Porongurup brings together remarkable plant diversity, nature trails, granite and scenic views. Porongurup National Park covers 2,621 hectares and is home to more than 700 native plant species. It is part of an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot in southwestern Western Australia. A range of outdoor experiences are central to planning a trip: short loop walks, trails to lookouts, a longer multi-use route and a scenic drive. You can shape your stay around whether you prefer a compact loop, a forest walk or a longer distance.
Forest, Granite and Lookouts
The Castle Rock Trail is a 4.7-kilometre loop through jarrah, marri and karri forests to the lower Castle Rock lookout. The Granite Skywalk, a suspended walkway, is also located on the large granite outcrop of Castle Rock in the national park. The forest trail and granite attraction offer different experiences: the trail passes through three named forest types, while the walkway is on the rock.
The Walitj Meil Walk offers a shorter loop: this easy-to-moderate, one-kilometre trail starts at the Castle Rock picnic area and leads to a lookout with views of the Stirling Ranges. It is considerably shorter than the Castle Rock Trail. The destinations also differ: here, the view is of the Stirling Ranges, while the Castle Rock Trail leads to the lower Castle Rock lookout.
Another, even shorter option is an easy, 600-metre loop. It passes beneath tall karri trees to Bolganup Creek and then returns to the Tree-in-the-Rock picnic area. The creek is therefore a different destination from the lookouts on the two longer loops. The routes differ not only in length, but also in whether the focus is on forest, a creek or a lookout.
Multi-use Trail and Scenic Drive
The O’Neill Trail connects Mount Barker and Porongurup; it officially opened in September 2023. Its 18-kilometre return route runs from the end of O’Neill Road to Woodlands Road in Porongurup. The trail is intended for walkers, cyclists—including e-bike riders—and horse riders. This sets it apart from the shorter loops: the longer route connects two places and is designed for several user groups.
A 23-kilometre scenic drive offers views of the entire Porongurup Range. As a drive, it is an alternative to the loop walks and multi-use trail. When planning, you can therefore consider not only your destination, but also your preferred way of getting around: a loop on foot, a longer route for different user groups, or a drive with views of the Range.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Outings
When looking for a hotel in Porongurup, you can choose your destination based on the outing you have in mind. The short loops and lookouts, multi-use trail and scenic drive differ in distance, destination and mode of travel.
Discover more destinations: Norseman, Derby, Newman, Margaret River, Wonnerup, Yanchep, Woodvale, Port Kennedy.
Go to the main travel overview: Western Australia.
