The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail is one of those Perth Hills adventures that you can make as easy-going or energetic as you like. This 41km loop winds through Mundaring and surrounding villages, following sections of the old Eastern Railway line. You definitely don’t need to tackle the whole thing in one hit though – this trail is perfect for exploring in little family-friendly bites as there is SO much to take in.
The wide gravel paths are great for walking or bike riding, with plenty of spots to stop for coffee, playgrounds, pub lunches and a little breather in nature. Dogs are welcome on much of the trail too, though they’re not permitted in the John Forrest National Park section.
A lovely place to begin is Mundaring Community Sculpture Park. Right beside the trail, this fab nature-play playground has climbing nets, a flying fox, huge nest swing, a giant lizard in the sandpit and plenty of shady spots for a picnic. Across the road, the Mundaring Hotel is a handy stop for lunch, with a kids’ playground in the beer garden and a dog-friendly outdoor area.
Heading towards Glen Forrest, Morgan John Morgan Reserve, better known as the Train Park, is a must for little train fans. Kids can climb aboard the life-size train, play in the sand and zoom down slides before popping across the road to Glen Forrest Gourmet for a well-earned coffee and cake. It’s also a great trail stop for families riding bikes.
On the northern section, The Parkerville Tavern is another brilliant family-friendly break (its playground is currently being redeveloped). From here, a short 1.4km walk east along the trail leads to Falls Park, where a pretty winter waterfall flows after decent rain. East from Parkerville, Mount Helena Tavern sits right on the trail and has a fabulous train-themed playground, nodding to the area’s railway history. It’s a great place to refuel after a ride.
The trail passes through John Forrest National Park too, where 5.5km of the route takes in bushland, old railway bridges, and the spooky 340m Swan View Tunnel. Bring a torch for the tunnel and visit after winter rain for National Park Falls and Hovea Falls. There’s also nature play, picnic areas and the elevated Jane Brook walkway to explore.
Whether you walk one kilometre, ride a section or spend a whole day hopping between villages by bike, the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail is a fab Perth Hills family adventure – where no two visits are the same.
You can hop on the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail at multiple points around the loop.
Find more things to do in Mundaring here.
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Amanda Carlin has her own food and travel blog. Established in 2013, (first as “The Chef, His Wife and Their Perth-fect Life”) Amanda loves getting out and about in Perth and WA for her blog ‘Simply PERTHfect’. You’ll find her checking out the newest foodie spots, as well as lots of WA travel, and fun family activities with the kiddos in tow. Part of a blended family of 6, Amanda always has plenty of family friendly recs. Be sure to check out Simply PERTHfect.
