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]

Typical open wandoo woodland,

upper Dale River area.  

[Click on photo for larger version]

More photos.

Click here

for Google Maps image

of the walk area.

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

65 kms SE of Perth,  along Brookton Hwy to Metro Road on right,  then further 14.5 kms down Metro Road.

18kms (99% off-track)

EASY   (What does this mean?)

See Google Map for start point on road map.

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

To reach parking spot at Start point (see map), follow Brookton Highway and turn right into Metro Road (first road on right after Christmas Tree well on left), then drive 14.5 km down Metro Road (dirt) to park at intersection with McCallum Road.

Reach Metro Road and then north to Brookton Hwy.

/Highlights:

This walk is mostly through picturesque, open wandoo woodlands between small granite outcrops. Although it is almost entirely off-track it includes some easy walking over reasonably gentle terrain, with only a few modest slopes onto the outcrops and across a few, usually dry stream gullies (including upper Dale River).  There are some pleasant views from the outcrops. Expect a few short sections of scratchy heath around the outcrops, though a 'controlled burn' in the area in about early 2004 temporarily removed some of the thicker patches.

Controlled burns:  A burn is currently scheduled for Autumn 2009 in an area in the NNE bounded by Metro and McCallum Roads.  This will only impact on a short section of the walk route between waypoints '14B' & 'POOL'. See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.

Jarrahdale 1:50,000 Sheet (Dept. of CALM, 1990);

or Jarrahdale & Yaganing 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2133-3 & 2133-2.

Proposed Conservation Park: The eastern half of this walk (east of the N-S stream course that passes close to waypoint 'SMLROK') lies within a proposed small Conservation Park at the eastern margin of the current State Forest area (see CALM Operations Graphics series maps for location).

Head initially NW mainly through open woodland, cross small patchy outcrop at waypoints ‘3’ and ‘4’ (see map) then descend through wandoo and balgas (grass trees) to cross two dry creek beds (route veers N-ward). Then reach larger granite outcrop after waypoint ‘6’.  After moving uphill across the outcrop pass through short sections of scratchy scrub and a series of small rock outcrops to reach another larger outcrop at waypoint ‘VUROK’ (first rest stop). Then walk uphill through short section of scratchy dryandra to reach ridge and open wandoo woodland after waypoint ‘11’. Follow ridge downhill initially S-ward and then SE-ward passing through two thickets of young casuarina (sheoak) before crossing a stream gully to reach waypoint ‘14’.  Then veer eastward, re-cross the stream bed, and cross a gentle ridge through wandoo to regain Metro Road at waypoint ‘14B’.  Cross the road and continue approx ESE through open woodland to cross McCallum Road, pass large granite boulder on other side of road, and soon after reach a (dried out) pool on the upper Dale River. Then keep heading ESE across gentle ridge, to cross a quite broad flat valley and a small stream gully before reaching a small granite outcrop at ‘SMLROK’. Then veer approx NE through mainly open woodlands, cross a narrow dryandra-covered ridge and descend across a short section of rocky ground and through sheoak forest to reach low granite outcrops at ‘ROK 1’ and ‘16’ (second rest stop).  Veer SE again and reach another small granite outcrop at ‘TRIG’ waypoint, where there is an interesting old man-made boulder arrangement and small sharpened post (probably an old surveying point). Veer east to descend to a larger granite outcrop at waypoint ‘NURK2’. Veer SSE to follow the outcrop uphill, then cross an E-W dirt road (marked on map) and climb gently through very picturesque open woodland to reach point ‘17’. After ‘17’, walk south and soon descend to a granite outcrop at ‘18’.  Follow the outcrop southward along slope (with views to east), passing through a couple of brief scratchy sections. Then climb gently through mainly jarrah forest to a ridge at waypoint ‘19’. Veer SW-ward to ascend a granite outcrop with a good lunch spot at ’19-A’  with views of surrounding forest and distant wheatbelt farmland.  Then walk SSW through partly scratchy scrub to reach a small stand of wandoo trees (‘WANDOO’ on map) and continue SW (gently downhill) to another granite outcrop (at ‘CRNROK’ on map). Veer due west, initially through low scratchy scrub, cross stream gully and walk through open jarrah forest to reach waypoint ‘20’.  Veer NW, eventually cross a gentle valley and then climb through some scratchy scrub to reach waypoint ’20’ on a more open ridge. Then veer SW along the ridge and pass through a brief scratchy section to reach a granite outcrop at ‘VURK2’ with nice views to the west across the valley to another outcrop which is the next point on the route. Descend down the rock from ‘VURK2’ and head WSW to cross the valley,  initially through partly scratchy scrub, across an unmarked road, then a dry stream bed and then a gentle climb to reach waypoint ‘22’ on the other outcrop. Head NNW along the outcrop and after about 400m veer NW to leave it and descend through open woodland to cross the upper Dale River bed at waypoint ‘24’. Then it’s a gentle uphill climb through woodland back to the Start point