Discover a Hidden Nature Art Bush Walk in Glen Forrest

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Posted 2024-03-17 by Tamara Kabat ⇒ follow

Tucked down a bush track in the leafy Perth Hills suburb of Glen Forrest is an unexpected arty treat. Go on a treasure hunt with the family to uncover paintings and beautifully crafted mosaics of local wildlife. The area is popular with walkers, dog walkers and mountain bikers, but it’s never busy!

This gently meandering bush walk is about 400 metres long and takes 30–45 minutes. It crosses through part of the Glen Forrest Superblock Conservation Area (part of the once-proposed Darling Range Regional Park). You’ll walk through classic Perth Hills marri and jarrah forest, best seen during the spring and winter wildflower season.

Start walking straight ahead from the small parking area off Ryecroft Road. Don’t take the side paths to the left yet - there are 3 - we’ll come back to these later! Enjoy the peaceful forest and gentle trail. There is always plenty of birdlife here, including red- and white-tailed black cockatoos. Kangaroos are frequent visitors too.

Bushland views on the main path

You should find the first pieces of artwork on either side of the trail about 50 m after the second side track. A large green frog is painted onto a piece of metal, and a big green lizard onto a piece of wood. These 2 pieces tend to move around! If they aren’t here, keep your eyes open along the rest of the walk.

Paintings of a lizard and a frog

About 30 metres before you reach the power lines, there are 2 benches. Stop here for a rest before you hunt for the main artwork (or while the kids do all the hard work!).

As you reach the power lines, look at the large coffee rock boulders on either side of the main path and at the entrance to the third side path. Attached to these you’ll find beautifully crafted mosaics of a quenda (southern brown bandicoot), galah (pink and grey cockatoo), magpie, kookaburra and echidna.

Mosaics of a quenda, kookaburra and echidna

Turn right and walk on the gravel road under the power lines. On the left, you’ll see some huge coffee rock boulders. Attached to these are mosaics of a kangaroo and a lizard.

Mosaics of a kangaroo and a lizard

I don’t know who created these lovely artworks. They aren’t part of an official art program, but rather something a local (or two) has created. For the mosaics, they chose pottery in patterned shades of brown, beautifully matching nature and the fur, feathers or scales of the animals they represent. Except for the galah and magpie, of course! The painted works have appeared and disappeared over time as they break down and get repainted.

Mosaics of a galah and a magpie

If you want a longer walk, cross under the power lines from the main path. Follow the path straight ahead. Left of the path entrance, there is usually a huge green frog painted on a piece of wood. Keep following the track to find a red and yellow painted snake climbing its way up a dead tree.

Snake and frog paintings on the track past the power lines

At the end of the path, turn right and then take the first path right. This will bring you back to power lines at the kangaroo and lizard mosaics. Note that this track has a fallen tree across it and may not be accessible to everyone.

Gravel road under the power lines

To get back to Ryecroft Road, either retrace your steps on the main path or take the second or third side tracks out to Glen Forrest Drive (details under ‘Wildflower walks’).

You can also walk to Glen Forrest Drive under the power lines. A paved footpath takes you back to the first side path near Ryecroft Road. The footpath passes under forest cover for the first 100 metres and is quite pleasant. However, it’s also in rough condition here, so take care with wheelchairs, prams and general walking!

Footpath surface conditions between Glenburn Road and Ryecroft Road

Accessibility and alternate access
Dogs are welcome on a leash in the Glen Forrest Conservation Superblock area. Horses can also walk on designated trails within the area.

The path is wide and relatively flat with some mild slopes. However, this is the Perth Hills, so be aware of rolling pea gravel, deep sections of sandy gravel, sticks and giant honky nuts (large marri eucalypt seed pods).

Deep sandy gravel on the main path

Within the first 100 metres from Ryecroft Road, the path slopes down over large patches of bare rock. These may be challenging for a wheelchair to move over unless it is a more off-road type. It’s a little easier (and quicker!) to reach the artwork by walking under the power lines from the Glen Forrest Drive parking area (see ‘Location and parking’).

Rocky track surface near the Ryecroft Road parking area

Avoid walking off the main paths during wet conditions to prevent carrying Phytophthora dieback on your footwear and into the bush. Water pools deeply in a small section after the second side track. While you can walk around this, it’s best to avoid the area. This is so you don’t track Phytophthora dieback into the bush or trample surrounding vegetation. Follow the side track out to Glen Forrest Drive and follow the footpath to the power lines. Walk under the power lines to the first trail on the right and you’ll easily see the artwork.

Keep to the paths so you don't spread Phytophthora dieback in the reserve

At the time of writing, there was a large branch across the path close to the parking area. It’s getting easier to walk around, but may prove challenging for a wheelchair, pram or person with walking difficulties. Hopefully, it will be moved soon.

Wildflower walks
If you have time and it’s the right time of year, explore the 3 side paths to see the beautiful bushland wildflowers. This small area is surprisingly rich in flora and you’ll find different types of plants in different areas. The best time to visit is between June and October.

All side tracks lead out to Glen Forrest Drive.

Starting from the Ryecroft Road parking area, follow the first narrow track left. This short trail leads you behind a bus shelter and out to the junction of Glen Forrest Drive and Ryecroft Road. The path starts as a narrow gravel track and becomes bitumen-paved at the end. This little corner is rich with donkey orchids (August-September) and blue sun orchids (September-November), among other wildflowers.

Donkey and blue sun orchids from the first side path

The second track is the nicest of the 3 side paths. It leads through a different and more open vegetation community, so you see many different groundcover plants. It’s particularly good for tiny paper daisies, large sundews and triggerplants. The track can be narrow and a little sandy, but worth the detour.

Paper daisies and trigger plant from the second side path

Between the benches and the power lines is the third side track. This one usually has the least wildflowers. It also has the trickiest surface conditions – it’s sandier and more covered in honky nuts and sticks than the other tracks. Take care walking here.

Surface conditions on the third side path

You’ll find the last piece of artwork on this track, which is a green frog painted on a rock. It sometimes moves around but is usually attached to a tree stump.

A small green frog painted onto a rock

Facilities
There are no facilities on the walk, but the 2 benches provide a pleasant stop near the power lines and artworks.

Location and parking
Between Ryecroft Road and Glen Forrest Drive, Glen Forrest. Parking is best on Ryecroft Road. There is a small parking area on the left about 80 m after you turn off Glen Forrest Drive.

There is a tiny parking area on Glen Forrest Drive under the power lines opposite Glenburn Road. This is an access road to houses and the power lines, so make sure you don’t block it.