Darling Ranges Drive
A good drive for anyone desirous of some time out, it incorporates the Swan Valley - with Whiteman Park and its numerous transport-related museums, and the Swan Valley wine region, the closest world-quality wine producing area to the city of Perth - and some picnic spots and walking trails in the Darling Ranges that are favourites among the people of Perth. Distance: 160 km
Whiteman Park
Drive east along Adelaide Terrace, cross The Causeway and take Gt Eastern Highway to Guildford. At Guildford, turn right into James Street, then left into Meadow Street and continue north into West Swan Road. After crossing Reid Highway, turn left into Harrow Street and follow the signs to Whiteman Park. The park has many attractions, many of them being transport related museums and displays. Its wildlife park is one of the most popular in the Perth region.
After visiting Whiteman Park, return to West Swan Road. You are now in the Swan Valley wine region. Swan Valley Verdelho, Shiraz and Cabernet, all of which thrive in the region's warm, dry summers, regular win medals at wine shows around the world; Houghtons, one of the valley's oldest wineries, is home to Australia's most famous White Burgundy. If you would like to visit some wineries for cellar door tastings and sales, turn left at West Swan Road and follow the signs to the wineries.
Exit the area via Middle Swan Road, following it into Roe Highway. At Swan View, turn left into Morrison Road. The road ends at Swan View where the Swan View railway station used to be on the original line through the Darling Ranges to Kalgoorlie. The line of the railway is visible, the walking rail to the north east leads to Western Australia's only railway tunnel, which can be walked through. The trail leads to National Falls and the picnic area of John Forrest National Park which this drive later visits.
Hovea Falls, John Forest National Park
Drive south along Swan View Road, turning left into Old York Road. After entering Gt Eastern Highway, take the first entry road into John Forest National Park (entry fees apply). The picnic area has a natural swimming pool, a kiosk and is the focal point for a number of walks. Return to Gt Eastern Highway by either park entry road, turn left and drive to the town of Mundaring.
Site of Mundaring's railway station
A village steeped in history, Mundaring is a commercial centre for the region. It is closely linked to the numerous settlements along Great Eastern Highway by the old Eastern Railway line that is now the wonderful Railway Reserves Heritage Trail stretching some 59 kms through the Mundaring shire. It is one of the best walking and riding trails in the Perth region. Mundaring s Kookaburra Outdoor Cinema hosts movie screenings under the stars with spectacular state forest providing a dramatic background to the on-screen entertainment. The season runs from November to the beginning of April.
The town lies within the Mundaring-Kalamunda Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because of its importance as a non-breeding season roost site and foraging base for Long-billed Black Cockatoos. From the town centre, turn right into Nichol Street and follow the signs to Mundaring Weir Rd. Mundaring Weir was built across the Helena River in the the Darling Ranges near Perth at the end of the 19th century as part of a daring engineering scheme to catch water in the Darling Ranges and pump it to the Kalgoorlie goldfields 530 km away. The water was initially pumped in successive stages with the aid of eight steam-driven pumping stations.
At Mundaring Weir, there are a number of parking alternatives. Weir Village Road on the way in leads to parking at the top of the dame wall near a picnic area. If you continue on to the base of the dam, a road to the left leads to the O'Connor Museum. The museum is housed in the No. 1 pumping station, at the foot of the dam wall, and tells the stories of the dam's construction and the engineer who made it a reality. The South Ledge picnic area is the location of the Golden View, a viewing platform from which walkers can enjoy views over Mundaring Weir and Lake O Connor.
Leave the weir by continuing south along Mundaring Weir Rd. Before reaching Kalamunda, turn left into Aldersyde Road to Bickley.
Lesmurdie Falls
Turn right into Lawnbrook Rd, right into Canning Road then left into Lesmurdie and Falls Rds., following the signs to Lesmurdie Falls. Return to Canning Road, turning left into it, then right along Railway Rd through Kalamunda. Railway Road leads to Gooseberry Hill with views over the Swan River plain to the city.
Perth city skyline from Kalamunda
Follow the Zig Zag Drive down into the valley along the route of a former narrow gauge railway that climbed the Darling Ranges here by means of a zig zag railway. The railway's story is told at the Kalamunda Museum in the old railway station complex back in the town centre. At the foot of the scenic drive, turn right into Ridge Hill Road, following it into Midland. Return to the city centre via either Gt Eastern Highway or Guildford Road.
