Tag: Avon valley

Avon Valley National Park

Avon Valley National Park unsealed road

Avon Valley National Park, 1-hour drive from Perth, a great place for hiking and camping. We found it not as popular and busy as some other national parks closer to the city. With no sealed roads, it is a bushland area, spanning 4800ha.

Avon Valley National Park is a place to go camping. It has 5 camp grounds with basic facilities, which include picnic tables (some with shade), fire pits and toilets. Camping fees apply. As we haven’t camped there, we can’t provide more information but you can find it on this website.

Homestead campground in Avon Valley National Park
Homestead campground in Avon Valley NP

There are no defined hiking trails but, nonetheless, it is a great place for nature lovers. It has a few species of eucalyptus and grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) and is one of the best places to see wildflowers.

Grass tree bushland at Avon Valley National Park
Grass tree bushland

Even in November (which is not the prime month for seeing wildflowers) we managed to spot a few of them.

Wildflowers

Rhodanthe chlorocephala Pink white everlasting (above).

False Boronia (Lysiandra calycina) – above (left). Lobelia species (above right).

Walyunga National Park

Walyunga National Park is about 40km north-east of Perth along the Great Northern Highway. It is a wonderful place for a day trip. Camping is also possible and requires prior arrangement with the ranger.

Walyunga National Park is located in the Avon Valley where the Avon River joins the Brockman River to form the Swan River. The river runs through the park, forming a number of tranquil pools, as well as rapids, which are part of the annual Avon Descent race.

Numerous pools and rapids in Walyunga National Park

There are a number walking trails from an easy 1.6km return trail to moderate difficulty 11km return trail. We took the easiest – considering that we stopped so many times to take pictures, it took us a lot longer than indicated 1 hour :).

Along Walyunga Heritage Trail

Like all national parks, Walyunga is a photographer’s paradise. We visited this place in June, which is not the wildflower season. Yet there were many other interesting living things to look at.

Being easily accessible and in a relative proximity to Perth (only about 1 hour drive), it is quite a popular place. There are two picnic sites with barbecues, picnic tables and toilets. Entry fees apply and dogs are allowed.