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 profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

Wandoo trees above Chinamans Gully.

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More photos.

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for larger frame Google Maps image

of the walk area. -Use zoom bar

for road details.

Step 1: Left Click here

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 on image of the walk area.

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Step 2: Left Click here

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 of the walk area.

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Hint: For enhanced 3D effect, set 'Elevation Exaggeration'

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             Route profile

35kms E of Perth along Great Eastern Hwy to Sawyers Valley township.

17kms (60% off-track)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

400m (cumulative ascent)

YES

See Google Map for start point on road map.

(Use zoom ladder for detail. Select 'Hybrid' to add satellite imagery.)

To reach car parking spot at Start point, drive approx 1.7km down Cole Road (gravel) which veers off Great Eastern Highway to the right just before the Highway curves left uphill out of Sawyers Valley township. Then turn right at hand-painted ‘Ashby’ sign to stay on Cole Road  (don't continue straight ahead onto Poison Lease Road). Drive approx. 750m down the narrow dirt road to parking bay (the Start Point) on the left near private homestead and 150m before a DEC barrier gate blocks the road.  Space for about 3 cars.

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.

Escape route/s :

Various dirt roads (see map) suitable for escape to north, west or south. Allen Road (in south) connects to Mundaring Weir Road to west.

Main features

/Highlights:

This walk takes in varied terrain, including a few step-across creek crossings and medium to steepish slopes into and out of Chinamans Gully. It is mainly through fairly open forest with only occasional scratchy bits. The scenery includes one or two very small waterfalls (if good winter rainfall!), picturesque stands of wandoo, a few granite outcrops, and some good views across Chinamans Gully and toward Lake C.Y. O'Connor (Helena Reservoir). 

The Chinamans Gully area (and about 25% of this walk route) lies within the northern limit of the new 8000ha Helena National Park.

For overnighters: For those keen to camp overnight in the area: The Helena Campsite (which includes a 3-sided shelter; at waypoint 'BIBHUT') on the Bibbulmun Track lies only about 1 km south of the granite slab ('ROK2') at the western end of Chinamans Gully (see map).

Controlled burns:  See DEC's current 6-season indicative burn program.

Additional maps :

WalkGPS walk map for OziExplorer users:  A downloadable OziExplorer format MAP file (*.map) for this walk area is included on the Maps, Waypoints & 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.

"Helena National Park - Park Guide" by DEC (undated pdf; 380KB).

From Start point follow dirt road (Cole Rd) initially southward to waypoint '1', then follow left road branch across stream and uphill to meet Firewood Road at '2'. Then head SE off-track (partly on traces of old forestry track) through marri-jarrah forest (via '3') and reach old N-S forestry track (at '4') after less than 1 km.  Turn right to follow the track S-ward for about 600m to reach North Rushy Rd (at '5'). Follow the road SE for 500m to where it veers E-ward (at '6'). Leave the road to continue SE through heath and forest to soon reach a small outcrop and the small stream in Manns Gully (at '7'). Follow the stream course upstream over and around some nice granite outcrops and boulders, with abundant Sea Urchin Hakea (Hakea petiolaris) flowering in winter. At '8' head uphill to follow a prominent granite outcrop S-ward and pass two large granite boulders before soon crossing Rushy Road (at '9'). Continue S-ward, along slope through open forest to pass through another cluster of large boulders (at '10-ROX') before reaching an old forestry road (Considine Rd; at '11'). Cross the road and head SW around a hillside before descending to a gully. Find a route through tall heath to cross the gully (at about '12') and then veer left to head SE along the valley slope (via '13'), passing through some local stands of wandoo. Cross Watson Road at '14' and follow the bank of the small stream (via '15' & '16') upstream. After '16' cross the gully to continue SE, uphill to meet Considine Rd again (at '17'). Follow the road SE to its T-junction with Scott Road (at '18'). Head E-ward off-track  and in less than 150m meet an old forestry track at '19' (North Gorge Rd, which follows the northern rim of Chinamans Gully). Follow the track NE-ward quite steeply uphill (via '20'). After  reaching the crest of the ridge (at '21' after about 500m), head ESE downhill (via '22') to cross a small gully and descend to a partly low shrub-covered outcrop (at '23') which extends along slope for about 250m and provides an excellent view SE-ward down Chinamans Gully and across the Helena River valley (now forming part of Lake CY O'Connor/Helena Reservoir. Stay on the upper slopes of the outcrop area and pick an easy route toward '24' through the shrubby patches. After leaving the outcrop, re-enter the forest and cross a deep side-gully before climbing steeply to a ridge (at '24'). The ridge here is dominated by picturesque open wandoo woodland and abundant zamia palms.  Head S-ward via '25' & '26' down the ridge which narrows at one point and drops quite abruptly across an interesting rocky laterite escarpment which provides an easy rock scramble.  At the foot of the ridge (near '27'), veer SW to pick a route through tall heath and cross the main stream course of Chinamans Gully (often dry, and can usually be stepped across easily). Then veer W-ward to follow the tributary stream course upstream via '28' across rocky outcrops (where small cascades would flow in a 'normal' winter after good rainfall). After reaching '29' the route veers more WSW-ward. Soon cross the stream bed to the northern side of the gully, passing through some very open wandoo woodland on the lower slopes and then some low heath and scrub on rockier slopes (at '30').  After '31',veer SW to reach a rocky outcrop at 'FALLS' where a small waterfall occasionally flows across the granite ledge in late winter to spring. Continue SW up the partly heath-covered outcrop to a nice rest spot on a large granite slab at 'ROK2'with good views eastward down the valley to the opposite rim of Chinamans Gully, descended earlier on the walk.  Then veer NW-ward, soon pass through some boulder clusters and reach (at about '34') a broad flat ridge. Continue NW-ward through the open jarrah-marri forest (and abundant wattles in late winter) on the ridge for about 1.25km via '35' (crossing Scott Rd) and '36', to meet Watson Rd at the T-junction with Burnt Bridge Rd (at '37').  Follow Burnt Bridge Rd for about 500m NW. At '38' veer north off-track to pass through a nice patch of wandoo woodland and then descend a granite slab (at '39'). Cross the small stream at the foot of the outcrop and follow the opposite slope N-ward along the gully (via '40') for about 500m. At '41' in wandoo woodland, veer W-ward to re-cross the stream course and soon rejoin Burnt Bridge Rd (at '42'). Follow the road for about 500m, re-crossing Rushy Rd at '43'. At '44' veer NE off-track to soon locate Manns Gully stream course. Cross the stream twice to then stay on the N-ward side. Veer briefly away from the stream across a low outcrop and open ground to bypass a patch of tall scrub to soon reach a small granite outcrop and small rock pool (at 'PL2'). Then head to '46' to rejoin the road and follow it for about 1.3km (via '47') to meet North Rushy Rd again at '48'. Continue off-track for a short distance to reach Firewood Road at '49'.  Turn right and follow Firewood Road for about 400m to '51', then veer NNE off-track through the very open eucalypt tree plantation to reach the road again at '52' and return N-ward up the road (via '1') to the End/Start point.