Around one hour’s drive north of Perth, Walyunga offers some great hiking around the Avon River. The Avon River goes on from here to become the Swan River which flows through Perth and then on into the Indian Ocean.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife describe the park as follows:
“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 Nyoongar 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. It could be a term that, roughly translated, means ‘happy place’. Local Nyoongar 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”.
Walyunga is unfortunately only open from 8 AM to 5 PM but camping can be done overnight by arrangement with the Ranger. The are varying walks but the one detailed here is known as the Echidna Trail, an 11km hike out of the Avon Valley and back down to the river.
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