Lane Poole Reserve: Camping and walking near Dwellingup, WA

The Lane Poole Reserve near Dwellingup is perhaps the best all-rounder of the Perth Hills Parks. Try walking the King Jarrah Trail from Nanga Mill, cycling the Murray Valley Mountain Bike Trails or camping at Charlies Flat.

There are several national and state parks in the hills around Perth. Of these Perth Hills parks, the Serpentine National Park is a hit due to the photogenic Serpentine Falls. But the Lane Poole Reserve near Dwellingup is arguably a better allrounder.

The Lane Poole Reserve is largely based around Western Australia’s Murray River. To avoid confusion, this is not Australia’s longest river – the one that forms the Victoria–New South Wales border before entering the Coorong National Park and the Southern Ocean near Goolwa in South Australia.

DON’T MISS OUT! 9 fabulous Perth experiences to book today ✅

✅ See the Rottnest Island quokkas the smart way – with a ferry and bike package.
✅ Be amazed by the abundant wildlife – on a dolphin, penguin and sealion cruise.
✅ See clear night skies in a moon-like desert – on a Pinnacles stargazing experience.
✅ Indulge in chocolate, cheese & premium wines – on a Swan Valley food and wine tour.
✅ See the city sunset from the water – on a Swan River dinner cruise.
✅ Watch gold being melted and poured – on a Perth Mint gold tour.
✅ Combine nature with imperious city views – on Kings Park Segway tour.
✅ Face your fears and get the thrill of your life on a – on a 15,000ft skydive.
✅ Find all the best hidden hangouts – on a small bar and street art tour.

Western Australia’s Murray River passes through tall, jarrah forest. And the Lane Poole Reserve provides opportunities for canoeing, bushwalking, mountain bike riding and camping.

Lane Poole Reserve camping: Baden Powell, Charlies Flat & Yarragil campground

Lane Pool Reserve camping spots include Baden Powell, Charlies Flat, the Chuditch campground and the Yarragil campground. It is essential to book any of these Lane Poole Reserve camping sites online via the Park Stay site.

On the other hand, the Nanga Mill and Nanga Townsite campgrounds cannot be booked in advance. It’s first come, first served at Nanga Mill and Nanga Townsite – both of which are suitable for larger Dwellingup camping groups.

Lane Poole Reserve walks: King Jarrah Trail and Chuditch Trail

Western Australia’s two big long-distance walking trails pass through this Perth Hills park. But chances are most visitors are not tackling the Mundi Biddi Trail or Bibbulmun Track.

If you do want a day walk, the King Jarrah Trail is 18km. Starting at Nanga Mill, the King Jarrah Trail is an 18km circuit through the forest. It’s rated as Grade 4, which means moderate levels of fitness and walking experience are required. Budget six hours to complete the loop.

Other Lane Poole Reserve walks include the Chuditch Trail between Nanga Mill and Chuditch, and the 4km return Nanga Brook Walk Trail. If all you’re wanting to see is some big Jarrah trees, though, the Island Pool Walk Trail from the Island Pool top car park will do the trick. This is a one hour loop trail.

5 great day trips from Perth – make your visit special

Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.

Other Dwellingup activities: Mountain-biking and kayaking

Alternative activities in the Lane Poole Reserve include mountain biking – there are 16 Murray Valley Mountain Bike Trails in the Dwellingup Adventure Trails network. They’re colour-coded by difficulty, with the Krakatoa mountain descent and often terrifyingly steep Bam Bam mountain bike trail the toughest.

Kayaking on the Murray River at Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

It’s also possible to go kayaking in the Lane Poole Reserve. The 11.5km stretch from Yarragil to Nanga Road Bridge is popular for canoeing, although the faster-flowing sections can be trickier in winter. Launch spots include Island Pool, Yarragil and Stringers, near the campground.

Getting to Lane Poole Reserve, WA, from Perth

From Perth, Lane Poole Reserve is a 100km drive via Pinjarra. The park entry station is 7.5km south of Dwellingup. It’s not too much of a detour to visit this Perth Hills park on the drive from Perth to Margaret River, or the Perth to Bunbury drive. It can also be combined with a visit to Mandurah, the nearby Waroona Dam or the Leschenault Peninsula in Australind.