John Forrest National Park is one of Australia's oldest conservation areas and Western Australia's first national park proclaimed in November 1900. The visitor area contains barbecue and picnic facilities and cultivated gardens of native plants. The rest of the park is largely undeveloped and is home to a variety of plant communities and wildlife.

Cultural History

Nyoongar people are known to have lived in the Midland to Guildford area before European settlement. There is anecdotal evidence that the area was once used as a hunting place and Jane Brook Valley was an ancient travel route that Nyoongar people used to cross the Darling Scarp to the more open country in the east. Jane Brook is also of cultural significance, with a connection to the Dreamtime serpent, the Waugal. The rocks in and along the brook are said to be the droppings of this mythical creature.

Natural attractions

The park is home to two waterfalls that flow in winter and spring – Hovea and National Park Falls. Hovea’s falls cascade down a large granite sheet while National Park Falls drops sharply over 20 metres of sheer rock face.

John Forrest National Park is set in jarrah forest still largely in its natural state. The uplands are dominated by jarrah and marri. The valley floor features flooded gum, swamp peppermint and paperbarks.

Wildlife watching

The park has 10 species of native mammal (one declared rare), and 91 species of bird (two considered to be in need of special protection), 23 species of reptile and 10 species of frog.

For those interested in wildflowers, a slow drive along the full length of Park Road will show you many of the 500 odd species of wildflowers recorded for this park.