Winding forest roads, a walk across a century-old dam wall and lunch at a historic pub. Here's my favourite Sunday drive to Mundaring Weir.
A drive with a story at the end
Mundaring Weir is my favourite Sunday drive in the hills. It’s about 40 km from the city, the roads through the jarrah forest are some of the best in Perth, and there’s a genuinely remarkable piece of WA history waiting at the end.
The weir, near Mundaring, is the start of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. Since 1903, water from here has been pumped about 530 km east to Kalgoorlie, and it still is today.
Quick facts
- Where: Mundaring Weir, about 40 km east of the city in the Perth Hills.
- What it is: The start of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, pumping water about 530 km to Kalgoorlie since 1903.
- Walks: Across the dam wall during the day, plus a signposted loop around the weir.
- Museum: No 1 Pump Station, run by the National Trust. Opening days can be limited.
- Food: The historic Mundaring Weir Hotel, or picnic and barbecue areas near the weir.
- Route: Through Kalamunda and Mundaring Weir Road, or Great Eastern Highway via Mundaring.
“You can walk along the top of the weir and marvel at the engineering genius of CY O’Connor”
Theresa D, Tripadvisor review
The drive in
I usually head up through Kalamunda, then take Mundaring Weir Road through the forest. It’s a beautiful stretch of sweeping bends under tall trees, and on a sunny Sunday morning it’s one of my favourite rides on the motorbike. Take it easy, though. It’s popular with cyclists and you’ll meet plenty of wildlife and weekend traffic.
If you’re coming from the city in the car, you can also go up the Great Eastern Highway to Mundaring and come in from the north.
Walk across the wall
You can walk across the top of the dam wall during the day, unless it’s closed for operational reasons. On one side is Lake C.Y. O’Connor, named after the engineer behind the scheme. On the other is a big drop down to the Helena River valley.
A signposted walk loops around the weir, with signs explaining its history along the way. The Golden Pipeline site has more detail on the walks and the scheme’s story.
“From the dam wall the view of the Lake C.Y. O’Connor (former Helena River Reservoir) is really beautiful.”
bluebay06, Tripadvisor review
No 1 Pump Station
Below the wall, the old No 1 Pump Station is now a museum run by the National Trust. It tells the story of how the pipeline was built and what it meant for the Goldfields. Check opening days before you go, as they can be limited.
Lunch at the pub
The historic Mundaring Weir Hotel is just up the road, where C.Y. O’Connor himself stayed during site visits. It’s the perfect spot for a long lunch in the sun before the drive home. There are also picnic and barbecue areas near the weir if you’d rather bring your own.
“The hotel next door has a great place to have lunch.”
jul1407, Tripadvisor review
Make a full day of it by adding the Zig Zag Scenic Drive and Kalamunda lookouts on the way up or back. On the way home, stop in John Forrest National Park for the Swan View Tunnel walk, or ride a stretch of the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail from Darlington.
Featured image: JarrahTree, CC BY 2.5 AU via Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can walk across the dam wall during the day, unless it’s closed for operational reasons.
