Mundaring Weir Hotel to Ball Creek Campsite WA (8.4km)
Western Australia
Nearest Town
Perth
Best Time of the Year to Travel
April- November.
Starting Location
Mundaring Weir Hotel (WA)
Finish Location
Mundaring Weir Hotel (WA)
Mundaring Weir Hotel to Ball Creek Campsite Walk Review
This Mundaring Weir to Ball Creek Campsite walk can be completed in less than half a day but it also fits the bill for those looking for an easy walk to do as a first time overnight camp. This campsite and the trail to it are part of the 1000km Bibbulmun Track walk that runs from Kalamunda on the outskirts of Perth, to Albany in the south. In doing this walk I suggest starting from the Mundaring Weir Hotel which is around an hour’s drive from the centre of Perth. Either get dropped off at the hotel or if you are driving yourself try to avoid parking in the hotels relatively small car park. Once you reach the hotel either park along the small side street adjacent to the hotel or across the road in the first carpark adjacent to the Mundaring Weir Arts and Craft Centre. Be aware that this centre is open on the weekend so try to turn up late in the day as the carpark is emptying out so you don’t impact on their trade.
From the hotel you start you walk by heading from the hotel, past the craft centre (away from the dam) by following the yellow and black Bibbulmun Track signs which will also take you parallel to the large water pipes. This is an easy walk to follow but pay attention and keep an eye to for the trail markers as around 400meres after you start you will turn to the right and start heading up the hill to the Perth Hills Discovery Centre. Most of the walk up to the the Discovery centre is on management road but there is a small diversion off the road that will take you down all slightly to a viewing platform to the lake and dam wall. The walk actually runs through the middle of the discovery centre and once you wound your way through it the trail is now all on walking track unit you reach your destination. So long as you have a basic level of fitness this is an easy walk that will get you to your camp in around 2-2.5 hours. Even for those with less that good fitness will easily manage this walk so its a very good choice for those looking at branching out into overnight camping. The walk back to the start point is almost all downhill or flat.
The Ball Creek campsite is one of a number of camps spread along the Bibbulmun Track and contains undercover sleeping platforms, water tank, as well as a composting toilet. Being so close to Perth this camp is likely to be busy, particularly during the Autumn and Spring period on the weekends so I would suggest bringing a tent to set up on one of a number of the flat camping sites.
Depending the time of the year you will come across a variety of wildflowers and while there are more spectacular walks in the Perth region I still enjoyed my self to the point of doing this walk as a standalone less than a week after completing the Bibbulmun Track.
Park along the small side street next to the hotel
Follow the pipeline adjacent to the craft centre across the road from the hotel
The yellow trail markers are either on trees or on red posts
Trail marker on a tree
Part of the management road you walk along prior to reaching the Perth Hills Discovery Centre
Wattle in flower (September)
Native Hibbertia in flower
Viewing platform down to Mundaring Weir
View to Mundaring Weir from the viewing platform
Walking through the discovery centre carpark
Foot cleaning station just after the discovery centre
Native Orchid (Cyanicula amplexans)
Trail example after the discovery centre
Coming to the camp site
Ball Creek Campsite with water tanks each side
Close up of sleeping platforms inside the shelter
Toilet facilities at the campsite
Composting toilet. Bring your own paper just in case
Returning back to the start point
Getting There
Google map to Mundaring Weit Hotel from the Perth GPO which is about a 43km trip
Park along the small side street next to the hotel
Things to Know
- Phone: The mobile phone coverage is reasonably good on this trailT (Telstra)
- Water: Water is available at the Ball Creek Campsite during the cooler months. If you plan on doing this walk in mid summer I would suggest taking your own water
- Toilets: There are toilets at the hotel, the discovery centre, and at the campsite. Bring your own toilet paper just in case
- Trail: This walk is on formed natural trail
- Dogs: Dogs not allowed within 3km of Maundering Weir to leave your 4 legged friends at home
- Camping: Camping allowed (Check with Kosciusko National Park on prohibited camping zones)
- Other:
- This trail is best walked in the cooler months
- Expect the trail to be busy on the weekend particularly during the cooler months
- Take advantage of the Mundaring Weir hotel for a drink or lunch break at the end of the walk. Be warned it’s busy on the weekend!
Disclaimer
This walk was undertaken by the team from Australian Hiker