The Wheatbelt Way self-drive trail
Visit up to 9 regional communities and 24 unique historical and natural attractions
ABOUT THE TRAIL
The Wheatbelt Way self-drive trail will lead travellers on an
adventurous interpreted journey to the 9 regional communities
of Dowerin, Wyalkatchem, Koorda, Bencubbin, Beacon,
Westonia, Mukinbudin, Nungarin and Trayning. It also highlights
24 unique sites ranging from natural attractions to sites of
historical importance. There will be many opportunities to stay
and experience the best the Northern Wheatbelt has to offer.
During the spring ask where to find the Koorda “rose”, visit the
Nungarin Military Museum and historic Mangowine Homestead,
or take in the magnificent views from the top of Elachbutting
Rock. The Wheatbelt Way has something for everyone!
Breathe the fresh air as you explore the history and natural
beauty of the Wheatbelt Way. Picture yourself surrounded by a
vast timeless land of bright skies and wide horizons, rich sights
and the sound of nature, warm sunny days and cool evening
breezes. Let us introduce you to the unique charm of the
Wheatbelt Way, where you can experience good old-fashioned
hospitality while exploring at your leisure. See you there!
Summer in the Wheatbelt Way is long hot and dry, with winters being mild and cool. The summer average daily maximum temperature is around 34 degrees, with a daily minimum of 17 degrees Celsius. In Winter this becomes the daily maximum with an average minimum of 5 degrees. The average annual rainfall is around 300 millimetres usually falling between March and November, with occasional thunderstorms in Summer. Whatever the season, temperatures can drop below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), so it is suggested to bring some warm clothing. Average annual rainfall is less than 300 millimetres. Warm clothes will be required in the winter months (June – August) as the temperature can sometimes drop below zero degrees. Don’t let the weather put you off travelling to the area, however, as the Wheatbelt remains a charming and beautiful part of the world all year round.
The towns along the Wheatbelt Way all have a good standard of accommodation, amenities and services. Both unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available. Likewise, a good range of food will be available in most towns along the trail, however, a more limited selection is available in the smaller towns.
The Wheatbelt Way Drive Trail is designed as a self-drive adventure and can be undertaken comfortably in a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle. You can plan your trip and personalise your trip to or through the Wheatbelt Way to start and finish in many locations, we do have a suggested 4-day itinerary from Perth which can be found here. The trail is along both bitumen and gravel roads of which are generally in good condition. On all gravel or dirt roads, regardless of their condition, it is essential to travel at a speed that allows you to safely respond to any situation. Although a number of towns along the Wheatbelt Way have mechanical repairs, conducting a thorough check of your vehicle is imperative. In particular, paying special attention to the tyres of your car or caravan, and making sure all mechanicals are in good working order, will go a long way to ensuring your trip is incident-free. It is also essential to remember that the Wheatbelt Way, despite being only a few hours out of Perth, is still a rural area. This means exercising caution on the roads and making sure your lights work and are on during country driving. If you have one, a portable first aid kit will give you extra peace of mind.
To complement the trail map, the entire Trail route has been sign-posted with directional road signs. These signs are trail signs strategically placed at intersections and turning points. In addition, there are signs indicating the location of each trail site (stopping point), of which there are also one or more information panels. To help plan your trip and get around the Wheatbelt Way even easier we recommend you download the Wheatbelt Way App (from the App Store or Google Play) which has maps and GPS built-in it so you know exactly where you are all the time. This will give you the finer detail on what to look out for along the way and its navigation made easy!