Latest News about the Bibbulmun Track

Spring maintenance activity

20 September 2021

With the onset of spring, activity of our Track maintenance volunteers continues apace.

Sectional maintenance volunteers will be out visiting their sections – perhaps checking for any fallen timber after the winter storms, tackling some early spring regrowth, or tidying their campsite.

We have seen with pleasure the progress of the shelter upgrades. Gringer Creek, White Horse Hills, Yourdamung, Boarding House and Yabberup are now done (with the toilet replacement and some minor issues still outstanding). The work was completed by contractors engaged by DBCA. Harris Dam, Gregory Brook and Grimwade are the last on the list, with contracts yet to be awarded.

BTF volunteers are involved in several current projects – some large, some small. These include the approval process for multiple realignments, a new group campsite near Monadnocks, refurbishment of all timber components of the suspension footbridge at One Tree Bridge, redoing the Track marking in the area Lights Beach – Mount Hallowell, and consideration of a viable authorised route on the tip of the Nullaki Peninsula (see www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/news/latest/wilson-inlet-sandbar-crossing for recent detail).

Walking this long weekend?

17 September 2021

If you are planning a walk over this long weekend or school holidays, in addition to your usual planning, take five to read ten things you need to know:

Check which sections have any closures or diversions. Prescribed burning has begun and some sections of the Track may be affected.
Check where campfire bans are current (seasonal but may be in place) or total fire bans (declared on a daily basis) in the area you plan to walk. Some campsites have campfire bans all year round. Take and use your fuel stove.
Do this by checking the Track conditions on the section you are walking by visiting the relevant Section by Section Guide and clicking the Realignments/Diversion tab on our website.
Large groups will be using some campsites out on the Track. Check these by going to the Section By Section Guide and clicking on the section you would like to walk and then the Groups On Track tab. Avoid these campsites if possible. There will be a number of groups walking between Kalamunda and North Bannister.
Take a tent as space in the shelters cannot be guaranteed and many campsites will be very busy. Not everyone is an AFL tragic!
Carry a map (as well as a guidebook).
Only access the Track at permitted vehicle access points marked with a red or green car on the official maps. Click for more info and scroll down to Dieback and Bibbulmun Track access.
Take enough water. If you are only doing day-walks, carry enough for the day and leave the water in the tanks for the long distance walkers.
Refer to our FAQs and the Trip Planner pages for more information or contact us.
Remember vehicles of any kind (those things with wheels) are not permitted along the Track or at any Bibbulmun Track campsite. If you see one, take a photo which includes the registration plate so the authorities can follow it up. Use the Snap, Send Solve App to report them.

Rainbow in the valley. Should I check out the pot of gold?

We have relocated

9 August 2021

After a few hectic weeks of packing up our YHA offices and sourcing a new home we are pleased to annouce we are officially open to the public again.

We are now at 62 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge if you wish to buy merchandise (rather than online) or collect hire gear.

Check our offices hours and other ways to get in touch on our website contact page.

Please note we are still busy from the move, but we will do our very best to help you as soon as possible if you do visit us.

Partnering with the Children’s University Australasia

5 July 2021

We're excited to be partnering with the Children's University Australasia to bring Children's University to our world-famous Bibbulmun Track!

The Children’s University program opens a world of learning possibilities to young minds — by fostering wellbeing and encouraging children to discover new passions, visit new places and, above all, have fun!

This is achieved by providing local Learning Destinations such as the Bibbulmun Track, as well as public libraries, zoos, parks, museums, art galleries, and other organisations.

All Children’s University learning experiences are designed to have links to university courses and take place outside of the classroom e.g. during lunchtime, after school, weekends and holidays. Through a Passport to Learning, children participate in activities of their choice and are recognised for hours of participation through formal certificates at an on-campus graduation ceremony.

Children’s University members can earn up to 3 hours in their Passport to Learning for walking the Bibbulmun Track and answering questions. They can earn up to 10 hours in total per year!

Students need to walk part of a Track section as a day trip, or do a whole section as a holiday adventure. Using the Family-friendly itineraries provided by the BTF makes planning the walk easy.

Children’s University in Western Australia is delivered by Edith Cowan University and The University of Western Australia through the Children’s University Western Australia Partnership (CU WAP). To learn more about the program and opportunities to be involved, you can contact members of the CU WAP team at childrensuniversity@ecu.edu.au or childrensuniversity@uwa.edu.au.

Student involvement in Track maintenance – Spirit of Play Community School, Denmark

2 July 2021

The Spirit of Play Community School (PP – Year 6) have been looking after their section of Track since 2017. As part of the Newmont ‘Eyes on the Ground’ Track maintenance program, the school have the sectional allocation from Ocean Beach Road to the trailhead at the Denmark River mouth.

The school’s Walkabout program sees all core classes (English, Maths, Science, Physical Education, Art and HASS) spend one day each week outside the classroom. It includes walking for all students, with the distance suited to their age. The students also cycle, as a large part of the section is dual-use pathway. According to teacher and Track maintenance coordinator, Olly Watkins, the students use texts, websites, maps, and the knowledge of local Noongar Educators and Elders to learn about local plants, animals, insects and fungi; and also Denmark’s history.  “The kids love to see what they can find along the Track and notice the difference during the different Noongar Seasons”.

With the support of the Shire of Denmark, they have been involved in planting in the creek line opposite the school, where the Track approaches the river mouth. Through engagement with the South Coast Bush Care service, they carry out weeding and bush care on different sections of the Track.

Other adventures take them further afield. Recently, as part of a Refugee Ration Challenge, a group walked 11km from the school, along the Heritage Trail, to the Hay River. Two years ago, a four-day expedition by the Upper Primary students involved cycling to the Booner Mundak shelter on the Munda Biddi Trail; then cycling to the Tree Top Walk and walking in to the Bibbulmun Track Giants campsite; then walking to the Frankland River (camping on a nearby farm); then completing the trip by paddling to Nornalup.

It’s fair to say that these kids are getting a great taste of the natural world through their outdoors education! We hope this enjoyment continues and thank them very much for their contribution to the Bibbulmun Track.