Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Show Trail Map Show About the Trail Show Important Trail Details Read Trail Reviews
Add Favourites
Support Our Trails

Hippo’s Yawn, Hyden Hippo’s Yawn, Hyden

Bush Walk  in Golden Outback

  • Less than 1 hour
  • 1.7 km
    • Bush Walk Class 1

      All abilities access, flat, even, hardened surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for unassisted wheelchair users and prams. Clear directional signage. No bushwalking experience required.

This trail starts at the main path to the base of Wave Rock then branches left. It goes through casuarina trees on one side and the rock outcrop that Wave Rock is but a small part of. The trail ends at Hippo’s Yawn, a large gaping mouthed shallow cave. It’s a flat easy 1030 metre trail that loops back 680 metres to the car park.

Hippos Yawn 1 Tourismwa
Earn 1 Point Wildflower Wanderer
Donate to support this trail
Logo for Leave no Trace Initiative

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

The end point of this easily followed and marked trail is Hippo's Yawn. The shallow cave is about 13 metres tall at its mouth and looks like the name suggests. Although a worthy attraction in itself, the loop walk is particuarly interesting for wildflower enthusiasts.

Take a stroll in late winter or spring and play close attention to ground level. Look carefully and you will spot patches of tiny ground orchids. Some are very hard to spot such as greenhoods, unlike the more showy spider orchids. Then go to the visitors centre and see if you can spot your orchid on the chart. It's a lot of fun and challenging for the kids.  

Shire of Kondinin

(08) 9889 1006

Wave Rock Tourist Information Centre

08 9880 5182

Other Links

Be trail ready for Hippo’s Yawn, Hyden

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

30 to 40 minutes

Length

1.7km loop

What To Pack

Group B - Hiking & Long Distance Trails (Bushwalks and/or longer trails) required.

Trail Start

Wave Rock carpark, 3km from Hyden, 334km (3.5 hours) east of Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 1

All abilities access, flat, even, hardened surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for unassisted wheelchair users and prams. Clear directional signage. No bushwalking experience required.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Facilities

Camping, caravan sites and cabins at Wave Rock
  • Cafe
  • Camping
  • Car Park
  • Dog Friendly
  • Interpretive Centre
  • Kiosk
  • Lookouts
  • Picnic Area
  • Shaded Area
  • Shop
  • Visitor Information Centre

Best time of year

August, September, October

Fees

Entry fee per car

Trail Access

Drive or fly to Hyden. 2WD accessible.

More tips for being Trail Ready
Edge shaped like mountain horizon
topography pattern

Complete Hippo’s Yawn, Hyden to earn badges and points!

Earn points and badges and become a "TrailsWA Expert" by completing trails and leaving reviews.

Earn 1 Point

Earn 1 point towards
your TrailsWA level

Wildflower Wanderer

Earn the Wildflower Wanderer badge when you complete this trail.

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
Alt text

1 trail goers have rated Hippo’s Yawn, Hyden as 4 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Chelle Fisher

Reviewed 6 Jun 2022, 7:27pm

Another of Hydens iconic attractions, so special.

Like this trail? Explore others nearby

More around Golden Outback

Supported by great organisations

Trails are free and bring so many benefits to our community by providing opportunities to have fun, get fit, socialise, explore and challenge yourself. But they also have to be managed and maintained which only is made possible through terrific sponsors, donations and/or volunteering.

topography pattern