Dwellingup: Hiking, mountain biking and the Murray River

If you’re looking for a hotel in Dwellingup, you can plan your trip around the activities you have in mind: options include a multi-day loop walk, sections of the Bibbulmun Track, an extensive trail network and paddling on the Murray River. There are also places connected with the history of forestry and railways. The walking routes vary considerably, particularly in length and time required.

Walking around Dwellingup

The Nyingarn Bidi is a 50-kilometre loop walk designed to take three days and two nights. It starts and ends in Dwellingup. This makes it possible to plan the walk as a multi-day loop, with the same place as its start and finish. From Dwellingup, walkers can also explore sections of the Bibbulmun Track.

The Bibbulmun Track and the Munda Biddi Trail meet at the Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre. The centre provides a shared reference point for both routes. In the wider region, the King Jarrah Walk Trail includes a short 4.4-kilometre loop. Compared with the 50-kilometre Nyingarn Bidi, this is a very different distance.

Dwellingup Adventure Trails and river views

The Dwellingup Adventure Trails include more than 300 kilometres of mountain biking, walking, paddling, driving and multi-use trails through forest, river valleys and Australian bushland. The colour-coded mountain biking trails indicate different levels of difficulty: white and green loops are intended for beginners, while black descents are steep and technically challenging. The total distance shows the scale of the network; the colour coding gives a more specific indication of the designated differences in difficulty.

A notable feature of the trail network is the 80-metre-long Dwaarlindjirraap suspension bridge. It provides access to the mountain biking trail network south of the Murray River and offers expansive views of the river valley and the rocky rapids below. Animals that can be spotted on the Dwellingup Adventure Trails include the Karrak, also known as the red-tailed black cockatoo; it is the network’s emblem.

Paddling on the Murray River

Conditions on the Murray River vary depending on the section and season. Paddlers will find calm pools suitable for beginners, as well as sections that flow quickly in winter and are better suited to those seeking adventure. So if you’re planning a paddling trip, seasonal variations are also among the factors to consider when choosing an activity.

Dwellingup Adventures is in the town centre and hires out canoes, rafts, mountain bikes and camping equipment. Equipment availability may change. If your plans depend on a specific rental item, check what’s available in advance.

Forest and railway history

The Forest Discovery Centre is one kilometre from the town centre, in 17 hectares of jarrah forest; visitor operations are run by volunteers. Facilities include a sales gallery and shop, an environmental interpretation centre and walking trails. Along the trails, you can learn more about wildflowers, animals and the forest’s resources. Individual exhibits may change.

The railway’s history is also linked to specific routes. The historic Dwellingup Forest Train route runs eight kilometres east from Dwellingup to Etmilyn, along the state’s last surviving lightly built development railway. In the wider region, the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway offers views from the carriage windows connected with the living history of the timber industry in the Murray region.

For the broader travel overview: Shire of Murray.