View from Zig Zag area in Gooseberry Hill - Perth City visible in distance

Areas of the City

Situated in the Darling Range, 24 kilometres east of Perth, the City of Kalamunda offers an extensive range of film locations. Kalamunda, meaning a home in the forest, is rich with wildflowers, native fauna, creeks, waterfalls and old growth jarrah and marri forests. Boasting stunning views across the coastal plains to Perth City, the City is a mix of urban, semi-rural and National Parks. Geographically the City has three distinct areas, the Foothills/Plains, the Escarpment and the Eastern Rural Districts

Climate and Light
Transport and Roads

The Foothills

Encompassing the suburbs of Forrestfield, High Wycombe, Maida Vale and Wattle Grove the Foothills and Plains regions of the City are characterized by rapidly growing urban areas and large housing subdivisions. The locations gallery showcases a diverse range of locations within the City, including a selection of roads ideal for tracking shots.. A mix of government and private enterprise, the area is adjacent to the Perth Airport and contains an expanding industrial and transport hub, incorporating excellent access to the major Roe, Tonkin and Great Eastern Highways.

The Escarpment

The Escarpment region is at the heart of the City encompassing the suburbs of Lesmurdie, Gooseberry Hill and Kalamunda and is a stunning mix of heritage and nature. Once the centre of a thriving logging region and stopping place on the Upper Darling Range Railway, the area preserves much of its heritage. History has been built around the old Kalamunda Railway Station and is still maintained today. Home to the Zig Zag Cultural Centre and the largest stained glass window in the Southern Hemisphere, the area plays host to an ever growing number of events and festivals throughout the year. The weekly Kalamunda growers markets and monthly Kalamunda village markets draw visitors from around the State. The annual ‘Walk the Zig Zag’ scenic walk in October attracts over 4,000 participants. The Lesmurdie Falls, Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre , Kalamunda National Park and the northern terminus of the Bibbulmun Track are also features of the Escarpment Region.

Close up of tree bark in a local Kalamunda outdoor space

Resources

Helpful resources to consider include:

The Eastern Rural Districts

In the Eastern Rural Districts the urban sprawl gives way to rural areas strewn with wineries and orchards that in turn give way to the breathtaking old growth forests of Jarrah and Marri. The largest region in the City by area, rolling hills, fields of produce and quintessential Australian bush are characteristic of this area which encompasses the suburbs of Carmel, Canning Mills, Bickley, Walliston, Hacketts Gully, Paulls Valley, Pickering Brook and Reservoir. Canning Mills is home to the Korung National Park and the Victoria Reservoir while Hacketts Gully hosts the Beelu National Park and the popular Munda Biddi Cycle track. Built in 1897, Western Australia’s oldest observatory is located in the suburb of Bickley, while Paulls Valley is home to the Calamunda Camel Farm and an abundance of walking and hiking trails. Synonymous with apple and stone fruit production, the very Mediterranean looking suburbs of Bickley and Carmel are increasingly making their mark on the food and wine tourism scene, playing host to an ever growing industry of small boutique wineries. The tranquil serenity of this environment has you easily forgetting that you are but 40 minutes from the Perth CBD.

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