Collie
Realignments & Alternative Routes
Wellington Dam Spur Trail
The 19km Wellington Dam spur trail links the Bibbulmun Track from near Yabberup campsite, just south of Collie, to the Wellington Dam recreation area in the Wellington National Park. The spur trail was identified as an ideal project to develop due to its proximity to the Perth population base, handy vehicle access and easy linkage to other recreational activities in the area including mountain biking and canoeing.
The trail can be walked as a three day/two night or two day/one night walk. It has two new group campsites (Lyall’s Mill and Arcadia). The campsites do not have a sleeping shelter, just an undercover area, tables, toilet and tent sites.
In 2023 a new walkway opened across Collie’s Wellington Dam, above the huge ‘Reflections’ mural. The 367m long walkway will initially only be open on weekends, public holidays and school holidays, but is expected eventually to be open daily. The walkway will allow hikers to finish at the kiosk.
The Wellington Spur Trail is also used by the five-day, four-night 87km Wiilman Bilya Trail, which circles Wellington Dam.
Directions
Lyall's Mill campsite is approximately 350 metres away from Yabberup campsite (300m from the spur/Track junction).
Arcadia campsite is on the spur trail between 3.5km south of the Wellington Dam wall.
Lyall's Mill campsite is approximately 20km to the south of Collie along the Bibbulmun Track. From the other direction, it sits approximately 6km north of the Glen Mervyn Dam providing a challenging or easy day's walk depending on the age of the group and/or the travel time to get to the drop-off/pick-up point.
The spur trail is marked with a green Waugal trail marker to differentiate it.
Glen Mervyn Dam
The Bibbulmun Track has been permanently realigned for 1.4km west away from the edge of the Glen Mervyn Dam.
This has taken place to take walkers away from unsightly waste near the old alignment.
Directions
From the north, the new alignment leaves the old alignment around 150m before reaching Best Rd. It then rejoins the original alignment around 1.5km later near a creek crossing 800m before crossing the dam wall.
The western trail shown is the new alignment.
Diversions & Other Impacts
Prescribed burn diversion (Mumballup)
Location: South of Collie (near Glen Mervyn Dam Picnic Site)
The Bibbulmun Track is closed for 4.6km due to prescribed burning.
A 2.9km diversion is in place.
The original route will remain closed until declared safe.
For your safety DO NOT enter any closed trail, even if there are no indications of prescribed burning activity. Stay on the marked diversion and follow all signage or instructions from Parks and Wildlife staff.
Walkers should be aware of fire operations vehicles and other traffic in the area.
For more information contact the Parks and Wildlife Service Collie on (08) 9735 1988.
Campfire Restrictions in place – Collie
Location: Collie to Balingup
As summer approaches, we are heading toward the annual campfire bans at campsites.
As at 31 October 2024, campfires are restricted to between 6pm – 10am for all Bibbulmun Track campsites between Collie and Balingup including the Wellington Spur Trail:
- Yabberup
- Lyall’s Mill
- Arcadia
- Noggerup
- Grimwade
Full campfire bans will come into force soon.
For further information, please contact the Parks and Wildlife Service Wellington office on (08) 9735 1988.
Wellington spur access
Location: Wellington Dam
DBCA has advised that the Wellington Dam Road bridge is closed to both vehicles and pedestrians in line with recent safety and engineering advice.
Walkers wishing to access the spur trail can do so via walking across the dam wall from the north side.
All vehicles can still access the main parking areas at the mural and kiosk via Wellington Dam Road. Light vehicles can also continue to access these areas via River Road.
Work to replace the bridge with an improved structure is being progressed as a priority by the Water Corporation but it is likely not to be completed until 2023/24.
For more information and updates on the Wellington Dam Road bridge replacement project, visit: https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Outages-and-works/Ongoing-Works/Wellington-Dam-Road-Bridge-upgrade