Jarrah Forest and River Pools on the Edge of the Darling Scarp

Overview

Lane Poole Reserve lies about 100 kilometres south-east of Perth, between Dwellingup and Collie, on the edge of the Darling Scarp. It covers a large stretch of northern jarrah forest where the Murray River cuts through steep valley slopes before the country opens out into broader jarrah forest and wandoo woodland further east.

This is a big, varied reserve rather than a single compact park. Along with its well-known recreation areas, it also protects old-growth forest, riparian habitat and wetlands, giving the place a stronger conservation character than a quick stop by the river might suggest.

Highlights

The most distinctive scenery in Lane Poole Reserve comes from the meeting of forest and river. Near the scarp, the Murray River runs through steeply forested slopes and a series of rock-rimmed pools, creating a landscape that feels quite different from the drier woodland further inland.

Across the reserve, the scenery shifts from sheltered river corridors to rolling jarrah country and pockets of wandoo woodland. That contrast gives the area its appeal: shady watercourses, broader forested ridges and a strong sense of being in one of the more substantial protected areas in the northern jarrah belt.

Best Time to Visit

The cooler months are usually the most comfortable time to spend time in Lane Poole Reserve, when the forest is greener, the Murray River and wetland areas feel at their fullest, and walking conditions are generally more pleasant. Winter and spring also bring the strongest contrast between the dark jarrah trunks, fresh understorey growth and the river pools.

Spring is especially rewarding if you enjoy seeing the forest at its most lively, with flowering plants and milder days making the reserve feel far more textured than it can in the dry heat of late summer.

Plants and Animals

Lane Poole Reserve protects a mix of old-growth forest, jarrah forest, wandoo woodland, riparian vegetation and wetlands. In the wetter parts of the reserve, plant communities include banksia woodland, paperbark woodland, taxandria swamps, thickets and heath, creating a noticeable change in character from the drier upland forest.

These wetter habitats are especially important for wildlife because they provide reliable food, shelter and movement corridors. They support a range of fauna, including small marsupials such as quokka and quenda, while the reserve as a whole is recognised for its rare and priority flora and fauna.

Culture and Heritage

Lane Poole Reserve is within Pinjarup Country. The reserve also carries a more recent forest history in its name, commemorating C.E. Lane Poole, Western Australia’s first Conservator of Forests.