Echidna Trail Hike (11km)

Walyunga National Park sits on both sides of a steep valley behind the Darling Scarp, covering around 1,800 hectares of bushland in the Perth Hills. Despite being close to the city, it feels removed from the rush of urban life, offering a place where the river, the bush, and a deep sense of history come together. The park is widely recognised as an area of long standing cultural importance, with evidence of continuous use by Noongar people for more than 6,000 years. The Whadjuk people are acknowledged as the Traditional Owners of this Country, and their connection to the land remains strongly woven through the landscape today.

The Avon River flows through the heart of the park, lined with flooded gums, wandoo woodland, marri, and jarrah. As the river winds over smooth granite boulders, it shifts character with the seasons. After winter rains, deep pools and lively rapids form some of the most exciting sections of the Avon Descent, while in drier months the water slows and settles, inviting quiet moments along the riverbank. Nearby, the Avon meets Woorooloo Brook to become the Swan River, marking an important meeting point in both a geographical and cultural sense.

Walyunga Pool is one of the most peaceful spots in the park and a place rich in story. Downstream from Syd’s Rapids, the river opens into deep pools such as Boongarup Pool, surrounded by shaded banks and calm water. This area is known as a traditional Noongar camping place, and local stories tell of the Waugal, the dreamtime serpent believed to have shaped the river as it passed through the range. Today, it is an easy place to slow down, enjoy a picnic, and watch birdlife such as black ducks, grey teal, wood ducks, shelducks, and cormorants moving across the water.

Away from the river, the park offers plenty of ways to spend a full day or more. There are bushwalks that climb into the surrounding hills, gentle riverside paths, opportunities for canoeing, and quiet picnic areas tucked under the trees. A small campground sits about two kilometres from the Swan River and is suitable for a range of camping setups, making it a good base for exploring the area over a relaxed weekend.

Spring is a particularly rewarding time to visit, when the woodland floor comes alive with colourful wildflowers and fresh growth. For those interested in learning more about the area’s cultural heritage, the Aboriginal Heritage Trail provides insight into the long history of this place and the people who have cared for it over countless generations. Whether you come for a short walk, a picnic by the water, or a slower wander through the bush, Walyunga National Park has a way of encouraging you to stay a little longer and take notice of what is around you.