WALKING IN THE CROOKED BROOK
FOREST
Story by Akita Olsen
Photos by Jesse Roberts
Ever spent a Saturday afternoon
wandering around short bushwalk tracks - past billabongs,
over creeks, and listening to the water flow and
the odd frog croak?
| In the middle of
our friends' lounge room we unfold our map
on their floor in search of a new destination
to explore, walk and have afternoon tea. We
had a couple of ideas and ended up choosing
the Crooked Brook Forest area, which we had
never been to before. The map indicated that
there was a toilet, parking, lookout, walks,
gas bbq, seating and was next to some water
- so that was it.
After filling the cars with kids, jackets,
toy wooden boats, drinking water, thermos
flasks and freshly made muffins, we where
out of the driveway in a flash. About 5
or 10 minutes from Dardanup we found the
place very easily thanks to the clearly
marked signs. We all unfolded from the vehicles
and were quickly drawn to the information
board near the main carpark area. It clearly
displayed 3 walks starting from the carpark,
which were named Forest Path, Jarrah Walk
and Wildflower Walk. Decisions decisions!
The notice board showed the basic layout
of the 3 walks and gave details on the length
and attractions of each one. I had never
seen such an organized bush walk facility
before and we have done many a bush walk.
There were signs everywhere making it very
clear where each walk began and what direction
to go.
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We did the Forest Path walk first
as it was the easiest - being only a 600 metre circuit.
The pathway was paved/concreted which makes it excellent
for wheelchairs, prams or toddlers' trikes. The
walk was fairly flat and had information plaques
and seating scattered around the walk. The path
lead us past a small dam/billabong at one end and
past a seating area with gas bbq closer to the carpark.
After a cup of tea and some food we
ventured off to do the Jarrah Walk which is a 1.5km
ciruit and is not paved nor as flat like the first
walk. Each walk has it's own flavour - which is
what you want. This Jarrah Walk was more of a bush
walk with a worn pathway that was clearly visible
and it had more surprises. The walk crosses a brook
offering lovely sounds of water trickling, small
waterfalls, and various frogs croacking - although
it sounds more like laughter if you ask me. The
variety of grass trees amazed us and the log-bridges
over the streams amused the kids. If you do this
walk before summer and you are walking quietly you
can hear a waterfall noise - just 5 meters off this
Jarrah track is the site of a little water fall,
it sounds lovely and should be heard when approaching
the carpark towards the end of the walk.
We had run out of time to attempt
the Wildflower Walk and happily left it for some
time in Spring. This walk is described as moderate
and is a 3km circuit involving a great display of
wildfowers (in season) and a beautiful lookout over
the Crooked Brook Valley and into Bunbury. Sounds
great and I look forward to shooting over there
in a couple of months with the camera & my picnic
set.
The Crooked Brook Forest is just 25km
from the centre of Bunbury, and can be found on
an unsealed road off the Crooked Brook Road which
starts from the Boyanup Picton Road - just south
of the Dardanup town centre. Just follow the signs.
Confused? Pop into your RAC shop and buy a map.
The one we bought is called "Bunbury &
Region". It cost around $5 and hasn't been
put down since it's purchase. The site of Crooked
Brook Forest is clearly marked on the map - east
of the Boyanup area.
Do you know what treasures are in
your backyard?
If you know of a great place for a
picnic located in the south west or would like to
write an outdoor story for another edition - contact
us. We would love to hear it.
September 2002
