1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see Photo Galleries)

3) 3D map view

4) Google map & Satellite imagery

5) Route profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

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View from laterite breakaway to farmland

 near eastern park boundary,  August 2004.

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More photos.

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of the walk area.

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         Route profile

95 kms SE of Perth.

14.5 field kms (92% off-track)

(or can be shortened to approx. 13 kms by simple variation (a short-cut from waypoint '14' to 'RK2', bypassing a section in the SE).

EASY - MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

YES

See Google Map for start point on road map.

(Use zoom ladder for detail. Select 'Hybrid' to add satellite imagery.)

Follow Brookton Highway for about 80 kms from Albany Hwy, then turn off at Pike Rd (gravel/dirt road on right, about 3 kms past Beverley Westdale Rd turnoff),  then follow Pike Rd for 7.5 kms to Start point (near Park sign at corner of Park perimeter vehicle track on left and just past "Ballardon" homestead access road on right).  Park near Start point, but don't block Park perimeter track. There are no facilities.  For an alternative Start point with more space for cars, continue for about  4.5 kms further on Pike Rd to 'ALT-ST' close to the SE corner of the Park near a road T-junction. Another alternative Start point is at the junction of Pike Rd with a side road at about 'AL-ST2' on the western Park boundary.

The walk route is never more than 1 km from either Pike Rd (in the west, SE and south, or the Park boundary road (dirt vehicle track) to the north and east (see map). There are no vehicle tracks through the central area of the Park.    

/Highlights:

This walk is within the very small Boyagarring Conservation Park (area 1209 ha, declared in 1991).  Similar to the nearby Lupton Conservation Park   (less than 10 kms SE), the Boyagin Nature Reserve (about 30 kms ESE) and  Dryandra Woodland (about 60 kms southeast), this is another 'island' of remnant bushland within the wheatbelt east of the Darling Range.  In the case of Boyagarring Park, only a very narrow fairway of wheatbelt farmland along Gibb Gully separates the Park from the extensive State Forest areas of the Darling Range to the west. 

Like Lupton Park, Boyagarring Park is not well known and is much less visited than Boyagin and Dryandra.  The Park covers an area only about 3 kms wide by 4 kms long,  but the slopes and gullies along the laterite breakaways  surrounding the small central 'plateau' area of Boyagarring Hill provide for some very enjoyable, mostly easy off-track walking through mainly open, picturesque wandoo woodlands.  There are some pleasant views to the surrounding  farmland and across forest from the breakaways and from a granite outcrop in the east.   

Patches of quite thick shrubland (mainly 'Pingle' Dryandra squarrosa) cover some of the  slopes, but are mainly avoided by this walk route. 

Shorter walk option: The route can be easily adjusted to give a slightly shortened walk of approx. 13 kms, bypassing the SE section by taking a short cut almost directly from waypoint '14' to 'RK2' via waypoints '52' and '53'.

Controlled burns:  A burn was scheduled for Autumn 2010 for the whole walk area. Check DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.

WalkGPS walk map for OziExplorer users:  A downloadable OziExplorer format MAP file (*.map) for this walk area is included on the Maps, Waypoints & Track Files page. The zipped folder also includes the associated 'base' topo map image file, plus other attached waypoints, tracks/routes, etc in OxiExplorer file formats.

WalkGPS reconnaissance history: Click here for a map of past WalkGPS test walks in the walk area, plus the final route. The final route was selected only after several visits to the area which aimed to achieve a walk that would be the most rewarding.

Other:  Luptons & Youraling 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2233-3 & 2233-2;

or Luptons 1:50,000 Sheet 2233-III (DOLA, 1992).

"Exploring Wheatbelt Woodlands" by Mike Bamford, 1995 (CALM), provides a good introduction to the flora and fauna of  remnant woodlands in the region.

Head approx. eastward up the Park boundary track from the Start point near the Park sign.   The track  climbs uphill through wandoo woodland via waypoints '2' and '3'.  When the track veers left (north) soon after '3', continue eastward off-track across a broad ridge and into mainly fairly open 'Parrot Bush' shrubland (Dryandra sessilis) and light forest.  At '4' veer SE  and soon descend to cross a small gully. Then veer eastward again (at '5') and soon pass through low shrubs around a dry stream course on the gentle  valley floor. At '6', near another small gully, veer NE to cross a small, low ridge and soon climb to a higher ridge at '7'. Then veer east, partly though denser shrubland, to soon reach a rocky laterite breakaway at about '8' from where there are good views to nearby farmland to the north. Walk ESE through the open wandoo woodland along the slope below the breakaway and in places partly through the shrubland/light forest above. At '9' head downslope and eastward to '9A', then veer SE and intially along slope before descending to cross a dry stream course at '9B'.  then climb gently through open woodland before descending a little to cross another dry stream course at '10'. Continue SSE gently uphill to soon reach (at '10A') the eastern breakaway edge of a narrow laterite ridge with views east through the open wandoo woodland to wheatbelt farmland.  Turn right to follow the ridge gently uphill to the SSW. At '11' turn  right again to follow a kangaroo trail WNW across the head of a small rocky gully to reach a broad, flat granite outcrop at 'ROK'. (The outcrop rises very gently uphill to the SW and also continues along slope to the WNW.) Continue WNW along the outcrop for only about 100m, getting quite a good view northward over the woodland down the valley. This location is at about one-third of the total walk distance and is a pleasant spot for a rest stop. At 'ROK4' veer left (WSW) and climb uphill through shrubland to reach wandoo woodland again on the ridge top at '12'.  Turn sharp left to head SE gently downhill along the ridge, and through some fairly open dryandra shrubland to reach (after about 400m) the edge of the laterite plateau. Continue SE, to descend the uppermost rocky part of the  breakaway slope, then follow the slope to reach the edge of a gully at '13'. Turn right (SW) to follow the north slope of the gully, then soon (at '14') turn left (SE) again to cross the gully  and walk along slope to '15'. [Alternatively at '14', if you prefer the shortened 13 km walk, continue SW up the gully through open woodland to reach the crest of the ridge and the edge of an area of quite thick Parrot Bush and Pingle at '52'.  Then head WSW, following kangaroo trails and gaps in the denser shrubland to reach '53'.  Then veer SW to soon leave the shrubland and re-enter open mixed forest, heading gently down the valley to reach 'RK2'.   Then proceed from that point as described below.] Then veer approx. SSE, skirting patches of thicker shrubland if necessary. Soon reach an open slope covered in quite thick, medium heath, with views to nearby farmland.  Follow a kangaroo trail near the upper edge of the heathland and soon descend to reach the Park boundary track (a dirt road) at '15A').  Follow the vehicle track southward for only about 200m to '16' then veer off-track to head SW through fairly open mixed wandoo-jarrah forest. Cross the crest of a broad, low ridge at about '16A', then veer WSW and very gently downhill to '16B'. Then head westward approx. along slope to '17'.  Then veer ENE to soon climb gently uphill to a ridge at '17A'. Find a easy way through the patchy shrubland on the ridge then veer NW to walk downslope through woodland and reach a thicket of sheoaks flanking a stream gully. Pick an easy route through the fairly dense thicket to reach a small granite outcrop at 'RK2' marked with a very small cairn. Cross the stream course at the edge of the outcrop and head approx. westward to climb quite steeply up the slope. Veer NW at '18' to reach the laterite 'plateau' at the top of the breakaway. Continue NW across the plateau through relatively open jarrah forest and patches of dryandra (parrot bush). Cross the plateau margin again at about '19' then continue NW along the upper slope of the breakaway and cross a small gully before climbing to a narrow rocky laterite promontory at '20'. Then veer right (NE) along the ridge a short distance (less than 50m), gaining good views westward across Gibb Gully to the nearby State Forest area.  Reach a nearby stream course (at '21') in a gully just north of the laterite ridge. This location is at about two -thirds of the total walk distance and is a good spot for a second rest stop. Head NW from the stream, initially following an easy kangaroo trail through patchy shrubland and mainly open forest, skirting some small granite outcrops and boulders. At '22' veer westward, and along slope, staying below the breakaway upslope as the higher ground in this area is quite densely covered in 'Pingle' (Dryandra squarrosa) which is best avoided.  At '23' veer NNW and walk along slope before crossing a dry stream course and climbing to a low ridge where you meet a narrow, well defined track (at 'TRK').  Turn right to follow the track initially NE up the ridge to '23A'. Continue northward on the track as it climbs gently uphill through fairly dense Pingle shrubland.  At about '23B' veer right (NE) to leave the track and continue up a broad ridge, picking a route through the shrubland.  Veer ENE at '24'.  The slope flattens before you reach the approx. hilltop at '25'.  Continue ENE, descending a small breakaway slope to soon reach a small flat open area at '26' over shallow granite surrounded by heathland. Head briefly north (left) to '27', then veer WNW (left again) to locate and follow a kangaroo trail which runs along slope on the downhill side of a few large granite boulders or outcrops.   At '28' turn right to head NNE downhill through woodland to reach (at '29') the west side of an incised stream gully. Head approx. north via '30', crossing another side gully.  Continue gently downhill to '31' then veer NW and descend gently across the slope to '32'. (At this point the route briefly meets the early section of the walk at waypt '5'.) Veer left (approx. west) to soon cross a gully, then climb to the laterite hilltop through mainly open woodland to '33'. Then veer WNW and downhill to meet the Park boundary road again at '34'. Follow the road downhill via '35' back to the Start point.