Powerline Trek

StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesMundaring
FinishMundaring
DifficultyDifficulty 3/5
Suitable For4WD 
Distance58.66 km
Minimum Days1
Average Speed44 km/hr
Travel Time1 hr 19 mins
Page Updated: 17 Aug 2023

Description

The Powerline trek follows the service track for the powerlines between the valleys from Mundaring to York. This is a popular trek with local driver training operators as it contains numerous obstacles of varying degree of difficulty and is not in a National Park area, hence no permits are required. If you're looking for a secluded bush drive, this one might not be for you. Of course, this is also a great trek to undertake on your own to test out your skill and vehicle setup.

The route has a series of steep valleys and the views at the top of each crest are simply amazing. The flora changes considerably from the winter season, when things are wet, slippery, muddy and very boggy, to the summer season when things are bone dry and rutted due to serious erosion caused from the previous winter. The vegetation includes tall eucalypts, cycads and various heath scrubs and the soils vary from sands to clay with the colours changing from white to red. Local wallabies are often sited, particularly during cool and overcast days.

Each year, and throughout the year, this trek changes considerably due to the effects of weather and the fact that the council actually put a fair bit of maintenance work into this track. None of this actually affects the trek as such, but affects the degree of difficulty, or ease, that you will experience in completing the trip.

How to Use this Trek Note

  • To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP

ExplorOz Traveller now features the NEW EOTopo 2023 mapset!

Environment

Sawyers Valley and Mundaring lie in the transitional zone between the Darling Range and the wheat belt and really are the "heart of the hills". The predominant tree species are Wandoo (E. wandoo, a large white barked eucalypt), Jarrah (E. marginata) and Marri (E. calophylla), both of which are large, dark barked eucalypts. Large under storey thickets also occur frequently.

Scattered rocks in the terrain are mostly granite, but laterite cap rock occurs along some ridges, slopes and hill tops.

In summary the terrain is quite variable, mostly undulating, with deeply incised gully systems on the slopes, few tracks, some complex rock sections with the flatter areas being relatively featureless.

History

The Powerline Track follows an active powerline carrying electricity from Muja power station. Collie supplies much of the South of Western Australia with electricity via Muja Power Station, which came on line 1969 and the newer Collie Power Station that commenced operations in May 1999.

Mundaring - from the Aboriginal word 'Mindah-lung', is the site of one of Australia's greatest engineering feats - the Mundaring Weir and the Golden Pipeline, which carries water all the way to Kalgoorlie.

The first European into the Mundaring area was Ensign Robert Dale who, in 1829, traced the Helena River upstream to a point near the present site of the Mundaring Weir. The nearby town of Sawyers Valley began as a pit sawyers' settlement in the 1860's. Today, many of the original sawpits can still be seen. The first freehold land in the area wasn't granted until 1882 and it wasn't until 1889 that a sawmill opened in the area and timber cutters moved in to exploit the extensive stands of jarrah and karri. The timber trade was the mainstay of the place for many years.

TrekID: 51

Preparation

MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek - Outback Safety, Outback Driving Tips, Outback Communications, and Vehicle Setup for the Outback.

TIP

Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability.
There are several extreme slopes to tackle and much of the trip includes steep, deeply rutted tracks and access roads making this trip suitable for experienced 4WDers only. The area is greatly affected by wet weather and during winter can be an extremely boggy location, whilst in summer is slightly less challenging.

Preparation for this route should be as for any other relatively remote 4WD track, including carrying sufficient fuel, water, food, supplies, communications gear, safety equipment and first aid, along with emergency backup supplies.

There are numerous tracks in the area and some may be unnamed or not shown on maps. A wise precaution is to get hold of some updated and detailed mud maps of the area. Be well prepared with a GPS, HF radio or Satellite phone as you may not see another vehicle. We advise that you refer to the latest information and advice about outback communications in the Communications Topic.

There may be risks with getting punctures, so please make sure you have adequate recovery gear and puncture repair kits. Travellers should read the 4WDriving Topic for related articles and checklists for vehicle setup and driver awareness.

Permits

No permits are needed for the Powerline Trek.

Fuel Usage

DieselULPLPG
4cyl 8 litres4cyl 9 litres4cyl 12 litres
6cyl 9 litres6cyl 11 litres6cyl 10 litres
8cyl 9 litres8cyl 10 litres
Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Bickley
Distance from Trek Mid Point 11.87km S
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C30.630.728.223.519.516.015.115.917.421.124.828.0
Mean Min. °C15.215.814.512.510.28.17.17.58.29.511.813.6
Mean Rain mm18.019.725.255.4130.0201.7217.5169.6123.666.643.913.8
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Map

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Directions

Mundaring to Sawyers Valley
Driving: 3.29 km
Heading: 91°
Avg Speed: 75.5 km/hr
EST Time: 02:36
Sawyers Valley to Great Eastern Hwy & Flynn Rd
Driving: 11.36 km
Heading: 79°
Avg Speed: 77.53 km/hr
EST Time: 08:47
Great Eastern Hwy & Flynn Rd to Flynn Road & Nganguring Road
Driving: 1.88 km
Heading: 119°
Avg Speed: 43.96 km/hr
EST Time: 02:33
Flynn Road & Nganguring Road to Nganguring Road (Bridge)
Driving: 1.1 km
Heading: 93°
Avg Speed: 11.39 km/hr
EST Time: 05:47
Nganguring Road (Bridge) to Nganguring Road (Boulders on Track)
Driving: 1.08 km
Heading: 88°
Avg Speed: 12.02 km/hr
EST Time: 05:23
Nganguring Road (Boulders on Track) to Nganguring Road (Graded Dip)
Driving: 0.3 km
Heading: 89°
Avg Speed: 3.79 km/hr
EST Time: 04:44
Nganguring Road (Graded Dip) to Ngangaguringguring Hill
Driving: 2.07 km
Heading: 96°
Avg Speed: 6.84 km/hr
EST Time: 18:09
Ngangaguringguring Hill to Nganguring Track & Bunyip Track
Driving: 4.21 km
Heading: 87°
Avg Speed: 8.62 km/hr
EST Time: 29:18
Nganguring Track & Bunyip Track to Nganguring Road (Culvert over stream)
Driving: 1.45 km
Heading: 90°
Avg Speed: 17.76 km/hr
EST Time: 04:53
Nganguring Road (Culvert over stream) to Great Southern Hwy & Powerlines Track
Driving: 2.67 km
Heading: 61°
Avg Speed: 15.64 km/hr
EST Time: 10:14
Great Southern Hwy & Powerlines Track to Twenty Five Mile Hill
Driving: 6.69 km
Heading: 276°
Avg Speed: 89.3 km/hr
EST Time: 04:29
Twenty Five Mile Hill to Manaring Lake
Driving: 5.73 km
Heading: 267°
Avg Speed: 93.74 km/hr
EST Time: 03:40
Manaring Lake to Lakes Roadhouse
Driving: 0.45 km
Heading: 323°
Lakes Roadhouse to Great Eastern Hwy & Flynn Rd
Driving: 1.73 km
Heading: 232°
Avg Speed: 50.81 km/hr
EST Time: 02:02
Great Eastern Hwy & Flynn Rd to Sawyers Valley
Driving: 11.36 km
Heading: 259°
Avg Speed: 77.53 km/hr
EST Time: 08:47
Sawyers Valley to Mundaring
Driving: 3.29 km
Heading: 271°
Avg Speed: 75.5 km/hr
EST Time: 02:36
Distance is based on the travel mode shown (Driving, Straight, Cycling, Walking etc), Direction is straight line from start to end, Avg Speed & EST Time is calculated from GPS data.

What to See

No Places To See available for this trek

Facilities

Where to Stay

No Places To Stay available for this trek

Services & Supplies

Wildflowers

Related Travel Journals

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