Going Bush - Safe Routes out of Perth

If you plan on exploring the North of the state, or riding to Darwin, you need to head North East from Perth city. The same North East route out of Perth is also used by cyclists heading East. Those heading East then have to climb up Greenmount Hill. If you are going South, there is a 40 km cycle path heading south alongside the freeway. This route, can also be used for a planned ride to the South East, by deviating east at the end of the Freeway. If you are heading South East, you could also take a more direct route along the South East rail corridor, and then climb Armadale hill.

The following routes are suggestions only, and you may be able to find a better route. If you do, then let us know and we can add it to this page. If you are coming into Perth, you can read these directions backward. I would expect that you have a map with you so that you can follow these directions. I will hopefully be able to publish some maps eventually. The major direction of routes out of Perth City are:

• North;
• East;
• South; and
• South East.

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The many routes out of Perth. Zoom in for further details.

North

If you are planning a ride to Darwin or the North of the State to see some of the beauty of Western Australia's North, then you need to head North East to get out of Perth. The trains in Perth allow bicycles onboard outside of Peak hour travel times. So you have three options:

You could catch a train to Midland, and ride through Midland which is very busy, and then ride up Great Northern Highway which has limited shoulder room, some cycle paths, and is very busy. If you decide on this route, you will eventually pass the intersection of Great Northern Highway and West Swan Road. Directions continued below.

You could catch the same train to Midland, but get off at Guildford Railway Station, and cross over to the north side of the station which is Victoria Street and turn right. Then you could follow the Heading North East Cycle Path instructions from the point "We are going to head North". Once you reach the end of West Swan Road, turn left onto Great Northern Highway. Directions continued below.

You could ride from central Perth, using the North East Cycle Path and back roads. Follow the directions on the Heading North East Cycle Path route. Once you reach the end of West Swan Road, turn left onto Great Northern Highway.

Continued

At this point Great Northern Highway has a reasonable shoulder. Just after the intersection of Great Northern Highway and West Swan Road, there is a railway line. There is a left turn called Railway Parade. Some maps show Railway Parade as having a bridge over Ellen Brook. Latest information is that there is no bridge. Last time I looked there was only a rail bridge which apparently some motorcyclists are using to get across. This would be a good quiet alternative route if there was a bridge, but we can get onto Railway Parade later.

Shortly after the rail line crossing, on the left there is a road house. Good stop for food and extra water. If you are heading North via the internal route, you would just continue on up Great Northern Highway now. If you are heading to Geraldton and the Brand Highway, there is a quieter route.

You need to keep an eye open for Warbrook Road on the left. This road is narrow, with limited shoulders, and is very busy on some Saturday afternoons. I have ridden it during the week and it is very quiet. This road will take you across to Railway Parade, where you then turn right.

You can then follow Railway Parade to Muchea where you turn left onto Brand Highway. Railway Parade is a fairly quiet road, and is reasonable wide. I have ridden it on a Saturday and a weekday, and it's fairly quiet. Once you reach Brand Highway, you can head north.

East

If you are planning a ride to Kalgoorlie and maybe then onto the Nullarbor Plain, then you need to head North East to get out of Perth. The trains in Perth allow bicycles onboard outside of Peak hour travel times. So you have two options:

You could catch a train to Midland, and ride through Midland on the Great Eastern Highway, and then ride up Greenmount Hill, or

You could ride from central Perth, using the North East Cycle Path and back roads. Follow the directions on the Heading North East Cycle Path route. Once you reach Guildford railway station, there are short bits of Path that will get you to Midland. Then you can follow Great Eastern Highway. I am hoping to get this route mapped out properly later.

South

If you are planning a ride to the state's south, to Bunbury, Margaret River or further, then you need to head South to get out of Perth. The trains in Perth allow bicycles onboard outside of Peak hour travel times. So you have several options:

Catch a train to Fremantle or Mandurah and then try and navigate south from there, Ride the Freeway Cycle Path to it's end, then:

Depending on whether you wanted to visit Rockingham and Mandurah, or take a quiet slightly longer route south, then at the end of the freeway you have several options. At the end of the freeway, you could go straight through the roundabout and ride along Safety Bay Road. I spoke to several cyclists at the end of the Freeway, and they said that they ride this route regularly, and it has a shoulder. They did however warn me not to take a left at the Freeway roundabout and ride down Baldivis Road as it has no shoulder, and a lot of trucks at the time. When you reach Mandurah Road on Safety Bay Road, you can turn left to go to Mandurah.

Folly Road

The other option of heading south is to head to Pinjarra, and then ride down the old Bunbury Road to Old Coast Road (a very busy wide road) or South Western Highway to Bunbury. So just before you reach the end of the Freeway cycle path, as shown in the Freeway Cycle Path directions, take the turn into Folly Road.

Follow Folly Road for a short distance and turn right into Youngs Road. Follow Youngs Road to it's end and turn left into Karnup Road. Follow Karnup Road until you see Hopeland Road, and then turn right. You can follow this all the away to Pinjarra. If you want to head to Dwellingup, as you are heading down Hopeland Road, you will cross Lakes Road. Turn left into Lakes Road and follow this until you reach North Dandalup on the South Western Highway.

There is a petrol station/shop for a refreshment or two, then you need to head up Del Park Road, which is a steep climb that will take you to Dwellingup. You could call in along the way and have a look at South Dandalup Dam.

South East

If you are planning a ride to the state's southwest, to Albany and other areas via the Albany Highway, then you need to head South East to get out of Perth. The trains in Perth allow bicycles onboard outside of Peak hour travel times. So you have several options:

• Catch a train to Armadale, get off, head north to the Armadale Road, turn right, go to the traffic lights and keep going straight ahead. This will take you straight up Armadale hill. Just after the traffic lights, on the left is a park with picnic tables. Once reaching the top of Armadale hill, on the right is a petrol station with taps and a toilet, so don''t carry a full water load up Armadale hill;
• Ride Cycle Paths following the Armadle to Perth rail line, but I have been unable to get detailed route information on this route, so I will publish it as soon as I can get it mapped properly;
• Ride the Freeway Cycle Path to South Street, then turn left and follow South Street, which becomes Ranford Road until you reach to roundabout with Lake Road. Turn right and ride the short distance to Armadale Road and turn left. This route is a busy road, and I have done it on both a weekday and a weekend, and the weekend was a lot quieter. Follow Armadale road until you reach the intersection with South Western Highway.Just after the traffic lights, on the left is a park with picnic tables. Once reaching the top of Armadale hill, on the right is a petrol station with taps and a toilet, so don't carry a full water load up Armadale hill;
• Ride the Freeway Cycle Path to Mundijong Road, then turn left and follow Mundijong Road to South Western Highway. Turn right and proceed a short distance down South Western Highway and turn left into Jarrahdale Road. This is fairly good climb to Jarrahdale, where there is a general store. Continuing through Jarrahdale on Jarrahdale road you will eventually reach Albany Highway, where you need to turn right to go to Albany.

There is an opportunity to camp at Wungong Campsite, a dedicated cyclist's camp on the Mundabiddi trail cycle track. The campsite is a short distance off of the road, and only accessible by bicycle. If you rode up Armadale hill, continue down Albany Highway until you see Gleneagle Picnic Area on the left. On the right you will see the distinctive Mundabiddi trail marker. Follow the signs along the track to the campsite which is mostly gravel road. The camp site is about 3 kms in from the road.

If you rode through Jarrahdale, you will see the Munda Biddi trail markers as the trail passes through Jarrahdale. You can ride the trail or stay on the road. If you stay on the road, you will also pass a picnic area on the right called Jarrahdale Wetlands Experience. Shortly before reaching Albany Highway, you will see where the Munda Biddi trail passes the road again. You need to turn left and follow the trail markers. The campsite is about 1.5 kms in.