Dwellingup Adventure Trails – What’s New in 2022

March 4, 2022

The story so far …

Dwellingup is in the traditional home of the Wilman people and is recognised as a sacred, spiritual dreaming place. The origin of the town’s name is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of nearby water’. We too acknowledge the story of the river as we shape the trails of this project.

Since the Dwellingup Adventure Trails (DAT) project was initiated three years ago, Dwellingup has begun its transformation to become a nationally significant premier trails and adventure destination.

With approximately $15 million of joint State and Commonwealth funding being invested, local businesses have seen an influx of trail tourists coming to sample the region’s offerings. Empty shops in town have been leased, employment options have increased, visitor numbers have risen significantly, visitors have stayed longer and Dwellingup has become a desirable town for a ‘tree change’.

The 32km of the Murray Valley Mountain Bike trails are renowned for their ‘hero dirt’, the perfect combination and consistency of soil moisture, soil makeup and traction. Compared to the ball-bearing gravel of many parts of the southwest, the orange soil of Dwellingup makes for perfect mountain biking conditions and it’s only 90 minutes from Perth.

With the Murray Valley mountain bike trail network now complete, the award-winning Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre up and running complete with bike shop and cafe, the town pump track and skate park booming and new canoe launch facilities in Lane Poole Reserve, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s (DBCA) attention has turned to the next stage of the DAT project.

Making connections … the Dwaarlindjirraap Bridge

Work has commenced on the 148m suspension bridge over the Murray River that will link the Dwaarlindjirraap picnic area, Baden Powell campground and the planned Waypoints Trail Centre on the north side of the river with the Murray Valley mountain bike trails network on the south side.

This inspiring bridge will provide scenic views of the Murray River in both directions, including the waterspout just upstream. It will also improve safety and enable cyclists and walkers to cross the river without having to drive several kilometres through the reserve and over the seasonally-closed Bobs Crossing.

The bridge has been designed to withstand significant flood events and will provide better access to trails and facilities on both sides of the river.

Lead bridge contractor, Bocol Constructions, has worked with Arup engineers and the project team at DBCA to develop a unique design with components currently being prefabricated in Henderson before being transported to site for assembly.

DBCA projects always aim to help create local employment and support local businesses and contractors where possible.

Lane Poole Reserve Roadworks

Stage 1 of the road sealing project has been completed. Park Road from the Lane Poole entry to Bobs Crossing has been sealed and some minor road realignments completed.

Stage 2, which includes Murray Valley Road from Nanga Mill entry to Chuditch Campground, is underway and so this section of road is currently closed.

Treetops Adventures and the Chuditch Campsite remain open, but some road closures will be in place during the work, which is expected to be completed in April 2022. Please do not park in front of any emergency vehicle access gates.

The following campgrounds will be CLOSED during this time:

Nanga Brook Campground
Nanga Mill Campground
Stringers Campground

The following campgrounds will remain OPEN:

Baden Powell Campground
Nanga Townsite Campground
Charlies Flat Campground
Tonys Bend Campground
Chudich Campground
Yarragil Campground

Download an information sheet HERE

For up-to-date information on road, campground or access closures during the roadworks, visit the Park Alerts page on the Explore Parks website.

New Town Trails

Trail contractor, Three Chillies Design, are about to start building 20km of cross-country and all mountain style trails around the town of Dwellingup. Collectively called the ‘Town Trails’, two all-mountain descents and a climb will be constructed on the southern side of town, while a network of green (easy) and blue (moderate) rated cross-country trails will be built on the northern side of Dwellingup.

The detailed design stage is underway and it is envisaged that the Town Trails will include a cross-country link to the Marrinup MTB trails network further north of Dwellingup and close to the old POW camp.

Construction of these new trails is expected to commence in the coming weeks. Some key features of the new network include …

Easy shared-use trails starting and finishing at the Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre providing an opportunity for visitors to explore the town centre and surrounds by bike.
Loop options of varying lengths north and south of town, including a new cross-country link to the well-known and well-loved Marrinup circuit, and a dedicated return directly back to town.
Realignment of the Munda Biddi cycle trail north of town to a single track trail.

What goes into creating the perfect trail?

New and improved walk and bike trails are popping up across the State providing even more opportunity for you to get out and enjoy our national parks and reserves. Take a look behind the scenes in this video at the work that’s been going on in Dwellingup to find out what makes a great trail.

More trails planned

Additional new and upgraded trails are being planned and will be delivered over the next three years.

These include …

Upgrades to the Turner Hill and Marrinup MTB circuits.
Development of 15km of new MTB trails between the Turner Hill and Marrinup MTB trail networks.
Development of competition-level downhill mountain bike trails near Toms Crossing in Lane Poole Reserve.
New canoe launch facilities on the Murray River at Yarragil and Stringers campgrounds to improve access to the river.
Upgrade of the King Jarrah walk trail in Lane Poole Reserve.
Creation of a 3-day, 2-night walk loop off the Bibbulmun Track using the Chadoora campsite north of Dwellingup and the Swamp Oak campsite to the south.

A great day trip or weekender

Dwellingup has a trail for everyone and is only an hour and a half from Perth. Why not stay a few nights and enjoy everything on offer in one of the best ‘Trail Towns’ in Western Australia?

We acknowledge the Wilman people of the Noongar nation as the traditional owners of the lands of the Dwellingup Adventure Trails.