When we first camped at Potters Gorge at Wellington Dam in 2017, I resolved that we would do it again. Only 45 minutes from home, in a peaceful bush setting, you could be kilometres from anywhere. But it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that we actually managed to do it again. And it didn't dissapoint.
Within minutes our camp was set up and we had the kettle boiling for morning tea. Why had it taken us so long to come back! Being mid week there weren't many campers, and we were able to camp in the same spot as in 2017, which we had really lliked last time.
After morning tea, we took a stroll from the camp along the edge of the dam before lunch. Located 30 kilometres west of Collie, Wellington Dam originally opened in 1933, one of the biggest public works projects of the Great Depression era. More than 100 workers living in tents built the dam. In recent years the dam has ceased to be a water source for homes due to rising salinity, and the dam is now a recreation area for boating, fishing, bushwalking and camping in designated areas. In November last year I wrote about the painting of the dam wall with a giant mural by Canberra born artist Guido Van Helton, though I am not sure I brought you the images of the completed work. Painted on the 367m x 34 metres wall face, over a surface area of 12,000 square metres, the mural is truly is amazing and reputed to be the largest mural painted by a single artist.
After lunch we drove out to the highway to Allanson, and then along some of the Collie River Scenic Drive, stopping at the Kaniyang Wiilman suspension bridge over the river and walking some of the Wiilman Bilya walk trail. The trail winds through jarrah, marri and yarri forests. When complete this 87 km trail will offer hikers a 5-day, 4-night experience that starts and finishes in Collie, circling Wellington Dam. The word Bilya means 'river' in the Noongar language. The concrete ends of the bridge displays artwork designed by local artist Natalie Veal, which highlights the connection between nature and culture of the region.
Of course some orchids and other wildflowers - clockwise from top left - Enamel orchid, one of the white spider orchids, Blue Lady orchid, rattle beak orchids and cowslip orchids.
Clockwise from top left - native rose, flower head of the grass tree, one of the prickly climbing peas, one of the grevilleas and jarrah tree flowers.
We only did a short walk, as it was now later in the afternoon and a bottle of wine and a quiet sit under the trees were calling us back at camp. The next day we set out to walk the 10 kilometre Sika walk trail from the Potters Gorge campground. We had combined part of this trail with another trail last time we camped here, but decided this time we would just do this trail.
Conveniently it is a loop trail starting from the Potters Gorge campground, with the last part going past the dam kiosk then a short 1.5km walk back to Potters Gorge. It was generally a fairly easy walk but with some steep uphill and downhill sections. I was glad I had my walking poles - they make bush trails much better for me these days. Please ensure you wear sturdy bushwalking boots, a hat, sunscreen, preferably long sleeves, and carry food and water. The trails are fairly well marked with signposts to keep you on the right track.
We planned to stop along the way to eat our lunch, but couldn't find a suitable spot to sit, so ended up at the tables at the kiosk, which unfortunately wasn't open the day we were there. We were at the end of the main spring flowering time but the hibbertia's (the yellow in this pic) and the blue orchids were amazing.
This is the stunning blue scented sun orchid. I had never seen them in such numbers - they were everywhere. They have variations in colour from purple to mauve to blue, with multiple flowers on one stem, up to 1000mm tall.
But not just blue orchids.... clockwise from top left....Rattlebeaks, cowslips, Forrest Mantis, one of the spider orchids, and enamel orchid.
And of course other wildflowers.... an unusual pea flower on a long stem that I hadn't seen before, coneflower, hibbertia, one of the trigger plants, Tassel flower, Clematis, one of the pink/orange climbing peas, I think one of the pink baronias, and in the centre is I think the honepot Dryandra.
I really need to confirm identification for these plants.
We had lunch at the tables outside the dam wall kiosk, and chatted with a couple who were on their way south from Perth. Then we wandered over to see the dam wall again, then walked the about 1.5km back to camp, arriving back at 2.30pm. We were glad of the cloudy cooler day for walking, and the shady parts of the trail, though it did get warm in the sun.
A "28" parrot that visited out camp in the afternoon.
After breakfast the next morning we went for another whort walk up the trail, then packed up and headed back home. Unfortunately our couple of days away were over.
I hope you have enjoyed this little walk through the Wellington National Park with us. There are other walks, picnic and camping areas.
More information:
Sika trail, Wellington Dam
Kaniyang Wiilman bridge trail
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