Swan View Tunnel from Swan View Station - John Forrest National Park
- Out and About
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 16
The easiest and shortest way to access this old railway tunnel in John Forrest National Park is from the old Swan View Railway Station on Pechey Road. We spent an hour ambling the 3km loop up to the tunnel, walking through and then around it to return. If you are riding bikes it is ever so slightly uphill there and downhill on the way back.
Have your torch handy as you enter the western end of the tunnel as it is very dark and sometimes muddy as you walk through!
Construction began on the 340m length of the Swan View Tunnel in 1894 as part of an eastern railway line through the Jane Brook Valley. A nearby campsite in the valley housed the 300 men and 6 horses who made up three crews working 3 shifts, 24 hours a day, 6 days a week with two crews working from each end of the tunnel. A year later they broke through from each end and the alignment in the middle was perfect - a testament to the engineering skills of C.Y. O'Connor and a major technical achievement. It took another year to line the tunnel with 330,000 bricks to prevent rockfall and to finish the cuttings. The railway line opened in 1896 however poor ventilation in the tunnel caused some serious accidents. In 1945 a deviation line was built to bypass the tunnel and until the line closed in 1966, when a new route through the Avon Valley was developed, trains going up used the deviation and trains coming down used the tunnel. It is the only tunnel of it's kind in WA and if you look closely at the cuttings you might see the drill holes used for blasting.
If you wish you can continue along the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail beyond the tunnel to National Falls and deeper into John Forrest National Park. See our blog for more things to do
You can also access the tunnel from the main picnic area within John Forrest National Park but at 2.5km each way it is a little bit further to walk.
We chose to walk the bypass trail around the tunnel enjoying views down the valley before returning to the car park.
There are 2 car parks along Pechey Road but they can get busy so it may be necessary to park along the verge. There are picnic tables at Swan View Station but no barbecues and no toilets.
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In the spirit of reconciliation Out and About- Family Nature Connection acknowledges the traditional owners of the Wadjak Boodjar (Perth land) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
As always when hiking in the bush please help to reduce the spread of Phytophthora Dieback by sticking to the tracks and paths, staying out of quarantined areas and, if possible, clean your shoes before and after hiking. A spray of 70% methylated spirit and 30% water can be effective.
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