Eastern Wheatbelt Self Drive Trail

Cunderdin

Just 132km, or around 1.5 hours, east of Perth along the Great Eastern Highway lies the town of Meckering, your starting point for the Eastern Wheatbelt self-drive trail. Step into history at the Earthquake Gardens, where powerful displays recall the devastation of the 1968 Meckering Earthquake. View a warped section of the railway line, twisted remains of the Golden Pipeline, and a collection of photographs, statistics, and interpretive signage that bring the event to life. Directly across the road, take a peaceful stroll through the memorial rose garden, a testament to the dedication and community spirit of local volunteers.

From Meckering, it’s a short drive to Cunderdin, home to one of the finest rural museums in Western Australia. Housed in the former No. 3 Steam Pumping Station, the Cunderdin Museum, features an extensive collection of pioneer-era artefacts, a Tiger Moth aircraft, the original Quelagetting School building, and an immersive display that recreates the experience of the 1968 earthquake. Right next door, stretch your legs at the CY O’Connor Community Park. This modern facility includes playgrounds, a ninja warrior course, BBQs, shaded areas, a skate park, and a basketball court—making it a perfect spot to unwind or let the kids burn off some energy.

Tammin

Continue your journey east to the town of Tammin where you will find the Kadjininy Kep Tammin Hydrology Model and Amphitheatre, located at the Memorial Park on the corner of Great Eastern Highway and Booth Street. The model demonstrates how salinity impacts the Wheatbelt landscape. Shaded grassed areas with BBQ facilities and a playground make this a perfect place to stop for a picnic with public toilets available at the rear of the Shire Office.

From town travel 26km North to Yorkrakine Rock, a solid granite outcrop surrounded by native flora. Follow the walk trail up and over the rock where you’ll find gnamma holes, pockets of vegetation, and sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

Yorkrakine Rock, is a sacred Aboriginal Women’s birthing place and also part of a beedawang (initiation journey) songline. The songline starts in Perth and travels eastward to Yorkrakine Rock and then follows the Salt Lake systems and granite outcrops to Wave Rock.

Retrace your steps back toward town and continue on 14kms south to Charles Gardner Reserve. The 600 hectares of natural vegetation contains a wide variety of wildflowers and understorey, some of which are unique to the region.

Kellerberrin

Just 22km east of Tammin is the townsite of Kellerberrin, a charming regional community steeped in a vibrant history dating back from its Indigenous people to European pioneers. One of the best ways to see the main sites of the town is to follow the Kellerberrin Heritage Trail. Commencing at the Pioneer Museum on Leake Street with its interesting array of local memorabilia, the trail takes in excellent examples of 19th and early 20th century architecture at the flour mill, post office, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Massingham House and the fire station.

While in town, don’t miss the 2/28th Battalion Park — a memorial honouring the service and dedication of local men and women who served in the 2/28th Battalion and the Nursing Corps. For spectacular views of the town and surrounding landscape, head up to the Kellerberrin Hill Lookout.

With a range of accommodation options, Kellerberrin is a great spot to stop for the night before continuing your Eastern Wheatbelt adventure along the Granite Way toward Bruce Rock. The Granite Way is a 60km self-drive trail that takes visitors to some of the most impressive granite rocks in the Wheatbelt including Mount Caroline and Mount Stirling, both of which are located approximately 20km south of Kellerberrin.

Accommodation options: Mather Farm

WILDFLOWER SEASON:
The Trail will take you to find winter orchid and wildflower hot-spots such as Yorkrakine Rock and Charles Gardener Reserve north and south of Tammin and Kellerberrin Hill.

Westonia

Westonia came into existence with the discovery of gold in 1910. The most striking thing about Westonia is its unique charm and natural surroundings, nestled amongst 5,600ha of salmon gum, morrell and gimlet woodland interspersed with granite outcrops and remnants of the town’s gold mining history.

The main street features charming façades of the original bank and other historic buildings such as the café, hotel, fire station, boarding house, and greengrocer, as they were back in the 1920’s. The Westonia Hood-Penn Museum, located on Wolfram Street, showcases early life in the shire, including a mine tunnel and blast simulation. The Edna May Mine Lookout, located 1km north of town, offers views over a working gold mine.

Continue your drive approximately 10km north of town and you will find Sandford Rocks Nature Reserve. Experience the granite outcrop, wildflowers scrub and woodland, this area is a must do for bird and wildflower enthusiasts.

Your final stop in the Westonia Shire is Baladjie Rock, an extensive granite outcrop in an attractive woodland setting adjacent to Lake Baladjie. Climb the rock for a spectacular view of the lake before making the 55km drive south-east to Southern Cross. Enjoy sunset with panoramic views of the town, surrounding farmland and goldmines from Wimmera Hill Lookout.

Accommodation Options: Nulla Nulla Farm Retreat, Southern Cross Caravan Park

WILDFLOWER SEASON:

In the charming town of Westonia with its 1920s street scape, take a 4km walk around the surrounding woodlands and wildflowers heritage walk trail. Relive the history of Westonia at the Hood-Penn museum. Out of town explore Boodalin Soak, Sandford Rocks Nature Reserve and north to Baladjie Rock for a variety of delicate orchids and flowering annuals.