Railway Reserves Heritage Trail - Trail Description

Features

• Located within the picturesque Perth Hills in Western Australia, the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail retraces 59 kilometres of the old Eastern Railway that formerly linked Fremantle to York in the late 1880s.
• This popular walking and cycling rail trail begins its journey at Bellevue forming a unique 41 kilometre loop at Mount Helena entirely on railway formations, before extending to Wooroloo Reserve.

Description

• The Trail is the perfect place to relax and unwind as it takes in the peace and tranquillity of the attractive flora, fauna and natural landscapes of the Darling Range and John Forrest National Park. Enjoy the pleasures of time with family and friends, connecting with nature or simply appreciating the fresh air. Whether you explore the Trail by walking, running, jogging or riding, fulfil your appetite for activity by choosing from different sections, challenges and lengths.
• While on your journey, take in the romance of the rail era as you discover the history and character of the many charming settlements that evolved alongside the railway line, including Darlington, Parkerville and Mundaring.
• Railway Reserves Heritage Trail is accessible from many of the townsites within the Shire of Mundaring, a 40 minute drive east of Perth. A highlight of this trail is the Swan view tunnel in John Forrest National Park approx. 2 km east of Pechey Road. There is also a rail route around the tunnel.

• A breakdown of the section distances is:
  Section Distance
  Northern Section - Bellevue to Mount Helena 19 km
  Southern Section - Bellevue to Mount Helena 22km
  Mount Helena to Wooroloo 18km

• From Wooroloo you can pick up the signs for Kep Track to continue your journey all the way to Northam. The Kep Track also connects the 8km of rail trail from Mundaring to Mundaring Weir. With its trail head in Mundaring Community Sculpture Park, the Munda Biddi Trail also connects Mundaring with Mundaring Weir and continues heading south, to Albany.

Background Information

The trail follows the former Eastern Railway that ran to York. Opened to Chidlow via Mundaring in 1884 and Wooroloo in 1885. A deviation via Parkerville opened in 1896. The Mundaring (Southern) loop closed in 1954 and the main line closed in 1966. It was converted to a rail trail in the 1980's.

Links

• Railway Reserves Heritage Trail is managed by the Shire of Mundaring with Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) managing the section through John Forrest National Park.
  For Trail related matters contact: Shire of Mundaring 7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring, WA 6073
  Phone: 08 9290 6666 shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au Please report defects on the trail to Shire of Mundaring.
• Railway Reserves Heritage Trail www.railwayreserves.com.au/Pages/home.aspx

Support Services and Attractions

Perth Hills Mountain Bike Tours. Enjoying nature made easy using Giant Dual Suspension E-Bikes to pedal up and down these bush terrain’s in Waterloo National Park, John Forrest and Beelu National parks visiting site including Lake Lechenaultia, Mundaring Weir, the Lower Helena Valley Dam and the Swan view Tunnel.

About Bike Hire - Bike hire service (depending on the number of people/bikes, can arrange pick-up/drop-off normally as part of bike hire package)

November 2020

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Contact Us About This Trail

Email or click here: wa@railtrails.org.au.