Wiilman Bilya Trail: New walking trail opens in Wellington National Park

Set in 17,000ha of jarrah, marri and yarri forest 150km south of Perth, Wellington National Park’s new addition means visitors will be able to enjoy more of its natural beauty.

A 20km walking trail has been unveiled to the public in an attempt to improve facilities for tourists in the area.

Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray says visitor numbers to Wellington National Park have increased substantially over the past 10 years, with more than 315,000 visits in the 2017-18 financial year.

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“We are confident that the development of the Wiilman Bilya Trail will attract even more people to the park and help stimulate tourism growth in the Collie area,” Mr Murray says.

Described as world class, the new $320,000 trail, named Wiilman Bilya Trail, stretches from Wellington Dam to Coalfields Highway.

“Bushwalkers can expect a full-day walk in either direction, with the option to camp overnight at Nyingarn campsite or at Potters Gorge,” a State Government spokesperson says.

“The name Wiilman Bilya pays tribute to the traditional Noongar group, Wiilman, with Bilya being the Noongar word for river. The Wiilman people have a strong cultural connection to this area.”

Wellington National Park’s camp sites at Potters Gorge and Honeymoon Pool can be booked online.

The park offers a range of activities including fishing, swimming and kayaking.

Parks and Wildlife Service says it’s possible to spot a quokka, chuditch, quenda, brushtail possum, woylie or western ringtail possum in the area.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson says the Government recognises the value of the State’s national parks and reserves and is committed to making them accessible to future generations of visitors.

“In addition to the Wiilman Bilya Trail, in the past year we have supported the completion of several trail projects in the South West, including a 9km mountain-bike trail in the nearby Arklow forest block near Collie; an 11.5km mountain-bike trail and a 2.5km walk trail in Wooditjup National Park near Margaret River; and three 5.5km mountain-bike trails in Lane Poole Reserve near Dwellingup,” Mr Dawson says.

The public has until March 13 to have a say on the proposed expansion of Wellington National Park.

The additional 7360ha would mean an increase of more than 40 per cent; boosting the park’s size to nearly 25,000ha.

For more details about Wellington National Park visit parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/wellington.

To comment on the proposal visit pws.dbca.wa.gov.au.