Feature National Park: Greater Wellington National Park

Wellington National Park, with its magnificent stands of jarrah, marri and blackbutt forests is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Park is popular all year round with the spring show of wildflowers making it a photographers’ paradise. Within the Park, deep within the gorge and forests of the Collie River Valley, the river tumbles over granite boulders before forming deep pools, perfect for a swim on a hot day or a languid paddle in a canoe.

Wellington Dam (Photo: Parks & Wildlife)

Located 18km west of Collie, Wellington National Park is one of nature’s jewels. In summer the Park is a hive of activity with the Collie River and dam offering lots of spots to swim, canoe, fish or simply laze the summer afternoons away along the water’s edge. In winter, visitors can enjoy the cool crisp days, with the evenings a perfect time to sit around a welcoming campfire. What could be better than the smell of dinner cooking over the fire?

Both Potters Gorge and Honeymoon Pool have free gas barbecues, picnic tables and toilet facilities.

There are several picnic areas to be found along the scenic five kilometres of Lennard Drive, alongside the Collie River below the wall of the Wellington Dam, including the Rapids, Long Pool, Big Rock and Little Rock. Most of these locations have picnic tables but no toilet facilities.

Another great feature of the National Park is the café aptly named ‘Kiosk at the Dam’ where you can sit over-looking the Wellington Dam and have a delicious morning or afternoon tea or lunch. Open Thursday to Sunday 9am – 4pm, Public Holidays and every day during school holidays.

The Park contains a variety of tracks and trails suitable for bushwalking and cycling and numerous bush camping areas. Canoeing, swimming, fishing, marroning and bird watching are all popular activities. Licence requirements apply for fishing and marroning. The marron season (normally around January or February) is usually fairly short, with the riverbank busy as fishers try to catch these elusive crustaceans. Information on fishing regulations and bag limits is available from www.fish.wa.gov.au

Abseiling is possible at the Quarry in Wellington National Park. Participants must have their own equipment, appropriate licences and book through the Department of Parks and Wildlife office in Collie (Phone 9735 1988)

Location: Wellington National Park. Signed turn-offs to all areas along Wellington Weir Road and Lennard Drive.

Article source: Collie River Valley Visitor Centre