Yellagonga Regional Park - Lake Joondalup - Neil Hawkins Park to Drovers Place
- Out and About
- Apr 24, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: May 27
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 each way and takes in the beginning section of the Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail which starts at Neil Hawkins Park and extends to Yanchep National Park.
A sidetrack to a viewing platform about 300m from Neil Hawkins provides views across the lake to Wanneroo.
Further along the path, about 1.3km from Neil Hawkins, there is a side loop out to the "wetlands". This is a rougher dirt track although it is still flat and easy to walk. This detour will add on another km or so to your walk or could be your end point for a shorter walk either from Drovers Place or Neil Hawkins.
Late in 2024 the open paddock section here was developed into a range of mountain bike trails called Yalbunullup. Access is off Lakeside Drive with a large parking lot, a pavilion, lakeside lookout, bike racks, water fountains, interpretive signage and toilets. The trails have been designed to blend in with the natural landscape with very little change made to the existing landscape outside of the trails themselves. There are 7km of trails through open country or bushland, catering for beginner and intermediate riders.
Bird life is plentiful and the bird calls will keep you company on your walk - some high up in the trees and others out on the water. Although there were very few wildflowers out there were still interesting things to see along the way including some grazing kangaroos.
Neil Hawkins Park was beautifully lush and green. There is a small semi fenced playground, picnic tables and shelters, toilet facilities and plenty of parking (restricted to 4 hours weekdays). Signage around the park explains the history, flora and fauna of the area.
The boardwalk extends over the water for magnificent views north and south over an ever changing Lake Joondalup.
Neil Hawkins is a short walk from Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre and the Joondalup City area which both have plenty of places to grab a coffee or a meal. Alternatively you could stop at Leap Frogs Cafe at Wanneroo Botanic Golf on Drovers Place for a coffee or a meal. While you are here enjoy a walk or a quick game of mini golf in the beautiful gardens.
As you reach Drovers Place you might like to rest on the convenient lounge chairs or take a short detour through the new Myella Estate to the colourful playground.
From Neil Hawkins you can also venture south and explore the trail to Picnic Cove in Edgewater (See our related blog Yellagonga Regional Park) or you can complete the entire16km Lake Joondalup Circuit either on foot or by bike.
Yellagonga Regional Park offers many different walk trails:
the Beenyup Swamp Loop
and Lake Goollelal
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I love wandering along trails, both marked and unmarked, and sharing my discoveries with my Out and About FNC community. If you enjoy reading my blogs please consider a small donation which will be used towards the costs of keeping the website up to date and relevant.
In the spirit of reconciliation Out and About- Family Nature Connection acknowledges the traditional owners of the Wadjak Boodjar (Perth land) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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