1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see Photo Galleries)

3) 3D map view

4) Satellite imagery

5) Route profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

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View south of pools along Swan River,

 Walyunga National Park, Nov. 2002.

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More photos.

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       Route profile

40 kms NE of Perth. 

18 field kms (40% off-track)

(or approx. 11 kms for alternative separate short walks on western or eastern side only).

MEDIUM - HARD   (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.)

Great Eastern Hwy and bypass, then Roe Hwy, then 15 km north along Great Northern Highway to Walyunga Road on right (signposted to Walyunga National Park, main entry). 

Park entry fee is $10.00 per car. Follow the sealed road to the furthest car park, near Boongarup Pool (approx. 3.5 kms from the Hwy) which is the Start point.  (Public toilets nearby). Check with the Park Ranger on ph. 08 95711371 for Park opening and closing times (otherwise assume 8.00am -5.00pm).

Alternative access east of the Swan River is via Toodyay Rd, then north along O'Brien Rd and left into Ewing Road (past Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary on the right) to reach the Walyunga Lookout picnic area (the northern point on this walk).

East of Swan River : Via various vehicle tracks to track just east of the railway line along east bank, then cross railway line at waypt 'RLWY' and then cross Swan River at 'FORD' to reach main entry road.  Alternatively, in east, follow vehicle track NE to Ewing Rd.

/Highlights:

This walk takes in much of the rugged scenery in Walyunga National Park on both sides of the Swan(-Avon) River. The River runs southward through the middle of this 1800 ha Park and has cut deeply into the western edge of the Darling Range. Together with the Avon Valley National Park and Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary to the NE, the Park is now an important area for native fauna conservation along the Swan-Avon Valley. Animals recently re-introduced by CALM/AWC include the tammar wallaby and black-flanked rock wallaby.

There are a number of large and quite deep permanent freshwater pools along the Swan River in the Park including the Boongarup and Walyunga Pools.

The steep slopes on both sides of the River provide for some energetic uphill climbs but also some excellent views across and along the main valley. In the west, there is also a view across the Darling Scarp to the Swan Coastal Plain. The vegetation is varied, including jarrah and marri forest, open wandoo woodlands, and Flooded Gums along the river's edge. There are scattered granite outcrops, surrounded by heathlands.

Caution:  The River changes character dramatically in winter-mid spring when it is transformed into a raging torrent, becoming very dangerous and uncrossable. (The annual Avon Descent takes place down the Avon and Swan Rivers in August, attracting lots of canoeists and power boaters.  Syd's Rapids on the walk route is a great viewing spot for white-water excitement during the Descent but certainly not to be crossed on foot at that time!) 

In late spring, summer, and very early autumn, provided there has not been recent heavy rainfall, the River can usually be crossed safely at the two crossing points on this walk, one just above Syd's Rapids and the other at a ford just down river from the Start point, but be very careful of slippery boulders and do not attempt to cross if the river is still flowing fast in places, even if it appears narrow or quite shallow (including at the ford).

Current river levels and conditions: These can also be checked before you start out, from the Dept of Environment's automatic daily updates (for Station 616076 for Swan River, Great Northern Highway).

Alternative shorter walks:  Considering the rugged terrain, the full walk is fairly long and only for the suitably fit. Also, because the River is uncrossable during much of the peak wildflower season , you may prefer to do separate walks during spring from the western and eastern sides. These shorter walks also allow flexibility to change your plans if the River just happens to be unseasonally high when you visit:

Western side alternatives: Pleasant short walks of up to about 11 km on the western side can incorporate the existing, marked Echidna Trail and/or the Kingfisher, Kangaroo, Syd's Rapids and Aboriginal Heritage Trails. (See the Trails in green on the map.  These were installed in 1992 by Rotary.)  -The area has a very long and rich aboriginal history which is highlighted on notices along the short Aboriginal Heritage Trail which passes along the river bank between the Boongarup and Walyunga Pools.  

Eastern side alternative: For another short circuit walk of around 11km, park at the Walyunga Lookout picnic area at alternative access point at the end of Ewing Road (at 'CARPK3') and follow most of the eastern part (between 'TRK' and '46') of the full walk route, except in the reverse direction and south of 'TRK' continue on the vehicle track south to '45', then about 150m further south turn left onto an old vehicle track and follow it up the ridge to 'JCTN' and then north to '41', then continue via '40' etc back to the start point at the Lookout. 

Controlled burns:  A burn is scheduled for Autumn 2008 in part of the walk area east of the River.  This may impact on the walk route between waypoints '39A' & '48'. See DEC's current 6-season indicative burn programme.

Jumperkine & Toodyay 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2134-4 & 2134-1;

or Avon Valley 1:50,000, National Map Ref. 2134-4 & -1 (WA Forests Dept., 1983);

or Jumperkine 1:25,000 2134-IV, SW sheet (Dept. of Lands & Survey, 1983; Series R811) -available on DVD. 

"Walyunga National Park"  leaflet by CALM (undated). This includes a good 'overview' of the park including a summary of the trails on the western side and flora and fauna. 

DEC's Naturebase website also provides a brief summary of the Park and the existing trails.

"Walyunga National Park - Park Guide" by DEC (undated pdf; 248KB).

Landscope magazine (CALM), Spring 2004, includes article on CALM/AWC collaborative work to restore wildlife to the Swan-Avon Valley.

"Swan Valley and Perth Hills Trails Discovery Guide", Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council ('EMRC'). 2005. -This is an excellent compilation of 41 mainly short on-track walks in Shires of Kalamunda and Mundaring and City of Swan. For booklet ph. EMRC on 94242226.

Also see complimentary "perthtrails" website (launched October 2005) with downloadable maps and notes, including for the following in this walk area (Be aware that parts of some 'established' trails in the area are not well marked, so it is wise to have  a good walk description with you.) :

Syd's Rapids Trail, p.76 & 77, 3.5 km;

Kangaroo Trail, p.76 & 78, 4 km loop walk;

Kingfisher Trail, p.76 & 79, 8.5 km loop walk;

Aboriginal Heritage Trail, p.76 & 80,      1.6 km.

Echidna Trail, p.76 & 81, 10.6 km loop walk;

Also see Bells Rapid Walk Trail, p.74-75, 4.5 km loop walk. This trail is within the southernmost area of the Park, about 4.5 km south (down-river) of the above walks and accessed separately via Cathedral Ave, Brigadoon. See Google Map for start point on road map. Similar to Syd's Rapids, Bells Rapid provides a popular vantage point along the Swan River during the Avon Descent.

"Family Walks in Perth Outdoors", CALM, rev. edn. 2000,  also includes  mud maps and brief descriptions for the following in this area:

Echidna Trail, pp.62-64;

Kangaroo Trail, pp.76-77;

Kingfisher Trail, pp.78-80.

"More Family Walks in Perth Outdoors", CALM, 1994, includes a mud map and brief description for the 'Syd's Rapids Trail', pp.78-79, a 3.5 km on-track return walk.

"Travellers guide to the Parks & Reserves of Western Australia" by Simon Nevill, 2001, p.42 (Simon Nevill Publications), also includes a brief summary of the Park, including the western trails. 

Start from the Boongarup Pool carpark and head approx. NW through open bushland for about 100m to waypt '1' and turn right onto the vehicle track. This crosses a stream gully and meets the 'Kangaroo Trail' at about '2'. Turn left to follow the Trail (via '3') up the ridge for about 500m to a trail junction at 'TNOFF1'. Turn right (north) to follow the 'Kingfisher Trail'. After 100m the Trail branches to the left past a small dammed pond on the left. Follow the Trail uphill mainly NW via '6', '7', '8' and '9' (or alternatively between '8' and '9' try an off-track diversion via waypoints 'ALT2' and 'ALT3' which are in open wandoo woodland along a ridge).  The Trail veers northward at '9' to follow the ridge. There is a good eastward view from about '10' back across the Swan River valley and on reaching 'PTHVU' there is also a good westward view across the Swan Coastal Plain and SW to Perth. From 'PTHVU' veer off-track to the right and head ENE uphill via '11A' for about 300m to 'PTHVU2' where there are again views to Perth.  Then turn left (due north) to approximately follow the laterite-capped ridge northward through mainly open wandoo woodland via '11B', 'HTGEMK' (Survey Heritage Trail marker), and '11C'.  At elevation 260m this is the highest point of the walk. (From here the Woodsome Hill Firetower  (waypt 'FRTWR') is only about 250m off the route to the NW if you wish to make a short diversion through a thicket of fairly thick parrot bush to see the tower.)  After '11C' veer ENE-ward to reach the edge of the laterite surface at '12', gaining good views eastward across the Swan River valley and NE-ward up the valley to Medikal Hill.  Then begin descending more steeply southward and across a gully to reach a ridge at '12B'. Follow the ridge downhill to the SE, using animal tracks wherever possible to get through the broad patches of scratchy heathland between granite outcrops.  After '12C' veer eastward. The route soon steepens and passes through some fairly thick shrubland before meeting a vehicle track at '12D'.  Turn left to follow the track (via '12E') to reach the Swan River close to Syd's Rapids  (waypt 'SYDS'). (If the river is flowing strongly do not attempt any river crossing but instead follow Syd's Rapids Trail along the western bank back to the Start point and/or try some of the alternative western side trails). Head approx. SE and upstream of the rapids to cross the nearest (possibly dry) side channel or pool and then continue SE to reach the main river course and find a suitable shallow, broad crossing point. If the river is suitable for crossing you may be able to get across with dry boots by boulder-hopping. Then continue SW up the river bank and across a side stream to soon reach the railway embankment. Cross the railway lines carefully and quickly (commuter and goods trains are quite frequent) to reach a vehicle track on the eastern side (at 'TRK'). Follow the track a short distance uphill to '29' and turn left to follow the main vehicle track NNE for over 1 km.  At '30' follow a  track which branches off to the right and then heads sharply southward up a ridge to '31', providing northward views back along the river valley.  From '31' veer eastward off-track across a heath-covered side valley to reach a granite outcrop at '32'.  Then veer NE to '33' and cross a stream gully before a short climb to a ridge at '34'. Follow the ridge uphill NE to reach the sloping edge of a laterite plateau.  Follow the slope through delightful open wandoo woodland for about 600m and reach a granite outcrop at about '35'.   Veer NW to cross a stream gully and climb to a ridge at '36'. Then veer ENE and pass by the remnants of a rock cairn ('CAIRN') on a granite outcrop. (This is presumably the site of one of the many historic cairns placed by John Forrest's surveying team in the Swan and Avon Valleys in 1877-78).  From '37' veer SE and climb to the Walyunga Lookout carpark and picnic area at 'CARPK3'.  There is a good view from here through the trees NE up the Swan-Avon valley. (The Avon River joins the Brockman River about 5kms NE of the Lookout to form the Swan River.) Walk less than 100m SE along Ewing Road from the Lookout, then cross the low fence on the right hand side of the road and reach a vehicle track at '37B'.  Follow the track downhill to '38A' then veer left (SSE) and off-track.  After about 200m cross a stream course and after a short, gentle climb reach a vehicle track at '38B'.  Follow the track SW across a laterite plateau for 1.5 kms via '39' and '39A', taking care not to take either of the other track branches to the right and left near '39A'. About 300m after '39A' the track crosses a stream gully.  At '39B' veer right (west) off-track through pleasant wandoo country on the sloping edge of the laterite plateau. Reach another vehicle track at '40'. Follow the track SE around the edge of the  laterite plateau to '41'. Then turn right NW to head off-track down a ridge which steepens across an outcrop at '42'. Veer westward off the ridge to reach '43' and then follow a smaller ridge SW to reach the main valley vehicle track at '44'.  Follow the track south for 1.5 kms (via '45') to cross a bridge over Woorooloo Brook at '46'. Continue SW along the track for another 400m, then take a sidetrack on the right to cross the railway tracks (at 'RLWY'). Then follow the vehicle track to '48' and then to reach the ford across the Swan River (at 'FORD').  If the earlier crossing above Syd's Rapids was safe (i.e. river not flowing too strongly) then the water at the ford will be very shallow and you will probably again be  able to cross without getting your boots very wet. From the ford follow the foot-track the short distance back to the Start point at the Boongarup Pool carpark.