few medium slopes, including some rocky outcrops with good views to Mount Yetar and of Mount Gorrie itself, and two crossings of the upper Helena River which in winter-spring may require getting feet/boots wet. 

Note:  This  area is unfortunately also very popular with off-road trail bike riders despite being in the Jarrah Die-back 'Disease Risk Area' where non-permitted vehicle entry is prohibited. Hopefully the riders will be encouraged to find more appropriate legal areas before too much damage is done here. (That's the challenge!)  Meanwhile your walking may be disturbed by the whine of their bikes.

Controlled burns:  The most recent burn in the area was in about Autumn 2005.  There are currently no burns scheduled in the immediate area in 2008-2010.  See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.

or Mundaring & Chidlow 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2134-3 & 2134-2.

"Mundaring Weir Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan" (Report # 69, Water Resource Protection Series) by Department of Water (DoW), June 2007. - See pdf version (3MB). Pages 41-42 are of particular relevance. 

Note: DoW's recommended protection strategy in Report # 69 intended to prohibit recreational off-track bushwalking opportunities within the entire 1470 sq km catchment area, far beyond the proposed 60 sq km Reservoir  Protection Zone, and including this walk area. 

From 'START' point follow the dirt road west across the Wariin Brook and after less than 200m at waypt '1' veer WNW off-track through open wandoo woodland to reach a stream course at waypt '2'. Then climb rapidly (still WNW) to a low rocky ridge then descend to a gentle gully before climbing again to reach another rocky ridge at '2A' . Climb the ridge toward the NNW through partly scrubby bush and sheoak forest (avoiding low, thick heath over much of the crestal area) to reach a rock outcrop at 'ROC1' with views SW across a small valley toward a larger rock outcrop ('BIGROC') on the other side. Continue NNW to cross Cavern Road at 'CAVRD.'  Veer NW through open wandoo woodland on the crest of the ridge before turning approx SW at waypt '3' to recross Cavern Road and a nearby small rock outcrop at 'ROC2'.  Continue SW downhill to cross another dirt road at waypt '4' in a sandy  valley. Then climb approx SW to reach the larger east-sloping granite outcrop at waypt 'BIGROC' with good views to Mount Yetar (8km ESE). Walk SSW along the outcrop and partly through sheoak forest to reach waypt '5'.  Then veer SE downhill to cross a stream gully at waypt '6' and then along a very gently sloping hillside  through open wandoo woodland to reach waypt '7'.  Then descend gently (partly through an understorey of abundant grass trees) to a broad, quite flat valley floor, before climbing to waypt '8' above a rock outcrop (on the west flank of Mount Gorrie ridge). Veer south to reach another outcrop at 'ROKNU' and soon after cross a dirt road running E-W. Continue approx. south to reach the Mount Gorrie ridge at waypt '8A'. At about this point the ridge is largely cleared of forest leaving grassy 'kangaroo-pastures' with views across the Helena River valley. Veer SSW to follow the ridge uphill partly through groves of large grass trees, to reach the summit of Mount Gorrie at 'MT' marked by a small cairn on a boulder. Descend from Mount Gorrie initially SW to meet a dirt road   at waypt '10'.  Follow the dirt road south until it becomes overgrown at about waypt '11', then veer SW again to soon cross a dirt road, then Helena River at waypt 'FORD'. (In a wet winter you can expect to get your boots/feet wet here.) Continue approx. SW for less than 100m to along meet at waypt '12' a dirt road which skirts the Wellbucket Pine Plantation. Follow the road SW for less than 200m to '12A'. Then veer SE to initially cross a gully then across flat forested ground to soon cross another dirt road. Continue SE and climb  steepening slope to reach waypt '13' near a rocky ridge. Veer more eastward toward the ridge top gaining (at 'VU') a good view back across the Helena River valley to Mount Gorrie. Continue eastward across the ridge top, then descend across a rocky slope to reach a broad lightly forested saddle approx. at waypt '14'. Turn NE to walk along the slope of the NW-sloping hillside via waypoints '14A' and '14B' mainly through open wandoo woodland and groves of grass trees. About 300m after '14C' after crossing a couple of steam gullies, the route climbs quite steeply  via '14D' to reach the ridge at approx. waypt. '15'. Veer approx. north down the ridge and reach an outcrop at 'BIGRK2' with views to the north. Continue north to waypt '15' then veer NE to descend to cross a stream gully at waypt '16'. Then veer to NNE again to cross two dirt roads and then the Helena River at waypt '17'. (In a wet winter you will probably have to get your boots/feet wet here also.) Then veer WNW to initially cross the Wariin Brook and adjacent open grassy flats before climbing toward a partly rocky spur-ridge near waypt '18'. Continue climbing westward, staying on the more open grassy areas along the southern side of the ridge to avoid  teh more rocky/pebbly ground along the ridge top. The slope flattens off onto the  lateritic  ridge top before reaching waypt '19'. Follow the eastern edge of the ridge via waypt '20' (with view to east) and cross the rocky crest of the ridge at  waypt '21'.  Finally descend to the NE (via '22') to regain the dirt road near the Start point. Turn right to follow the road back across the Wariin Brook to the 'END'.