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York Self Drives - To the East I grant my happiness York Self Drives - To the East I grant my happiness

2WD  in Golden Outback

  • Half day
  • 71 km
    • 4WD Easiest

      All-wheel Drive and High Range 4WD vehicles. Suitable for Novice Drivers. 

“To the East, I grant my happiness and all I hold beloved…..” Sandra Jacks
Explore to the east of York and maybe you will hold it beloved - certainly we hope you’ll find happiness in driving through these unspoilt rural areas that offer peace and serenity in abundance.

Start your tour by getting to know the Avon Valley from the Lookout at the summit, which offers spectacular views of York and the surrounding countryside. A site regarded by the Ballardong Noongar people as highly culturally significant. 'Wongborel' means 'Sleeping Woman'.
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Start off by setting the scene for your trip with panoramic views from the top of Wongborel (Mt. Brown) where the vistas stretch over the Avon Valley.

Resting at the foot of the hill are many early settlers under fascinating monuments, modest to majestic, in York Cemetery's best Gothic style. Peer down the same well where C19th prospectors would have drawn water and set off in their footsteps along the Goldfields road.

The trail forms two loops and you may choose to do all 71 kilometres, the 47km top loop or the 57km lower loop.  Each loop includes approximately 10 kilometres of gravel road.

The hamlet of Quellington has a stone-built hall, still used for community functions today and the hamlet of Greenhills boasts a popular authentic country pub. In wildflower season take a 14km detour to the lovely Wallaby Hills Nature Reserve.

Time your return to York to finish up by looking around the York Residency Museum, which has intriguing exhibitions of Ballardong Noongar culture, convict and settler stories. This route can be linked with the York Self Drive 'Sky O'the North' route via Burges Siding Road. 

York Visitor Centre

(08) 9641 1301

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Be trail ready for York Self Drives - To the East I grant my happiness

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Half to full day experience, dependent upon stops chosen.

Length

Trail has two options - 47km and 57km. Trails can be combined to create a 71km drive.

What To Pack

Group A - Urban Trails (Urban trails or short trails near facilities) required.

Trail Start

York Visitor Centre, York Town Hall, 100km (1 Hour plus) east of Perth

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Trail End

4WD

Easiest

All-wheel Drive and High Range 4WD vehicles. Suitable for Novice Drivers. 

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Difficulty Notes

Includes sections of gravel roads. Please take care and drive SLOWLY on country roads, beware of livestock, kangaroos and large farm machinery . Surface conditions on gravel roads can be changeable, so slow right down, especially when cornering, braking, or moving onto gravel hard shoulders on narrow bitumen roads.

Hazards & Warnings

This route includes gravel roads. Surface conditions can be changeable so slow right down, especially when cornering or braking, On narrow bitumen roads, slow right down before moving onto the gravel hard shoulder.

Facilities

In York: Car and coach parking, water access and public toilets at Howick street. Town Hall has Visitor Centre with shop, water access and public toilets with toilet for people with disabilities and first aid equipment during opening hours 9.30am-4pm daily. Fuel service stations, Public telephone and many cafes in Avon Terrace. No fuel service stations on route.
  • Cafe
  • Car Park
  • Coach Parking
  • Dog Friendly
  • First Aid Equipment
  • Public Telephone
  • Public Toilet
  • Shop
  • All accessible toilet facilities
  • Water Access Points

Best time of year

All year round. Especially scenic from late May to October

Trail Access

Road

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