Our camp and daily walks are close to Dwellingup, an old timber-cutters’ townsite established in the late 1800s, approximately 85km south of Perth.

We are staying on a private block, home to mobs of kangaroos and emus as well as the magnificent (and endangered) black cockatoos. The owner has kindly offered us access to the site for the duration of our walk. We can expect lots of beautiful flowers and orchids, plus we will be able to cook on our campfire. Surrounded by magnificent tall trees, the block offers many excellent camping areas and a dam. However, access to the dam will be monitored as it is an important waterhole for local birds, including cockatoos and other fauna.

The following itinerary is a draft, as all walks need to be reconnoitred prior to the Camp. There will be fine-tuning of distances and pick-up points, maps provided and the weather (as always) may influence our days.

Monday 28 September – Set up camp

Arrive at our beautiful block located 3.2km south of the Dwellingup township and accessible by 2X drive. We recommend that people arrive around 2pm which allows enough time to set up the marquee, dig fire and toilet pits, organise wash areas etc then set up their own camp. Please send Liz a txt msg (mobile 0429 680 385) if you can bring some tomato pasta sauce which will be combined for Monday night’s dinner.

​Tuesday 29 September – Inglehope Road

Our first walk commences at the Inglehope Road Arboretum. We will follow the Bibbulmun track heading north towards Chadoora Campsite. Walkers can turn around at a designated point and return to camp (7.7km round trip) or continue to another pick-up point (approximately 13.5km).

​Wednesday 30 September – Swamp Oak Campsite (Option 1) and Mt Wells Camp Site (Option 2)

Option One: Walkers will start from our camp and head south along the Bibbulmun Track. It is approximately 7km to Swamp Oak Campsite, where there is the option of a round-trip back to camp (14km) or pick-up points along the way.

​Option Two: Overnight walkers will start at Inglehope Road and head north for approximately 17km. Walkers will camp overnight at Mt Wells Campsite. You will need to carry a hiking mattress, eating/cooking utensils and sufficient food for two days. Some walkers may choose to take a tent for sleeping or stay in the hut, which is the only fully enclosed Bibbulmun hut. More details will be provided once the numbers are known, as large groups need to obtain permission to camp overnight. All Bibbulmun huts include a drop toilet and a water tank for refilling water bottles.

Thursday 1 October – Chuditch Trail

Overnighters will return to Inglehope Road, where they will be picked up to return to camp. For all other walkers, we will be using the bus & private vehicles to travel to Lane Poole Reserve. The Chuditch Trail is a moderate 12.3 km return walk (about 4-5 hours) running between Nanga Brook and Chuditch campgrounds. It features river views and jarrah forest. It also crosses paths with the Murray Valley mountain bike network.

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Friday 2 October

We have a short walk in the morning, then return to camp for lunch, prepare dinner, and walk along the Bibbulmun Track into Dwellingup (approximately 1 hour and 3.2km). We plan to arrive around 3pm and take advantage of the hot showers located near the Dwellingup Visitors Centre. There is a rotunda nearby where we will gather for an early BBQ dinner (vegetarian sausages and salads). At 5:00pm, we will proceed to the Dwellingup Community Hall, where we have organised a Welcome to Country and some excellent speakers to talk to us about what is happening within the Northern Jarrah Forest, how proposed clearing will impact several communities, including the Murray Shire, Mundijong and the Serpentine area and how you can get involved.

​Saturday 3 October

A volunteer from the Jarrahdale Forest Protectors Inc will take us on a bus trip to evidence landscape damage and Alcoa’s rehabilitation efforts. This tour will tie in with Friday night’s speakers to allow you an overview of how important it is to defend our unique Northern Jarrah Forest and Perth’s drinking water catchment area. Depending on numbers, this might involve two separate trips on our GWN bus. Each trip will last about 3 hours, and walkers not on the bus can participate in another walk in the area, location to be determined.

​Sunday 4 October – Holyoake Walk

I have saved the best till last so that we can savour the sheer beauty and ecological complexity of the NJF. This walk will traverse the unique NJF with views over the surrounding valleys. The full walk will be approximately 15km with options for pick-ups along the way.

​Monday 5 October – Pack Up

Many helpers will be appreciated to allow the packing to proceed quickly and smoothly. As usual, we will start with breakfast and pack up the camp before packing up our own tents.

It will then be time for goodbyes before returning home, feeling rejuvenated, fit, and inspired.

Remember that joining us for the full camp makes light work of setting up and packing down the communal facilities we all enjoy. We appreciate you planning ahead to share in the communal tasks.

For information about the walk, please contact Nan on 0427 868 689 or Dom on 0415 258 301.

Remember, registering early secures your spot and offers an early-bird discount!

Keen to help?

We ask anyone interested in taking a leadership role on the walk to get in touch.

We would love to hear from you if you would like support in taking on essential roles like camp or transport coordinator. Fee discounts are available for those who take up these roles. Please email admin@greatwalknetwork.org for more information.

Looking forward to walking in nature and community with you!