Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail - Lacey Road to Loch McNess, Yanchep National Park
- Out and About
- Nov 26, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: May 28
This beautiful walk takes about 2 hours at a good pace and is just over 5km one way. The City of Wanneroo organises yearly guided walks for this section of the Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail led by local Noongar, Derek Nannup. The advantage of a guided tour is that after meeting at Wangi Mia in Yanchep National Park you are transported by mini bus to Lacey Road to start the trail. Otherwise you would need two cars to access both ends of the trail - or walk there and back making it a longer walk!
The Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail stretches for 28 kms and is based on the seasonal movement of Yellagonga and his Mooro people. It starts at Neil Hawkins Park in Yellagonga Regional Park, travelling through Neerabup National Park, running parallel to Wanneroo Road through traditional market gardens around Carabooda before skirting Pippidinny Swamp and entering Yanchep National Park. The trail ends at Loch McNess in Yanchep National Park. This full trail can easily be broken into shorter sections as we did.
Starting at Lacey Road, just off Wanneroo Road, the trail heads north into the southern parts of Yanchep National Park. The trail has recently been upgraded and is now a firm wide limestone trail which is easy to follow. Allow the trail is dual use we only encountered two bikes on this section of the trail.
The trail winds it's way through quite open and scrubby vegetation and through a Tuart Grove before you come across some reeds and paperbarks edging Pipidinny Swamp.
Keep calm when you see a steep sandy track ahead as this hilly dune is not part of the trail! As you round the corner you will see the trail skirting the base of the dunes off to the right. It was as we turned this corner that we saw an emu ahead of us on the track so we watched and waited until he melted into the bush.
You will walk under some tall shady trees for a while passing a heritage sign before climbing a short not too steep incline emerging onto the ridge with sweeping views across the plain to the east and to the vegetated dunes to the west. Bush as far as the eye can see!
There are a few intersecting trails but the orange grass tree trail markers and the limestone path will guide you as you continue through Banksia Woodland.
Even in November there were still pockets of wildflowers out along the trail.
The trail eventually crosses Yanchep Road (be careful!) and then an access road into Yanchep National Park before you skirt the small plantation of gum trees planted to provide feed for the Koalas in the Koala Enclosure. (Fussy little things only eat a certain type of gum leaf!) As you wind up a small incline there is a small cave, (inaccessible) White's Grotto, in a natural amphitheatre on your left. The vegetation leading back into the park is quite lovely and is cool and shady.
You emerge from the trail into the western carpark and then traverse along the grassy areas next to Loch McNess and back to Wangi Mia.
Take some time to explore the native gardens around Wangi Mia and to look for the koalas in the nearby 240-metre koala boardwalk.
Back at Yanchep National park visit the McNess House Visitor Centre to find out about all the exciting activities Yanchep has to offer, including cave tours.
Refer to separate blogs for the Ghost House Trail, Caves Trail, Wetlands Trail, Woodlands Walk Trail, Yanchep Rose Trail and Dwerta Mia Trail in Yanchep National Park.
There is an entrance fee to enter Yanchep National Park applied per car. You can purchase a National Parks Pass which will cover entry to this and many other National Parks in WA .
There are toilets, barbecues and picnic facilities at Yanchep National Park but there are no facilities on the Yaberoo Budjara Trail. Click here to download Maps for extended walks.
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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 extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
As always when hiking in the bush please help to reduce the spread of Phytophthora Dieback by sticking to the tracks and paths, staying out of quarantined areas and, if possible, clean your shoes before and after hiking.
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