1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see Photo Galleries)

3) 3D map view

4) Google map & Satellite imagery

5) Route profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

[Click on map for full page version]

Wandoo woodland

south of Nockine Brook, Nov. 2004.

[Click on photo for larger version]

More photos.

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for larger frame 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

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Step 2: Left Click here

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 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 70kms east of Perth, along Great Eastern  Highway then Great Southern Highway to Yarra Road turnoff (on right 13kms east of The Lakes), then further 18kms down Yarra Road (last 15kms is unsurfaced road) to corner of Surveyors Road.

17.5kms (90% off-track)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

400m (positive elevation change)

YES

See Google Map for start point on road map.

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

Park at side of Surveyors Road near corner with Yarra Road.

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".

Eastward to Yarra Road.  Surveyors Road (approx. W-E) is a good quality dirt road which connects Yarra Road to Nockine Road, about 7 kms west of the walk area.

/Highlights:

This is a pleasant and not too arduous wander in a seldom visited area off Yarra Road, about 7 kms south of the Mount Yetar Walk area and about 8 kms north of the Upper Darkin Walk area. The scenery includes the typical open wandoo woodlands of this eastern area of the Darling Range. The northern few kms of the walk around Nockine Brook lie within the new Helena National Park.

The low laterite-topped and forested  hills in the area are the erosional remnants of a previously extensive laterite plateau. They provide views SSW to Mount Dale, about 15 kms away. The walk includes a few modest slopes onto and around the hill-tops, and also traverses a few small granite outcrops. But the main attraction is the beauty of the woodlands combined with the prolific wildflowers in late winter to spring which more than compensates for lack of dramatic terrain. The walk also briefly follows a couple of stream valleys, including a short section of Nockine Brook which may be flowing in late winter/spring. -The Brook feeds into the Helena River about 9 kms WNW of the walk area and just upstream from Lake C.Y O'Connor (previously 'Helena Reservoir').

This area is also of some significance for native fauna conservation: More than 20 numbats were released by CALM into  woodlands in the Nockine and Qualen areas in late 1997 under a 10-year Numbat Recovery Plan (as part of the  Western Shield project). The released animals were to be radio-tracked but success to date in these release areas is unknown.

The walk is mainly off-track, but there should be very few scratchy bits. The route mostly avoids areas of quite dense dryandra scrub (parrot bush) which is common on some of the laterite-capped hill tops.  CALM carried out  'control' burns in the area north of Surveyors Road in October 2005;  Don't let that discourage you from this walk as the woodland recovers very quickly.

Kelmscott & Beraking 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2133-4 & 2133-1;

or Kelmscott 1:50,000 Sheet (WA Forests Dept., 1984).

WalkGPS reconnaissance history: Click here for a map of past WalkGPS test walks in the walk area, plus the final route. The final route was selected only after several visits to the area which aimed to achieve a walk that would be the most rewarding.

"Helena National Park - Park Guide" by DEC (undated pdf; 380KB).

"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 which is more than 10km east of the reservoir.. 

From Start point, head SE along Yarra Road for 500m. At waypoint '1', where Yarra Road curves more southward,  leave the road to follow an old vehicle track SE through jarrah and dryandra. Leave the track at '2' to head southward through open jarrah forest to '3'. Then veer SW uphill, soon passing through patches of tall heath to reach a low granite outcrop (at 'ROCK').  Turn right (NW) to follow the outcrop for about 150m, then re-enter the forest, soon reaching pleasant open wandoo woodland. Veer SW again at '3B' to soon leave the woodland and pass through a patch of dryandra (parrot bush) before reaching Yarra Road again (at 'RD'). Cross the road to find the start of an old vehicle track.  Follow the track westward and gently downhill, to cross a stream course.  After approx. a further 150m, at '3C' turn left (southward, ) to leave the track and climb steadily uphill through wandoo woodland along a broad ridge.  After crossing the hill-top, reach '4' at the top of the southern slope, then veer right (west) to follow the top of the slope for about 100m to '5'.  Then head SSW downslope (initially down a ridge) to reach a stream course (usually dry) at '6'.  Turn right  to follow the valley floor westward to '7', then NW-ward, passing through clumps of tall balgas along the way.  At '8', leave the valley floor and  head northward, initially upslope. The route soons flattens along slope and crosses an old track at '8A' (the same track that was previously followed between 'RD' and '3C'). On reaching '9', veer NNE to head down the hill side and cross a stream course at '10'. Then climb NE-ward through jarrah forest.  At '11' on a rocky heath-covered ridge, veer due north and continue upslope to reach wandoo woodland again.  At '12' veer NE to climb to the NW edge of the laterite-capped hill-top.  Follow the upper edge of the laterite breakaway via '13', continuing gently downslope to '14'.  Then veer left (approx. WNW) to follow a ridge downslope to reach Surveyors Road at '15'. (This is about the halfway point on the walk).  Cross the road and head approx. due west, and mainly gently downslope.  Veer WNW at '16' and reach the edge of a low granite outcrop at '17'. Follow the outcrop downslope to cross a stream at '18'. Then head approx. NE-ward up a moderate slope, picking a route through tall heath and shrubs to reach a patchy outcrop at about '19'.   Then turn right (SE) and continue uphill, soon gaining good views westward across the forest. Re-enter open wandoo woodland on the flanks of a small laterite-capped 'butte' at '20'.  This is a pleasant spot for a good rest stop. After climbing across the butte, head ENE across a saddle area to reach the pebbly slopes of a laterite breakaway at '21' which skirts a small hill-top plateau.  From near here there are views through the forest to Mount Dale about 15 kms to the SSW. Head northward  along the breakaway slope via '22' passing through very picturesque woodland.  At '23'  turn left to head  a short distance downslope and pass through a patch of tall heath and scattered granite 'boulders'.  Enter jarrah forest at '24' close to a ridge, with views again to Mount Dale in the distance.  Continue approx. westward along the southern edge of the ridge top to '25', then descend initially quite steeply via '26'  through grass trees and tall shrubs. At '27 reach Nockine Brook. In a winter of 'average' (or more) rainfall this small stream should be flowing gently along this section.  Follow the stream course via '28' and '29', then head ENE-ward uphill to reach a granite outcrop at '30'.  Continue uphill to '31', then descend to another outcrop at '32', with views southward across the valley. Again climb gently uphill to '33' on the laterite plateau surface. Then head southward down patchy granite outcrops and boulders to '34'.  Then veer eastward and soon cross Nockine Brook and continue eastward to cross Hutt Road at '36'.  Then veer SE-ward uphill to a broad ridge at '37'.  Head SSE up the ridge and pass though a patch of dryandra on the crest of the ridge near '38'. Then veer SE and cross a gentle gully through low heath to soon reach a low granite outcrop with views to the NE. On reaching the SE limit of the outcrop, veer southward  through mainly open jarrah forest and patches of dryandra to reach the junction of Surveyors Road and Deefor Road at '40'.  Follow Surveyors Road SE-ward for 500m to get back to the Start point.