1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see Photo Galleries)

3) 3D map view

4) Google map & Satellite imagery

5) Route profiles

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

Hancock Brook in a dry winter, June 2010.

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          Route profiles

           OPTION A:  From Flynn Rd (Wariin Brook)

           OPTION B:  From Gorrie Rd (Helena Brook)

Option A (Flynn Rd): Approx. 50 kms east of Perth along Great Eastern  Highway to Flynn Road turnoff (on right approx. 2km before The Lakes) then further 6 kms down Flynn Road (part sealed, part good condition dirt road).

Option B (Gorrie Rd): Approx. 46 kms east of Perth along Great Eastern  Highway to Gorrie Road turnoff on right (approx. 1 km after Old Northam Rd turnoff on left) then further 2.3 kms down Gorrie Road (good condition dirt road).

Option A (Flynn Rd): 13 kms (86% off-track)

Option B (Gorrie Rd): 16 kms (73% off-track)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

Option A: 270m (cumulative ascent)

Option B: 335m

YES

See Google Map for start point on satellite map.

(Use zoom ladder for detail. Select 'Map' for roads only.)

Option A (Flynn Rd): About 50m  before Flynn Road ends at Albercorn Road (on left), turn right down a dirt track for about 150m and park at 'START-W' point before the track crosses a stream gully (Wariin Brook).

Option B (Gorrie Rd): Park on the side of Gorrie Road at 'START-G' close to where the road crosses a small stream gully (Helena Brook). Alternatively, park down old vehicle track which leaves Gorrie Rd 50m north of 'START-G'.

Important access issue:   Walkers need to be aware that this walk area and many others on WalkGPS lie within drinking water catchment areas. In 2007 DoW in effect recommended a prohibition of all traditional off-track bushwalking activities across the entire Perth region catchment areas covering 4500 sq km, far beyond the limits of  existing or proposed Reservoir Protection Zones (see map). By March 2008, the DoW had been persuaded to reconsider its published position. The new Policy of 2012 refrains from banning traditional bushwalking in the outer catchments. The community, including visitors to WalkGPS, need to remain vigilant to ensure that commonsense continues to prevail over regulatory zealotry. See also Home page: 'Access' and Related access issues on WalkGPS, and DOW's "Mundaring Weir Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan" of 2007.

e.g. In south or east, follow Cavern Road NE to Flynn Road or SW to Gorrie Road (then 6.5km NNW on Gorrie Road to Great Eastern Hwy). In north and west, various vehicle tracks lead to Great Eastern Hwy or Gorrrie Rd.

/Highlights:

The highlight of the two walk options in this area is the very pleasant 3 km stroll through wandoo woodlands along the banks of Hancock Brook located about 15 km east of Mundaring. The best time to visit the area is late winter-early spring when the Brook is more likely to be flowing resulting in a number of small waterfalls and cascades along the mainly rocky stream course. (The stream course drops in elevation by about 65m from north to south along the walk route.) As always, in early spring the wildflowers also add something special to every bushwalk. Both walk routes also traverse one or two large granite outcrops on the hillsides which provide some good views of the forest surroundings, and in the case of Option A walk, views to Mt Dale, 23-25 kms south.

It's worthwhile doing both separate walk options: The routes overlap along the Brook but are otherwise different in what they offer:

Walk Option A (Flynn Rd): This is the shorter of the two walk options (by 3 kms) and has a little less uphill walking, but almost the same net distance of off-track walking. The last 2.5 kms section of the route (from near Cavern Rd crossing back to Wariin Brook) overlaps with the first part of the Mt Gorrie Walk.

Walk Option B (Gorrie Rd): Although longer, this walk includes 4.3 kms of easy walking along old forestry tracks. The route includes some additional pleasant walking through wandoo woodlands along the upper reaches of Helena Brook (which flows into Helena River about 6 kms to the south). It also visits an old logging sawpit which was likely associated with the former Forsyths Mill, which was located about 3.5 kms NW of the sawpit location.

Note:  This area is unfortunately also very popular with off-road trail bike and quad bike riders despite being in the Jarrah Die-back 'Disease Risk Area' where non-permitted vehicle entry is prohibited. Hopefully the riders will be encouraged by DEC (and via The State Trail Bike Strategy of Dec. 2007 and the Recreational Trailbike Riders Association of WA (RTRA)) to find more appropriate legal areas for riding before too much more damage is done here. Meanwhile your walking may be disturbed by the whine of their bikes.

Controlled burns:  See DEC's indicative burn program.

WalkGPS walk map for OziExplorer users:  A downloadable OziExplorer format MAP file (*.map) for this walk area is included on the Waypoint & Track Files page. The zipped folder also includes the associated 'base' topo map image file, plus other attached waypoints, tracks/routes, etc in OxiExplorer file formats.

WalkGPS reconnaissance history: Click here for a map of past WalkGPS test walks in the walk area, plus the final route. The final route was selected only after several visits to the area which aimed to achieve a walk that would be the most rewarding.

Other: Mundaring 1:50,000 Sheet (Dept. of CALM, 1990);  or

Mundaring & Chidlow 1:50,000 DEC Conservation Operations Graphic (COG) map series (current) Sheet 2134-3 & 2134-2.

Some local history:

Forsyth's Mill - The Mill operated from 1896 to 1903 at the corner of Gorrie Rd and Great Eastern Hwy. There is a useful DEC information panel at the location which provides some information on the history of the area. The location is also the trail head for the popular Forsyth's Mill Mountain Bike Trail adopted by the Perth Mountain Bike Club and managed by DEC.

"Malmalling" Homestead - The Gorrie family ran the former "Malmalling" property to the south of the walk area from 1907 until 1953.   The homestead was located about 2.3 kms south of  where the walk routes meet Hancock Brook at waypoint 'H1'. Beef cattle were run on the Gorrie land after 1953 but the Government later resumed the property. The old homestead was abandoned in 1968 and the surrounding farmland was soon after converted into the current pine plantation. The homestead was later destroyed by vandals and sadly even the stone wall ruins were then bulldozed into an ugly heap by Water Corp in about 2006 due to safety and public liability concerns. Two large oak trees planted behind the cottage in the early 1900's remain as reminders of the history of the site. See Mundaring & Hills Historical Society Spring 2005 Newsletter (p.6) for a good summary of the history of the Malmalling site.

Walk Option A (Flynn Rd)

From 'START-W' point cross the nearby Wariin Brook to follow the dirt road 1.5 km WSW in a fairly straight line (along old fenceline) through wandoo woodlands to reach a T-junction (at waypoint 'W1'). Turn right and follow the vehicle track for less than 200m to a stream gully at 'W2'. Veer westward to head off-track along the southern side of the gully through open woodland for almost 1 km, passing a small outcrop on the north bank before reaching 'W3'. Then head SSW, soon crossing the laterite-capped ridge crest at about 'W4'. Descend gently S-ward across rocky ground and low heath (via 'W5') to reach quite open ground at the head of a SW-sloping side valley. Head S-ward along slope for about 250m to 'W7', then veer SW to 'W8' along the steepening pebbly escarpment below a distinctive, laterite-capped hill-top. Then veer sharp right (WNW) to head downslope for 400m through wandoo woodland to 'W9' near a stream gully. Cross the gully to continue WNW across a low rocky ridge (via 'W10') to reach the boulder-filled Hancock Brook. Cross the Brook to the steepish west bank (to 'H1') and then head N-ward along the slope to 'H2' before descending to re-cross the Brook onto a granite slab along the east bank at 'H3'. Now, simply head N-ward along the east bank of Hancock Brook via 'H2', 'H3', 'H4', 'H5', 'H6', 'H7', passing a possible very small waterfall at 'H4' and rapids at 'H5' (only flowing following good winter rainfall). Cross other rock slabs (via 'H6' and 'H7') and pass through a thicket of sheoak to cross Cavern Road at 'H8' (which is about 1 km of walking distance since you started along the Brook). Continue N-ward via 'H10' etc, staying close to the stream course. Following good rainfall there will be very small rapids or cascades at several points along the way (e.g. at 'H10', 'H11', 'H12'). In places, the shrubland becomes denser near the stream course (e.g. between 'H11' and 'H12') and it is then best to briefly detour up to 30m away from the stream for easier walking. Cross a small, low granite dome at 'H13' and then cross the Brook to continue N-ward along the west bank through very picturesque woodlands. Stay above the stream gully which becomes more deeply incised N-ward. Cross another dirt road at 'H14' and soon after cross a deep side gully. Continue north to 'H15' at which point you have walked 3 km along Hancock Brook. Descend the steep western bank and head NE through mixed forest to 'H16', then N-ward to cross a gentle gully and pass through a patch of shrubland to reach a granite slab (near 'H17'). Head up the slope of the slab via 'H18' (from where there will be good views, including to the pyramid-shaped Mt Dale.) After reaching the top of the rock slope at 'H19', head directly upslope and in less than 50m arrive at a cluster of large boulders near the forest edge. (This makes a pleasant spot for a rest stop.) Then head due east along slope through open jarrah forest to 'W12' near the crestal area of a broad NW-SE trending ridge.  Then head SE-ward along the ridge (via 'W13') and descend slightly to a small outcrop at the head of a NE-ward draining gully. Continue along slope to enter wandoo woodlands again (near 'W15') where there are more rocky outcrops. Veer SSE-ward, upslope, to return to the crest of the ridge (via '16' and '17'). Re-cross Cavern Road at 'W18' and veer S-ward downslope to reach a rock outcrop at 'W19' from where there is a good view SW across a small valley. Head along slope through partly scrubby bush and sheoak thickets (avoiding low, thick heath over much of the crestal area of the ridge). At 'W20' veer S-ward down the plunging ridge crest via 'W21', crossing rocky outcrops. At 'W22' veer E-ward and soon descend to cross a small stream course at 'W23' and then a small stream channel at 'W24'. Meet the dirt road at 'W25' and follow it back across Wariin Brook to regain the Start point.

Walk Option B (Gorrie Rd)

From 'START-G' point on Gorrie Road, head off track W-ward close to the north bank of Helena Brook. Soon cross a side gully (near 'G1') and continue over a low rocky rise through open wandoo woodland. After 'G2' closely follow the stream course to 'G3' where it drops across a dolerite ledge creating a small waterfall. Veer WSW on the south bank and soon reach Cook Road (at 'G5').  Continue S-ward, staying close to the stream course which flows across an outcrop. At 'G6' veer left to head SE upslope through heath and balgas. After 'G7' stay slightly downslope of the spur ridge on your right and soon reach an outcrop. Climb the sloping outcrop to 'G8' and continue SE-ward, entering jarrah forest and reaching a fairly flat hill top by 'G9'.  Veer S-ward and soon descend through forest to another, smaller outcrop at 'G10', with views west over a pine plantation in the valley and to the forest beyond. Veer SE to head along slope (via 'G11') and across the crest of the ridge to reach (at 'G12') the corner of a dirt road around a pine plantation. Follow the road (via 'G13') S-ward to the junction with Trew Road (at 'G14'), passing another pine plantation now on your right. Turn left to follow Trew Rd E-ward to a side road at 'G15'. Then head ESE-ward, off-track through woodland to soon cross a gully and reach Gorrie Road (at 'G16', 2 kms SE down the road from the Start point). Head S-ward on Gorrie Rd for only 200m to a vehicle track on the left (at 'G17'). Follow the track uphill through forest, initially NE, but then veering SE and steepening after 'G18'. The track crosses a narrow ridge and meets another (N-S) track at 'G19'. Turn right on the track to continue SW-ward, downhill along the SW side of a gully. The track veers S-ward along slope at 'G20' and then joins Cavern Road at 'G21'. Continue S-ward on the road to 'G22', then head SE-ward off-track down a steepening slope to reach the gully of Hancock Brook at 'G23'. Now head northward along the Brook for 3 km via waypoints 'H1' through to 'H15' (as described above for the OPTION 1 route). At 'H15', you may follow 'H16', 'H17', 'H18', 'H19' away from the Brook as for OPTION 1 to ascend the rock slab on the NE flank of the valley. After reaching 'H19', then head NW-ward along slope to pass through 300m of forest and reach another outcrop at 'G24'. Continue NW-ward mainly along slope and mainly on outcrop to 'G25'. Then veer W-ward to descend through forest and woodland and re-cross Hancock Brook at 'G26'.

[Alternatively at 'H15', if low on energy, you can opt not to cross the Brook to 'H16', but instead stay on the west bank for a further 1.3 kms to reach 'G26'. That option reduces the walk distance by 0.5 km and also reduces the amount of uphill walking by about 30m.]

From the Brook at 'G26' head W-ward gently upslope to 'G27' to reach a clearing in the forest. Here there is evidence of the early logging days, in the form of a large trench-like sawpit where timber would have been cut with a longsaw. Nearby there is also the remnants of a small fireplace construction with scattered, rusted metal relics. Continue W-ward, crossing one vehicle track and reaching another at 'G28'. Veer WNW to meet Cook Road at 'G29'. Head west up the road which crosses the ridge.  Leave the road at 'G30' to continue W-ward, descending to 'G31' near the south bank of Helena Brook. Then follow the south bank W-ward through mixed forest for 800m (via 'G32' and 'G33') to rejoin Gorrie Road at 'G34'. Turn right on the road to reach the Start point ('START-G')within 50m. [Alternatively, at 'G31', instead of closely following the stream course you can opt to cross Helena Brook to the north bank and head upslope for 100m to meet a minor vehicle track (not shown on map). Follow the track W-ward for about 750m to meet Gorrie Rd only 50m north of the Start point.]