What we’re about
Walking Mates Australia is a forward walking and forward thinking social group. Ultimately organised to promote positive health/well being and inclusion within our communities.
Our Vision....To walk and connect across Australia.
Our Values....Mateship - Diversity - Inclusion - Positive health & Well being
Instagram - Walking_mates_australia
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Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Bells Rapids to Syds and back. (15km)Bells Rapids Park, Upper Swan
Get out of the city and come and join us for a morning stroll along the upper Swan River. Leaving from Bells Rapids we will walk the Pilgrim Trail which hugs the river tightly and means there are no major hills to climb. We enter Walyunga National Park where the river becomes the Avon finishing at Syds Rapids. This picturesque walk has reasonable forest cover, plenty of birds and friendly kangaroos. Expect to pass calm waters as well as cascading rapids.
There are no National Park fees coming from this direction.
Afterwards lets go for a coffee and a chat.
Where: Upper carpark RHS past the toilet block. (Click on the map for the exact starting point)
Distance: 15km elevation gain 242m. The walk should take us about 3 - 3.5 hours at a comfortable pace.
Difficulty: An easy track to walk on as long as you can do the distance. It follows the Swan & Avon rivers and does not involve any difficult hills. It can be narrow at first but becomes a well groomed track once we enter Walyunga NP. Note: Please don't come if you can't do the distance, you will make it difficult for all of us.
What to bring: Water, good walking shoes, hat & sunscreen.
Toilets: At the beginning/end and the 5km and 10km points.
Coffee: Shalom Ladies Boutique Café - I love this place, let's support it. They do a great coffee and serve homemade yummy food. It is nice to wander through their op-shop afterwards. A short drive away @ 754 Great Northern Hwy, Herne Hill WA 6056. Link here: Shalom Ladies Boutique Café
AllTrails Map: You can look at the walk here: Bells to SydsRSVP - no shows & late arrivals: If you are on the "Going" list and can't make it on the day please RSVP "Not Going" at the earliest convenience as a courtesy so to allow others to join who might be on the "Waitlist".
We aim to set-off for each walk at the advertised time and as a general rule, we set off on-time for each walk.
IMPORTANT By confirming your attendance attendees agree to "WAIVE, DISCHARGE CLAIMS, AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY" the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of the Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from Injuries and Damages, even if caused by negligence, in any way connected with Walking Mates Australia.
Attendees further agree to HOLD HARMLESS the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group from any claims, damages, injuries or losses caused by their own negligence while a participant on the Event. - Mundaring Weir discovery centre hike.Perth Hills Discovery Centre , Perth
Starting at the discovery centre carpark area at 380 Allen Rd, Mundaring WA 6073 near by to the Mundaring weir hotel.
Formerly known as Mundaring National Park, Beelu National Park was renamed in 2008 to acknowledge the Beelu Whadjuk Noongar people, on whose traditional lands the park is found. Beelu is related to the Noongar name for river or stream; aptly named as the Helena River flows into the park and is dammed by the Mundaring Weir.This hike enjoys beautiful bushlands and gorgeous scenic views of the catchment from on high and from atop the weir itself. At this time of the year the forest is cool and moist, making the hike pleasurable as we drink in the fresh morning air.
We hike in a clockwise loop, first heading out to Ball Creek campsite, then winding down towards the catchment and following it back along the edge to the weir. We cross atop the weir, then marvel at the #1 pump station before climbing back up and returning to our start point.
The 13kms has 440 meters of elevation to strengthen our legs and build our appetite for an enjoyable coffee afterwards at the Mundaring weir hotel.MeetUp: At 380 Allen Rd, Mundaring WA 6073. Click on the map and your GPS will take you to the exact starting point.
Parking: Parking at the MeetUp point.
Difficulty: 13km and 440m elevation gain. With cool weather this is a well shaded, satisfying and challenging walk. The path can be muddy after rain, also there are numerous cross intersections to navigate so it is a hike best suited to our regular group of fit experienced hikers and you if you are a confident hiker.Toilets can be found at the discovery centre where we begin and at the weir picnic area.
What to bring: Hat, water and a rain jacket just in case. Poles and proper hiking shoes are recommended.
Join us at the nearby Mundaring Weir Hotel for a coffee, bite to eat and chat after the walk.
All trails maps:
Discovery centre at Mundaring weir.Mundaring Weir history.
Providing fresh water to Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields, the Weir and its pipeline is a feat of engineering that was so ambitious that engineer O’Connor was subject to huge public scrutiny and criticism. The No. 1 Pump Station at the foot of the Weir is now heritage listed, and you can visit to see the historic engines and learn about the project.The scheme was devised by C. Y. O'Connor who oversaw its design and most of the construction project. Although at inception supported by Premier Forrest, O'Connor had to deal with widespread criticism and derision from members of the Western Australian Parliament as well as the local press based on a belief that the scope of the engineering task was too great and that it would never work.
Premier George Leake succeeded Premier Forrest, thereafter, the pressure only mounted for O'Connor.There was also a concern that the gold deposits would soon be depleted, and the state would have a significant debt to repay but little or no commerce to support it.
Sunday Times editor Frederick Vosper – unsurprisingly also a politician, ran a personal attack on O'Connor's integrity and ability through the paper.
O'Connor died by suicide in March 1902, one month after a particularly damning article by Frederick Vosper.
O'Connor died at the point Walter sand bar by the waters edge.
The sand bar had been partially demolished by O'Connor earlier to improve water flow and the enraged local indigenous people had cursed O'Connor with their song to send him mad.Lady Forrest at the commissioning ceremony started the Pumping Station Number 1 on 22 January 1903 with water flowing out on the 24th January 1903 into the Mount Charlotte Reservoir at Kalgoorlie.
Looking back we see that THE GOLD still flows as does the water.
RSVP - no shows & late arrivals: If you are on the "Going" list and can't make it on the day please RSVP "Not Going" at the earliest convenience as a courtesy so as to allow others to join who might be on the "Waitlist".
We aim to set-off for each walk at the advertised time and as a general rule, we set off on-time for each walk.
IMPORTANT
By confirming your attendance attendees agree to "WAIVE, DISCHARGE CLAIMS, AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY" the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of the Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from Injuries and Damages, even if caused by negligence, in any way connected with Walking Mates Australia.
Attendees further agree to HOLD HARMLESS the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group from any claims, damages, injuries or losses caused by their own negligence while a participant on the Event. - John Forrest NP-Parkerville Tavern, Wildflower, EagleView & Heritage Track(17km)Parkerville Tavern, Parkerville
This hike starts at the Parkerville Tavern and follows the Railway Heritage Trail into John Forrest National Park. Near the Hovea Station we head up THE hill and join up with the Wildflower Walk before hitting a little of the Eagle View Trail which will eventually take us to the Eagle View Lookout and then down to Jane Brook to the National Park Falls, JF Tavern (ruins & toilet), Hovea Falls and back to the Parkerville for lunch.
With luck there might be water over the falls, wildflowers, beautiful forest, plentiful birds and some kangaroos to see.
Difficulty: This 17 km hike has a lot of variations from the relatively flat heritage trails (8km) to a few decent hills and of course the lookout (elevation gains 372m). By the time we have reached the lookout the hardest walking is behind us. A good walking pace of 5 to 5.5 km/h for 3.5 to 4 hours. If you’re not a regular walker this is not the walk for you.
Where: Park in the car park opposite the Parky Tavern. Click on the map and find the exact starting point.
Toilets: At the start/finish and the old JF tavern (12km).
AllTrails Route: Parkerville Tavern - John Forrest NP Loop (17km)
What to take: 1.5L water, hat, good hiking shoes, poles would be nice, spray jacket if its wet
Lunch & Coffee afterwards: Stay for a chat, bite to eat, cold water and a coffee at the Parkerville Tavern, after almost 4 hours of walking you deserve it! They have a senior’s menu which is a bit cheaper and not as filling as the pub meal. Just pretend you're a senior.RSVP - no shows & late arrivals: If you are on the "Going" list and can't make it on the day please RSVP "Not Going" at the earliest convenience as a courtesy so as to allow others to join who might be on the "Waitlist".
We aim to set-off for each walk at the advertised time and as a general rule, we set off on-time for each walk.
IMPORTANT
By confirming your attendance attendees agree to "WAIVE, DISCHARGE CLAIMS, AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY" the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of the Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from Injuries and Damages, even if caused by negligence, in any way connected with Walking Mates Australia.
Attendees further agree to HOLD HARMLESS the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group from any claims, damages, injuries or losses caused by their own negligence while a participant on the Event.
