Kangaroo Trail, Walyunga NP

Walyunga National Park covers 1,800 hectares of the Darling Range, tucked behind the Darling Scarp, covering both sides of a steep valley. Just to the east of the park, in the picturesque Avon Valley, the Avon River joins the Brockman River to form the Swan River which passes through the tree lined valley.

Walyunga contains one of the largest known Aboriginal campsites around Perth and was still in use by the Noongar people late last century. The area has been used as a meeting place for more than 6000 years.  Walyunga is an Aboriginal name, but its meaning is uncertain.  Local Noongar people believe the Swan River was carved by the Waugal, and greet the dreamtime serpent here by rubbing sand on their bodies and throwing it in the water.

The Swan River is the main attraction in the park as it thunders through in winter and meanders by in the drier months, lined with smooth granite boulders. The walk trail starts beside the lower pool in Walyunga and follows the river to Boongarup  Pool. It then ascends  high enough to give views to the opposite side of the river valley. It returns through marri and wandoo woodland to the lower pool. The trail markers are yellow triangles with a kangaroo and also green footprints. The markers are most visible when walked in an anticlockwise direction. Kangaroos can be seen in late afternoon along the riverbank.