The Yaberoo Budjara Trail is a 28km trail between Neil Hawkins Park in Joondalup and Loch McNess in Yanchep traversing sections of Yellagonga Regional Park, Neerabup National Park and Yanchep National Park. The trail roughly runs parallel to Wanneroo Road and has various access points. Previously we have hiked the 4km section from Burns Beach Road to Neerabup Road so this time we decided to explore the next section. This section can be done as a 4km end to end if you can p

The shared use path around Lake Joondalup is 16km long - great for a cycle but quite a big commitment for a walk. There are some really stunning sections as you head around the lake and we have explored them in sections to break them into manageable walks. Previously I have written blogs on the western sections from Drovers Place to Neil Hawkins Park and from Neil Hawkins south to Picnic Cove in Edgewater. This blog will cover the section from Picnic Cove south to the botto

The shared use path around Lake Joondalup has some stunning lake views. Having frequently walked on the Joondalup side we decided to explore the Wanneroo side. Starting from the Rotary Park Opportunity Playspace we walked south one day and north the next day. Both walks, on flat paved pathways, were about an hour long return. Setting off south from the playground we walked past the soccer and AFL fields at Scenic Park with it's small playground. The path then opened out wit

After walking south from Rotary Park to Studmaster Park we decided to follow the shared use path north. This flat walk is not as scenic as the southern section but the wide open spaces make it a great place to ride with your kids as you can see well ahead. Again we started from the Rotary Park Opportunity Playspace on Scenic Drive in Wanneroo. We walked past the lovely Moreton Bay fig trees spreading their roots next to the path just past Rotary Park. There are some exerci

EDIT MARCH 2026 - Playground is closed for renovation. Grab your picnic and head to Opportunity Playspace at Rotary Park in Wanneroo, a playground designed for a half day visit. It is an all abilities playground with barbecue and picnic facilities, water fountains, toilets and a bike repair station. Although the road side section is fenced the fence does not fully enclose the playground. Being so close to the lake there is a snake risk here and in Spring there can be swoop

We set off to walk the 4.5km loop around Lake Goollelal in April 2020 and were pleasantly surprised to see that someone had been busy placing teddy bears and stuffed toys at regular intervals the whole way around the track so the kids can "go on a bear hunt" while under Covid 19 restrictions. The bears have since been removed but this is still a lovely walk or cycle ride. The addition of a boardwalk in 2025 has made this a spectacular walk so keep reading! Lake Goollelal is t

Starting at Neil Hawkins Park and heading north this time was a different experience to the southern walk. Depending on the time of year you will get glimpses of the lake through the trees or when the lake level is high you can see the water seeping into the paperbarks giving a lovely wetland feel. The path is dual use so be aware of cyclists (fast and slow). It is fully paved and flat so is universally accessible. The walk between Neil Hawkins and Drovers Place is 3.5km e

Cockman House is the oldest remaining house in Wanneroo. It was built in the 1850's using locally quarried limestone for it's 500mm thick walls and jarrah for it's timber ceilings. It was built close to the northern stock route, 8 hours travel from Perth along a sand track. The Cockman and Backshall families lived here from 1860 to as recently as 1987. At one point this tiny building housed a family with 13 children who topped and tailed 4 to a bed. A quick walk through t

The first day of Spring needs to be celebrated outdoors so we set off for a quick walk before tackling the weekend chores. EDIT: Site improvements and carpark redevelopment along Ocean Reef Road will begin mid 2026. Vehicular access is still available from Ancestor Retreat in Woodvale near Cockman House. Beenyup Swamp lies within Yellagonga Regional Park on the south side of Ocean Reef Road in Woodvale. The trail is an easy, flat 2.4 km loop on it's own or it can be inco

Catching a brief spot of sunshine on another wet weekend we went down to Yellagonga Regional Park and walked from Neil Hawkins to Picnic Cove. Neil Hawkins Park is situated on the western side of Lake Joondalup and is a popular picnic spot. It is within walking distance of Joondalup Train Station and also has a large car park, toilets, picnic benches and barbecues. There is a dual use path that encircles the lake. Neil Hawkins to Picnic Cove in Edgewater is 2.5km each way