Joondalup Adventures

Think Joondalup and Neil Hawkins Park and Yellagonga Regional Park probably come to mind but walking in and around the city centre is full of surprises.

Staring from Lakeside (free 4 hours parking as opposed to metered street parking!) cross at the lights at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Collier Pass and head straight down the path into Central Park. This is a lovely serene and mostly underused park with boardwalks around the lake, windy paths through the bush and best of all a lovely stream which babbles over some well placed rocks and under bridges. See if you can spy the giant bug (there used to be quite a few statues but sadly most have disappeared). Let the kids gather some twigs and race their 'boats' down the stream. If it is warm enough they could have a paddle but the rocks look a little slippery so take care. At the top of the park they can step up and down the turreted wall.

At the top make sure you cross the lawn to see the Aleppo Pine and the War Memorial with it's lovely bronze statue of a boy holding a poppy.

Head back into the bush area and follow the path until you come out at the lake outside the TAFE buildings. Wander through the TAFE looking for the mural and the statue.

Cross Kendrew Crescent and enter the grounds of ECU Joondalup. There is some amazing architecture within these grounds so make sure you look up and around.

Take in the stunning gold of the Ngoorlak building and nearby art installations including the mural "You belong here" .by Peter Ryan.

From here wander past the colourful Library with it's playful recreation space.

After passing the Sports and Fitness Centre to your right head through the opening under the Wandjoo sign to locate Joondalup Pines where summer outdoor movies take place.

Double back through the Sculpture Park to see the seed pod grove, artworks and other statues.

Follow the edge of the ornamental lake...

and you will pass Edith Cowan House, a weatherboard cottage originally located at 71 Malcolm Street West Perth, that was once the home of Australia’s first female parliamentarian. This building is now home to the Peter Cowan Writers Centre.

Veer right towards Building 17 to see the Big Scientific Table. Cross University Drive to see a smaller version on a bench. From here you can return to the lake or follow University Drive to return to Kendrew Crescent.

Head east along Kendrew Crescent between the TAFE and the Police Academy. Detour to visit the statue of the police officer guarding the entrance to the Police Academy. From here cross into the residential area and walk parallel to Lakeside Drive until you arrive at Lakeside Park. Here you can wander down one of the paths leading you into Neil Hawkins Park where you can walk out on the jetty to look at all the waterbirds. There are toilets and a playground here.

From Neil Hawkins hike up the hill along Boas Avenue. At the Lakeside Drive roundabout you will see a beautiful flame tree and a statement artwork. Cross over to the Library and enjoy the murals covering the paths and staircases and the artworks by Anya at the entrance. Be sure to check the bronze plaques on the pillars and the artwork on the outside of the building.

From the Library follow Boas Avenue and turn right onto Central Walk. The Walk of Fame recognises famous local residents including Daniel Riccardo and Shaun Tan. Continue past the Olive Cheng banksia mural and the water fountain artworks to the top of the walk at Reid Promenade which is the start point for the Jack Bromell Art Trail (see below). Another Olive Cheng mural is located along the eastern laneway.

Jack Bromell has painted a series of 8 artworks designed to look like postage stamps and depicting scenes of wildlife native to Joondalup Lake and surrounds. Scan the QR codes to learn the names of the featured wildlife and some interesting facts about them. This trail runs from opposite the library and onto Central Walk.

At the water feature sculpture in Central Walk head west along the laneway for another mural. Check out the artwork on the Court Building and then take the laneway behind Sanori House and next to Varsity to spot the Jeremy Lane mural. Don't forget to keep an eye out along the way for the children's artwork embedded into the pavement.

When you return to the car make sure you take some time to check out the public art and the large mural at Joondalup Train Station (facing the car park).

Our walk covered 7km and took just over 2 hours. If you don't want to walk this far split the walk into exploring ECU, combining Central Park with TAFE and exploring the Library and Neil Hawkins together. There are cafes scattered around the Joondalup CBD area as well as within Lakeside Joondalup.

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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.

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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.