WELLINGTON DAM DRIVE
by Josh Langley
If you’re sitting at home
one Sunday and thinking what to do, then let me
suggest taking a cruise out to Wellington Dam. It’s
the perfect Sunday drive.
| The turn off to Wellington
Dam is about half way to Collie on the Coalfields
Tourist Drive. As soon as you leave the highway,
you’re immediately in Wellington National
park driving through tall timber forests,
with lush undergrowth and that unmistakable
smell of jarrah Trees.
As you wind your way along Wellington Weir
road, you’ll see the turn off on the
right for Potters Gorge, turn in and check
it out. There are camping facilities, canoe
hire, BBQ’s, toilets and a great view
across Wellington Dam. When we were there
a school camp was on, so we didn’t
hang around.
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Head back to the Wellington Weir road
and turn left and continue down to the Weir itself,
where you’ll find toilets and kiosk (only open on weekends). Head straight
on down the hill and it’ll take you under the
look out and onto the Quarry car park, which is
an amazing sight. Spend some time reading about
the history of the quarry and then ascend the rocky
stairway to the weir viewing platform. Be on the
look out for native animals, we found a Goanna sunning
itself on the stairs and had to walk around it.
The next step is to get to the bottom
of the dam so you can see the release water valve
close up. When you exit the quarry carpark turn
right and then take your next left, which should
wind its way to the bottom on the dam. Once you’ve
crossed the small one lane bridge, you can park
your car and walk over nearer the dam wall. If you
think the sight of the release valve is impressive,
imagine what it would be like when the Weir overflows,
as it has done on occasion!
For the next part of the drive you
need to leave the comfort of bitumen for gravel.
Its good quality and most cars wouldn’t have
a problem. From the small Carpark at the bottom
of the weir, continue up the other side, where you’ll
see the turn off on the right for Lennard Drive.
Take that and leisurely meander along taking in
the lush forest and glimpses of the collie river.
You’ll come across lots of places to sightsee
and have a BBQ or picnic such as the Rapids, Big
Rock, Little, Rock and Long Pool. If you feel the
mood and remembered to bring your bathers, Long
Pool is the perfect place to take a dip.
After heading down Lennard Drive for
a while you’ll come across River Road turn
off on the right which takes you to Honeymoon Pool.
This is a very popular camping spot, with the place
almost full when we drove through. Continue along
River Road and you’ll come back out on Wellington
Weir Road and that takes you back to Coalfields
Highway.
It’s a magnificent drive and
I can imagine it would be even better in late winter
or early spring. The region also features numerous
walk trails, so if you feel like getting out of
your car and experiencing this unique bush setting
up close, then I suggest talking a few hours off
and doing a bit bush walking.
April 2004
Josh Langley is an
artist, writer, and photographer from Bunbury in
Western Australia.
